London 2012 Festival Highlights: 21st June – 4th July

The Coming Storm – Forced Entertainment

If you like your theatre to slap you in the face, then this show is for you. Forced Entertainment’s latest piece sees the anarchic theatre-makers taking apart the concept of narrative. Incorporating live music for the first time, the company continue to push at the foundations of theatre as a model, always challenging, always questioning. This is sure to have an impact.

The Coming Storm' plays at the Battersea Arts Centre between 19th and 23rd June, at 7.30pm. Tickets from £13. See London Calling’s interview with the director, Tim Etchells, here.

Gatz – Elevator Repair Service

This eight hour theatrical epic, imported from the States, sees an office worker discover a copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and proceed to read the entire novel, word for word. Requiring three intervals (one of an hour and a half) it certainly requires a substantial time commitment, but is well worth it. Having already pulled in top reviews from across the board, it works skilfully to generate a shared reading experience which enhances Fitzgerald’s classic in a way that highlights its brilliance.

‘Gatz’ plays at the Noël Coward Theatre between 8^th June and 15^th July, with tickets from £27.50.

Get Stuff Break Free – Made in China

To be performed on a secret rooftop location in or around the National Theatre, the duo who make up the emergent Made in China, promise a parable of consumer culture, placed at the juncture between playwriting and live art. Set against an impressive backdrop of views across the Thames, this should be excellent. Be warned though: the performance will go ahead regardless of the weather! Coats are a must.

‘Get Stuff Break Free’ plays at a secret rooftop location near the National Theatre between 25^th June and 4^th July, at 8.45pm. Tickets £10.

Crow – Handspring UK

Well known for their innovative work on the National Theatre’s War Horse, Handspring here take on Ted Hughes’ Crow poems. Re-imagining these poems through ever-inventive puppetry, in collaboration with dance choreographer Ben Duke of Lost Dog, the company have produced a dance theatre piece that deftly narrates Hughes’ first-class wordplay.

‘Crow’ plays at The Borough Hall at Greenwich Dance between 18^th June and 7^th July. Tickets from £10.

Universe of Sound – Philharmonia Orchestra

The Science Museum plays host to a ground-breaking interactive digital installation based on a performance by the Philharmonia Orchestra of Holst’s The Planets. This free exhibition allows the visitor to experience orchestral performance from within, with options to join in as a musician, conductor, arranger or composer. Performances can then be recorded and shared online. In addition, musicians from the orchestra will be at the exhibition daily, to guide visitors through the exhibits. A unique opportunity to experience participation in a top-level orchestra.

‘Universe of Sound’ is on display at the Science Museum until 8^th July. Free entry.

Back2Black Festival – hosted by and featuring Gilberto Gil

This three-day music festival in East London (centred around the Old Billingsgate Market) celebrates the cultural relationship between Brazil and Africa, through a line up including funk, reggae, dub, blues, hip hop, samba and blues. Headed by world-renowned Gilberto Gil, the festival promises a jam-packed selection of musical offerings. With both day tickets and full weekend passes available, there are flexible ways to enjoy either a selection of the music or the entire festival.

The ‘Back2Black Festival’ is at Old Billingsgate between 29^th June and 1^st July. Tickets from £20.