Coming up this November: A family friendly carnival, celebrations of Indian dance and European theatre-makers and an arts festival to commemorate First World War Centenary

We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to this time of year. But in the run-up to the festive season, before the Scrooges meet their ghosts and the panto dame dons her fantastic frocks, there are fringe festivals and events for theatre-lovers of all ages programmed across the capital, each giving us a taste of other cultures, languages and artistic practices. 

Voila! European Festival

Billed as a “border-busting” theatrical event, this 12-day festival presents a programme of multi-lingual, multicultural, multidisciplinary shows from theatre-makers across the UK and Europe. Since 2012, Voila! has been supporting artists in making original work, championing creative risk-taking and providing a platform for debate, with a particular focus on exploring what it is to be European – something that has attained a new relevance since the outcome of the Brexit vote – while at the same time challenging stereotypes. This year’s festival sees a line-up of 41 shows from 200 artists telling universal stories, featuring circus, dance, comedy and drama, as well as workshops and panel discussions for both audiences and creatives.

Voila! European Festival is at various venues across London from 5^th until 18^th November 2018. For further information or to book an event visit the festival website here.

ROH Remembers at the Royal Opera House

Photo: Tracey Bush

To mark the Centenary of the end of the First World War, the Royal Opera House are putting on a one-day immersive arts festival. The event is part of the theatre’s Month of Sundays series and, at just £5 a ticket, is aimed at people of all ages who will get to see pop-up performances of opera and ballet, including a rehearsal of The Royal Ballet’s The Unknown Solider, which will premiere at the ROH at the end of November, and an extract from Wayne Eagling’s new ballet Remembrance. In an event that will get you exploring artistic responses to the Great War, there will also be a gender-neutral, family friendly tea dance, poetry, poppy-making and dance workshops.

ROH Remembers is at the Royal Opera House on 11^th November 2018. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Brat Kids Carnival in Leicester Square

Photo: Kate Pardey

An event for all the family, Brat Kids Carnival is full of mischief, puppets, naughty clowns, acrobatics and circus skills. This 45-minute show has been designed by Australian physical performance company Briefs Factory especially for younger audiences, even getting them up on stage to express themselves through dance. The show will run on Saturdays and Sundays from 10^th November, with extra matinee performances from Wednesday to Friday during December. Promising to be full of music, noise, silliness and joy, this family friendly carnival is perfect for anyone who is mad about the circus.

Brat Kids Carnival is at Leicester Square Spiegeltent from 10^th November until 30^th December 2018. For further information or to book visit the event’s website here.

 Darbar Festival at Sadler’s Wells

Following on from events at the Southbank Centre and the Barbican showcasing Indian Classical Arts including music and performance, Akram Khan is curating a set of kathak, bharatanatyam and odissi dances at Sadler’s Wells. Two pieces, An Evening of Bharatanatyam and Adventures in Odissi and Kathak will showcase some of the oldest dance styles in the world, and these duets and solos will be performed by classically trained and acclaimed dancers. Over the weekend, there will also be a workshop with international bharatanatyam soloist Mavin Khoo on improvisation and storytelling ideas and an In Conversation event with Akram Khan on choreographing work using contemporary dance and classical Indian dance.

Darbar Festival is at Sadler’s Wells from 23^rd until 24^th November 2018. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

The editorial unit