What to see at the National Theatre's River Stage this year
This weekend sees the launch of the National Theatre's River Stage, below we round up some of the highlights of the month long programme.
The Glory, 28 to 30 July
Friday: The festival kicks off with alternative funk group Luxury Hell, continues with the drag queen
competition Lipsync1000 Allstars, and rave the night away with the hellraising Apocalypstick Party.
Saturday: Learn about some queer legends with Homo Histories, have a singalong with the Big Gay Songbook, and party to the likes of Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and Whitney Houston at 80s Armageddon.
Sunday: Start your Sunday afternoon with a drag life drawing class, kick back and have a drink to the chilled grooves of DJ John Sizzle, and the weekend comes to a close with the grand finale featuring some of the venue's favourite cabaret performers.
Home, 4 to 6 August
Friday: Award-winning musical satirists Bourgeois & Maurice get the HOME weekend underway with their weird and wacky songs, and DJ Dave Haslam plays a set with a focus on Manchester's indie and dance scene.
Saturday: Performers recreate famous music videos from the inside of two vintage jukeboxes in The Jukeboxes, In Bed With My Brother bring their fringe show We Are Ian, and singer-songwriter Josephine Oniyama performs live accompanied by footage from the North West Film Archive.
Sunday: Little Soldier perform their punk-rock protest piece Derailed, Mighty Heart Theatre perform their verbatim piece about attitudes to the north (based on interviews undertaken on the Saturday), and Boy Blue Entertainment bring their participatory hip hop summer party.
WOMAD, 11 to 13 August
Friday: Cardiff-based hip-hop band Afro Cluster open the world arts festival's weekend, followed by a two-hour set from hip-hop DJ and producer Mr Benn (not this children's TV character).
Saturday: There will be a chance to take part in workshops by Jamaican dancer Ripton Lindsay, beatboxing champion Grace Savage and west African dance company NIMBA, and a performance by The Bollywood Brass Band.
Sunday: Sudanese-Italian singer Amira Kheir performs experimental music inspired by traditional music from Sudan, and afrobeat collective Soothsayers close the weekend.
Rambert, 18 to 20 August
Friday: See a selection of work from Rambert's young dancers Quicksilver, a work in progress from former dancer Patricia Okenwa, excerpts from New Movement Collective's Collapse and Simone Damberg Wurtz's Tempus.
Saturday: Take part in a variety of workshops, including a chance to learn moves from the company's iconic Ghost Dances, before three dance performances and music from jazz singer Nia Lynn.
Sunday: R Quintessence and Mercury Movers, two London groups for older dancers, share works they've created in their regular classes, the company will workshop their piece Tomorrow and MAcbeth, and Quicksilver return.
National Theatre, 25 to 28 August
Friday: Brothers Dom and Joe take you into the bank holiday weekend with their Concrete Disco, the
Hackney Colliery Band perform and London's first Night Czar Amy Lamé will take to the stage.
Saturday: Performances from theatre companies Goblin and Little Bulb, as well as DJ Dom Search and London group The Fontanelles will take place on the Saturday.
Sunday: and if you missed Tamsin Grieg in Twelfth Night, there'll be an outdoor screening of the NT Live broadcast.
Bank Holiday Monday : Spend the afternoon at the Tea Dance with live music from the Ballroom Dance Band, and Jazz FM Breakthrough Act of the Year nominee Nerjia performs.
