This spring, Plymouth’s Devonport will come alive with a unique free-to-access festival that will take families, residents and visitors on a captivating journey through 200 years of local history.
Building on experience delivering Illuminate and a significant £246,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Real Ideas is bringing an area of Devonport to life between the 27th of February to 2nd of March 2025 with the Dazzle event; a festival of light. It is the culmination of a series of projects marking the bicentennial of the area’s renaming and honouring its incredible transformation over the centuries.
The name "Dazzle" pays homage to Devonport and Plymouth's rich maritime heritage and the groundbreaking use of dazzle camouflage by the Royal Navy. Developed during World War I by marine artist Norman Wilkinson, “dazzle” was designed to confuse enemy submarines by distorting a ship’s size, shape, and direction. It broke from traditional camouflage by embracing bold geometric patterns and contrasting colours. In modern times, this historic technique has been reimagined as seen with HMS Tamar in 2020, which was painted in dazzle livery. The "Dazzle" festival celebrates this legacy of innovation, creativity, and Plymouth’s enduring connection to the sea.
What to expect at the event:
- A free four night Dazzle festival illuminating an area of Devonport in new ways
- Projection mapping inspired by Devonport’s dazzle camouflage and rich heritage, bringing the past to life
- Interactive light installations and soundscapes for all ages
- 360-degree immersive experiences at the Market Hall’s dome (the first-of-its kind in Europe)
- Roaming performance and more dazzling surprises!
The Dazzle festival will feature contributions from local community groups, schools, artists, and volunteers, ensuring that this is a celebration made by and for the people of Devonport.
From stunning light installations to immersive experiences, Dazzle will invite people to experience Devonport in a way they’ve never seen before. The Devonport Column, Market Hall and other areas will be transformed into canvases for storytelling using projection mapping, inviting audiences to see these sometimes overlooked historic buildings in new ways and deepen their understanding of the history attached to them.
The Devonport Towers, three residential towers built in the 1960s which are now home to approximately 300 people, will be projected with a spectacular light installation creating a stunning visual tapestry that’s both a celebration of the past and a vision for the future.
The whole family can enjoy this immersive experience, which is designed to inspire, inform, and ignite curiosity about this often-overlooked but vital part of Plymouth.
There will be an exhibition of portraits produced by children from Devonport, echoing the area’s long history of portraiture and its link to Joshua Reynolds, one of the founders of the Royal Academy. Audiences will also experience an interactive light installation created by City College Babcock apprentices, an immersive dome experience visualising how the physical landscape of Devonport has changed, and many other exciting installations.
Dazzle will illuminate Devonport’s fascinating history, from its humble beginnings as Plymouth Dock to the thriving community it is today. Included will be an opportunity to discover the incredible story of HMNB Devonport, Western Europe’s largest dockyard, brought to life in the cutting-edge 360 Dome at Devonport’s Market Hall. This immersive experience will unveil the dockyard’s rich heritage, its impact on Plymouth since 1824, and its exciting role in innovation today.
Lindsey Hall, CEO of Real Ideas, said,
“We are thrilled to be working with the community of Devonport and many local organisations, using the creative power of light and immersive art to bring its history to life in fun and surprising ways. This is an event that’s not just about the past, but about celebrating Devonport’s vibrant future. It’s about showing everyone – from long-time residents to first-time visitors – what makes this area so special.”
As part of Devonport’s bicentenary celebrations, young people are capturing the spirit of their community through written word. Year 9 students from UTC are taking part in creative writing and print workshops, guided by local writer Becky Hand. Their stories, poems, and memories about growing up in Devonport will be beautifully designed, illustrated, and printed locally at Ocean Studios, reflecting on the past and future of this remarkable area.
UTC English Teacher Lynette White said:
"It really was incredible—it was so lovely to see parts of Devonport we had never explored before. We all felt so inspired by Devonport, and it was lovely to see the students have pride in their community."
Writer Becky Hand said:
“I really enjoyed it, and I feel like I saw new things in Devonport that I haven't noticed before either.”
With the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Dazzle aims to change the way people see Devonport. Whether you’re a local or someone new to the area, the festival will offer an unforgettable opportunity to engage with and celebrate this historically significant part of Plymouth.
Stuart McLeod, Director of England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, commented,
“We are delighted to support this project, which thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, will mean that more people will be able to get involved with, protect, and learn about the exciting heritage right on their doorstep. Heritage has a huge role to play in instilling pride in communities and boosting local economies, and this project is a fantastic example of achieving those aims.”
Mark your calendars now, and stay tuned for more details on how you can be part of the action! Full event details will be available on www.devonport200.uk soon.