AUGUST
Highlights
Backbone Enjoy a high-octane display of physical prowess by Australia's hottest acrobatic sensations. Full of gravity-defying thrills, Backbone combines circus, acrobatics, physical theatre and music. Sexy but sincere, raw yet utterly disciplined, it’s proof you can’t do the impossible without a little sweat.
Monstersaurus!
Follow young inventor Monty as he creates a whole world of wacky inventions and incredible monsters. This energetic family show is full of thrills, spills, magic and mayhem. For ages 3+.
Concrete Lates: Discwoman presents Umfang, Shyboi, Peach & Kamixlo
Lose yourself in the sounds of DJs from New York-based electronic music platform Discwoman in our late-night venue within Queen Elizabeth Hall. This night features Discwoman's co-founder Umfang.
Contemporary circus troupe Gravity & Other Myths have rocketed to stellar acclaim, achieving huge international success and receiving multiple awards.
'Circus at its best. Extraordinary' (Sydney Morning Herald)
DRAG: Self-portraits and Body Politics
The Tiger Lillies: Edgar Allan Poe’s Haunted Palace
Lee Bul
How to Catch a Star
This exhibition of radical self-portraiture from the 1960s to the present day features work exploring identity, gender, class and politics by artists including Pierre Molinier, VALIE EXPORT, Robert Mapplethorpe and Cindy Sherman.
Lee Bul transforms Hayward Gallery into a spectacular dream-like landscape featuring monstrous bodies, futuristic cyborgs, mirrored environments and a surreal monumental foil Zeppelin. This mid-career survey explores the full range of Lee Bul’s pioneering practice.
In this darkly comic musical extravaganza, masters of the macabre The Tiger Lillies plunge into the sinister world of gothic writer Edgar Allan Poe, in a performance based on his writing and his stormy life.
Puppetry and a magical original score combine in this show about following your dreams. It’s based on the beloved book by awardwinning Irish author Oliver Jeffers. For ages 4+.
Daily listings
Wednesday 1 Rimbaud in London
Walk in the footsteps of the volatile French genius through original poetry and music. 8pm; National Poetry Library, Level 5, Royal Festival Hall; £5
Labyrinth
Journey through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered at an outdoor screening of the classic film starring David Bowie. 9.15pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Thursday 2 Heart n Soul Sundowner DJ Set
Get your groove on to summer tunes at this dance party overlooking the river. 5pm – 8pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Friday 3 CRXSS PLATFXRM Weekend Uncover a new wave of UK street culture as Ivan Blackstock's CRXSS PLATFXRM takes over the Summertime Stage.
5pm – 10pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Saturday 4 CRXSS PLATFXRM Weekend 12 noon – 10pm; see Fri 3 Aug for more details.
Sunday 5 CRXSS PLATFXRM Weekend 12 noon – 6pm; see Fri 3 Aug for more details.
Tuesday 7 Monstersaurus!
Follow young inventor Monty as he creates a world of wacky inventions and incredible monsters in this theatrical performance. 11am & 2pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; £8 (child), £16 (adult)
Wednesday 8 Monstersaurus! 11am & 2pm; see Tue 7 Aug for more details.
Hairspray
Key
At our summery outdoor screening, let your hair down with the original 1988 oddball teen dance drama, directed by John Waters.
Art Performance & dance Classical music Literature Archive studio Gigs & contemporary music Talks & topics Eat & explore
9.15pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
There are no transaction fees for in-person bookings or Southbank Centre Members and Supporters Circles. For all other bookings transaction fees apply: £3 online; £3.50 over the phone. If you wish to recieve tickets in the post a £1 delivery charge applies. * Book free ticketed events at southbankcentre.co.uk ** Supporter tickets include a voluntary donation of 10% of the standard admission charge, to support Southbank Centre’s work. For more information and to find out about Gift Aid, see southbankcentre.co.uk
Monstersaurus!
Thursday 9
Sunday 19
Kinetika Bloco: First in Line Over 150 young musicians and dancers perform a roof-raising show in honour of New Orleans. 6.15pm; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free
Saturday 11
One Humanity
Witness a multi-layered story of the anti-apartheid movement in this documentary film. 11am, 2pm & 4pm; Level 3 Function Room, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free*
Monstersaurus!
