Southbank Centre monthly listings June 2023

Welcome to the Southbank Centre

June brings one of the most anticipated landmarks in our calendar: Meltdown is the UK’s longest-running artist-curated music festival and a huge part of our musical identity and legacy here at the Southbank Centre. For the 28th edition, we’re thrilled that the brilliant Christine and the Queens has taken the curatorial reins and created a celebration of selfhood, identity and creativity through art and music. This boundary-breaking artist’s imagination takes over the whole of our site

with his vision for an exhilarating ten days of gigs, performances and free outdoor parties. Also this month, our Planet Summer season launches with the start of the Hayward Gallery’s new exhibition, Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis. Join us as we explore perspectives on and artistic responses to the climate emergency for a season of care, hope, connection and activism.

Mark Ball Artistic Director, Southbank Centre

Friday 9 – Sunday 18 June

Christine and the Queens’ Meltdown

Everything Christine and the Queens touches shines with originality, complexity and heartfelt emotion – so, it follows, does his Meltdown line-up. This June, the French pop phenomenon takes the helm for our artist-curated festival, picking, in his words, only artists ‘that have some gut-wrenching quality.’

As the brainchild of its curator’s unique vision, this Meltdown is bursting with celebrations of selfhood, identity and creativity – at gigs in our halls, at club nights in our concrete club space, and outside on our Riverside Stage.

Christine and the Queens sells it better than we ever could: ‘Ten nights that are ours. Southbank Centre filled with beloved artists … Art to save the city! To free its contours and enliven the soul – it’s why we do what we do. I can’t effing wait.’

Music en masse

Ten days is enough time for masses of live music from across a wide and beautiful spectrum. Take one of the 2,700 places in our Royal Festival Hall for Afropop and gqom from Yemi Alade and Moonchild Sanelly, art rock from Django Django or Warpaint, forwardthinking London jazz from KOKOROKO, emotion and Afrobeat with Oxlade, and a monumental collaboration between Sigur Rós and London Contemporary Orchestra.

Of the multitude of other gigs spanning our indoor stages, let’s pick just a few: there’s dopamine-dosed synth-pop from Let’s Eat Grandma, a live show from Drive-soundtrack composer Johnny Jewel, a double-header from girli and the glitter-masked Lynks, and Petite Noir’s political brand of pop. Seriously, you just need to check the line-up.

Under open sky

On festival weekends, even our very considerable walls can’t keep the party indoors, and so it bursts outdoors to take over our Riverside Stage, where there’s always a crowd dancing and strutting their stuff. And did we mention it’s free?

This year you and the crowd can go wild with queer pan-Asian cabaret group The Bitten Peach, a drag and DJ combo from Pecs and Sisu, Rain Crew’s summer dance-off, and DJs and live music from Faggamuffin Bloc Party, Loud LDN and We Are Dopamine. Get yourself down here for some of the most fun you can have for free in the capital.

Beyond music

If you’ve ever seen a Christine and the Queens video or performance, you’ll know that music isn’t the be all and end all – and neither is it here. There’s new work by choreographer Taos Bertrand, an afternoon of brilliant chaos

from the Ru Paul’s Drag Race contestant Katya Zamolodchikova, and Bodies Tilted from BitterSuite, an intimate blind-folded journey through music using movement, touch and even scent.

The club is calling

To cap it all off, because most of the truly great nights end at the club, Christine and the Queens has arranged two nights of dancefloor bliss. Pxssy Palace combines the scenes of Paris and London in a cross-channel line-up that features MikeQ, TAAHLIAH, Amor Satyr and Sucré Saleté, while south-London pop-up queer nightclub The Chateau presents SE_XCELLENCE.

From inside the pop phenomenon’s endlessly inventive mind comes a festival of unexpected, unforgettable moments

June highlights

Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis

Starting this month, our new Hayward Gallery exhibition is a pioneering group show that brings together artistic responses to the climate emergency.

Inspired by artist Otobong Nkanga’s suggestion that ‘caring is a form of resistance’, Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis explore themes of care, hope, interdependence, emotional and spiritual connection, and activism.

The exhibition includes artworks by Ackroyd & Harvey, Andrea Bowers, Imani Jacqueline Brown, Agnes Denes, Cristina Iglesias, Aluaiy Kaumakan, Jenny Kendler, Richard Mosse, Otobong Nkanga, Cornelia Parker, Himali Singh Soin, Hito Steyerl, Daiara Tukano and Grounded Ecotherapy.

Wednesday 21 June – Sunday 3 September

Also this month...

Family events for half-term

Dive into fun-tastic family events for half-term, including a musical adaptation of The Gruffalo, playful performances, a free activity trail and more.

Wednesday 31 May – Sunday 4 June

Stewart Lee: Basic Lee

One man, one mic, plus another in case that one breaks. Pure. Simple. Classic. Basic Lee.

Wednesday 28 June – Sunday 2 July

Santtu Conducts Beethoven & Strauss

Santtu-Matias Rouvali and the Philharmonia close their season in a finale rich with superstars: Nicola Benedetti, Sheku KannehMason and Benjamin Grosvenor.

Thursday 8 June

Linton Kwesi Johnson in Conversation: Time Come

We welcome Linton Kwesi Johnson to the Queen Elizabeth Hall for a night in celebration of some of his most powerful prose.

Thursday 29 June

SMOOSH! by Paraorchestra

Love a good singalong? Join in the fun as a high-energy wind and brass band and a troupe of dancers lead us along the riverside in a ‘massaoke’!

Saturday 24 June

Anne-Sophie Mutter, Maximilian Hornung & Lambert Orkis

The great violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter invokes chamber music spectres, with works including Beethoven’s unearthly Ghost Trio.

