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SUMMERTIME AT : FROM NORDIC AND BALLET TO CIRCUS AND SEA SHANTIES PROGRAMME ANNOUNCEMENT JUNE–AUGUST 2017

Summertime comes to Southbank Centre this June, with the unveiling of a new three month ​ programme across its site- featuring over 40 lively events and spectacles for all ages, from contemporary circus, street performances and world-renowned dance and theatre to pop-up ​ ​ gigs, summer banquets and markets and a Finnish screaming men’s choir.

Pop-up: Swedish Folk Song with Akervinda, Circus Cirkor (Photographer: Mattias Edwall), Jeppe Hein's ​ ​ fountain Appearing Rooms (Photographer: Belinda Lawley), Snog Bus (Image Credit: Victor Frankowski), ​ ​ Urban Beach (Image Credit: Victor Frankowski) ​

Southbank Centre’s Summertime programme will showcase free outdoor gigs - with a brand ​ new outdoor stage, immersive installations such as the Gnome King, a large-scale ​ ​ ​ wooden sculpture (2.5m x 8.45m x 4.5m), and a feast of food stalls at its riverside marketplace, as well as stellar performances from world-renowned dance and theatre ​ companies. English National Ballet return after nine years with the 40th anniversary of ​ Nureyev’s award-winning production of Romeo and Juliet and English National Opera ​ ​ present a concert staging of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius in the with ​ ​ concept, design and staging by Lucy Carter and conducted by Simone Young.

Summertime explores Nordic arts and culture - as part of Southbank Centre’s continuation of its year-long Nordic Matters programme throughout 2017, with events ranging from a ​ ​ traditional summer Swedish Crayfish Feast long-table on Southbank Centre’s ​ ​ ​ riverside to a new performance by Iceland Dance Company. Sacrifice is the UK premiere of ​ ​ ​ ​ Iceland Dance Company's collection of four brand new creations exploring the relationship between art, religion and rituals by artists Matthew Barney, Erna Ómarsdóttir, Ragnar Kjartansson, Gabríela Friðriksdóttir and Valdimar Johannsson. Circus Cirkör, Scandinavia's ​ ​ leading circus company, will be performing their UK premiere of Limits showcasing colourful ​ Nordic contemporary circus performance. Swedish Folk Group Åkervinda brings a ​ ​ summery pop-up and the Huutajat Finnish screaming men’s choir host a unique workshop ​ as part of Southbank Centre’s Chorus Festival. ​ ​ ​

Southbank Centre will also be incorporating some of its more quirky events in Summertime ​ including Prurience, Christopher Green’s immersive theatre fictional self-help group, ​ ​ researched using interviews from neuroscientists at the Wellcome Collection, Ceilidh Till’ ​ Sundown, and Reggaeoke where the public can take the mic and sing with a live band. ​ ​ ​ ​ Audiences will once again be transported to more exotic climes with Southbank Centre's urban beach and Jeppe Hein's fountain Appearing Rooms, outside the Royal Festival ​ ​ ​ ​ Hall.

To celebrate Southbank Centre’s heritage this Summertime, the sculpture The Sunbathers, ​ ​ ​ ​ made for the opening of the in 1951, will be re-installed and unveiled at Southbank Centre on 5 July 2017. The piece was made by Peter Laszlo Peri, the ​ ​ Hungarian artist who fled Nazi Germany for Britain, becoming a British citizen in 1939. The ​ Sunbathers had been lost for over 50 years but was recently found as a result of a call out by Historic England. ​ ​

There are six themed weekends of Summertime fun from 22 July - 28 August: Tomorrow’s ​ ​ ​ Warriors, British Summertime, Jazz Re:Fest & Live Music Acts, Social Dancing, ​ ​ Nordic Feast - Crayfish and Urban, combining the new outdoor music stage and art ​ ​ installations alongside the much-loved Southbank Centre riverside. The marketplace opens ​ from 15 May - 24 September and brings together pop-ups such as The BBQ Club on the ​ ​ Queen’s Walk next to Waterloo Bridge, created by former City worker turned chef Jimmy ​ ​ ​ Garcia, known as the ‘pop-up king’. This will be alongside The Hop Locker (voted Best ​ ​ ​ ​ Bar/Pub for Waterloo and Southwark in the Time Out Love Awards) which will be ​ selling craft beers and specially imported Nordic beers, as well as Oh My Dog, Bleecker ​ ​ ​ Burgers and the Snog Bus. ​ ​ ​

