Pinball wizards launch Degree Show at Coventry University

Coventry School of Art and Design kick started its annual Degree Show at the weekend with a game of "human pinball" in the city centre’s Broadgate Square.

Students and staff from the University surprised onlookers in the city centre with a giant inflatable pinball which formed part of a special musical performance by the city’s all female roller derby team, the Coventry City Derby Dolls.

Unsuspecting Saturday shoppers enjoyed impromptu dance routines by the Dolls who skated to the sounds of Elton John’s version of ‘Pinball Wizard’ from the 1975 hit rock opera ‘Tommy’. The Dolls also gave roller derby demos and Free Radio’s Street Stars provided the music, which all made for a great party atmosphere.

The celebration marked the launch of art and design students’ Degree Show 2013, which is set to exhibit the original work of the UK’s next generation of creative talent over several weeks at various city venues from Thursday 25th April.

Final year undergraduates in visual arts, design, music, fashion, dance, drama, media production and photography will be showcasing their work to the public at different locations across the city centre campus and at selected venues in London.

Everything from theatre productions and short films to cutting edge low carbon transport design solutions will be on show, alongside photography exhibitions and fashion shows.

A special app in the form of a pinball game has also been created to celebrate the launch of the Degree Show and is available to download from the App Store.

The dates and locations of each exhibition are as follows:

SPECTRUM 2013 (Performing Arts Festival) – COVENTRY

• Opening night – Thursday 25th April.
• Performance Festival – Monday 29th April to Friday 24th May.
• Venue – Ellen Terry and other local settings.
• Featuring a selection of dance, music and theatre performances, both live and on film, from Performing Arts students.

Catwalk Fashion Shows (one-off events) – LONDON/COVENTRY

• Friday 31st May, ‘Free Range 2013’, The Old Truman Brewery, London.
• Thursday 6th June, Square One (The Hub), Coventry.

Fashion Exhibition, Free Range 2013 – LONDON

• Staged as part of the ‘Free Range 2013’ event.
• Venue – The Old Truman Brewery, London.
• Dates – Thursday 30th May to Monday 3rd June.

Art, Design and Media exhibitions – COVENTRY

• Including Industrial Design, Photography, Media Production and Design and Visual Arts.
• Venues – Ellen Terry, Graham Sutherland and Maurice Foss buildings.
• Dates – Saturday 1st June to Thursday 6th June.

Art Week, Free Range 2013 – LONDON

• Held as part of the ‘Free Range 2013’ event.
• Venue – The Old Truman Brewery, London.
• Dates – Friday 28th June to Monday 1st July.

New Designers – LONDON

• Industrial Design exhibition, Business Design Centre, London.
• Dates – Thursday 4th July to Saturday 6th July.

Further information on Coventry School of Art and Design’s Degree Show 2013 can be found at the dedicated Degree Show website.


For further press information please contact Alex Roache, external press and media relations officer, Coventry University, on +44 (0)24 7765 5050 or email alex.roache@coventry.ac.uk.