Sunday 4 June

Gigs

Get ready for great gigs: pop phenomenon Christine and the Queens curates the 28th edition of the UK’s longest-running artist-curated music festival, Meltdown

Thursday 1

BBC Radio 2 Sounds of the 80s: The Live Tour

Legendary DJ Gary Davies brings his Radio 2 show, and plenty of anthems, to the Royal Festival Hall. For ages 14+.

7pm; Royal Festival Hall; £19.80–£35

Friday 9

Faggamuffin Bloc Party

Part of Meltdown

This year’s Meltdown opens with a sound system celebration of QTBIPOC Pride and visibility at carnival. This event is British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).

6pm – 10.30pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Part of Meltdown

Spin into the four-piece’s unpredictable orbit in the wake of their fifth album, Off Planet 7.30pm; Royal Festival Hall; £25–£45

serpentwithfeet

Part of Meltdown

Silken love songs from an artist imagining and exploring a world where Black love is paramount. Featuring Beat Blocks, a multisensory interactive flooring system.

7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; £25

Django Django

The Chateau Presents SE_XCELLENCE

Part of Meltdown

An ecstatic celebration of southeast London’s queer underground. Featuring Beat Blocks, a multisensory interactive flooring system. For ages 18+ only.

11pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; £18, early bird £13.50

Saturday 10

Yemi Alade

Part of Meltdown

Afropop superstar Yemi Alade makes her way to Meltdown, accompanied by a queen of gqom, Moonchild Sanelly.

7.30pm; Royal Festival Hall; £25 – £45

Let's Eat Grandma

Part of Meltdown

Sad-happy synth-pop to make you levitate. This event features Beat Blocks, a multi-sensory interactive flooring system.

7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; £30

Sunday 11, Monday 12,

Wednesday 14 & Sunday 18

BitterSuite Presents

Bodies Tilted

Part of Meltdown

BitterSuite invites you into an immersive multi-sensory experience, set to a live score inspired by the music of Christine and the Queens. For ages 18+ only.

Various times; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; £16.50

BitterSuite Presents

Witness Bodies Tilted

Part of Meltdown

Bear witness to all the spaces in between in this multi-sensory experience. Taking part as a Witness, you see the choreography unfold rather than taking part.

Various times; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free, but ticketed

Sunday 11

Nxdia

Part of Meltdown

Arabic and English lyrics blend seamlessly in Nxdia’s bright but introspective pop tracks.

7.45pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; £10

Monday 12

Warpaint

Part of Meltdown

The band’s latest album Radiate Like This is a sunnier turn for their dreamy California fusion of bright guitars and dusky vocals.

7.30pm; Royal Festival Hall; £35 – £45

Wednesday 14 Johnny

Jewel Live

Part of Meltdown

A composer and shaper of ultravivid textural landscapes whose film score credits include Drive

7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £25

KOKOROKO

Part of Meltdown

Melding jazz and Afrobeat into something new, this band shows what makes London’s music scene special.

7.30pm; Royal Festival Hall; £25 – £35

Thursday 15

Bat For Lashes

Part of Meltdown

As Bat For Lashes, singersongwriter Natasha Khan has been creating darkly fantastical music for 15 years.

7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £35 – £45

Oxlade

Part of Meltdown

Singing passionate falsetto over lively Afrobeats, Oxlade is changing the face of the Nigerian music industry.

7.30pm; Royal Festival Hall; £20 – £40

Riff Cohen

Part of Meltdown

Sigur Rós & London Contemporary Orchestra

Part of Meltdown

This orchestral performance draws on the band’s 25-year catalogue and forthcoming album.

7.30pm; Royal Festival Hall; £55 – £95

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Live

Part of Meltdown

Stomp and slide across the floor to Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs’ slinky dance creations. Featuring Beat Blocks, a multisensory interactive flooring system.

7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; £20

Saturday 17

Petite Noir

Part of Meltdown

Fresh from his new album, MotherFather, the innovator performs the hard-to-define, political brand of pop he calls noirwave.

7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; £20

Pxssy Palace: London x Paris

Part of Meltdown

Dance with a platform celebrating those who are BIPOC and queer, intersex, trans or non-binary. For ages 18+ only.

11pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; £30, early bird £25

Saturday 17 & Sunday 18

Christine and the Queens

Part of Meltdown

Our 28th Meltdown curator reaches new levels of pop greatness with two headline shows. This event is British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).

7.30pm; Royal Festival Hall; £50 – £80

Sunday 18

Lynks + girli

Part of Meltdown

Find fabulous chaos and ‘total sensory overload’ at a show from one of queer pop’s most potent forces. For ages 16+.

7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £18

Thursday 22

futuretense: Windrush Day Special

Part of futuretense

A stacked line-up of free drill, soca and jazz from Reptile B, David Kayode, Triniboi Joocie and Kkeda.

5.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free Jazz Jamaica All Stars: Catch a Fire

Get dancing as Aswad’s Brinsley Forde accompanies the 23-piece big band for Windrush Day. For ages 14+.

7.30pm; Royal Festival Hall; £30 – £40

Saturday 24 & Sunday 25

what the dog said to the harvest

Part of Planet Summer

A groundbreaking call for climate justice drawing on opera, dance, spoken word, immersive sound and film, with artists lisa luxx and Jasmin Kent Rodgman.

Sat 24, 8pm; Sun 25, 4pm & 7pm; Central Bar, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; £10

Sunday 25

Amani Collective Showcase

Part of Refugee Week

Join us for an afternoon showcasing the complexity and variety of contemporary African music.

2pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Songs to Heal and Empower

Part of Refugee Week

Reign

Down

with We Are Dopamine

Part of Meltdown

Leading DJ The SheJay brings the We Are Dopamine collective to the terrace for a day of skilful sets on the decks.

2pm – 6pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

SQÜRL

Part of Meltdown

Carter Logan and Jim Jarmusch, aka SQÜRL, present original live scores to four films by Man Ray.

