Thousands enjoy Norfolk and Norwich Festival’s opening spectacle

French company Transe Express led crowds through the city on a very special journey to celebrate the start of this year?s Norfolk and Norwich Festival. Picture: Nick Butcher. (Image: Archant)

Our fine city was transformed into an open air opera house full of music and song as a colourful cast of characters led thousands on a very special journey to celebrate the start of this year's Norfolk and Norwich Festival.

A playful troupe of drummers dressed in yellow and green were last night joined by giant singing dolls who together entertained the crowds as they moved from Cathedral Close and through the city's streets to The Forum where the audience was treated to a stunning aerial spectacle.

The show was performed by French company Transe Express and marked the official start to this year's annual arts extravaganza which is bringing 17 days of music, theatre, literature, art and more to the city and county. Other opening night festivities across the city last night included a Songs of the Sea concert at St Andrew's Hall, the show Billie Holiday at Carnegie Hall at Norwich Playhouse and the performances Passionate Machine and Talk in a Bit at Norwich Arts Centre.

Meanwhile earlier in the day yesterday an intriguing work of art appeared outside The Forum - a huge piggy bank simply known as Pig.

French company Transe Express led crowds through the city on a very special journey to celebrate the start of this year’s Norfolk and Norwich Festival. Picture: Nick Butcher. (Image: Archant)

The perspex money box will be on display throughout the festival, with people being invited to donate funds to the piggy bank and everybody being asked to help decide which good cause should benefit from the savings that accumulate.

A sign with Pig tells festival-goers: 'This is a community fund. You can contribute to it if you like, and when you've agreed how to spend it you can open me and spend it. #ThePig.'

The installation is the idea of artist Seth Honnor from production studio Kaleider.

Explaining the idea behind his work, he said: 'People, in my view, are generally good. What we do is create systems to ensure that remains the case.

French company Transe Express led crowds through the city on a very special journey to celebrate the start of this year’s Norfolk and Norwich Festival. Picture: Nick Butcher. (Image: Archant)

'When we remove those systems, we get scared that, somehow, people won't be good anymore. But people are amazing and ingenious - I can't wait to see what unfolds.'

Pig will be outside The Forum until May 27.

For more information about this and all the other Norfolk and Norwich Festival events, visit www.nnfestival.org.uk

For all the latest festival news and reviews, visit www.edp24.co.uk

French company Transe Express led crowds through the city on a very special journey to celebrate the start of this year’s Norfolk and Norwich Festival. Picture: Nick Butcher. (Image: Archant)

French company Transe Express led crowds through the city on a very special journey to celebrate the start of this year?s Norfolk and Norwich Festival. Picture: Nick Butcher. (Image: Archant)

A spectacular parade through the streets of Norwich to celebrate the launch of the 2018 Norfolk and Norwich Festival.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

A spectacular parade through the streets of Norwich to celebrate the launch of the 2018 Norfolk and Norwich Festival.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

A spectacular parade through the streets of Norwich to celebrate the launch of the 2018 Norfolk and Norwich Festival.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

A spectacular parade through the streets of Norwich to celebrate the launch of the 2018 Norfolk and Norwich Festival.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

A spectacular parade through the streets of Norwich to celebrate the launch of the 2018 Norfolk and Norwich Festival.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

A spectacular parade through the streets of Norwich to celebrate the launch of the 2018 Norfolk and Norwich Festival.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

A spectacular parade through the streets of Norwich to celebrate the launch of the 2018 Norfolk and Norwich Festival.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

A spectacular parade through the streets of Norwich to celebrate the launch of the 2018 Norfolk and Norwich Festival.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

A spectacular parade through the streets of Norwich to celebrate the launch of the 2018 Norfolk and Norwich Festival.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

A spectacular parade through the streets of Norwich to celebrate the launch of the 2018 Norfolk and Norwich Festival.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

A spectacular parade through the streets of Norwich to celebrate the launch of the 2018 Norfolk and Norwich Festival.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

A spectacular parade through the streets of Norwich to celebrate the launch of the 2018 Norfolk and Norwich Festival.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

A spectacular parade through the streets of Norwich to celebrate the launch of the 2018 Norfolk and Norwich Festival.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)