SOUTH LONDON’S NATURAL BEAUTY / POP-UP OPERA – PICTURE GALLERY’S DEMENTIA PROJECT / STEVE HARLEY AND COCKNEY REBEL PLAY BERMONDSEY CARNIVAL
SOUTH LONDON’S NATURAL BEAUTY
(The Bandstand at the Horniman Museum and Gardens Photo copyright Max A Rush)
Atmospheric photographs of some of south London’s most beautiful parks, green spaces and natural areas go on display at the Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill tomorrow (Saturday).
Taken by London-based landscape photographer Max A Rush, the collection entitled South London Landscapes is on display from Saturday 23 May 2015 in the Horniman’s Gallery Square space.
The photographs, which include pictures of the Horniman Gardens, are taken in unusual and beautiful weather and capture how the passage of the seasons and the forces of the weather transform the appearance and character of the local landscape.
Max Rush says: “These are a few of my favourite locations around south London.
“I’ve continually returned to them over the years, watching the seasons pass and the elements batter, freeze and occasionally warm their well-worn faces.
“I’ve witnessed moments of transcendental beauty in familiar places and endeavoured to capture them as truthfully as I can. “So many people fight their way out of the city every week for the sake of nature, but perhaps what they’re looking for was here all along.”
Head of horticulture at the Horniman Wes Shaw says: “It’s great to see pictures of the Horniman Gardens in this collection of stunning photographs, reminding us how lucky we are to have so many areas of natural beauty around us.”
Areas featured in South London Landscapes are Brockwell Park, Crystal Palace Park, Dulwich Park, Dulwich Wood, Ruskin Park and the Horniman Gardens.
South London Landscapes can be seen from Saturday 23 May 2015. Entry to the display is free.
POP-UP OPERA – PICTURE GALLERY’S DEMENTIA PROJECT
Returning for its third year Dulwich Picture Gallery’s ground-breaking Visual to Vocal programme, in partnership with English Touring Opera, brings people with dementia, their families and carers together over ten weeks to take part in immersive and creative song-writing sessions.
In the most ambitious project to date, participants are writing and composing an opera inspired by the gallery which they will perform to the public in a special pop-up on 23 June.
The project echoes the central theme of this year’s Dementia Awareness week (17 – 23 May), #dosomethingnew, by enabling people in the early to mid-stage of the disease to enjoy valuable new experiences.
This year participants are developing a more dramatic and theatrical production with young people from Dulwich College.
Currently in their sixth week of the project, each member of the group has offered a personal response to the Gallery’s collection and history which has been translated into lyrics, music and theatre.
Carol from Nightingale House care home in South West London said: “it’s an enjoyable, fun experience and so very expressive. I’ve always known how good it is to sing and I always feel so good at the rehearsals.”
Pop-up performance
Tuesday 23rd of June, 3:30 pm.
Open to gallery visitors.
Full performance
Sunday 28th of June, 6:30 pm.
Invited audience
STEVE HARLEY AND COCKNEY REBEL PLAY BERMONDSEY CARNIVAL
Southwark Presents has announced its jam packed programme of family fun for summer 2015.
The season starts with Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel who will be headlining at Bermondsey Carnival on Saturday 4 July. Taking place in our beautiful Southwark Park, SE16. From 12pm to 8pm, this free family festival will be full of activities and performances for everyone to enjoy.
Bermondsey Beat in association with the Southwark Council’s events team will be bringing you a wide variety of top quality artists with music to suit all tastes. This year’s line-up includes a host of great bands and groups including 9 Below Zero, Mancie Baker, a Beatles tribute band, the Bermondsey Voices choir and for the first time in partnership with Focus Organisation; African music star Jo N’gala, rounded off by an unforgettable performance by Steve Harley. The South London born singer songwriter has released several hit albums that spawned many hit singles.
The entertainment continues at the Rotherhithe Festival on Saturday 11 July where visitors can enjoy music, entertainment and food at this wonderful, free local event run by volunteers taking place at King Georges Fields, SE16.
The Elephant and the Nun returns on Saturday 15 August, from 12pm to 8pm in Burgess Park, SE5. This large, free family festival features a weird and wonderful mix of events and activities guaranteed to capture the imagination of all ages. Expect fantastic performances from local artists and community groups on the main music stage, a dance stage, a children and family area, a food village, an African market, and a massive funfair. Last year over 10,000 people visited the festival, and this year promises lots of fun and eccentric entertainment right in the heart of Southwark.
This year’s festival will also welcome back Kinetika Bloco, a brilliant performance group that’s an exuberant mix of young brass and woodwind players, drummers, steel pan and dynamic dancers. Featuring young people from Southwark and Lambeth, you wont miss them as they don colourful costumes in their performance influenced by the Caribbean, Brazil, West and Southern Africa, New Orleans jazz, Funk and Hip Hop creating “unique new British Carnival sound with a decidedly London edge” (BBC Radio2).
Cllr Dora Dixon-Fyle, cabinet member for adult care, arts and culture, said: “Summer is always a great time to get out and about with your family and do something fun. Last year we had over 100 events and this year’s Southwark Presents summer events programme will be bringing you a whole lot more.
“We are committed to creating and supporting innovative, creative and community focussed cultural events throughout the year. There’s something for everyone this summer as we’ll have a great mix of events across borough. We want everyone to come along and enjoy what we’ve got planned.”
Blackfriars Road will be alive with activity as Blackfriars Stories returns from July, showcasing an array of events and activities that celebrate the area’s culture, heritage and history.
Live theatre show, Bouncing Cats and Boom Boom Pups will start on Thursday 9, Friday 10 and Saturday 11 July. Perfect for children aged ten and under, and their parents, the story is set in AnimaLand where the Bouncing Cats and Boom Boom Pups are two separate groups of friends expressing themselves through rap, graffiti, dance and making music. On a mirrored journey, they become aware of each other’s existence through their respective graffiti presence, before bumping into each other at the Canine Town crossroads. Unsure of each other at first, both groups take it in turns to do an impromptu performance to showcase their skills. Mutual respect is generated and they end up having a party together to celebrate their newfound friendship.
Gone in 20 minutes will also take place as a part of Blackfriars Stories on Friday 28 August. This partnership project, with additional funding from the Arts Council, features over 12 performances by six companies including an urban astronaut suspended 14 ft in the air, a contemporary dance piece focussing on visual impairment, a circus version of stomp with percussive dance, and an interactive performance around a machine.
Look out for something special in September as there will be a series of weekday early morning, lunchtime and afternoon happenings in unexpected places at unexpected times in the Blackfriars area. The history and character of Blackfriars Road will be celebrated through a part evocative bus journey, part site-specific theatrical experience. The story will be narrated by an actor on‐board the bus, on a journey that will come alive through a series of scenes taking place ‘live’ in action in various locations with actors, artists and musicians on the street.
For more information our upcoming events, please visit www.southwark.gov.uk/southwarkpresents/ and follow us on twitter @southwarkevents
Check out all the highlights of last year’s events programme with our YouTube video