7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £35 – £45

Restlessly eclectic, Cohen’s tunes lace North African rhythms with Hebrew, French and Arabic vocals. For ages 14+.

7.45pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; £20

Friday 16

Christine and the Kings with Pecs & Sisu

Part of Meltdown

Join us on the terrace for music from DJ collective Sisu and one of London's most-loved drag king collectives, Pecs. This event is British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).

6pm – 10.30pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Reign Down with Loud LDN

Part of Meltdown

Close out Christine and the Queens' incredible Meltdown by partying on the terrace with all-female and non-binary DJ collective Loud LDN.

2pm – 7pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Soap&Skin

Part of Meltdown

Sink into a sound that’s experimental, at times dark, and rooted in the piano.

6.30pm & 9pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; £27.50

Singer-songwriter Samia Malik’s bold music extends and subverts the traditional Urdu Ghazal form.

6.45pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free

Booking fees apply online (£3.50) and over the phone (£4). There are no booking fees for in-person bookings, Southbank Centre Members, Supporters Circles and Patrons.

Thursday 1 & Friday 2

Yellow

Dive into this musical mime landscape where everything is yellow – until blue comes along. Yellow is a non-verbal show. All performances are Relaxed. For ages 2 – 6.

11.15am & 1.30pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; £12 (adult) £9 (child)

Thursday 1 – Sunday 4 One

& Everything Family Trail

On this self-led activity trail, learn about the world’s languages and the people that use them.

For ages 5+.

From Wed 31 May; 10.30am – 4pm; Level 2 Foyers, Royal Festival Hall; Free

The Gruffalo

Go on a daring adventure with Mouse in this magical, musical adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved children’s book. All performances are Relaxed. The performances on Sat 3 Jun at 2pm & Sun 4 Jun at 11am are British Sign

Language interpreted (BSL). The performance on Sun 4 Jun at 11am is Sensory Adapted. The performance on Sun 4 Jun at 2pm is Audio Described (AD), and a Touch Tour is available. For ages 3+.

11am, 2pm & 4.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £22 (adult) £16.50 (child)

Family

Follow this curious and friendly shape-shifter as she learns and plays in a new land. All performances are Relaxed.

For ages 6 – 24 months.

From Wed 31 May; 11am, 1pm & 3pm; Blue Room, Level 1, Royal Festival Hall; £12 (adult) £9 (child)

Friday 2

The Marvellous Myth

Hunter Ceilidh

Dust off your maps and jetpacks to visit Scotland's most famous loch and a fantastical live ceilidh.

For ages 5+. 1pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Saturday 3

Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed at the Orchestra

The Beano’s Dennis and Gnasher invite you along for some musical mischief-making in a family concert. For ages 7+.

BBC Concert Orchestra

George Jackson conductor

Colin Currie percussion Programme includes: Gavin

Higgins Beano Concerto for percussion & orchestra (World Premiere)

11am & 2pm; Royal Festival Hall; £10 – £20

Wednesday 7, 14 & 28

Southbank Centre

Youth Voices

Aged 10 – 18 and curious about singing? Join our group to discover the joy of singing together.

5pm; Level 5 Function Room, Green Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free (email emergingartists@southbankcentre.co.uk to sign up)

From Wednesday 7

Jeppe Hein’s

Appearing Rooms

Part of Planet Summer

A summer favourite returns. By shooting jets of water into the air, the fountain creates rooms that disappear as quickly as they emerge.

Wed – Sun (subject to weather conditions and maintenance), 10am – 9pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Friday 9

Rug Rhymes at the NPL

Find your spot on the poem rug for a short session of nursery rhymes and poems for under-5s.

11am; National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; £4 (child, includes one adult)

Saturday 24

SMOOSH! by Paraorchestra

Take part in a rip-roaring open-air music parade. The event has stepfree access. For all ages.

3pm & 5pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Sunday 25

West African Dance Workshop

Part of Refugee Week

A family-friendly workshop and performance features West African percussion and dance with Imani Jendai and Tagne Tebu.

3pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Friday 30

Rug Rhymes at the NPL

Find your spot on the poem rug for a short session of nursery rhymes and poems for under-5s.

11am; National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; £4 (child, includes one adult)

Our events are not just for the grown-ups – this half-term is jam-packed with colourful, creative events for kids, including madcap musical antics

Art & exhibitions

From internationally acclaimed artists at the Hayward Gallery to free displays and outdoor installations, art and exhibitions can be found all around our site

Throughout the month

Poets in Vogue

Uncover the relationship between the language of poets and the clothes they wear at our free exhibition. For ages 16+.

Tue, 12 noon – 6pm; Wed – Sun, 12 noon –8pm (closed Mon); National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free

Souad Abdelrassoul:

Me You And The Journey

Appearing outside the Hayward Gallery, Me You And The Journey is a painting of two figures, partially shrouded in cloth.

Daily, 24 hours; Billboard Space, Queen Elizabeth Hall; Free

Klaus Weber:

Thinking Fountains

Thinking Fountains is an outdoor sculpture commission featuring two water-spouting bronze figures and a narrow waterfall cascading from an elevated concrete walkway.

Daily, 24 hours; Hayward Gallery Terrace; Free

Planet Summer: Artworks Around the Site

Part of Planet Summer

Vivid artworks around our site respond to the themes of our summer season: care, hope, connection and activism.

Daily; Across the site; Free

From Wednesday 7

Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms

Part of Planet Summer

A summer favourite returns. By shooting jets of water into the air, the fountain creates rooms that disappear as quickly as they emerge.

Wed – Sun (subject to weather conditions and maintenance), 10am – 9pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

From Thursday 8 Compassion

Part of Refugee Week

A new commission by artist Murugiah, from Counterpoints Arts and Choose Love, celebrates this year's Refugee Week theme, Compassion.