In events to mark Refugee Week (19-25 June) Southbank Centre partners with ​ Counterpoints Arts across a theme of ‘Different Pasts, Shared Futures’, inviting ​ ​ organisations such as London-based charity Women for Refugee Women and Guardian ​ ​ ​ Award Winners Music Action International, working with refugees and asylum seekers to ​ ​ run workshops for all ages.

Highlights of Summertime: ● Cirkus Cirkӧr: Limits - sees Scandinavia's leading contemporary circus company ​ ​ ​ push performance boundaries with their voice as an advocate for crossing boundaries growing stronger in light of the world’s ever-tightening borders, and the consequences that closed borders bring in their wake. ● Iceland Dance Company present the UK premiere of Sacrifice, a collection of four ​ ​ ​ new commanding creations exploring the relationship between art and religion. Inspired by the idea of the ritual as an essential part of life, Sacrifice takes over the ​ ​ Royal Festival Hall space in a celebration of dance, art and music where audiences move from one space to the next, experiencing a different ritual in each place. No ​ Tomorrow, one of four new creations, by performance and visual artist Ragnar ​ ​ Kjartansson and choreographer Margrét Bjarnadóttir, focuses on the idea of youth ​ ​ ​ with a group of dancers with acoustic guitars and music by The National's Bryce ​ Dessner. ​ ● English National Ballet performs the world’s greatest love story, Romeo and Juliet, ​ ​ on the Royal Festival Hall stage, choreographed by Rudolf Nureyev, with ​ ​ Prokofiev’s exhilarating score performed by English National Ballet Philharmonic. ​ This run marks the 40th anniversary of Nureyev’s award-winning production created ​ ​ especially for English National Ballet in 1977 to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee (1 – 5 August) ● Swedish Crayfish Feasting - Every August, Swedes take to the outdoors for a traditional crayfish party, enjoying the best of their seasonal seafood. This summer, London audiences will be able to join in and enjoy a big banquet feast on Southbank Centre’s riverside, learn Swedish songs and be able to get involved with free crafting to make their own crayfish bib. ● Chorus: Choirs from every Nordic Country including: Huutajat, the Finnish ​ ​ ​ screaming men’s choir will perform as part of Nordic choir pop-ups and will be also hosting a workshop, and Surrounded by Strangers by South Iceland Chamber ​ ​ Choir addresses themes of loneliness and alienation in our increasingly busy, hyper-connected world, through an installation. Audience members are invited to wander through the performance space. ● English National Opera presents a concert-staging of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius ​ ​ conducted by Simone Young with concept, designs and staging by Lucy Carter - part ​ of their summer of work at other venues around London ● Prurience by Christopher Green takes us on a witty immersive theatre experience, a fictional self-help group, taking a wry look at how we consume sex and pornography. ● The BBQ Club - London’s pop-up king, Jimmy Garcia, brings his largest and most ​ ambitious residency to date to Southbank Centre. The split-level, riverside Summer eatery promises a walk-up BBQ Club, showcasing gourmet dishes straight from the grill and the more intimate BBQ Club rooftop dining experience, set against the stunning backdrop of London’s River Thames. Bookings via: https://the-bbq-club.designmynight.com/ ​ ● KlangHaus: 800 Breaths - Klanghaus return with their much anticipated new ​ multi-sensory encounter of shifting sound, colour and light, created by art rock band The Neutrinos and visual artist Sal Pittman in Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall.

Refugee Week (18-25 June 2017) ​ For the third year running, Southbank Centre and Counterpoints Arts come together to celebrate Refugee Week 2017 around the theme of 'Our Shared Future'.

