For tourists, there is more to London than just visiting museums, having the quintessentially British London afternoon tea, and shopping in Mayfair. Today, we will discover more on The London International Mime Festival, an annual theatre event founded in 1977 which is celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. The festival is from the 9th of January to the 4th of February this year, and showcases international acts all over London. Today, we are happy to have Helen Lannaghan, director of The London International Mime Festival to introduce you to some of the must see performances over the next two weeks.
1) Familie Floz: Teatro Delusio
This German comedy mask theatre group will return to The London International Mime Festival featuring Teatro Delusio, a play relating to the events that happen at the backstage of an Italian opera house. The play focuses around three technicians who live out their theatrical dreams backstage, just meters away from the famous stars who perform for the audiences.
Familie Floz, which was founded in 1994 is a mime and physical comedy company that creates family friendly shows, has been winning numerous awards since 1995 and has performed at numerous venues all over Europe. The Berlin based company will be playing at The Peacock Theatre in Holborn starting Thursday, the 12 of January and will continue until Sunday, the 15th of January.
Shows from Thursday to Saturday start at 7.30pm, which makes it perfect for you to catch a fast dinner with the numerous pre theatre menus’ available in London. It is important to note, that on Sunday the 15th, Familie Floz will be showing at 2.30pm.
Details
The Peacock
Thurs 12 – Sun 15 Jan (Thurs – Sat 7.30pm, Sun 2.30pm)
Tel: 020 7863 8000
Runs: 70 minutes, no interval
£15- £29
2) Compagnie MPTA/ Mathurin Bolze: Barons Perches
Mathurine Bolze, the professional trampolinist has constantly brought trampolining to new heights, and will do so again in his collaboration with Karim Messaoudi to present Barons Perches. This performance depicts “a friendship without gravity” which is formed between a young exiled nobleman and his doppelganger, who meet each other high up in the trees far away from society.
Details
Platform Theatre, Central Saint Martins
Wed 11 – Sunday 14 Jan (Wed – Friday 7.30pm, Sat 6pm)
Runs: 70 minutes, no interval
£18/£16
3) Sacekripa: Maree Basse
Not for the faint hearted, Maree Basse will see knife throwing, apple peeling, and balancing being used by two faded variety acrobats who try to one-up each other at home.
Details
Barbican, The Pit
Tues 17 Jan – Sat 21 Jan (Tues – Sat 6.30pm, Sat 1pm)
Runs: 60 minutes, no interval
£18
4) Theatre Re: The Nature of Forgetting
Inspired by neurobiology and interviews with people living with dementia, The Nature of Forgetting depicts 55 year old Tom and his inability to recollect life and the remnants of when memory is gone.
Details
Shoreditch Town Hall
Wed 18 Jan – Fri 20 Jan (8pm)
Runs: 75 minutes, no interval
£18/£16