Daily; Riverside Entrance Foyer, Level 1, Royal Festival Hall; Free

From Wednesday 21

Dear Earth:

Art

and

Hope in a Time of Crisis

Part of Planet Summer

This pioneering group show of artistic responses to the climate emergency explores themes of care, hope, interdependence, emotional and spiritual connection, and activism.

Wed – Fri, 10am – 6pm; Sat, 10am – 8pm; Sun, 10am – 6pm (closed Mon & Tue); Hayward Gallery; Hayward Gallery supporter £16.50*; standard £15 (Wed – Fri); Hayward Gallery supporter £17.60*; standard £16 (Sat & Sun)

Occupied Archives: Recording Road Protest

An Archive Studio display explores the anti-road protest movement in the UK from the early 90s.

Daily; Archive Studio, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free

Thursday 22

Teachers’ Twilight: Dear Earth

Primary, secondary and SEND teachers are invited to explore our current Hayward Gallery exhibition and find out how to make the most of it with your classes.

4pm; Dan Graham Waterloo Sunset Pavilion, Hayward Gallery; Free, but ticketed

Friday 23

Members-Only Hours: Dear Earth

Part of Planet Summer

Enjoy this pioneering group show of responses to the climate emergency in a Members-only slot. 6pm; Hayward Gallery; Free to Members

Activism and Art

Hayward Gallery Chief Curator Rachel Thomas chairs a panel of three artists featured in Dear Earth: Imani Jacqueline Brown, Jenny Kendler and Daiara Tukano. 7pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; £10

Sunday 25

Short Film Showcase

Part of Refugee Week

An evening of exceptional short films from around the world, made by refugee and asylum-seeking film-makers. Curated by the Arab Film Club. For ages 16+.

5pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; £5

Booking fees apply online (£3.50) and over the phone (£4). There are no booking fees for inperson bookings, Southbank Centre Members, Supporters Circles and Patrons. Booking fees for Hayward Gallery exhibition tickets: £3 online, £3.50 over the phone.

*Supporter tickets include a voluntary donation of at least 10% of the standard admission charge, to support the Southbank Centre’s work. If you buy a supporter ticket and make a Gift Aid declaration, we can claim the tax paid on the full ticket price, not just the donation.

Throughout the month Poets in Vogue

Uncover the relationship between the language of poets and the clothes they wear at our free exhibition. For ages 16+.

Tue, 12 noon – 6pm; Wed – Sun, 12 noon –8pm (closed Mon); National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free

Wednesday 7

Jaqueline Crooks: Fire Rush

Jacqueline Crooks immerses us in the dub and dancehall darkness of her debut novel, Fire Rush For ages 16+.

7.45pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; £12

Thursday 8

Out-Spoken: June

Each month, Out-Spoken celebrates diversity in voice and performance, with bills featuring brilliant poets and musicians. For ages 16+.

7.45pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; £12

Friday 9

Rug Rhymes at the NPL

Find your spot on the poem rug for a short session of nursery rhymes and poems for under-5s.

11am; National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; £4 (child, includes one adult)

Literature & talks

Wednesday 14

Special Edition: You Can't Be Autistic, You're a Poet

Poets Kate Fox, Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa and Jill Abram would beg to differ! For ages 16+.

8pm; National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; £7

Saturday 17

Katya's Afternoon Tea

Part of Meltdown

Drag queen Katya Zamolodchikova brews up an afternoon of controversy and chaos. For ages 18+.

5pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £25 – £45. For ages 18+.

Wednesday 21

An Evening with Elliot Page

Actor, producer and director Elliot Page celebrates the publication of his groundbreaking new memoir, Pageboy. This event is Speech-toText Transcribed (STT).

For ages 16+.

8pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £15 – £35

Sunday 25 Out-Spoken

Masterclass June

Over a three-hour session, participants get a chance to work with an established poet to create their own poetry. For ages 18+.

1pm; Sunley Pavilion, Level 3, Green Side, Royal Festival Hall; £20

About Us! Artists' Scratch Showcase

Part of Refugee Week

Looking for a safe space to share your creative ideas? Need inspiration for your next project? For ages 16+.

2.30pm; Level 5 Function Room, Green Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free, but ticketed

Migrant Futurism: Kenmure Street

Part of Refugee Week

This panel brings together activists to reflect on the power of the Kenmure Street protest, two years on. For ages 12+.

1.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free

Migrant Futurism:

Françoise Vergès

Part of Refugee Week

The decolonial activist and theorist reflects on the context of the UK’s Illegal Migration Bill. For ages 14+.

3pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; £7.50

Migrant Futurism: Angela Camacho

Part of Refugee Week

The community organiser performs a Future Ancestors Ritual to conclude the afternoon’s programme. For ages 12+.

4pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free

Notes on Compassion: Words, Music and Us

Part of Refugee Week

Marking the 25th year of Refugee Week, an evening of music and spoken word responds to this year’s theme, Compassion.

8pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £10

Thursday 29

Linton Kwesi Johnson in Conversation: Time Come

We welcome Linton Kwesi Johnson to the Queen Elizabeth Hall for a night in celebration of some of his most powerful prose. For ages 16+.

8pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £15

Friday 30

Rug Rhymes at the NPL

Find your spot on the poem rug for a short session of nursery rhymes and poems for under-5s.

11am; National Poetry Library, Level 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall; £4 (child, includes one adult)

We’re the home of literature and spoken word events in the UK, and our programme brims with today’s bestselling authors, rising literary stars and award-winning poetry

Performance & comedy

Gentle family shows, brand-new dance works and classic stand-up: discover international artists and up-and-coming names here in our venues

Thursday 1 & Friday 2

Yellow

Dive into this musical mime landscape where everything is yellow – until blue comes along. Yellow is a non-verbal show. All performances are Relaxed. For ages 2 – 6.

11.15am & 1.30pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; £12 (adult) £9 (child)

Thursday 1 – Sunday 4

toooB

Follow this curious and friendly shape-shifter as she learns and plays in a new land. All performances are Relaxed. For ages 6 – 24 months.