● For the last day of M.I.A’s Meltdown Festival, enjoy bands with stories from ​ ​ around the world in an outdoor afternoon of music. Including Everyday People, an amazing new ensemble for young people brought together by Music Action ​ International partnering up with Brighter Sound and Farhood who fled from Iran in ​ 2011 due to his political activities. His lyrics have a strong foundation in traditional Persian and modern street languages, and Farhood has been working with grime music producers for his live performance set. ● Mobile installation Refugees Welcome, by artist Alketa Xhafa Mripa, explores how ​ ​ a Luton tail lift van is a potent symbol of border crossings braved by refugees. The interior of the van has been revamped with soft furnishings and visuals evoking the ‘British Welcome’, including vintage armchairs, a rug and a coffee table that holds the offer of ‘Tea with a Refugee’. ● Gift Giving: printmaking sessions with young refugees - Artists Afshin Dehkordi and Saeed Taji Farouky collaborate with a group of young refugees and asylum-seekers to give voice to social meaning and demonstrate its loss through basic printmaking techniques. ● Hear Her Sing offers audiences the chance to learn songs inspired by a Hayward Gallery project by artist Charwei Tse, created in collaboration with participants from Women for Refugee Women and women at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre. ● Borderline: A comedy about tragedy Evokes a satire on the Calais Jungle, ​ devised by an ensemble of European and refugee performers.

Chorus Festival (1-2 July 2017) ​ ​ Chorus festival is Southbank Centre’s annual festival celebrating the power of the voice. Spanning opera, performance, music, and workshops, Chorus festival this year has a strong ​ ​ Nordic theme in line with Southbank Centre’s year long exploration of Nordic arts and culture Nordic Matters. Chorus festival is curated by Southbank Centre’s year-round vocal ​ programme, Voicelab, and all audiences are welcome. Over 50% of the programme is free. During the festival thousands of singers come together to celebrate the spirit of communal singing, with over 50 community choirs performing throughout the weekend.

● Huutajat Finnish screaming men’s choir showcase their unique bold style in Nordic choirs pop ups as well as hosting a workshop. ● Emily Peasgood’s Lifted, creates a lift-based performance piece which audiences ​ ​ can experience on various levels of Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. The choir is formed of Southbank Centre’s Voicelab and members of the public who have applied online. ● Alongside English National Opera’s concert-staging of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ audiences can delve deeper with a Know The Show workshop, and sing alongside ​ ​ the ENO Chorus in a free Big Sing on the Terrace. ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Rachel Mars performs the hilarious and dark show Our Carnal Hearts, and invites ​ ​ audiences to join in with Sing It! Spirit of Envy. ​ ● Swedish Folk singers Ӓkervinda bring a strong and unique interpretation to Swedish ​ ​ Folk. ● Surrounded by Strangers by South Iceland Chamber Choir addresses themes of ​ loneliness and alienation in this increasingly busy, hyper-connected world through an installation. Audience members are invited to wander through the performance space.

Press images can be found here and full listings are available below. ​ ​ ​

For press information and interviews, please contact: Rebecca Simpson, Press Manager, Southbank Centre: 020 7921 0967 / [email protected] or Naomi Burgoyne, Senior Press Manager, ​ Southbank Centre: 020 7921 0824 / [email protected] ​

#ENDS#

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Southbank Centre Southbank Centre is the UK’s largest arts centre, occupying a 21 acre site that sits in the midst of ​ London’s most vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames. The site has an extraordinary creative and architectural history stretching back to the 1951 Festival of Britain. Southbank Centre is home to the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and Hayward Gallery as well as The National Poetry Library and the Arts Council Collection. For further information please visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk. Southbank Centre is carrying out vital restoration ​ ​ ​ work on the Hayward Gallery, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room to make the buildings fit for future generations to enjoy, more information can be found here: southbankcentre.co.uk/letthelightin ​

About Nordic Matters ​ Nordic Matters is a year-long festival of Nordic art and culture in 2017 at London's Southbank Centre, ​ featuring music, dance, theatre, visual arts, participation, talks and debates, and gastronomy. Chosen from a number of international applicants, Southbank Centre is the sole recipient of a grant from The Nordic Council of Ministers for a new festival celebrating the very best of Nordic art and culture throughout 2017 – one of the biggest cultural-political partnerships of its kind. A particular emphasis will be placed on the idea of play fostering curiosity and creativity, for people of all ages but especially children and young people. Moving beyond popular perceptions of ‘Nordic Noir’ the programme is designed to embed Nordic culture and artists in Southbank Centre’s year-long artistic offer and offer a platform to some of the more ‘hidden voices’ from Greenland, Åland and the Faroe Islands. www.southbankcentre.co.uk/nordicmatters

