Category archive: Arts and Culture



Ilford Business Awards Nominations 2024

Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure is excited to announce that our services have been nominated in three categories for the Ilford Business Awards 2024: Ilford Business of the Year, Redbridge Art & Culture Award (with two nominations), and Redbridge Social Value Award. We invite all who value our services – customers, partners, supporters, colleagues, and




East London Shakespeare Festival returns with sparkling rom-com Much Ado About Nothing

East London Shakespeare Festival (ELSF) returns to Valentines Park and other parks and open spaces across east London this summer, with a sparkling family-friendly production of the Bard’s romanticcomedy Much Ado About Nothing, touring from June to August. Come along to Valentines Park on Thursday 25 or Friday 26 July for this sun-soaked mischief and


Redbridge residents bring joy and colour to our neighbourhoods as part of new summer programme

Magnificent kite-flying displays, a catwalk of vibrant, cultural fabrics, and an inspiring flag parade led by Redbridge’s disabled communities, are just three of the projects that residents have been developing, ready to launch in Redbridge this summer. 30 residents, known as Community Producers, have been working with expert artists to develop a world-class programme, including:




Easter Opening Hours

During the Easter period our leisure centres, libraries and other facilities will have different opening hours. Please see the opening hours listed below, or for more information please visit our individual centre pages.Find out more about your local sport and leisure centreFind out more about your local libraryFind out more about theatre For more information



Celebrating Diversity: LGBT+ History Month

This February, residents of Redbridge are gearing up to celebrate LGBT+ History Month with an array of events and activities aimed at fostering inclusivity, understanding, and recognition of the rich history of the LGBT+ community. Organised by Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure in partnership with Redbridge Council, Redbridge Rainbow Community, Positive East and Eastside Community


Vision RCL presents Tate Modern Display “One Planet, One Chance” Exhibition at Redbridge Central Library

Vision RCL is thrilled to announce, “One Planet, One Chance” Exhibition is now available for viewing at Redbridge Central Library.  The climate action artworks were created for Tate Modern in July 2023 for One Planet One Chance, a pan disability event for adults with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, and older adults. “One Planet, One



Just Sing: Celebrating 10 Years of Performing Arts

The Just Sing performance at the Kenneth More Theatre was an excellent celebration of 10 years of Performing Arts at the Redbridge Drama Centre. Over 150 children came together to put on a full scale production with a multitude of well-known songs and even included dance performances and dramatic monologues and group pieces. In January


MegaMix is Back for the Summer Holidays

Megamix is back this summer with lots of free and low cost activities for children living in Redbridge. Children aged 5-16 have a large selection of activities to choose from during the summer holidays from sports to drama, dance to digital workshops, roller skating to arts and crafts. We’ve put a selection of some of


My Experience At Redbridge Drama and Dance College

By Olivia Quick I’ll be graduating from Redbridge Drama and Dance College in July and I’ve had an amazing time. It’s been a whirlwind two years, and I’ve made memories that will last a lifetime. Coming from a small village in Oxfordshire and moving to South Woodford was daunting, however I was so excited to


Discover beautiful artwork at Valentines Mansion

Valentines Mansion will be celebrating the talents of its nine local artists on Sunday 25 June with an Artists’ Open Studios event. Normally a private workspace for the local makers, the historic top floor of the grade II* listing building will be open to visitors for this special event. The popular event brings together a


A Guide of Activities This May Half Term

May Half Term is almost upon us and across Vision venues we have lots of activities to enjoy. You can see all children’s activities on our Do More page. But we’ve also recapped everything for you here too: Multiple Day Activities Single Day Activities Tuesday 30 May Wednesday 31 May Thursday 1 June Friday 2


East London Shakespeare Festival: Romeo & Juliet on sale now!