From Wed 31 May; 11am, 1pm & 3pm; Blue Room, Level 1, Royal Festival Hall; £12 (adult) £9 (child)

The Gruffalo

Go on a daring adventure with Mouse in this magical, musical adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved children’s book.

All performances are Relaxed.

The performances on Sat 3 Jun at 2pm & Sun 4 Jun at 11am are British Sign Language interpreted (BSL). The performance on Sun 4 Jun at 11am is Sensory Adapted. The performance on Sun 4 Jun at 2pm is Audio Described (AD), and a Touch Tour is available. For ages 3+.

11am, 2pm & 4.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £22 (adult) £16.50 (child)

Friday 2

The Marvellous Myth

Hunter Ceilidh

Dust off your maps and jetpacks to visit Scotland's most famous loch and a fantastical live ceilidh. For ages 5+.

1pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Saturday 10

Rain Crew Summer Jam

Part of Meltdown

Dance company Rain Crew bring their legendary Summer Jam to the Riverside Terrace for a day of workshops, DJs and battles.

2pm – 10.30pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Sunday 11, Monday 12, Wednesday 14 & Sunday 18

BitterSuite Presents Bodies Tilted

Part of Meltdown

BitterSuite invites you into an immersive multi-sensory experience, set to a live score inspired by the music of Christine and the Queens. For ages 18+ only.

Various times; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; £16.50

BitterSuite Presents

Witness Bodies Tilted

Part of Meltdown

Bear witness to all the spaces in between in this multi-sensory experience. Taking part as a Witness, you see the choreography unfold rather than taking part. Various times; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free, but ticketed

Wednesday 14

Taos Bertrand: brutal syntax

Part of Meltdown

The world premiere of a new dance work commissioned by the Southbank Centre especially for Meltdown. For ages 16+.

7.45pm & 9pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; £15

Friday 16

Christine and the Kings with Pecs & Sisu

Part of Meltdown

Join us on the terrace for music from DJ collective Sisu and one of London's most-loved drag king collectives, Pecs. This event is British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).

6pm – 10.30pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Saturday 17

The Bitten Peach

Part of Meltdown

The Bitten Peach proudly presents a pan-Asian cast of cabaret artists and DJs serving up performance and dancing on the Riverside Terrace. This event is British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).

4pm – 10.30pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Saturday 24 & Sunday 25

what the dog said to the harvest

Part of Planet Summer

A groundbreaking call for climate justice drawing on opera, dance, spoken word, immersive sound and film, with artists lisa luxx and Jasmin Kent Rodgman.

Sat 24, 8pm; Sun 25, 4pm & 7pm; Central Bar, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; £10

From Wednesday 28

Stewart Lee: Basic Lee

Pure. Simple. Classic. Basic Lee. The performance on Thursday 29 June is British Sign Language interpreted (BSL). For ages 14+.

Until Sun 2 Jul; 3pm, 7.30pm & 8pm; Royal Festival Hall; £25 – £35

fees apply online (£3.50) and over the phone (£4). There are no booking fees for in-person bookings, Southbank Centre Members, Supporters Circles and Patrons.

Classical music

Our programme celebrates classical music in the 21st century, bringing together some of the most exciting artists and ensembles working in classical music today

Saturday 3

Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed at the Orchestra

The Beano’s Dennis and Gnasher invite you along for some musical mischief-making in a family concert. For ages 7+.

BBC Concert Orchestra

George Jackson conductor

Colin Currie percussion

Programme includes: Gavin

Higgins Beano Concerto for percussion & orchestra (World Premiere)

11am & 2pm; Royal Festival Hall; £10–£20

Sunday 4

String Festival with Sheku Kanneh-Mason

The superstar cellist and members of the Philharmonia coach 100 young string players.

1pm – 5pm ; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free

Anne-Sophie Mutter, Maximilian Hornung & Lambert Orkis

Hear Beethoven’s atmospheric classic, the Ghost, come to life.

Anne-Sophie Mutter violin

Maximilian Hornung cello

Lambert Orkis piano

Sebastian Currier Ghost Trio (UK premiere); Beethoven Piano Trio in D, Op.70 No.1 (Ghost); Clara Schumann 3 Romances for violin & piano, Op.22; Brahms Violin

Sonata No.3 in D minor, Op.108

6pm; Royal Festival Hall; £15 – £55

Wednesday 7

RPO Journeys of Discovery: Conflict

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra pairs a Tchaikovsky concerto with a symphony pulling no punches.

Vasily Petrenko conductor

Nobuyuki Tsujii piano

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1; Shostakovich Symphony No.8 in C minor

7.30pm; Royal Festival Hall; £10 – £50

Wednesday 7 & Thursday 8

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment: Princess Ida, or Castle Adamant

The OAE takes a fresh look at Gilbert and Sullivan’s thorny 1884 comic opera in their season finale.

John Wilson conductor

Sophie Bevan Princess Ida

Benjamin Hulett Prince Hilarion

Robert Hayward King Hildebrand

Simon Butteriss King Gama/ Narrator

Catherine Wyn-Rogers Lady

Blanche

Bethany Horak-Hallett Lady Psyche

Marlena Devoe Melissa

Ruairi Bowen Cyril

Charles Rice Florian

7pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £10 – £82. A semi-staged performance with narration written and directed by Simon Butteriss

Thursday 8

Philharmonia Orchestra:

Santtu Conducts

Beethoven & Strauss

Santtu-Matias Rouvali and the Philharmonia close their season in a finale rich with superstars.

Santtu-Matias Rouvali conductor

Nicola Benedetti violin

Sheku Kanneh-Mason cello

Benjamin Grosvenor piano

Beethoven Triple Concerto for violin, cello & piano; Strauss

Ein Heldenleben

7.30pm; Royal Festival Hall; Tickets from £25.

