An elaborate drumroll by a colourful collection of characters has heralded the start of this year's Norfolk and Norwich Festival.
Passengers and passers-by were literally stopped in their tracks as members of French company Transe Express gave a surprise performance at Norwich Railway Station today to celebrate the arrival of the annual arts extravaganza which kicks off tomorrow.
Dressed in yellow and green, the quirky performers attracted quite a crowd as they marched with their drums around the station and gave people a taste of what is in store for the Festival Launch event which tomorrow night will see the city's streets transformed into a fantastical open air opera house.
Lead drummer Hocine told the crowds there would be lots more fun tomorrow night with an even bigger show and lots of surprises.
Norfolk and Norwich Festival director Daniel Brine said the festival was all about celebrating the city and county and that Transe Express's show was a wonderful way of opening NNF 2018 in spectacular style.
'Transe Express is going to be super exciting. They are so energetic and there is also an awe-inspiring end to the show, ' he said.
'It's a great thing because it moves right through the city. It will help us see the city in a different way and it's a lot of fun.'
He said there was also lots more for audiences to look forward to during the 17-day festival.
'It's a great festival for everyone, there's free outdoor events for the family but there's also fantastic and exciting theatre and music in lots of different spaces across the city. It's a festival to enjoy!' he said, adding that there was also more events to discover in the wider county.
Today's curtain-raiser event marked the festival's longstanding partnership with the region's train operator which is this year sponsoring the Sons of the Sea concert at St Andrew's Hall and Hofesh Shechter Company's Grand Finale at Norwich Theatre Royal.
Jonathan Denby, head of corporate affairs at Greater Anglia, said: 'We are really delighted to be here to mark our continuing partnership with the festival, a relationship that now stretches back 28 years to the naming of a locomotive back in 1990.'
The Festival Launch by Transe Express starts at 9pm tomorrow night at Cathedral Close.
For more information about all festival events, visit www.nnfestival.org.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here