Festival Unlimited 2024: A celebration of art and diversity
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- Festival Unlimited 2024: A celebration of art and diversity
Festival Unlimited 2024: A celebration of art and diversity
The biennial Unlimited Festival returns to the Southbank Centre from September 4 to 8, 2024, offering an exceptional platform for deaf and disabled artists. This multi-arts festival features a diverse program including comedy, theatre, dance, club nights, and numerous free events.
A rich and diverse program
Unlimited 2024 highlights artists and companies that challenge narratives around disability. Key events include Touretteshero’s Biscuit Land Cabaret, a screening of *Silent World* by deaf rapper Signkid, and an exhibition by photographer Suzie Larke. Ruth Hardie, Head of Public Programming at the Southbank Centre, emphasizes the significance of this edition: “This is probably the first year we have the same scale of work as before the pandemic.”
Accessible and innovative performances
For this edition, the Southbank Centre has commissioned several new works, including *Mark Of A Woman* by deaf artist Chisato Minamimura. This performance explores the relationship between women and tattoos through Visual Vernacular, a form of performance using sign language, mime, and theatrical techniques. Minamimura stresses the importance of inclusivity: “I challenge the audience to ask what art is and how it relates to the diversity of the world we live in.”
Photos : Stopgap Dance Company: Lived Fiction 2024. Christopher Parkes/Southbank Centre
Hope and resilience
The festival also features *Hope & Ponies*, a workshop and banner installation by Two Destination Language. Each banner, made from recycled fabric, carries a different definition of hope, addressing themes from war to the climate crisis. Katherina Radeva explains: “We want to make space to refill your glass of hope.”
Inclusive club nights
Unlimited 2024 also offers evening events like Disco Neurotico, a club night for those who find social experiences challenging due to conditions like anxiety or autism. Byron Vincent, the event organizer, highlights the importance of inclusion: “It’s simply about listening to people and working with someone who understands the needs of this community.” The festival will conclude on September 7 with a silent disco, offering a unique experience with guest DJs and interactive activities. Ruth Hardie concludes: “Unlimited is a moment of celebration and ongoing support for artists.”
Photos : Stopgap Dance Company: Lived Fiction 2024. Christopher Parkes/Southbank Centre
Highlights of the Unlimited Festival 2024
The biennial Unlimited Festival returns to the Southbank Centre from September 4 to 8, 2024, offering an exceptional platform for deaf and disabled artists. Here’s a glimpse of this edition’s highlights:
Wednesday, September 4
Living fiction (tickets from £15) Stopgap Dance Company presents its latest creation, an emotional dance piece featuring deaf, disabled, neurodivergent, and non-disabled artists.
Friday, September 6
Precarious moves (tickets from £14) A humorous solo performance by Michael Turinsky, exploring movement, mobility, and connection.
Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8
Touretteshero burns in biscuit land (tickets from £10) A surreal show where three neurodiverse inhabitants of an apocalyptic bunker try to survive.
It’s a Bloody Pleasure
Flawbored presents a biting satire on the monetization of identity politics Disco Neurotico (tickets £10)
A neurodiverse club night for those who love to party in an inclusive environment. Shooting from below (tickets from £8)
A unique combination of musical theatre, movement, live art, and drag by Midgitte Bardot.
Sleight of Hand (tickets from £12) A tactile installation by Jo Bannon, incorporating audio description, tactile design, choreography, and ASMR soundscapes.
Sunday, September 8
Stammering : Tcho Tcho! (tickets from £14)
A playful and interactive show exploring intrusive thoughts and OCD.
Abnormal-Funny People – IRL (tickets from £12) An evening of laughs with irreverent and internationally renowned comedians.
Free events
Thursday, September 5 from 8:30 PM
Deaf rave : A free evening with talented deaf DJs and a Woojer zone.
Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8
Unlimited on screen : Screenings of films commissioned by Unlimited, available in person and online.
Saturday, September 7 at 1 PM and 3 PM
Krystal S Lowe: New Growth. A dance and choreography performance by Krystal S. Lowe, exploring personal growth.
Saturday, September 7 at 8 PM
She Sings : Accessible dreamscapes
An immersive musical performance exploring performance and presentation from a disabled perspective.
Sunday, September 8 at 5 PM
Touretteshero’s Biscuit Land Cabaret : A cabaret featuring disabled, neurodivergent, and chronically ill artists, exploring themes of joy, resistance, and invisibility.
SoLo craft fair
An parallel, the SoLo Craft Fair returns to South Bank this summer with a series of monthly markets at Between the Bridges. Every first Sunday of the month, discover a variety of independent creators selling jewelry, art, home decor, and children’s gifts. Enjoy free workshops, food, and drinks in a friendly atmosphere.
Photos : Stopgap Dance Company: Lived Fiction 2024. Christopher Parkes/Southbank Centre
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