National Theatre to take over River Stage for bank holiday weekend

This weekend The River Stage Festival comes to an end with a jam-packed bank holiday weekend of music, performance and workshops from the National Theatre all completely FREE.
The National Theatre’s River Stage Festival is in its second year and offers audiences five free weekends of the best and brightest entertainment from some of the UK’s leading arts and culture organisations. Following spectacular weekends hosted by The Glory, HOME, Manchester, WOMAD and Rambert, this weekend the National Theatre take to the stage for three days, bringing the festival to a triumphant close.
Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre said: “I am delighted that this range of partners from across the country have joined us this year for another exceptional River Stage Festival. The assortment of performance, music, dance and workshops free for all ages is a vibrant and vital part of the National Theatre programme this summer.”
London’s Night Czar, Amy Lamé, who will be appearing on Friday night, said: “In the summer months the South Bank really comes alive with Londoners and visitors enjoying fantastic restaurants, market stalls and street theatre. The return of the River Stage adds to the buzz with an incredible season of free outdoor entertainment. From world class dance and circus acts, to workshops and DJs, there’s something for everyone – so make the most of the summer nights and soak up some exciting new culture on the Thames as the sun goes down.”
The Full National Theatre River Stage line-up includes:
Friday 25 August
Concrete Disco
6pm –7pm
Brothers Dom & Joe put their sibling rivalry to good use and join forces behind the decks to get the August bank holiday started in style. Expect multiple sonic layers of disco and mashups galore!
Hackney Colliery Band
7.30pm – 9pm
Influenced as much by contemporary rock and electronica as they are by New Orleans brass bands or the traditional British brass to which their name pays homage, BBC Radio 2 described HCB as ‘one of the greatest live bands we have in this country’.
Amy Lamé
9pm – 10.45pm
Amy Lamé is a broadcaster, writer, performer and DJ. She is London’s first Night Czar, and co-founder and host of the Olivier Award-winning arts company and legendary club night Duckie. Amy’s debut book, ‘From Prejudice to Pride: A History of the LGBTQ+ Movement’ – the first of its kind for young people in the UK- was published by Hachette in May 2017.
Saturday 26 August
Beetle Boy and Beetle Queen; readings by M.G. Leonard
12pm – 1pm
Imaginative, funny and informative, M.G. Leonard brings her infectious enthusiasm for the world of beetles to the River Stage, entertaining both adults and children with facts and extracts from her books Beetle Boy and Beetle Queen. ‘Truly great storytelling’ Michael Morpurgo
Goblin’s Peter and the Wolf
1.30pm – 2.30pm
Goblin’s Peter and the Wolf is a brand new show with amazing music created live with a variety of instruments and objects, including real musical vegetables. Combined with imaginative puppetry, physical comedy and fun interaction, the show will have children aged 4+ jumping for joy. With new music lovingly inspired by Prokofiev’s classic, this is Peter and the Wolf as you’ve never seen it before.
Goblin’s River Stage workshop
2.45pm – 3.35pm
Create your own woodland characters as we explore the story of Peter and the Wolf. In this drama and music workshop we will be looking at how different animals are represented by different sounds, movement and music. Recommended age 4-6 years.
Little Bulb Theatre – Hot Club de Bulb
2.30pm – 3.30pm
Hot Club de Bulb are an 8 piece gypsy jazz band performing their own arrangements of Django Reinhardt and Edith Piaf classics. Originally formed in the making of ‘Orpheus’ (a co-production with Battersea Arts Centre) the band celebrate the genre by mixing raucous hot jazz with sweet French chanson.
Goblin’s Peter and the Wolf
4pm – 5pm
Goblin’s Peter and the Wolf is a brand new show with amazing music created live with a variety of instruments and objects, including real musical vegetables. Combined with imaginative puppetry, physical comedy and fun interaction, the show will have children aged 4+ jumping for joy. With new music lovingly inspired by Prokofiev’s classic, this is Peter and the Wolf as you’ve never seen it before.
Little Bulb Theatre – Hot Club de Bulb
5.15pm – 6.15pm
Hot Club de Bulb are an 8 piece gypsy jazz band performing their own arrangements of Django Reinhardt and Edith Piaf classics. Originally formed in the making of ‘Orpheus’ (a co-production with Battersea Arts Centre) the band celebrate the genre by mixing raucous hot jazz with sweet French chanson.
The Fontanelles
7.15pm – 9pm
True London afrobeat heavyweights renowned for their infectious live energy and shows, The Fontanelles stay true to their roots as purveyors of the music of Fela Kuti, while bringing in sounds from Ethiopia, Minimalist textures, sun-drenched dub and righteous horn-led dancefloor groove. Bring your dancing shoes!
Dom Search (The Next Men)
9pm – 10.45pm
Dom Search is a DJ and producer/songwriter, and is eclectic to say the least. Modern pop? It’s a nutriblend of musical abandon – dancehall, drum’n’bass, reggae, roots, instrumental and actual hip hop, soul and soulful low-end boomp, ambient…the perfect party mix!
Sunday 27 August
Mrs H and the Singalong Band
1pm – 2pm
Mrs H and the Sing-along band bring their unique family music to the River stage for the first time. Their aim is provide quality music for children, that adults will love too. Bring your voices, silly dances, a sprinkling of mischief and don’t hold back from joining in the fun!
Tavaziva
2.15pm – 2.45pm
A sneak preview of IZINDAVA, a dynamic new work synthesising ballet, contemporary and African dance. Created by Zimbabwean-born Bawren Tavaziva, the work explores human fragility within our changing world and is a beautiful yet haunting work.
Mrs H and the Singalong Band
3pm – 4pm
Mrs H and the Sing-along band bring their unique family music to the River stage for the first time. Their aim is provide quality music for children, that adults will love too. Bring your voices, silly dances, a sprinkling of mischief and don’t hold back from joining in the fun!
Tavaziva
4.30pm – 5pm
A sneak preview of IZINDAVA, a dynamic new work synthesising ballet, contemporary and African dance. Created by Zimbabwean-born Bawren Tavaziva, the work explores human fragility within our changing world and is a beautiful yet haunting work.
Phil King
17:15 – 18:15
As a singer songwriter Phil King has the whole trinity: a beautiful, soulful voice; deft skills at playing the guitar and the capacity to write elegantly worded and powerful songs. His new album The Wreckage has caught excellent media attention, with Radio 2’s Bob Harris describing him as ”Absolutely Brilliant” and a “Song Weaver”.
NT Live – Twelfth Night
7.30pm – 10.30pm
For one night only, join us at the River Stage for a special, free outdoor screening of the National Theatre’s Twelfth Night. Tamsin Greig is Malvolia in a twist on Shakespeare’s classic whirlwind comedy of mistaken identity and unrequited love.
Monday 28 August
Tea Dance
1pm – 4pm
Spend the afternoon dancing to the joyous live Ballroom Dance Band, with lessons from a professional dance instructor in various styles: Latin, jive, salsa and much more! Whether you’re a newbie or more expert at tripping the light fantastic, release those inhibitions and join the fun.
Nerija
5pm – 6pm
Nominated for Jazz FM Breakthrough Act of the Year 2016, Nérija are a collective of up and coming musicians playing exciting music inspired by Jazz, Hip Hop, Afrobeat and South African Township. Together they have toured across Europe and the UK supporting jazz legends and performed at the renowned Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.
WhatsOnStage is NT River Stage Media Partner for 2017
Philips Lighting is partner of the NT’s River Stage Festival 2017