The National Theatre’s annual Watch This Space festival will take its free outdoor entertainment away from its usual home on the South Bank this summer, with everything from DJ hairdressing to acrobatic comedies set to entertain audiences in locations including Waterloo, Lambeth and Southwark.
The nine-week event, which runs from 27 June to 31 August, will be based at St John’s Church on Waterloo Roundabout, where attendees will be welcomed by dancers, musicians, aerialists, jugglers and acrobats performing in and around the churchyard.
The programme at the church caters for everyone from families to commuters, offering lunchtime music on the lawn, quick evening shows for those dashing to catch a train and days-out that all the family can enjoy.
The eclectic range of entertainment on offer at this year’s festival includes an artistic hairdressing show from Sienta La Cabeza, a nine-metre-long sow snuggling and snoring in The Whalley Range All Star’s Pig, two special readings of Tara Arts’ new radio plays and a Charlie Chaplin-inspired story of intrigue and jealousy from Bash Street Theatre.
Other highlights include a The Mobile Sewing Company’s combination of a WI sewing bee and an 80s rave on bicycles, New Orleans jazz with The Brass Volcanoes, and Words Of War, a series of readings from National Theatre company members that bring to life people’s experiences of World War I.
In addition to what’s on offer at St John’s Church, Watch This Space will also present a selection of pop-up shows in Lambeth and Southwark, often as part of existing festivals.
The touring shows, which are set to visit events including Lambeth Country Show, Waterloo Festival Fete and Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens Summer Festival, comprise Laitrum Teatre’s Micro-Shakespeare, Joli Vyann’s acrobatic comedy Crazy In Love!, contemporary street theatre from Kamchatka Companyia and Inspector Sands’ promenade audio-tour A High Street Odyssey.
Most events are free and un-ticketed but to find out more information visit the Watch This Space website.