THE Stockton International Riverside Festival launched last night (Thursday) with Safe House, a large-scale performance by the contemporary arts organisation Metro-Boulot-Dodo.

Visual projections formed the backdrop to the show on Trinity Green as the company explored the significance of home and the importance of being part of a community. Acrobatic performers scaled the walls of a mysterious house, appeared out of windows, climbed onto the roof top and flew around as rooms, memories and characters were revealed.

SIRF 14 offers up to 30 individual shows a day from noon until 11pm.

This year’s themes include Outer Space, Great Explorers, The Big Bang and Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

Go to sirf.co.uk for more events, ticket and timings.