FULL LISTINGS OF EVENTS BY SOUTHBANK CENTRE AREA:

Indoor performances:

Link to listings for INTERNATIONAL LEADERS IN PERFORMANCE AND DANCE JOIN ​ SOUTHBANK CENTRE’S SUMMER PROGRAMME

Other performances: Pop-up: Swedish Folk Song with Åkervinda 1 Jul 2017 (run time: 15 mins), 7:00 pm, Riverside Terrace, Level 2, outside Royal Festival Hall, Free ​ ​ Hear the results of the Swedish folk song workshop with a cappella group, Åkervinda. Enjoy their unique and modern interpretations of traditional folk songs performed by singers participating in Chorus festival. ​

Marketplace & Pop-ups (15 May - 24 September): ● BBQ Club and Bar - Jimmy Garcia has opened pop-ups all across London with a variety of ​ concepts and now he's back with the BBQ Club and Bar at the Southbank Centre. Bookings via: https://the-bbq-club.designmynight.com/ ​ ● SNOG - this original 1967 Routemaster serves delicious freshly-made, natural and fat-free ​ organic frozen yogurt. ● The Hop Locker - Voted Best Bar/Pub for Waterloo and Southwark in the Time Out Love ​ ​ ​ London Awards. ● Oh My Dog! - Hot dog hotshots Oh My Dog! have made it their mission to make you forget ​ ​ ​ everything you once knew about hot dogs and introduce you to a whole new world of hot dog goodness. ● Bleecker Burger - A star of London’s buzzy street food scene, Bleecker Burger is famed for ​ the Bleecker Black which bagged the top prize in the London Burger Bash 2014.

Indoor Installations: ● The Gnome King 3 Jul 2017 - 30 Aug 2017, Blue Display Space 2 - Level 2, Free ​ ​ In this exhibition, Kalle Mustonen showcases his intriguing large-scale wooden sculpture Gnome King (2.5m x 8.45m x 4.5m), which visitors are invited to view inside the shed-like ​ hideaway. The Gnome King is both based on a story from Finnish folklore and reminiscent of ​ ​ a certain variety of garden ornament. ● Jens L Thomsen: Nord 1 July - 30 August, Green side foyers, Level 5, Royal Festival Hall, Free ​ ​ Based in London but originally from the Faroe Islands, Jens L Thomsen has created a site-specific soundscape in Level 5 of Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. This soundscape brings together and embodies the unifying traits of the Nordic region. Each individual sound has been collected through an open call for 'sample sounds' from throughout the region. Thomsen is also the founder of ORKA, a band that has released six albums and ​ ​ crafted their own handmade instruments out of agricultural tools on a small farm in the Faroe Islands, yet produce a hard, cathartic electronic sound that has earned them two nominations for the Nordic Council Music Prize. ​ ● Marianne Heske Dolls Heads - Caught in a web ​ ​ 1 July - 30 August, Lift Lobby Blue - Level 4 ​ ​ Explore social roles around the world through Norwegian artist Marianne Heske’s display of dolls’ heads. ● HUR - a Roxy Farhadt Film 1 Jul 2017 - 25 Jul 2017 (Approx run time: 780 mins), Green Display Space 3 - Level 2, Free ​ ​ Farhat has worked closely with the HUR youth organisation in the neighbourhood of Holma in , a modernist housing estate created during the 1960s as part of the national ‘Million Programme’ (Miljonprogrammet) of extensive housing construction. ● Submit to Love Studios Present Us Lot 3 Aug 2017 - 23 Aug 2017, Green Display Space 2 - Level 2 ​ ​ Submit to Love Studios bring their creative space to Southbank Centre this summer. The studios are home to a collective of self-taught artists, all of whom have survived brain injuries. These artists have developed a distinctive set of practices and interests, refined over more than a decade. Submit to Love Studios are based at Headway East London in Hackney, a local charity providing specialist support and services to survivors of brain injury and their families. ● The Sunbathers by Sculptor Peter Laszlo Peri ​ 1 July (opening/unveiling of sculpture) - 30 August 2017, Blue side foyers, Level 2, Royal ​ ​ Festival Hall, Free Join us for an afternoon of activities inspired by Peter Laszlo Peri’s sculpture ‘The Sunbathers’, This original Festival of Britain artwork was designed in 1951 and has made its return to the Royal Festival Hall. Since making a public call for missing works of public art last year, Historic England made a remarkable discovery. Most of the art created for the Festival of Britain has sadly been lost or destroyed, but with the public's help The Sunbathers was ​ ​ tracked down to the garden of The Clarendon Hotel in Blackheath, London.

