Our Cultural Celebration Party takes place on Sunday 18 January 2026, bringing an evening of variety, fashion, sip and paint, and a DJ party that will enliven the theatre with creativity and culture. Curated in collaboration with the DT Communities steering groups, the event promises a joyful celebration of the city’s vibrant creative spirit, offering entertainment, inspiration and opportunities to connect.
With one Pay What You Can ticket, audiences can choose a price that feels right for them and join in with the parts of the day that interest them most. The programme spans a wide range of cultures, art forms and creative voices, with something happening across the building throughout the day for everyone. The entire event will be BSL interpreted, and the variety of performances and spaces means there are plenty of ways to take part and enjoy the celebration.
The day starts off with the Local Makers Market, running from 5pm – 6:30pm. Head up to Community Hub to explore a vibrant showcase of local talent. Discover handcrafted goods, meet local makers, and pick up some delicious local produce. Support local. Shop unique. Celebrate creativity.
The Open Mic will be performed alongside the stalls, from 5pm – 6:15pm, offering a platform for a diverse range of local artists ahead of the evening programme. Performers include Scoldex, the Moldovan-born, UK-based artist blending hip-hop with Eastern European folk influences; Ashti, a group formed through the Derbyshire Refugee Solidarity Music Group, performing atmospheric and rhythmic music in Arabic, Farsi and English; Birmingham-based singer-songwriter Cole Kristen; poet, spoken word artist, DJ and psychotherapist Nipa Uddin, whose work explores culture, identity and mental health; and B Casa, performing original rap music. The Open Mic will be hosted by DJ Siren GG, who will set the tone with a high-energy mix spanning Amapiano, electronic, club edits, rap and Miami beats.
The Main Stage Variety Show runs from 6.30pm to 8.00pm, opening the auditorium programme with a vibrant mix of dance, music, comedy and sign language performance. The show begins with Infinity Flow, a Derby-based company connecting local dancers with teachers from across the UK, featuring a performance by their newly formed Performance Crew. Taste of Cairo present a dynamic professional production celebrating Arabic and Mediterranean dance and music. Singer and songwriter Lilly Foo-Black, a 19-year-old Derby-born artist, shares her passion for storytelling through musical theatre, while Willow brings piano-led comedy packed with wordplay and high-energy songs. Owen Brindley delivers a sign language performance, followed by Kelvin Ossai, an NHS emergency nurse and independent music artist blending Afro and soul influences with feel-good energy. Actor and comedian Jessi Bates-McIntyre brings sharp, energetic comedy, while Soulm8s, a Derby-based Filipino and British family band, perform harmony-led pop inspired by Manila Sound and classic pop. Gospel Train, a Zimbabwean-rooted collective of friends and family, share powerful cultural gospel music, alongside D’Qube, an Afro and hip hop artist from Lagos known for his lyrical flow and freestyle skills. Interval music will be provided by DJ Prince Baza, whose R&B, hip hop, garage and house sets have reached over 200 million streams. Act One promises a glittering celebration!
More talent is brought to the Main Stage for the Fashion Show from 8:15 – 10:00pm, bringing together a line-up of dance, fashion and live performance celebrating global cultures and local talent. The line-up includes British-Zambian dancer and choreographer Changu, whose style blends hip hop, Afro and commercial dance, alongside Derby-based fashion designer Umair Ashraf, showcasing bold, original design. Performers Soraya and Nasrin from Maison Foo’s Creative Sanctuary Group bring expressive dance rooted in their shared creative journey, while Hearts of Amber Baltic Community, a family-led group of mothers and daughters, celebrate heritage through music, movement and tradition. Jay Thaker appears as part of a Gujarati dance group, sharing cultural storytelling through rhythm and movement, and Alona Kildishova, a Ukrainian refugee now living in Derby, contributes powerful lived experience shaped by her creative practice. Caroline Mtambalika presents a mix of poetry, music and dance designed to inspire and engage, while creative Magdalena Wiśniewska shares an honest performance driven by music, movement and self-expression. Sisters Katya and Keiry perform together as El Salvador, presenting the folklore of their home country through dance. Indian classical dancer Aishwarya Deshpande, also known as Ash from Move for Wellbeing, performs Kathak with a strong wellbeing-led approach, shaped by years of training and therapeutic practice. Fashion designer Donald Yerima, founder of TrapMass, uses streetwear to tell stories rooted in community and social impact, while Latvian dance school Galophop brings together performers from Derby and Burton to keep Latvian culture alive. Creole Mas International (CMI) is led by artistic director and founder Sam Carnival, who brings over 30 years of experience in the voluntary sector, working from grassroots level across local, national and international communities. Bharatanatyam dancer Callista Sequiera represents one of India’s oldest classical dance forms with precision and expression. The Fashion Show is soundtracked by SENSANE DJ, a Derby-born international fusion DJ blending traditional Indian sounds with modern electronic, hip hop and dance influences.
The evening concludes with an Afterparty in the form of a Collaborative Sip and Paint experience. Audience members with a ticket for the main event will receive a raffle ticket on arrival, with selected guests invited to take part in creating a shared artwork. The piece will be produced on one large canvas divided into sections, with each participant adding their own contribution to a collective final work. Live music will be provided by resident DJ Nocturnal Joe, part of Audio Rehab, whose House sets have been heard at venues including Ministry of Sound, E1, EGG and XOYO in London. Alongside his national profile, Nocturnal Joe has a strong community presence in Derby, working in music and arts education and mentoring across generations, making him a fitting choice to soundtrack the celebrations. With birthday vibes and cake to share, the afterparty offers a relaxed, creative way to connect and bring the day to a close.
Derby Theatre’s 50th anniversary celebrations have brought together audiences, artists and the community to honour five decades of bold and brilliant theatre. From the 50 Faces: Derby Theatre: My Story exhibition and city-wide Costume Trail to the Archive Exhibition, Derwent Brass concert and CANVAS Takeover, the events have celebrated the people, stories and talent that have shaped the theatre. Audiences are invited to enjoy performances, discover local creatives, and celebrate the voices that have defined Derby Theatre so far, while meeting the new artists helping to write the next chapter. Let’s celebrate together.
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For more information and CULTURAL CELEBRATION PARTY updates, visit the Derby Theatre website here: Cultural Celebration Party – Derby Theatre or follow us on social media @dtcommunities (Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube – @derbytheatre).