London & Partners

ENTERTAINMENT
Entertainment
With David G. Taylor
What’s hot
Something completely different
Just opened, Argentina’s Fuerza Bruta (until
27 Jan, p. 72) probably isn’t like anything you’ve
experienced before. Unless that is, you caught
their last London dates in 2006.
Audiences at the Roundhouse stand for the
entire show, as performers create ingenious
visual scenes right above their heads. From a
man bursting through a series of false walls, to
a balletic performance in water on a transparent
rubber sheet, this is a unique theatrical
experience where the usual physical boundaries
between performer and audience are blurred,
and observers might even get slightly wet.
From 10-27 Jan there’s puppetry, illusion,
drama and much more during the 37th London
International Mime Festival (p. 72). It’s a
chance for London theatregoers to catch shows
by top talents from around the globe. Works
range from the whimsical to the surreal, and
take place at a range of venues, including the
Southbank Centre (p. 76), Barbican (p. 76)
and Royal Opera House (p. 75). This year’s
programme of performances is complemented
by a series of public workshops and fascinating
artists’ talks. Pictured clockwise from the top are
the Mime Festival acts Zimmermann & De Perrot
(Barbican) and Circle Of Eleven (Southbank
Centre), plus the Roundhouse’s Fuerza Bruta.
From 5 Jan Cirque Du Soleil combines the circus traditions of
acrobatics and clowning in their exhilarating new production, Kooza.
Making London the first leg of its European tour, the show follows the
adventures of a child-like innocent as he encounters curious characters,
including a mischievous dog, a pickpocket and a king. Watch out for
impressive stunts ranging from nail-biting high wire peril, to breathtaking
Wheel Of Death thrills. For the ultimate experience, including five-star
hospitality, find out about Cirque’s exciting VIP Rouge package.
Kooza, p. 72.
Great for kids
There are plenty of shows to keep young ones entertained this
month. Among them, the limited-run play Goodnight Mister
Tom (pictured, until 26 Jan, p. 68), based on the children’s
book by Michelle Magorian. It’s the story of a young boy who
escapes his abusive mother when he’s evacuated from the
London Blitz during World War II. Sent away to live with the
curmudgeonly old loner Mister Tom, the unlikely pair soon forge
an unexpected friendship. For more ideas for family-friendly
shows, turn to p. 68.
KOOZA IMAGE COURTESY OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL; ZIMMERMANN & DE PERROT © MARIO DEL CURTO; CIRCLE OF ELEVEN, LEO, PHOTO BY HEIKO KALMBACH;
GOODNIGHT MISTER TOM IMAGE © CATHERINE ASHMORE
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| visitlondon.com|LONDON PLANNER|January 2013