Stockton town centre set to be transformed by dance flashmob
It's to celebrate visibility, creativity and Disability Pride Month
More than 100 learning disabled and neurodivergent people from around Teesside are set to transform Stockton town centre later.
A dance flash mob's being held between the fountain and the plinth from around 11am to celebrate visibility, creativity and Disability Pride Month, as part of the 'Our Stomping Grounds Festival 2026'.
The performance is co-produced by disabled-led company Little Cog, learning disabled theatre ensemble Full Circle, and ARC Stockton.
The event is set to be the largest flashmob of its kind delivered by the partners, bringing together participants from across Stockton, Teesside and the wider region in a public celebration of disabled culture, joy and presence in everyday civic space.
It also marks a significant return. Ten years ago, Little Cog, ARC and participants from the acclaimed 45 Days to Find My Way project staged a flashmob in Stockton High Street over Valentine’s weekend in 2016. A decade later, they return with a larger gathering and a clearer message about belonging, visibility and cultural leadership.
Founded in 2011 by Artistic Director Vici Wreford-Sinnott, Little Cog is a disabled-led production company creating theatre, participatory work and cultural programmes that centre disabled people’s stories, creativity and perspectives. The company works locally, nationally and internationally, with deep roots in Stockton and the North East.
Joining the project is Full Circle, Little Cog’s long-established learning disabled theatre ensemble, known for bold, physical and engaging performance work. Full Circle will also appear at this year’s Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) with their production The Market Inspector.
The flashmob launches Our Stomping Grounds Festival 2026, a programme celebrating the creativity, leadership and lived experience of learning disabled and neurodivergent people. Through performance and collective action, the festival aims to increase visibility and strengthen connections across communities.
Vici Wreford-Sinnott, Artistic Director, Little Cog, said:
“We’re excited to bring an even bigger flashmob of learning disabled people to Stockton High Street, ten years after our original one. It shows the growth of a thriving community of art made by disabled people.
"Taking place during Disability Pride Month, the flashmob responds directly to what learning disabled people tell us: they want to be out there, visible and part of public life. That is the theme of this year’s Our Stomping Grounds Festival, now in its fourth year and growing year on year.
"The festival began as a way to bring learning disabled and neurodivergent people together after the isolation of Covid. It was a vital reconnection and a celebration of learning disability culture.
"Learning disabled people do not want to be hidden away or feel afraid in their own town. Bringing more than a hundred people together in the heart of Stockton feels like a joyful way to make a clear statement about being visible, valued and celebrated.”
Full Circle said:
“It’s exciting because it feels like we’re being seen by more people and sharing our work with the world. We want to surprise the people of Stockton in a really positive way and can’t wait to see their reactions.
"We hope it makes people doing their shopping smile and maybe even stop and have a boogie. We hope people see that we’re talented performers and that it creates more opportunities for learning disabled people in the arts. We also hope it inspires others to join us. We want the town to be proud of us.
"The flashmob is a chance to involve lots of people who might not always get opportunities to take part, while The Market Inspector at SIRF showcases our professional work as an ensemble. It’s brilliant that learning disabled artists are programmed as part of an international festival, alongside the wider community.”
Alexander Ferris, Chief Executive and Creative Director, Arc Stockton, Said:
“We are so excited about this huge flashmob. Stockton is an incredible and creative town and the numbers of people wanting to get involved has been magnificent to see. Visibility and inclusivity in the arts matters and there are few people in the country who do it better than Little Cog and Full Circle. That’s why ARC Stockton are proud to be supporting this project – and would encourage anyone in Teesside to come down and join in the fun!”