A host of live art performances until August at Kensington and Chelsea Festival
A weekend is never long enough for a good festival.
With Kensington and Chelsea festival that is not a problem.
From tomorrow until August 31 the festival will spread far and wide across the borough.
From the best-known cultural venues to the less discovered areas and outdoor spaces, Kensington and Chelsea Festival will make use of every inch of the borough.
Expect a host of live art performances, large and small, showcasing exceptional established artists alongside some of the best emerging talent.
The festival is jam packed with culture, including theatre, circus, opera, dance, music, outdoor arts, family shows, participatory activities, talks, walks and public art pieces, the festival was born out of a desire to lift spirits by celebrating culture and creativity.
This event is for everyone, designed so that budget and spoken language are no barrier to its visitors.
Partnering with Opera Holland Park, a number of captivating performances will be presented at the Kensington venue throughout July and August.
One of the most exciting projects to appear at the Festival will be Mars, the touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram.
Measuring seven metres in diameter, the artwork features detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface.
Each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 10 kilometres of the surface of Mars.
You are transported to this desert wasteland, to imagine what it’s like to step foot on this incredible planet.
The sculpture is set against a sound composition created by BAFTA award winning composer Dan Jones.
The sounds of seas, deserts and clips from NASA missions to Mars are mixed together with the distant noise of bombing and people marching into war.
This soundtrack brings a moment for viewers to reflect on the current conflict around the world.
The installation will appear at three different sites across the festival starting at St John the Baptist Church in Shepherds Bush from July 22 to 30 then All Saints’ Church in Notting Hill from 31 July to August 8 and finally into an outdoor setting in Jubilee Square, High street Kensington from August 10 to 31.
70 per cent of the activities offered at the festival are either free or “pay what you want”, and concession tickets are available for all shows presented in theatres and established venues.
Website: www.kcfestival.co.uk
Picture: Mars Photo by Luke Jerram Picture: Luke Jerram