We began as a group of friends spinning fire together as the FireWorks Collective in Nottingham in 2002. We were approached to spin at a student ball, and shared £75 (and a few burns) between the three of us. The Collective then grew and grew: we began performing for festivals, choreographing larger and more elaborate performances.

In other lives some of us were already building and designing - from conservatories to clothing, skateboard ramps to theatre sets. Inspired by festivals in Europe and South America, in 2007 we pulled together fire and design to build a 40ft hand, laden with fireworks and floating on a lake. In 2008 this became a 50-foot pirate ship stage, home to DJs and 200 revellers, torched by flaming arrows and javelins sent in by invading Vikings, ablaze in a spectacular fire display ringed by 120 fire performers and 200 floating lanterns.

Fire unites everything we do: story, sculpture and performance.

We’re busy planning towers, beanstalks and flaming temples among a whole host of other surprises. You can find us at many of the UK festivals this summer, and as always at the Secret Garden Party.