BRIDGWATER has 7 twin towns in 7 countries -France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Malta, Italy, Portugal and the USA.

Every year all the twinning groups get together at the Bridgwater Arts Centre and put on a show showing what they’ve done, presenting films about their partner towns and outlining their plans for the months ahead.

The event is an open invite to anyone with an interest and that’s why it’s only £5 admission.

The show also features live music and dance from La Tarantella, from italy. Ilaria La Tarantella will take you on a journey through the South of Italy with some upbeat Tarantella. Ilaria said:“We will dance to the folkloric frenzied dance, the Pizzica, whose symbol is the Tarantula.

This is a healing dance and its origins seem to date back to pagan times.” Ilaria has a passion for dance, in particular for dances that are related to the power of healing through music.

She has been dancing Oriental dance for over 15 years and her love for folk dance has led her to go back to her Southern Italian roots. She studied in Italy with very knowledgeable teachers and learnt how to dance Pizzica Pizzica (from Apulia) and Tammurriata (from the Naples region). She adds “Today we will learn a little bit about the Pizzica Pizzica.” The show on Saturday 1st July, starts at 7.30, and the bar is open.

Petanque Friday

Petanque, the French game of boules, was invented in Bridgwater’s French twin town La Ciotat.

On Friday June 30 the Bridgwater Twinning groups will kick off Twinning Weekend with their third annual Petanque Tournament.

This will be held in  Victoria Park from 11:30 and will feature teams representing the 7 twin towns plus a GB team represented by Town Council staff.

The first tournament was won by the Czech Republic and the second by Portugal. Everyone is welcome to come on over to Victoria Park to see who will win the third