Coming up in January and February…
London International Mime Festival has returned for it’s 46th year, large and live, with 14 productions including 7 LIMF co-commissions, 5 exclusive festival-commissioned short films screening online, a special movie collaboration with the Barbican featuring Belgium-based physical comedy masters Abel & Gordon, post-show discussions, and workshops. Be sure to see Charmaine Childs / Strong Lady Productions with Power at Jacksons Lane from 28-30 Jan.
A spectacular year of events and activities will see Hadrian’s Wall come alive with culture, heritage and art in 2022, as the Hardrian’s Wall 1900 Festival launches on 24 Jan. Coordinated by Hadrian’s Wall Partnership, the year-long festival will include a contemporary artwork that uses the fabric of the landscape to create intrigue and wonder, a Japanese manga series bringing Roman history to life like never before, exhibitions and events for all the family, thought-provoking talks, food festivals, spell binding re-enactments, a Roman themed city of light and travelling Saturnalia celebrations.
A joyous celebration spanning the whole borough will launch Day One of the Lewisham Borough of Culture programme on 28 Jan. Events will be taking place on the hour, every hour across the borough, including live music at transport hubs, creative challenges and workshops, and a mass collective dance moment led by Alleyne Dance and IRIE! Dance theatre. Tomorrow head to Ebbsfleet for the Springhead Magical Winter Garden, a free festival of installations and performances inspired by light, from Cohesion Plus and Ebbsfleet District Council featuring Same Sky and The Show Globe, running 4pm-8pm.
Look out for Medway Light Nights, a free spectacular festival of light that will transform Rochester’s iconic buildings and spaces into works of art on 11 and 12 Feb. Medway Council and Emergency Exit Arts have commissioned local, national and internationally renowned artists to work alongside young people and communities to deliver an incredible event. Featuring If Not Now by Icon Theatre, Cuckoo Clock Cinema by 51zero, CROSSROADS by Lucid Creates, Peace Poems, Recovery Poems, The Hourglass, and The Dickensian Fire Laboratory by Emergency Exit Arts, Illuminarealities by students from the University of Kent, and the Lantern Parade by Cohesion Plus and Ideas Test.
Street performers, dancers and artists are set to light up the streets of Sutton-in-Ashfield for Light Night Ashfield on 11 and 12 Feb. Look out for giant illuminated walkabout puppets, an eight-metre light-up inflatable snail, spectacular light drummers, UV doodles, a glowing silent disco, an Invisible Man, and much more. Immerse yourself in a breath-taking festival of light at Nature Illuminated in London from 16 Feb. Using technology to bring the four seasons to life, the illuminated nature trail includes immersive soundscapes, mesmerising light displays, and artistic projections
GLOW in the Park will add some sparkle to February as Grove Park in Weston-super-Mare is transformed into a wondrous winter wonderland filled with glittering light installations and activities, running 17-19 Feb in partnership with Culture Weston and Weston Town Council. Featuring Arcadia’s Flaming Lampposts, Thingumajig Theatre’s Ghost Caribou, Laser Sky, Disco Ball Bandstand, Tree of Life lit up by pedal power, Swing Tree, the UK’s largest bug hotel with willow insects installation, community lantern trail, poetry soundscape projections, choral music, unexpected theatrical encounters including Weston’s ‘From the Mud’ and more! Also running 17-19 Feb, Love Light Norwich returns with stunning new installations, projections, and performances, for three days of exciting free experiences. Themed around love and belonging, this year’s festival includes The Bicycle Ballet Co, Pif Paf, Tim Davis, Kate Munro, Nick Azidis, Studio Vertigo, Amber Lights, Hamilton Ice Sculptors, Illuminos, Norwich Puppet Theatre, and many more.
Certain Blacks presents Shipbuilding Festival from 18-27 Feb, the final presentation in a year-long programme that has looked at what it means to be British in the 21st Century. The festival will feature Alleyne Dance with A Night’s Game, Richard Stamp with DICK – One Man in 100,000, Abstract Benna EP launch OUT OF DARKNESS, and Black Sheep by Livia Kojo Alour (formally MisSa Blue).
