Council Event Entertainment for Public Spaces

Programme for a moving public audience

Walkabout performers and street theatre can create moments along a route, while scheduled acts give visitors a reason to gather at a known time. Family activities and visual entertainment can serve a broad audience without assuming everyone will stay for a full performance.

For a high street or town centre, consider how the event affects shops, residents, public transport, deliveries and accessible routes. In a park, include distance between activity areas, ground conditions and weather in the planning conversation.

Plan public-realm details early

Agree performance locations and routes with the venue or council team. Check permissions and local operating requirements through the appropriate event contacts; requirements vary by site and event. Clarify sound limits, power, barriers, stewarding and emergency access before confirming a supplier.

Short repeat performances can help engage visitors arriving at different times, but the supplier should confirm what schedule they can provide. Build in time for breaks, movement and any necessary setup.

• Share a site map and identify entrances, accessible routes and busy pinch points.
• Coordinate performance times with traders, transport and other public activity.
• Ask suppliers about insurance, technical needs and the documents your event process requires.

Coordinate partners before the event day

A public event may involve a council team, venue staff, traders, transport contacts, community groups and contracted event crews. Give each relevant partner a simple view of performance locations, times and routes, and make clear who can approve a change on the day. This is especially useful when a performer moves through a space that is also being used for deliveries, market activity or normal public access.

Decide what a successful programme means for your event. You may want visitors to discover a particular part of the town, stay for a scheduled public moment or take part in a community activity. That objective can guide the choice between a roaming act, a fixed performance or a drop-in activity, without assuming that one format will suit every location. Use local knowledge to identify places where audiences can gather without blocking shopfronts, crossings or accessible routes.

Prepare a clear way to tell visitors about changes. Keep an agreed contact for the supplier and event control, and make sure the person updating signs or public information knows where to get confirmed timings. If the programme spans multiple sites, explain the route and walking distances so people can make their own plans.

Find suitable options without committing to a format

Browse profiles by category or send SmoothTour one event brief describing the location, date, audience and public-space constraints. Relevant suppliers may respond directly with availability or quotes, but responses are not guaranteed. SmoothTour is free for organisers and listed suppliers and does not add booking commission. The organiser and supplier agree any booking directly.