Circus 250 Weekend
11am & 2pm; See Tue 7 Aug for more details.
12 noon – 6pm; see Fri 17 Aug for more details.
Raze Collective Weekend
Backbone
12 noon – 10pm; see Fri 10 Aug for more details.
5pm; see Tue 14 Aug for more details.
Sunday 12 Monstersaurus!
Tuesday 21 August Social Dance
11am & 2pm; See Tue 7 Aug for more details.
Cut a rug at our free monthly tea dance. Everyone is welcome.
Raze Collective Weekend
1.30pm; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free
12 noon – 6pm; see Fri 10 Aug for more details.
Tuesday 14 Backbone
A high-octane display of physical prowess by Australia's hottest acrobatic sensations, Gravity & Other Myths. 7.30pm; Royal Festival Hall; £15 – £30
Wednesday 15 Backbone 7.30pm; see Tue 14 Aug for more details.
The Greatest Showman
Roll up! Roll up! Catch an outdoor screening of the 2017 smash hit starring Hugh Jackman. 9.15pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Thursday 16 Grandad Mandela
Hear Mandela’s daughter and great-granddaughters discuss their children’s book on his life.
Wednesday 22 Grease
Spend a summer night with the Pink Ladies and T-Birds at an outdoor screening of the kitsch croon-fest. 9.15pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Thursday 23 How to Catch a Star
Storytelling, puppetry and a magical original score combine in this theatre show about following your dreams. 11am & 2pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; £7 (child), £14 (adult)
Heart n Soul Sundowner DJ Set 5pm – 8pm; see Thu 2 Aug for more details.
Friday 24 How to Catch a Star 11am & 2pm; see Thu 23 Aug for more details.
Great Big Summer Weekend
Backbone
See the summer out in style with four days of music, performance and dance on the Summertime Stage.
7.30pm; see Tue 14 Aug for more details.
5pm – 10pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
2.30pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free*
Heart n Soul Sundowner DJ Set 5pm – 8pm; see Thu 2 Aug for more details.
Friday 17 Circus 250 Weekend
Stop clowning around and celebrate the 250th anniversary of circus with a weekend full of workshops and performances on the Summertime Stage.
Saturday 25 How to Catch a Star 11am & 2pm; see Thu 23 Aug for more details.
Great Big Summer Weekend 12 noon – 10pm; see Fri 24 Aug for more details.
Sunday 26 How to Catch a Star
Monstersaurus!
5pm – 10pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
11am & 2pm; see Thu 23 Aug for more details.
11am & 2pm; See Tue 7 Aug for more details.
Backbone
Heart n Soul Sundowner DJ Set
Great Big Summer Weekend
7.30pm; see Tue 14 Aug for more details.
12 noon – 6pm; see Fri 24 Aug for more details.
5pm – 8pm; see Thu 2 Aug for more details.
Friday 10 11am & 2pm; see Tue 7 Aug for more details.
Raze Collective Weekend
Celebrate the best in queer (LGBTQI+) culture with theatre, dance and music at Raze Collective's Summertime Stage takeover. 5pm – 10pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Saturday 18 Whispering Truth to Power
Hear about the woman who stood against corruption in South Africa, in this documentary. 11am, 2pm & 4pm; Level 3 Function Room, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free*
Circus 250 Weekend 12 noon – 10pm; see Fri 17 Aug for more details.
Backbone 7.30pm; see Tue 14 Aug for more details.
Sistema Europe Youth Orchestra
Revel in the energy of youth at an orchestral performance by young musicians from across Europe. 5pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £10
Monday 27 How to Catch a Star 11am & 2pm; see Thu 23 Aug for more details.
Great Big Summer Weekend 12pm – 6pm; see Fri 24 Aug for more details.
Tuesday 28 The Tiger Lillies: Edgar Allan Poe’s Haunted Palace
Embrace the gothic world of Edgar Allen Poe through the Tiger Lillies' brand of macabre and darkly humorous music. 7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £28 – £38
Jeet Thayil: The Book of Chocolate Saints
The Man Booker Prize-shortlisted author explores human behaviour through the lives of artists. 7.30pm; Level 5 Function Room, Green Side, Royal Festival Hall; £15
Wednesday 29 The Tiger Lillies: Edgar Allan Poe’s Haunted Palace 7.30pm; see Tue 28 Aug for more details.
