Wandsworth Council’s flagship arts festival returns from 9-25 June with 17 jam-packed, belly-laughing, awe-inspiring days of art, dance, music, theatre, comedy, film, circus and street performance.
As part of the council’s commitment to supporting artist development, and creating meaningful experiences for local audiences, the Wandsworth Arts Fringe (WAF) Grants help artists, makers and community groups realise their creative visions for the festival and engage with Wandsworth communities. For 2023, Wandsworth Council has distributed £36,617 among 20 organisations, including homegrown creatives and internationally acclaimed artists, for projects taking place over this year’s festival (Friday 9 – Sunday 25 June 2023). The WAF Grants are funded directly by Wandsworth Council, with a maximum award of £2,000 per project.
Festival goers are encouraged to try something new, from awe-inspiring circus by Zirkus Morsa to verbal gymnastics from performance poet Alice d’Lumiere . Contemporary circus show Tipping Point by Zirkus Morsa mixes acrobatics and balance board in a performance that pushes balance to the limit. Speaking Out and Fitting In! by Alice d’Lumiere is a performance of striking poetry, disarming comedy, and a celebration of Gender Fluidity from a part-time Transwoman playfully establishing her voice.
“Nothing quite rivals the creative energy generated by a live festival and I think this year is going to be particularly vibrant! I can’t wait to bring my own little show to WAF. I hope it raises some smiles, questions some preconceptions and maybe even helps bring a little extra joy; which is something we all need more than ever.” – Alice d’Lumiere
Independent tap dancer Petra Haller will take over the National Opera Studio with a week-long celebration of tap dance, while Artistes for Autism, led by MovementWorks, brings together autistic young people in the collaborative creation of a dance piece. Aged 11 – 15 years, these young dancers will meet at a new weekly Dance Club to create their performance and the final piece will be showcased as part of the larger Community Day of Dance hosted by the Royal Academy of Dance. Elsewhere, Hallomai Dance present Joy is Ours, an interactive outdoor dance performance for families in local housing estates.
The borough’s young musical talent will have the opportunity to shine with Wandsworth Street Concerts set to fill the streets of Wandsworth once again with music, in a series of free outdoor classical concerts, staged in the beautiful portico of St Anne’s Church. World Heart Beat Music Academy will work in partnership with The Oracle Collective, a creative agency of 35 young artists, in their project World Heart Beat Presents: The Oracle Residency held at their brand-new venue in Nine Elms. They will programme a series of masterclasses, workshops and performances to support and develop young musical talent in the borough.
“We are delighted to be part of WAF this year. Our collaboration with the exceptionally talented The Oracle Collective is an amazing opportunity to showcase homegrown talent in our brand-new venue at Embassy Gardens, inspiring future generations of Wandsworth musicians and being part of a vibrant local cultural offer” – Kim Morrison, Head of Programmes, World Heart Beat Music Academy
Opera lovers will be able to get their fill – with performances of Gaṅgā by Jataneel Banerjee and Carp Leaps over the Dragon Gate by Kathy Hall and Jose Navarro. Gaṅgā, a chamber opera in Sanskrit language, will premiere at the National Opera Studio and the Royal Academy of Dance, and tells the story of a celestial river goddess. Carp Leaps over the Dragon Gate, a Peking Opera dance-mime paired with recorded opera percussion music, is based on the legend of the carp known in many regions in China inspiring folk dances, drawings and lantern festivals. The short performance will be followed by a public workshop.
Find out more about the 2023 festival and find up to date event details from 26 April 2023: www.wandsworthartsfringe.com
