The National Theatre’s Open Air ‘River Stage’ Returns for Summer 2023

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image from Lipsync 1000
Lipsync1000. Image credit: @CapturedbyCorinn

The National Theatre is bringing back their outdoor River Stage for another summer of open-air performances along the Southbank from 9 June to 2 July.

The festivities will be kicked off by drag queens Jonny Woo and John Sizzle and their curated show The Glory. The Glory-ous show running from 9–11 June will include highlights from the duo’s drag queen contest Lipsync1000, drag king contest Man Up!, and snippets of DJ sets from their iconic club nights. 

From 16–18 June the River Stage will be pranced upon by the celebrated James Cousins Company, best known for their hit immersive production We Are the Gods. They are putting on a weekend of carefully crafted choreography, with a show comprising of everything from contemporary to salsa to line dancing.

The following weekend, the stage is taken by the UK’s first festival of contemporary Arab cultures Shubbak, a multi-artform celebration with a packed programme including music, performance, workshops and installations. There will be Arab bands, dancers and DJs performing all weekend and showcasing London’s international Arab culture. 

To “rap” up the merriments, Hackney Empire’s Young Producers have organised a schedule of youth led talent curated by young creatives aged 14-21. The weekend of 30 June–2 July will include a series of rap battles, dance crews and lots of 90s bangers, grime and raw vocals. 

KERB will be there with London’s longest banquet table ready to feed hungry audiences. There will be something for everyone on offer from bao buns to fried chicken to Indian thalis.

The River Stage is set to open in June but further details are yet to be announced

Words by Alexandra Brooks


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