Philharmonia Orchestra & Love Ssega: PANGEA

Love Ssega joins members of the orchestra to present the world premiere of PANGEA

6pm; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free

Thursday 22

Alice Sara Ott & Friends: Quartet

for the End

of Time

Pianist Alice Sara Ott and friends perform Messiaen’s visionary masterpiece.

Alice Sara Ott piano

Thomas Reif violin

Sebastian Klinger cello

Sebastian Manz clarinet

Messiaen Quatuor pour la fin du temps

6.30pm & 8.30pm; Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall; £30

Friday 23

Maurizio Pollini

A living legend of the piano treats us to a solo recital with masterpieces by Schumann and Chopin.

Complete programme to be announced

7.30pm; Royal Festival Hall; £15 – £65 .

Debussy and John Adams: Symphonic Reimaginings

Debussy’s La mer swells an evening of enchantment featuring works by John Adams and Hannah Kendall.

Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra

Ryan Bancroft conductor

Hannah Kendall The Spark Catchers; Debussy La mer; John Adams Harmonielehre

7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £5 – £20

Saturday 24

SMOOSH! by Paraorchestra

Take part in a rip-roaring open-air music parade. The event has stepfree access. For all ages.

3pm & 5pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free Chineke! Orchestra: Coleridge-Taylor,

Goodyear, Price

Get swept up in Trinidad’s Calypso melodies and rhythms, captured by Stewart Goodyear.

Stewart Goodyear piano

Coleridge-Taylor Othello Suite, Op.79; Stewart Goodyear Callaloo - Caribbean Suite for piano & orchestra; Price Symphony No.3 in C minor

7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £15 – £40

Wednesday 28

Seize the Day: A Celebration of Adrian Sutton

Be swept away by a selection of works from the composer known for his epic National Theatre scores.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Michael Seal conductor

Fenella Humphreys violin

London Youth Choir

Zeb Soanes presenter

Adrian Sutton Short Story; A Fist Full of Fives; Violin Concerto (World premiere); Orchestral miniatures including: Polperro Beach from Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time; War Horse Suite; Some See Us

7.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall; £9 – £44.50

Presale tickets

Eye-popping art

Booking fees apply online (£3.50) and over the phone (£4). There are no booking fees for in-person bookings, Southbank Centre Members, Supporters Circles and Patrons.

Classical music multi-buy: with our multibuy offers, you can book concerts from across our classical music programme and receive a discount. There is a small number of events that aren’t included in the multibuy offer. Check individual event pages on our website for further details.

Children aged 7+ are welcome at most Southbank Centre classical concerts, except where indicated.

Knockout views

Delicious discounts Treat

Throughout the month Poets in Vogue

Uncover the relationship between the language of poets and the clothes they wear at our free exhibition. For ages 16+.

Free events

Souad Abdelrassoul: Me You And The Journey

Appearing outside the Hayward Gallery, Me You And The Journey is a painting of two figures, partially shrouded in cloth, by the artist Souad Abdelrassoul.

Klaus Weber: Thinking Fountains

Thinking Fountains is an outdoor sculpture commission featuring two water-spouting bronze figures and a narrow waterfall cascading from an elevated concrete walkway.

Planet Summer: Artworks Around the Site

Part of Planet Summer

Vivid artworks around our site respond to the themes of our summer season: care, hope, connection and activism. Daily; Across the site; Free

Thursday 1 – Sunday 4

One & Everything Family Trail

On this self-led activity trail, learn about the world’s languages and the people that use them. For ages 5+.

From Wed 31 May; 10.30am – 4pm; Level 2 Foyers, Royal Festival Hall; Free

Friday 2

The Marvellous Myth Hunter Ceilidh

Dust off your maps and jetpacks to visit Scotland's most famous loch and a fantastical live ceilidh. For ages 5+.

1pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Wednesday 7, 14 & 28

Southbank Centre Youth Voices

Aged 10 – 18 and curious about singing? Join our group to discover the joy of singing together.

5pm; Level 5 Function Room, Green Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free (email emergingartists@southbankcentre.co.uk to sign up)

From Wednesday 7

Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms

Part of Planet Summer

A summer favourite returns. By shooting jets of water into the air, the fountain creates rooms that disappear as quickly as they emerge.

Wed – Sun (subject to weather conditions and maintenance), 10am – 9pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Thursday 8

Philharmonia Orchestra & Love Ssega: PANGEA

Love Ssega joins members of the orchestra to present the world premiere of PANGEA

6pm; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free

From Thursday 8

Compassion

Part of Refugee Week

A new commission by artist Murugiah, from Counterpoints Arts and Choose Love, celebrates this year's Refugee Week theme, Compassion.

Daily; Riverside Entrance Foyer, Level 1, Royal Festival Hall; Free

Friday 9

Faggamuffin Bloc Party

Part of Meltdown

This year’s Meltdown opens with a sound system celebration of QTBIPOC Pride and visibility at carnival. This event is British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).

6pm – 10.30pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Saturday 10

Rain Crew Summer Jam

Part of Meltdown

Dance company Rain Crew bring their legendary Summer Jam to the Riverside Terrace for a day of workshops, DJs and battles.

2pm – 10.30pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Sunday 11, Monday 12, Wednesday 14 & Sunday 18

BitterSuite Presents

Witness Bodies Tilted

Part of Meltdown

Bear witness to all the spaces in between in this multi-sensory experience. Taking part as a Witness, you see the choreography unfold rather than taking part. Various times; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free, but ticketed

Sunday 11

Reign Down with We Are Dopamine

Part of Meltdown

Leading DJ The SheJay brings the We Are Dopamine collective to the terrace for a day of skilful sets on the decks.

2pm – 6pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Friday 16

Christine and the Kings with Pecs & Sisu

Part of Meltdown

Join us on the terrace for music from DJ collective Sisu and one of London's most-loved drag king collectives, Pecs. This event is British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).

