Hammersmith's Free Summer Festival Launches on June 4

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Events in Lyric Square include theatre, dance, opera, tennis, picnics and open air yoga

The full programme has been announced for this year's Summer Festival, running from June 4 to July 20 in Lyric Square.

The programme promises another action-packed summer in Hammersmith as Wimbledon, the Royal Opera and outdoor theatre lead the line-up of cultural events and activities during London’s biggest free Summer Festival.

Now in its ninth year, the festival is provided by the HammersmithLondon Business Improvement District (BID) and promises to be bigger and better than ever in 2016.   

The festival will get underway with a three-week long Theatre in the Square season as the BID once again teams up with the Lyric Hammersmith to provide innovative and exhilarating performances from some of the best theatre companies in the country.

A fourth production, Lyric Partners in the Square, will take place later in the festival line-up.

THEATRE

THE LITTLE GARDENER - Tuesday and Wednesday June 7 and 8. Based on the book by Emily Hughes this heart-warming adaptation is performed inside a large glass box, containing a real-life garden and tells the story of a little gardener and the garden that meant everything to him. Will you help the little gardener bring his garden to life? This spellbinding show will melt your heart.

HOME - Tuesday and Wednesday June 14 and 15. A new, daring outdoor circus piece, weaving together slapstick comedy with breath-taking aerial, acrobatic and physical
performances to explore what it is to create a ‘home’. This highly energetic performance of circus combined with theatre, culminates in the creation of an interactive installation exploring the ideas of home and homelessness.

DANCE IN THE SQUARE - Monday to Wednesday June 20 - 22. Fun and interactive dance performances from DanceWest’s contemporary dance classes.

LYRIC PARTNERS IN THE SQUARE - Moday to Wednesday July 11 - 13. Enjoy a variety of exciting performances from Lyric Partners. Featuring Musiko Musika’s ECCO London Youth Orchestra, Lyric Young Company’s 7-9 Acting up group, DanceWest, Tri-borough Music Hub and the New English Ballet Theatre. It is not to be missed and suitable for all.

WIMBLEDON

Pull up a deckchair and watch as all the drama from SW19 unfolds live on the HammersmithLondon Big Screen, broadcasting all the action from the Wimbledon Tennis Championships from Monday, June 29 to Sunday July 12.  Coverage will be shown from 12noon - 8pm.

YOGA IN THE SQUARE

Lumi Power Yoga are also returning to lead Yoga in the Square on Wednesday lunchtimes between June 29 and July 13, so don’t be shy, join in with the downward-facing dogs on Lyric Square (or just come and find out more about yoga, it’s up to you).

IL TROVATORE LIVE FROM THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

Don’t miss Il Trovatore  on the Big Screen live from the Royal Opera House on Thursday July 14. Sit back in Lyric Square to savour Verdi’s gripping masterpiece, packed with powerful arias and thrilling choruses, including the famous and instantly recognizable ‘Anvil Chorus’.  Bring your own drinks and picnic dinner and enjoy this visually powerful production from the comfort of a deckchair.

PICNIC IN THE SQUARE

Picnic in the Square will be back from July 11-13 and 18- 20, between 12noon and 3pm. Unwind during your lunchtime by sitting outside in the fresh air. Come and soak up the sun in the HammersmithLondon deckchairs, or join others over lunch at the giant 20ft picnic tables.

LONDON FESTIVAL OF ARCHITECTURE

During this year's London Festival of Architecture HammersmithLondon is asking budding artists, young visionaries, designers and architects to enter an Ideas Competition and show how they would 'Imagine Hammersmith.' The aim of the competition is to attract creative and interesting ideas and there is a cash  prize on offer. Find out more here .

 

July 11, 2014