5 Unmissable Events As Queen Elizabeth Hall Reopens
The cranes and drills are moving on from Queen Elizabeth Hall at Southbank Centre to make way for over 100 events in the first two months.
The diverse programme includes literature, classical music, performance, dance, contemporary music and comedy, with 50% of the programme for free.
Here’s 5 highlights we’re most looking forward to:
1. Opening night concert from Chineke! Orchestra, Europe’s only majority-BME orchestra performing the world premiere of Dream Song, a new work written by Daniel Kidane which sets words from Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream…’ speech, 50 years to the date of his burial (9 April)
Chineke! Credit Eric Richmond and Joe Swift
2. The world-premiere of Cowpuncher, a dance and music performance created by acclaimed choreographer Holly Blakey and composer Mica Levi, with costumes by Vivienne Westwood (13 April)
Cowpuncher: Holly Blakey x Mica Levi
3. New monthly club night programme, Concrete Lates, showcasing live electronic music until 2am for the first time in the arts centre’s history. This new night will take place within the historic Queen Elizabeth Hall foyer, newly redesigned to accommodate a 1,000-capacity gigs space overlooking the River Thames. It will be the latest-opening regular gigs and DJ night on the South Bank, and feature an eclectic mix of cutting-edge artists and established names.
4. A new immersive exhibition Concrete Dreams bringing to life the creative spirit of the iconic arts venues through an audio-visual backstage journey designed by innovative theatre company KlangHaus and design practice LYN Atelier (10-29 April 2018). The exhibition culminates in a special three days of performances by artists who share a history with Southbank Centre’s venues, in a Concrete Dreams Weekend (27 – 29 April) including performances by Shiva Feshareki, Anna Meredith, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance, Rambert Dance, ZooNation and Tomorrow’s Warriors.
5. The gigs & contemporary music programme launches Friday 13 April with a packed weekend showcasing Southbank Centre’s commitment to nurturing and supporting new and cutting-edge talent (13-14 April). Acts include Afrobeat-pop newcomer Aadae, South London soul singer Tawiah, 18-piece big band Abstract Orchestra, modern minimalist Matt Emery, new jazz duo Skeltr and innovative multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and composer Hannah Peel with Tubular Brass.
What are you most looking forward to seeing at the newly revamped Queen Elizabeth Hall? Let us know in a comment below…
I am Joint Editor at To Do List. I like free, cheap & offbeat London, especially: cabaret, art, theatre, pop-ups, eating out, quirky films, museums, day trips, social enterprise & much more.