6pm – 10.30pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Saturday 17

The Bitten Peach

Part of Meltdown

The Bitten Peach proudly presents a pan-Asian cast of cabaret artists and DJs serving up performance and dancing on the Riverside Terrace. This event is British Sign Language interpreted (BSL).

4pm – 10.30pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Sunday 18

Reign Down with Loud LDN

Part of Meltdown

Close out Christine and the Queens' incredible Meltdown by partying on the terrace with all-female and non-binary DJ collective Loud LDN.

2pm – 7pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

From Wednesday 21

Occupied Archives:

Recording Road Protest

An Archive Studio display explores the anti-road protest movement in the UK from the early 90s.

Daily; Archive Studio, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free

Thursday 22

futuretense:

Windrush Day Special

Part of futuretense

A stacked line-up of free drill, soca and jazz from Reptile B, David Kayode, Triniboi Joocie and Kkeda.

5.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free

Friday 23

Mix & Move: Women for Refugee Women

Part of Refugee Week

Learn traditional dance moves from all around the world with community group Women for Refugee Women.

1pm; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free

Saturday 24

SMOOSH! by Paraorchestra

Take part in a rip-roaring open-air music parade. The event has stepfree access. For all ages.

3pm & 5pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Sunday 25

Singing Our Lives

Part of Refugee Week

A thrilling performance uniting singers, performers, musicians and writers from around the world.

11.45am; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free

Amani Collective Showcase

Part of Refugee Week

Join us for an afternoon showcasing the complexity and variety of contemporary African music.

2pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

About Us! Artists' Scratch Showcase

Part of Refugee Week

Looking for a safe space to share your creative ideas? Need inspiration for your next project? For ages 16+.

2.30pm; Level 5 Function Room, Green Side, Royal Festival Hall; Free, but ticketed

Migrant Futurism: Kenmure Street

Part of Refugee Week

This panel brings together activists to reflect on the power of the Kenmure Street protest, two years on. For ages 12+.

1.30pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free

West African Dance Workshop

Part of Refugee Week

A family-friendly workshop and performance features West African percussion and dance with Imani Jendai and Tagne Tebu.

3pm; Riverside Terrace, Level 2; Free

Migrant Futurism: Angela Camacho

Part of Refugee Week

The community organiser performs a Future Ancestors

Ritual to conclude the afternoon’s programme. For ages 12+.

4pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free

Songs to Heal and Empower

Part of Refugee Week

Singer-songwriter Samia Malik’s bold music extends and subverts the traditional Urdu Ghazal form.

6.45pm; Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer; Free

Friday 30

Secondary Schools Come and Sing!

Secondary school teachers are invited to bring their students to a day of singing, workshops and discussions.

10am; The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall; Free, but ticketed

Upcoming highlights

Planet Summer

Find care, hope, connection and activism in our season teeming with talks, performances, music and family events responding to the climate emergency. Inspiration for the season comes from our pioneering Hayward Gallery group show, Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis

The exhibition begins in June, but the connected events of our season really kick off in July, drawing together powerful perspectives on the climate crisis, featuring Greta Thunberg, Mikaela Loach, Dominique Palmer, Rebecca Solnit, Thelma Young Lutunatabua, Mark Carney, Tori Tsui and Cerys Matthews.

Wednesday 21 June – Sunday 3 September

Also coming soon

Poetry International

Our longest-running festival makes a triumphant return for its 53rd iteration, with a weekend crammed full of leading ecopoets, workshops and readings.

Friday 21 – Sunday 23 July

Regina Spektor

Performing two solo concerts in our Royal Festival Hall, the storytelling singer-songwriter returns to the capital for the first time in six years.

Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 July

Are we not drawn onward to new erA

As part of our summer season, boundary-pushing theatre collective Ontroerend Goed presents a show that considers the future of humanity.

Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 July

REPLAY: A Limitless Recycled Playground

Part installation, part adventure playground, REPLAY is a space built entirely out of waste materials, repurposed for family fun by The Herd Theatre.

Saturday 8 July – Sunday 3 September

The SpongeBob Musical

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea and became the hottest star on Broadway? It's SpongeBob SquarePants, in an all-singing, alldancing, dynamic stage show!

Wednesday 26 July – Sunday 27 August

Yomi Adegoke & Bernardine Evaristo: The List

The co-author of Slay In Your Lane launches her sensational debut novel, The List, in conversation with Bernardine Evaristo.

Thursday 20 July

Eat & explore

Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden

Had a busy day cramming in all London has to offer? Desperately seeking a quiet spot to take the weight off? Head up the striking yellow stairs outside the Queen Elizabeth Hall to find your answer – our roof garden is open to the public once again after a winter under wraps.

From ground level, our brutalist venues may appear to be pure concrete, but as you venture upwards, the vista opens out to reveal a flourishing green space –not only brimming with gorgeous plants and lots of nooks where you can make yourself at home, but also boasting some pretty spectacular views, stretching to Big Ben in the west and St. Paul's Cathedral in the east (and beyond).

While you’re up here, take advantage of the Cafe & Bar for speciality coffees, savoury and sweet snacks, classic summertime drinks and even cocktails inspired by the garden’s herbs and flowers – this secret spot is home to more than 200 wild native plants.

The garden, originally a partnership with the Eden Project, was built and is maintained by Grounded Ecotherapy, a pioneering recovery programme that offers people dealing with issues like homelessness and addiction help through horticulture.

Roof Garden: Wed – Sun, 12 noon – dusk (subject to weather conditions); Cafe & Bar: Wed – Fri, 4pm – dusk; Sat & Sun, 12 noon –dusk. For step-free access to the Roof Garden, please ask a member of staff

Jeppe Hein's Appearing Rooms

Limber up for another summer favourite, which returns to our site in early June. This interactive sculpture, created by Danish artist Jeppe Hein, features jets of water that shoot from the ground in a grid formation –dash through them if you dare, but you might get wet!

