A celebration of music, art, dance and film at GDST Multitude

Over 650 Year 9 girls from 17 schools and academies took part in the first ever GDST Multitude festival at Ipswich High School.

The festival was co-ordinated by a team of Sixth Formers and Year 9 girls at the school, with Assistant Head Co-curricular & Enrichment, Kay Extance in overall charge.

Camping in the extensive ground next to the River Orwell, the girls had the chance to take part in a wide range of activities:

• Dance workshops from the acclaimed Richard Alston Company and the Matthew Bourne Dance Company
• Drama workshops with Red Rose Chain/Theatre in the Forest
• Performance poetry
• Arts & crafts including plaster and clay casting and t-shirt and bag printing
• Face painting, hair braiding, manicures, glitter tattoos and more
• Fairground rides: a helter-skelter, bouncy castles and a Ferris wheel.

Bands and musicians entertained the girls on the main stage, and there were also open mic opportunities for the girls themselves to entertain their peers.

On the first night, girls enjoyed an outdoor film in the inflatable cinema – Miss Congeniality having won the movie vote. On the final evening, a spectacular fireworks display was followed by a silent disco.

The three-day festival was a great success – view our Storify for more photos and tweets from the event.

Our thanks and appreciation go to all the staff and girls at Ipswich High for being such excellent hosts, and in particular to Kay Extance, Barry Davies and the caretaking team, Sasha Glover, Lorraine Deville and of course the Head, Oona Carlin.