We are delighted to announce the Redbridge Outdoor Arts 2025 programme which takes place in Barkingside and Ilford over the summer and early Autumn months.
This year we’re celebrating our communities through Disabled-led work, South Asian Heritage, inspiring our Young People and taking part in Black History Month.
The shows that we have selected align with our values, which are:
- We CONNECT the people of Redbridge
- We’re INCLUSIVE in our accessibility, removing barriers to participation
- We bring collective JOY and make an IMPACT with our ambitious programming.
How do we achieve this? Starting with our season launch show of ‘Now I am become d/Deaf’ from disabled-led circus company Tit for Tat Circus, on Saturday 21 June and Sunday 22 June.
It’s a visual spectacle of physical comedy that addresses hearing loss, tears down barriers, celebrates silence and laughs into the face of frustration – in an effort for one clown to simply say “hello!”
This slapstick circus performance is non-verbal, as is our July show for South Asian Heritage Month, Animal Paradise by Sonia Sabri Company on Saturday 26 July and Sunday 27 July.
A visual delight, Animal Paradise is a vibrant outdoor performance for all the family, which celebrates and takes inspiration from the exquisite traditional art of Indian and Persian miniature painting.
The September and October performances of Closer To My Dreams by Chad Taylor and PATOIS by Jeanefer Jean-Charles & Associates will be BSL interpreted. Many of our artists provide Audio Descriptions and Touch Tours to add to the experience for Blind audiences.
We want everyone to feel welcome and enjoy our events. We collaborate with artists and local specialist organisations to provide pre-show relaxed tours to enable familiarisation for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), as well as neurodiverse adults.
Our performance spaces are wheelchair accessible, and Assistance Dogs are welcome. We reserve priority viewing areas, where our friendly festival stewards are on hand to assist and provide additional seating. At our Barkingside location we provide an outdoor respite pod for children who may need it, and inside Fullwell Cross Library there’s specialist sensory equipment. We offer Easy-Read documents for all shows and distribute them ahead of time for those that may want or need to know what will be happening at the events! Thanks to forging good relationships with local disabled people’s organisations and groups, we are proud to have started an inclusive volunteering opportunity for local adults with learning difficulties and disabilities.
To find out more about us and read our accessibility and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Pledges, head over to Redbridge Outdoor Arts • Vision RCL
