Miss Revolutionary Idol Berserker 3 @ Lift Festival
© Cyclone_A

Returning to London this summer is the LIFT Festival, a month-long celebration and exploration of innovative theatre from around the world. During the month-long festival, over 30 events featuring work from 14 countries will take place at venues across London, from the Barbican to an East End cemetery.

LIFT has been a pioneer in pushing the boundaries of theatre since its inception in 1981 and this year promises to be its most exciting yet. As well as home-grown talent, there will also be work from 14 countries, including Argentina, Belgium, Greece, Poland, Canada, Japan, Australia, the USA, Lebanon and Syria.

Among the wide variety of entertainment will be wild Japanese pop fans, a circus in a cemetery, refugees, ancient Greeks and teenagers with attitude. Meanwhile, venues include Hackney Empire, Hoxton Hall, British Library, Royal Court Theatre, Southbank Centre, Barbican, Shoreditch Town Hall, Sadler’s Wells, Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Battersea Arts Centre and many more.

Slip into bed for ‘Everything By My Side’
© Conrado Krivochein

Kicking off this year’s festival will be American shaman, singer-songwriter, social critic and performance artist extraordinaire Taylor Mac with a fabulous romp through the great American songbook. Meanwhile, from Argentina, ‘Everything By My Side’ is an intimate, playful performance which invites you to slip between the sheets of a stranger’s bed and listen to a childhood tale. Jump into an immersive festival experience with ‘Miss Revolutionary Idol Berserker’, where the audience are encouraged to wear ponchos and ear plugs during a frenzied homage to otagei, (ritualised Japanese dancing and chanting by groups of fans).

Speaking about this year’s festival, LIFT Artistic Director Mark Ball said: ‘Does art help us belong? I have met pioneering artists and performers from around the world who connect to the astonishing range of international communities that make up London, and, asking that very question, have made a Festival that investigates how this amazing mix of people adds up to the London I love. The cultural influences and radical imaginations of our festival artists result in enthralling and joyful work that will be seen in spaces and venues that take us into the guts of the city – so make your own playlist and join us at LIFT 2016.’

• Lift Festival 2016 takes place from 1 June – 2 July 2016. Ticket prices vary. For more information, visit the LIFT Festival website.

For a guide to what else is on in London in June, click here.

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