Outdoor Installations: ● Southbank Centre Urban Beach ● Appearing Rooms fountain ​ ● Jeppe Hein’s Modified Social Benches ​ ● Mark Titchner’s kaleidoscopic Love Flags, which melt against the sky and spell out love

Outdoor Festival Stage: Exhibiting a wide range of artists from across the world and the local community hosting performances and events to fit with the six themed weekends: 1. Tomorrow’s Warriors & Gamelan (22-23 July) - ​ ​ ​ Tomorrow's Warriors Junior and Youth Bands 22 Jul 2017 (45 mins), 12:00 pm, Riverside Terrace, Level 2, outside Royal Festival Hall, ​ ​ Free Kicking off the show will be the TW Junior Band – a quintet ranging in age from 12–15 – followed by the older TW Youth Ensemble, aged 16–19. Both groups have been much in demand for and gigs across London this year, and demonstrate the great work being achieved by TW’s team of acclaimed music leaders. Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, Tomorrow’s Warriors support young jazz musicians from diverse backgrounds on their journey to becoming professional performers. Tomorrow’s Warrior’s Intergenerational Big Band 22 Jul 2017 (60 mins), 4:15 pm, Riverside Terrace, Level 2, outside Royal Festival Hall, ​ ​ Free Together with some special guests from the Vintage Warriors and TW alumni, the Tomorrow’s Warriors Youth Jazz Orchestra brings big band magic to Southbank Centre for a one-off set of new and familiar tunes. MOBO Award-winning Binker Golding leads the performance. Tomorrow’s Warrior’s StringTing 22 Jul 2017 (20 mins), 3:30 pm, Riverside Terrace, Level 2, outside Royal Festival Hall, ​ ​ Free StringTing provides a vehicle for the best young string players drawn from Tomorrow’s Warriors’ new String Development Programme. Mentored by Tomorrow’s Warriors artistic director Gary Crosby OBE, StringTing performs a broad range of jazz repertoire.

Tomorrow's Warriors Female Collective 22 Jul 2017 (30 mins), 1:00 pm, Riverside Terrace, Level 2, outside Royal Festival Hall, ​ ​ Free Hear a showcase of young female jazz talent from Tomorrow's Warriors. Part of Tomorrow’s Warriors Emerging Artists programme, the collective focuses on developing girls and young women into strong, confident players and preparing them for careers as professional jazz musicians.

2. British Summertime (29-30 July) ​ ​ Songs of the Sea 29 Jul 2017 (90 mins), 4:30 pm, Riverside Terrace, Level 2, outside Royal Festival Hall, ​ ​ Free Maritime music and songs of the sea, you can learn some simple songs whatever your age or singing ability is. The Wind and the Sun 29 Jul 2017 - 30 Jul 2017 (30 mins), Riverside Terrace, Level 2, outside Royal Festival ​ ​ Hall, Free A two-person outdoor circus theatre show that celebrates the British weather, by way of Aesop’s fable. Seaside Sundown DJs 30 Jul 2017 (210 mins), 3:30 pm, Riverside Terrace, Level 2, outside Royal Festival Hall, ​ ​ Free Hear DJs play strange and wonderful songs of the sea as dusk falls on Festival Terrace. Suitable for all ages.