Coming to Wanstead Park on 15 and 16 July and Valentines Park on 2 and 3 August East London Shakespeare Festival (ELSF) are bringing their riotous and atmospheric production of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers to outdoor London parks and community spaces this summer. Set in a familiar modern East London, this story of secret loves and








Without Walls extends Redbridge Outdoor Arts partnership with Vision

Vision RCL is delighted to announce Redbridge Outdoor Arts is a partner in Without Walls, a consortium of festivals and arts organisations bringing fantastic outdoor arts to people in towns and cities across England. Find out more on Without Walls website. Vision RCL has been successful in their application to join the Touring Network Partnership


Nominate Redbridge’s Unsung Heroes in the Redbridge Education Awards

Vision is honoured to be part of the Redbridge Education Awards 2022. A special celebration set up by Redbridge Council to recognise those who support young people on their journey to achieve extraordinary futures. Working with young people is a fulfilling and rewarding profession but can also come with its challenges. Especially over the last



Redbridge Outdoor Arts in Ken Aston Square

Vision RCL’s Redbridge Outdoor Arts (ROA) programme presents a summer of arts and culture in Ken Aston Square on Barkingside High Street. A programme for all ages to enjoy, where everyone in the community is welcome and all events are FREE of any charge. Once a month from June to September the square will become


Easter Opening Times

During the Easter period our leisure centres, libraries and other centres will have different opening hours. To find out more information on opening times, please see below or visit the individual centre pages. For more information on our Easter Holiday activities view the Children’s events page. Parks & Open Spaces All of our parks and


The TrUst in Us Model

Credit: Community Leisure UK Why Charitable Trusts are great! Here’s a quick summary! Charitable Trusts come in all shapes and sizes. But they all have two things in common. To do good and make things better.  Your Local Leisure and Culture Trust is no different. They help make your community better because as a charitable organisation



Stay local this summer and enjoy leisure and cultural facilities on your doorstep

It’s beginning to feel a lot like summer as Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure prepare their events programme. All events will be delivered in line with government guidance and will enable children and adults to mix again socially and enjoy the fantastic provision we have here in Redbridge. Our Walking for Health group was one


Vision RCL among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund

Vision RCL has received a grant of £190,110 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation recover and reopen. More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including Vision in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced


Redbridge Music Service part of winning ensemble at 2020 Olivier Awards

Children in Redbridge were celebrating on Sunday with the news that they were part of the winning nominees for Outstanding Achievement in Opera at the 2020 Olivier Awards for the production of Noye’s Fludde at the Theatre Royal Stratford East staged in July 2019.  The production was made up of over 200 young people across


Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure receives lifeline grant from Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund

Vision RCL has been awarded £547,565 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced today. Vision is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed


Free Summer Arts Project for 15-19 year olds in Redbridge

FUTURE MAKERS FOR THE GAME CHANGERS.THE RULE BREAKERS.THE FUTURE MAKERS. Bursting with big ideas, but not sure where to start? We’re looking for young creatives bold enough to break the mould, who want to push boundaries, and shape our future. Join us for a FREE two-week innovative on-line programme designed to build your creative skills


The Community Leisure UK Award winners have been announced!

The National Community Leisure UK Awards are held annually and recognise, celebrate and share the achievements of leisure and culture trusts across the UK. Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure were delighted to have finalists in three of the categories for the 2020 awards and a winner in one! Huge congratulations go to Yashmin Harun, a


Hub Central

We offer a range of resources including: ✓ Partnership working with local organisations helping residents learn new skills✓ A wide range of Online Resources✓ Employment Advisers with Work Redbridge who are based in Hub Central providing support with CVs, training and developing your career✓ Career Support with The National Career Service providing impartial and professional advice on skills and the


Sleeping Beauty finds its star-studded cast

Kenneth More Theatre has found its brand new panto cast just in time for Christmas! The theatre, which has recently come under Vision’s management, will continue its tradition of putting shows for the community including the popular Christmas pantomime. This year’s panto is the much loved classic, Sleeping Beauty presented by Anton Benson productions. We






Ken Aston Square’s full summer programme announced

In March 2019 it was announced that Vision’s outdoor arts programme in Ken Aston Square had partnered with England’s biggest network of outdoor arts festivals, Without Walls. The outdoor arts programme will run once a month from Saturday 8 June to Saturday 21 September in Ken Aston Square, Barkingside High Street. All shows will be


Redbridge Libraries project ‘The Final Party’ wins Edge Award

Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure were delighted to win an award for their innovative project, The Final Party, in the Social category at this year’s Edge Awards. The Edge Awards highlight and reward good practice in innovative library and information projects. The Social category recognises work involving communities or target groups, engagement and making a difference.


Ken Aston Square partners with network of outdoor arts festivals

Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure’s outdoor arts programme in Ken Aston Square is a new partner with England’s biggest network of outdoor arts festivals, Without Walls. The organisation works with festivals and artists and brings fantastic outdoor arts to people in towns and cities across the UK. To find out more visit Without Walls Website.