London 2012 Festival Highlights: 5th – 18th July

you’ll see [me sailing in Antarctica] – Non zero one

The second production to take place on the National Theatre’s secret rooftop location, this show focuses on sight and imagery. Exploring individual vision – our memories, imaginings and perspectives on reality, non zero one bring into question the limitations of our shared existence. As with ‘Get Stuff Break Free’, this performance will go ahead regardless of weather, so do bring a coat!

‘you’ll see [me sailing in Antarctica]’ plays at a secret rooftop location near the National Theatre between 6^th and 15^th July, at 8.30pm and 10.00pm. Tickets £10.00

Britain Creates 2012: Fashion + Art Collusion

This exhibition brings together pairings of top fashion designers and visual artists to create special commissions for the London 2012 Festival. A celebration of the creativity of London as a whole as well as the dialogue between these two disciplines, this free exhibition promises to display some truly interesting and original collaborative work.

‘Britain Creates 2012: Fashion + Art Collusion’ shows at the V&A Museum between 6^th and 29^th July. Admission is free.

Macbeth: Leïla & Ben – A Bloody History

This Tunisian version of Macbeth illuminates the manipulation and perpetuation of power by modern-day Arab leaders. The production combines contemporary reportage and film with Shakespeare’s text, and explores the meanings of entitlement within the context of the Arab Spring. Presented in Arabic with English surtitles, this production is also a part of LIFT 2012 and the World Shakespeare Festival.

‘Macbeth: Leïla & Ben – A Bloody History’ plays at Riverside Studios between 4^th and 7^th July, at 8pm. Tickets from £17.50

The Genius of Hitchcock: The Ring

A viewing of Hitchcock’s classic film accompanied by a newly commissioned jazz score by Soweto Kinch, performed live by the Soweto Kinch Band themselves. The 1927 original has been lovingly restored by the BFI National Archive, especially for this one-off showing.

‘The Ring’ is being shown at the Hackney Empire on 13^th July, at 8pm. Tickets from £10.00

en route

Reminiscent of Improv Everywhere’s MP3 Experiments in New York, audience members attending this show embark on a journey of East London equipped with MP3 players and mobile phones. With snatches of dialogue, songs and discussion about the city, this piece aims to expand the ways we view London itself, by seeing its permanent state of creation and encouraging our process of re-imagination. Following six sell-out seasons elsewhere, catch this piece as it finally arrives in London with a bespoke tour.

‘en route’ is produced by Theatre Royal Stratford East, and runs between 26^th Jun and 21^st July. Tickets from £15.00

The Royal Ballet – Metamorphosis: Titian 2012

This collaboration between The Royal Ballet and the National Gallery explores artistic responses to Titian’s works. Through a mixture of choreography, music, poetry and visual arts as well as a linked exhibition at the National Gallery in which contemporary artists express their responses, Titian’s ideas are brought up-to-date and their relevance re-emphasised.

‘The Royal Ballet – Metamorphosis: Titian 2012’, plays at the Royal Opera House between 14^th and 20^th July, at 7.30pm. Tickets from £5.00

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More information about the London 2012 Festival is available here.