Southbank Centre festival celebrates disabled artists and performers
There are five weeks left until the Southbank Centre’s Unlimited festival which includes theatre comedy and a silent rave.
The biennial festival, which runs from September 4 to 8, is a celebration of disabled artists and performers which platforms creatives from across the UK.
Featuring brand new commissions, bespoke one-off events and existing works, the programme is packed with both free and paid performances across dance, comedy, music and visual arts.
The festival is run by an arts commissioning body which is the largest supporter of disabled artists in the world. Since 2013, Unlimited has funded and promoted 521 artists with more than £6.5million, reaching audiences of 5.5million.
Kicking things off in the Queen Elizabeth Hall is the UK premiere of Stopgap’s Lived Fiction on September 4. The show continues throughout the week with a number of outstanding performances.
Mark of A Woman on September 5, is a new commission from Unlimited Partner Award recipient Chisato Minamimura, which examines the relationship between women’s bodies and tattooing practices, while the UK premiere of Precarious Moves on September 6, by Michael Turinsky explores the impact of climate change on disabled people.
Unlimited’s comedy offering features a recent Edinburgh Fringe smash-hit from FlawBored, It’s a Motherf**king Pleasure , which will run across two days on September 7 and 8.
This scathing satire attacks the monetisation of identity politics.
This year’s programme also includes Choo Choo! on September 8, a playful and interactive show exploring intrusive thoughts and OCD, as well as Abnormally Funny People – IRL, a new commission from the Southbank Centre that unites a gaggle of internationally renowned funny people for an evening of laughs.
Unlimited’s free events include a silent rave on September 5. Deaf Rave brings together talented Deaf DJs who create heart-thumping rhythms and visually captivating performances in sign-songs, dance, comedy, and Visual Vernacular – the choreographed form of sign language.
Founded by Troi Lee, also known as DJ Chinaman, Deaf Rave has spent two decades breaking barriers and fostering opportunities for Deaf artists, while championing the vibrant tapestry of Deaf culture.
Suzie Larke: Unseen, which opened on June 18, will also run throughout the festival at the Southbank Centre for free.
Until September 8, the arts centre will showcase the photographer’s new works which aim to raise awareness and spark conversations about mental wellbeing.
Collaborating with individuals and mental-wellbeing groups over three years on this project, Ms Larke observed a recurring theme: the impact of belonging, or its absence, on mental wellness.
Ms Larke said: “When we feel connected, valued, and accepted by others, it nourishes our sense of self-worth and contributes significantly to our overall happiness.”
An array of uniquely engaging experiences are scattered throughout Unlimited’s festival, including Jo Bannon’s sensory feast Sleight of Hand on September 7 and 8, and Hope and Ponies – an interactive art installation that asks audiences to share their messages of hope on banners and postcards.
For the full programme and to book tickets click here.
Pictured top: A male Southeast Asian wheelchair dancer in a gravity defying head stand (Picture: Christopher Parkes)