3. Jazz Re:Fest and series of Live Music Acts (5-6 August) ​ ​ Jazz Re:Fest 6 Aug 2017 12:00 pm, The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, Free ​ ​ Now celebrating its 5th year with Jazz Inspired music and alternative culture, created by music & arts organisations featuring 8 live performances, with over 50 musicians, artists and DJ’s. Reggaeoke 5 Aug 2017 (run time 120 mins), 1:00 pm, Riverside Terrace, Level 2, outside Royal Festival ​ ​ Hall, Free Kicking off an action packed day of amazing music, live bands and singing and dancing for all, Southbank Centre’s Summertime presents Reggaeoke **LIVE** South London Soul Train Takeover 5 Aug 2017 (run time 330 mins), 3:30 pm, Riverside Terrace, Level 2, outside Royal ​ ​ Festival Hall, Free CLF Art Cafe/Bussey Building founder, Mickey Smith: a 25-year DJ veteran renowned for his highly charged good-time sets of soul, funk, groove and much more.

4. Social Dancing, DJs and Performance (12-13 August) - A weekend celebrating the joy of ​ ​ ​ dance. There’s no need to bring a partner and no previous dancing experience is necessary. Dancing All Over The World 12 Aug 2017 (run time: 330 mins), 12:00 pm, Riverside Terrace, Level 2, outside Royal ​ ​ Festival Hall, Free The weekend features workshops at which you can learn new moves, plus chances to watch performances from international community dance groups. Ceilidh ‘Till Sundown’ 12 Aug 2017 (run time: 240 mins), 6:00 pm, Riverside Terrace, Level 2, outside Royal ​ ​ Festival Hall, Free On Sunday the terrace will be transformed into a ballroom for a rip-roaring Ceilidh all the way till sundown. Learn the steps of this Gaelic tradition of folk music and dancing from ceilidh callers, while a host of musicians keep you in time.All levels of dance ability welcome. Strictly Southbank 13 August 2017 (run time: 300 mins), 12:00 pm, Riverside Terrace, Level 2, outside ​ Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Free Inclusive and accessible ballroom workshops finishing with a celebratory Social Dance.

5. Swedish Summertime (19-20 August) - A weekend where you can learn Swedish songs, ​ ​ make a crayfish bib and listen to live music.

Swedish Crayfish Feasting, 19-20 August, Riverside Terrace Level 2 outside Southbank ​ ​ Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, £20 Every August, Swedes take to the outdoors for a traditional crayfish party, enjoying the best of their seasonal seafood. This summer, London audiences will be able to join in and enjoy a big banquet feast on Southbank Centre’s riverside, learn Swedish songs and be able to get involved with free crafting to make their own crayfish bib. Devour crayfish, cheese, bread and salads in a long-table banquet, accompanied by live music and performances overlooking the Thames.

6. Urban (26-28 August) - Hip Hop and Parkour workshop, Freestyle dancers, beatboxers and ​ ​ ​ ​ musicians will pop up across the weekend. The Doctor’s Orders: ‘History of Hip-Hop Party’ ​ ​ 26 August, 5-10.30pm, Level 2 riverside terrace, Free ​ Hear funk and soul breaks from the 1960s and 1970s, explore the early days of rap and revisit the golden era of late-1980s and 1990s hip-hop. Finally, listen to the digital, producer-led sounds and second-wave trap of the 2000s and 2010s. The Bridge 27 Aug 2017 (run time: 570 mins) 1:00 pm, Under Hungerford Bridge, Builders' Yard, Free ​ ​ Scanner's Inc present some of the UK's top hip-hop artists. Made up of dancers, graffiti ​ ​ artists, DJs and MCs, The Bridge throws outdoor hip-hop jams for all ages. 2017 is its biggest year yet, and this event features artists from throughout The Bridge’s five-year history, plus some special surprises. Urban Mix 28 Aug 2017 (run time: 360 mins) 12:00 pm, Riverside Terrace, Level 2, outside Royal ​ Festival Hall, Free Zoonation youth company ​ 28 August, Royal Festival Hall, 7pm, £15-20 ​ ​ Enjoy dance and music talent created by the young, for the young in an innovative night of dance, music, spoken word and beatboxing.

For the full Summertime events listings online at Southbank Centre programme please visit: https://goo.gl/Q3zXrP