A free 10-day rollercoaster of theatre, dance and spectacle
Midsummer and what’s best to do? Over 60 fantastic outdoor performances and events in Greenwich, Woolwich, Bethnal Green, Canary Wharf and Eltham as part of the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival – and you can see it all for free!
What’s on
Friday 24th June
The opening event on Friday 24 June at 10pm is The House, an outdoor spectacular marking 400th Anniversary of Inigo Jones masterpiece The Queens House in historic Greenwich. Expect fireworks, great music, dance, huge projections and aerial fun with the Sharon D Clark and the voice of Sir Ian MckKellen.
Pic via festival.org
Video Projection by Tal Rosner – Pic via festival.org
Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th June
Then over the weekend 25 & 26 June, Greenwich Fair spills out onto the streets with 30-odd productions for children and adults including dance, circus, theatre, street games, live art and mass dance participation including The Camper Van of Love, the opportunity to join in a step by step recreation of the audition scene from A Chorus Line and much much more. Take a journey through Greenwich and see great street performance as you go.
Ex Aequo Circus – Pic via festival.org
Tuesday 21st June till Friday 24th June
At the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 21-24 June, join French artist Olivier Grossetete to construct a huge building out of cardboard – and at the end of the festival help him knock it down!
Building out of cardboard by Olivier Grossetete – Pic via festival.org
Thursday 30th June & Friday 1st July
On 30 June & 1 July at 10pm Fantastic physical theatre, stilts, fire, puppetry and music in a spectacular show called Silence from Poland, whilst at Well Hall Pleasaunce in Eltham 5 days of family events called Moat Island is a daily outdoor arts adventure for under 12s.
Silence – Pic via festival.org
Friday 1 July
In Canary Wharf on 1st July discover international dance, from hip hop to classical dance, in the parks and piazzas with Dancing City, GDIF’s annual dance extravaganza. Includes dance in a 5-metre high three-dimensional sculpture of a head, dance featuring a vintage red phone box.
A giant sculptural head created by artist Pieter van de Pol – Pic via festival.org
Saturday 2nd July
And to round off the festival on Saturday 2nd July, Ignite is a day of fun outdoor events, including a herd of mechanical animals, rotating musicians and a performance on a 13-tonne digger. It’s followed by the spectacular festival finale – The Clash of Drums at Woolwich Artillery Barracks – a fantastic fusion of percussion and pyrotechnics to end with a bang!
Les Commandos Percu – Pic via festival.org
You can find the whole programme here.
What: Greenwich and Docklands International Festival 2016
When: 24 June – 2 July
Where: in various venues in Greenwich, Woolwich, Bethnal Green, Canary Wharf and Eltham
Cost: Free
