A playful and poignant new artwork inviting young people and families to play, explore, and connect in fun and unexpected ways will be a part of The Full Shebang Festival in Mansfield.

The P.O.P. is a nostalgic reimagining of the classic British post office and is being created by Buxton-based outdoor theatre specialists the Babbling Vagabonds, in collaboration with young people from Boza Youth, Bolsover’s volunteer-run youth club for 11 to 17 year-olds.

It will be packed with hands-on features such as drawers to explore, noticeboards to read, and compartments brimming with surprises. Visitors will be invited to pen postcards of positivity and letters to their future selves, with prompts that spark conversations around hope, wellbeing, aspirations, and what it means to live a good life.

Costumed characters from the Department of Dreams will roam the festival, animating the space with skits, games, and interactive encounters.

Jemma Burton, project manager at Junction Arts, said: “The young people were instrumental in selecting The Babbling Vagabonds and shaping the direction of the project. They wanted something that spoke to their age group — something fun, creative, and inspiring. The P.O.P. is all of that and more, a space for positive expression and joyful interaction.”

Steph Andrews, project coordinator at First Art, said: “It’s so important to have artwork that is relevant to local communities, that represents local voices.”

Now in its sixth year, The Full Shebang Festival, a free event on Saturday, 6th September, will brings some of the UK’s best outdoor arts to Mansfield town centre. A free one-day arts festival for all ages, it has a strong emphasis on accessibility and inclusion, and aims to surprise with a mix of outdoor performance, circus, dance, street theatre, and more.