Thursday 30 The Tiger Lillies: Edgar Allan Poe’s Haunted Palace 7.30pm; see Tue 28 Aug for more details.
Discwoman presents Umfang, Shyboi, Peach & Kamixlo
Lose yourself in the sounds of DJs from the New York-based electronic music platform. 10.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £10
Friday 31 Velvet Petal by Scottish Dance Theatre
This intimate dance work, inspired by punk and Robert Mapplethorpe, explores the transformative power of beauty, featuring rare live music peformances by Abul Mogard. 8pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; £20
Throughout the month Nelson Mandela: The Centenary Exhibition 2018
Southbank Centre Beach
Get a taste of the seaside at Southbank Centre this summer. Until 9 Sep; 10am – 9pm; Queen’s Walk; Free
Jeppe Hein's Appearing Rooms Can you predict the fountain’s next move? Guess wrong and you might get soaked. Until 9 Sep; Monday, 12 noon – 9pm; Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 9pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free
Jeppe Hein's Modified Social Benches NY
See (and sit on) Jeppe Hein’s witty reinventions of the park bench, each one different from the next. Until 9 Sep; across the site
Language Shift
Artist Mary Kuper creates visual works responding to the National Poetry Library’s collection of poems in European languages. Until 23 Sep; 11am – 8pm daily; National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free
Lee Bul
Lee Bul transforms Hayward Gallery into a spectacular dream-like landscape featuring monstrous bodies, futuristic cyborgs, glittering mirrored environments and an exquisitely surreal monumental foil Zeppelin. Until 19 Aug; 11am – 7pm (last entry 6pm); Thursday until 9pm (last entry 8pm); closed Tuesday; Hayward Gallery Supporter: £14.50**, Standard: £13
Join MasterChef contestants for an intimate dining experience overlooking the Thames. Tue – Sat until 8 Sep; 6pm & 8.30pm; St Paul’s Roof Pavilion, Level 6, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; £45
Behind the Scenes Tour
Peek into our behind-the-scenes history and famous spaces on this tour. Sat 4,11,18 & 25 Aug; 2pm; Royal Festival Hall; £10
Until 19 Aug; 10am – 11pm daily; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free
Join us on a tour exploring decades of architectural innovation at Southbank Centre.
Architecture Tour
Hear from architects and builders who created our cultural centre in this multi-media installation.
Sun 5, 12, 19 & 26 Aug; 2pm; Royal Festival Hall; £10
Until 27 Aug; Southbank Centre Square Doors; Free
Look to the rooftops to spot the dazzling designs of Zandra Rhodes' summertime flags.
Yuan Goang-Ming: Tomorrowland
Priority booking Be first in line to book tickets for blockbuster events, concerts and festivals.
Hayward Gallery Free entry to all exhibitions and invitations to Members’ private views.
The Jam Shed Supper Club
Discover Mandela’s journey from freedom fighter to inspirational leader on the centenary of his birth.
Concrete Dreams Beacon
MEMBERS GET MORE
Members Area Enjoy stunning river views in an exclusive cafe-bar.
Save Money Save 20% at Southbank Centre shops.
Zandra Rhodes Flags
Until 9 Sep; Royal Festival Hall Roof; Free
This exhibition of the work of Taiwanese artist Yuan Goang-Ming features three recent videos that continue the artist’s exploration into the idea of ruins, homes and dwellings. Until 6 Aug; 11am – 7pm (last entry 6pm); Thursday until 9pm (last entry 8pm); closed Tuesday; HENI Project Space; Hayward Gallery; Free
DRAG: Self-portraits and Body Politics
An exhibition of radical selfportraiture from the 1960s to the present day. Until 14 Oct; 11am – 7pm (last entry 6pm); Thursday until 9pm (last entry 8pm); closed Tuesday; HENI Project Space, Hayward Gallery; Free
Join now from £65
Getting here Queen Elizabeth Hall & Purcell Room ter Wa
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By tube Waterloo (200 metres) Embankment (600 metres)
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Royal Festival Hall
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By train The nearest stations are: Waterloo Waterloo East Charing Cross Blackfriars
IMAX
By bus Route RV1 stops on Belvedere Road (less than a minute’s walk away) Routes 1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 521, N1, N68, N171 and N343 stop on Waterloo Bridge (a two-minute walk away) Routes 76, 77, 211, 341, 381, 507, N381, N76 and RV1 stop on York Road (five minutes' walk away)
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Southbank Centre
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London Waterloo East
LondonWe believe art has the power to help create a better world for Eye everyone. That’s why we began in 1951 on the South Bank of Waterloo
the Thames. Dreamed up after World War Two, the Festival of Britain gave the nation hope for a brighter future. Today, millions of people gather at our festivals to enjoy culture from around the world. We put on 5,700 concerts, gigs, exhibitions, Waterloo Station shows and debates each year, half of them for free. Our work can be seen on six continents and in 37 towns and cities across the UK. Come and see for yourself. Southbank Centre occupies a 17-acre site in the midst of London’s vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames. This includes Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, and Hayward Gallery. We also curate the outdoor spaces along the riverfront and around our venues, providing free art for millions of people every year.
