London’s largest outdoor arts festival, Greenwich and Docklands International Festival, kicks off on June 26 for ten days of (largely free) fun for all the family.
Among the long list of shows taking place in the royal borough and its neighbours across the river are nine shows making their UK premiere, 16 London premieres and one World premiere for one of its marquee events.
Here’s 7 things you shouldn't miss.
©XavierCantat
Kori Kori
From 8pm on Friday, June 26, in Greenwich.
Free
GDIF (as the cool kids call it) kicks off with a colourful street theatre procession featuring 18 actors and three musicians. It takes off from Cutty Sark Gardens and leads audiences through Greenwich ‘with an energising score of rock, waltz, tango and classical music’.
Picture: Danny Dawson
The Secret Princess of Severndroog
From 5pm on Thursday, July 2, and Friday, July 3, and 2pm and 5pm on Saturday, July 4, and Sunday, July 5 at Severndroog Castle.
Free.
Perfect for five to 11-year-olds, the special commission is an interactive fairy tale for the 21st century. Help free a princess from a spell which has her locked up in the castle. The tickets are free but there’s only a limited number so it is best to book at festival.org.
The Four Fridas
At 10pm from Wednesday, July 1, to Saturday, July 4, at the Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich.
Reserved seating costs £15 or £12 concessions.
GDIF’s big world premiere is a large-scale outdoor production that celebrates the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. It includes music and video from BAFTA winners Tal Rosner and Dan Jones, aerial performance, dance, music and narration to tell the dramatic story of an iconic artist.
Walk Walk
Throughout Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, in Greenwich Park.
Free.
Part of the festival’s Greenwich Fair collection of events, the 75 minute family show will see audiences accompanied by Saskia from the Grand National Guild of True Hiking into the depths of the forest in. Just make sure your guide doesn’t lose her way. Again, it’s free but there’s limited capacity. You can book at the venue.
Teavolution
Throughout Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
Free.
A tongue-in-cheek walkabout show celebrating 100 years of the Women’s Institute and mixing up song, storytelling, audience interaction and acro-balance.
Dynamite and Poetry
At 2.50pm and 5.20pm on Saturday, June 27, and 1.50pm and 4.20pm on Sunday, June 28 at Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
Free.
The London premiere of a jaw-dropping acrobatic show which features four acrobats, humour, poetry and an explosive twist.
451
From 10pm on Saturday, June 27, at Bethnal Green Gardens
Free
A spectacular, immersive performance set in a society where reading is banned and books are burned. The staging moves, the score is emotionally compelling and there are, of course, pyrotechnics.
Find out more at festival.org
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