Hein's Appearing Rooms was originally commissioned for the garden of the Villa Manin, Italy, in 2004, and has appeared on our site since 2006. The 2.30-metre-high water walls randomly rise and fall, creating rooms that appear and then disappear in an installation that’s simultaneously a playful work of art that

combines architecture and technology, and a brilliant summertime activity for families and grown-ups alike.

The fountain makes an iconic summertime Southbank Centre duo with the Queen Elizabeth Hall’s yellow stairs. So, when the sun appears, take a seat on our Riverside Terrace and enjoy the gorgeous vistas, glittering spray, and shrieks from those who get caught by the jets.

Wednesday 7 June – Sunday 3 September; Wed – Sun, 10am – 9pm (subject to weather conditions and maintenance); closed Mon & Tue

About us

London Eye

Waterloo Bridge

Royal Festival Hall BelvedereRd YorkRd

Hayward Gallery

Getting here

By train

The nearest stations are: Waterloo Waterloo East Charing Cross Blackfriars

By tube

Waterloo (200 metres) Embankment (600 metres)

By bus

Routes 1, 26, 59, 68, 76, 139, 168, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521, N1, N68, N171, N343 and X68 stop on Waterloo Bridge (a two-minute walk away)

Routes 76, 77, 211, 381, 507 and N381 stop on York Road (a five-minute walk away)

London Waterloo East

How to book tickets

Online

southbankcentre.co.uk*

Waterloo

We’re the largest arts centre in the UK and one of the nation's top visitor attractions, showcasing the world’s most exciting artists at our venues in the heart of London. We’re here to present great cultural experiences that bring people together, and open up the arts to everyone.

The Southbank Centre is made up of the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, Hayward Gallery, National Poetry Library and Arts Council Collection. We're also one of London’s favourite meeting spots, with lots of free events and places to relax, eat and shop next to the Thames.

We hope that you enjoy your visit – and if you need any information or help, please ask a member of staff.

While you're here

Eating, drinking and shopping? Take in the views over food and drinks at the Riverside Terrace Cafe, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, and visit our shops for products inspired by our great cultural experiences, iconic buildings and central London location. And around our site you can find more to explore, with Beany Green, Côte Brasserie, Foyles, Giraffe, Honest Burger, La Gamba, Las Iguanas, Le Pain Quotidien, Ping Pong, Pret, Strada, Skylon, Topolski, wagamama and Wahaca.

Southbank Centre Food Market

With a huge choice of street food and drinks from around the globe, the Southbank Centre Food Market is a must-visit.

Fri, 12 noon – 9pm; Sat, 11am – 9pm; Sun & bank holiday Mon, 12 noon – 6pm; Southbank Centre Square, Belvedere Road

Access

The Southbank Centre is accessible to all and level access is available to all of our venues. For further information and details of accessible events, see our website. southbankcentre.co.uk/access

For an audio version of this publication, visit soundcloud.com/southbankcentreaudio

Membership

Become a Member and get the first chance to book for go-downin-history gigs, sublime symphonies and blockbuster literature events. Members also get a discount on selected retailers and restaurants; check our website for more details.

southbankcentre.co.uk/membership

Supporters Circles

Enjoy all the benefits of Membership as well as getting closer to the artists with invitations to rehearsals, openings and more. southbankcentre.co.uk/join

Name a seat

Starting from £100, dedicate a seat in one of our concert halls to your favourite person.

southbankcentre.co.uk/nameaseat

Listings correct at time of going to press (2023).

The Southbank Centre is a registered charity no. 298909

By phone

020 3879 9555*

For information about concessions, see southbankcentre.co.uk

* Booking fees apply online (£3.50) and over the phone (£4). There are no booking fees for in-person bookings, Southbank Centre Members, Supporters Circles and Patrons. Booking fees for Hayward Gallery exhibition tickets: £3 online, £3.50 over the phone.

Stay in the know

Image credits

On the cover: Christine & The Queens © Paul Kooiker

Inside cover: KOKOROKO

This month's highlights: Richard Mosse, Oil Spill on Kichwa Territory III Block 192 Rio Tigre, Loreto, 2023. Digital C print © Richard Mosse, 2023. Courtesy of the artist, Jack Shainman Gallery and carlier gebauer. The Marvellous Myth Hunter © Image courtesy of The Marvellous Myth Hunter; Stewart Lee © Steve Ullathorne; Nicola Benedetti © A Bofill; Linton Kwesi Johnson © Ajamu Ikwe-Tyehimba; SMOOSH! by Paraorchestra; Anne-Sophie Mutter © Kristian Schuller / DG (2018)

Header images: Gigs: Oxlade; Family: The Gruffalo © Tall Stories; Art & exhibitions: Fefe Talavera: El Camino © fernandobiagioni; Literature & talks: Katya Zamolodchikova © Andrew Yang; Performance & comedy: BitterSuite Presents

Bodies Tilted © Olivia Williams; Classical music: Chineke! Orchestra © Ntando Brown / Sam Mackay; Free events: Faggamuffin Bloc Party © Haruki, Faggamuffin 2022

Upcoming highlights: Poetry International: CA Conrad; Regina Spektor © Shervin

Lainez; Are we not drawn onward to new erA © Mirjam Devriendt; REPLAY © John Philip Sage; The SpongeBob Musical © Sella Door; Yomi Adegoke © Mollana Burke

Eat & explore: Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden © Lia Vittone Photography; Jeppe Hein's Appearing Rooms © India Roper-Evans

Sign up to our email updates and be the first to hear about new events, offers and competitions. Just head to our website and hit subscribe. To receive publications in alternative formats, and for further information, email accesslist@southbankcentre.co.uk or phone 020 3879 9555

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Queen Elizabeth Hall & Purcell Room