How to book tickets Online southbankcentre.co.uk* By phone 020 3879 9555* 9am – 8pm daily In person Royal Festival Hall Ticket Office 10am – 8pm daily Queen Elizabeth Hall Ticket Office 10am – 8pm daily
* There are no transaction fees for in-person bookings or Southbank Centre Members and Supporters Circles. For all other bookings transaction fees apply: £3 online; £3.50 over the phone. If you wish to receive tickets in the post, a £1 delivery charge applies.
Access We offer BSL Interpretation, Speech-to-Text Transcription, Audio Description, Captioning, and Autism-Friendly Performances. To join our Access Scheme and book concessionary tickets, email accesslist@southbankcentre.co.uk or call 020 3879 9555. Level access is available to all our venues. For more access information please visit southbankcentre.co.uk/access
Membership Become a Member and be first in line for tickets to over 5,700 events. Join now at southbankcentre.co.uk/membership
Support Join our family of supporters and help us continue to present as many free activities as possible, making art available to all at southbankcentre.co.uk/support
Listings correct at time of going to press. Southbank Centre is a registered charity no. 298909
While you’re here You’ll never be short of eating and drinking options at Southbank Centre – we’ve got everything from cafes and sandwich shops to fine dining and bars. Browse our shops for designer concessions, unusual gifts, jewellery and homeware. Cafes, restaurants and bars You can grab a snack, sit down for a meal, or have a drink at a selection of venues across our site. For more information, see southbankcentre.co.uk/food. Concrete Cafe in Queen Elizabeth Hall is newly opened and offers a new range of food for breakfast and lunch. Hayward Gallery Cafe has recently opened and is the new secret place in London for quiet arty drinks with friends with spectacular views over Waterloo Bridge. Let your tastebuds explore the site this summer with our pop-ups offering delicious BBQ, craft beers, hot dogs, burgers, fresh juices and frozen yogurt. For fine dining, head to Skylon and for drinks and meals with friends head to Côte Brasserie and Honest Burgers. Shops Buy a gift or find something for yourself at our three on-site shops, offering design-led products inspired by our festival programme. Our newly reopened Hayward Gallery shop offers designer collaborations featuring ceramics, tiles, prints, jewellery and art books. Discover inspiring toys and games for children and prints, unique gifts and contemporary lifestyle products at our Mandela Walk and Royal Festival Hall shops. For the latest titles, bestsellers on a wide range of subjects and works linked to our Literature events, visit the Southbank Centre branch of Foyles. Southbank Centre Food Market Discover why our food market is a food lover’s destination, as our traders return with delicious street food for every appetite. Friday, 12 noon – 8pm Saturday, 11am – 8pm Sunday, 12 noon – 6pm Bank Holiday Mondays, 12 noon – 6pm On the cover: Nelson Mandela © Camera Press Highlights page: How to Catch a Star © Anita Murphy; ThenTiger Lillies © Thor Brodreskift; Installation view of Lee Bul, Willing To Be Vulnerable - Metalized Balloon, 2015-2016 at Hayward Gallery, 2018 © Lee Bul 2018 Photo: Linda Nylind; DRAG © Victoria Sin, Cthulhu Through the Looking Glass, 2017, film still. Courtesy: the artist Inside full page: Summertime Stage 2017 © Victor Frankowski
To receive publications in alternative formats, and for further information, email accesslist@southbankcentre. co.uk or phone 020 3879 9555