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 27th February to 2nd 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 event is taking place between 27th February - 2nd March and it will be starting at the Market Hall in Devonport. The festival will be open to all from 6:30pm onwards on 27th February and will continue from 5:30pm - 9.30pm daily until 2nd March 2025. It is free for all the family to enjoy, and there is no booking required.
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 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.
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.
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.
Key information
Road closures and traffic diversions
In preparation for Dazzle and to ensure the safety of all attendees, please be aware of the following temporary road closures which will be in place from 27th February to 2nd March 2025, between 4:30pm and 9:30pm:
● Ker Street (North side of Devonport Guildhall) will be closed to vehicular traffic during the event. Diversion: Traffic will be diverted via the south side of Ker Street by Devonport Guildhall.
● Mildren Way between the junction of Duke Street and Wall Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for the during the event. Diversion: Duke Street or Wall Street.
The closures are necessary to facilitate public safety during the festival. Real Ideas Organisation kindly ask for your patience and understanding during this time.
Travel information
There will be no event parking for visitors at Dazzle. Instead, Real Ideas Organisation are signposting visitors to the following options:
- A dedicated ‘Dazzle’ bus will be in operation by City Bus from Derry's Cross, passing a number of local carparks, to act as a park and ride for the event. The service will run from 5pm -10pm throughout the event.
- They are also encouraging people to park and walk from city centre carparks and Stonehouse creek carpark and use the other public transport services within the area.
- Bus – Bus routes to the Market Hall: 21/21A (Plymouth City Bus) or 14 (Plymouth City Bus, weekends only).
- Train – Closest train stations: Devonport or Plymouth.
- Bike – There is covered bike rack storage available at the Market Hall.
Please be aware that the installation of light displays and other event preparations may cause temporary traffic diversions and minor disruptions to public access. They aim to minimize any inconvenience, but you may experience occasional noise and changes to pedestrian routes as the event setup continues.
Sound
All audio connected to the installations on display will be switched off by 9.30pm each evening.
Accessibility
Market Hall - Wheelchair friendly entrance on the west side of the building. Accessible toilet facilities. Lift access to upper floors and an accessible bar.
Devonport Guildhall - Wheelchair friendly entrance on the east side of the building. Accessible toilet facilities. Lift access to upper floor.
Toilets - There are accessible toilets at Market Hall and Devonport Guildhall, there will also be an accessible toilet located at the third festival area. For further information whilst on site, please speak to a member of staff.
Quiet opening
A quiet opening will take place on 2nd March from 5:30-7:30pm to offer a more accessible and inclusive experience for visitors who may find loud sounds and busy crowds overwhelming.
