River Weekender

RIVER WEEKENDER 2017 - LISTINGS

Fri 15 – Sun 17 Sept 2017

Watermans, 40 High Street, Brentford TW8 0DS

Box: 020 232 1010 (open 1-9pm daily)

Online (free booking): www.watermans.org.uk

ALL WEEKEND – Fri 15, Sat 16 & Sun 17 Sept

Maria Arceo presents

Future Dust – all ages

Entrance Terrace. 10am-11pm. FREE. (15-20 Sept)

Since September 2016, Maria Arceo has been collecting plastic from over 40 beaches along the tidal Thames, from Teddington up to the Sea. Beachcombing, handpicking, identifying, and colour-coding found plastic debris, Arceo has created a final art piece that aims to visualise the sheer scale of plastic litter that is found along the shores of the tidal river, while also allowing the viewer to relate with these individual objects when examined in close detail.

The installation will be touring across different locations in London and will be illuminated at night. The light installation is designed by Dutch interactive light artist Tim Scheffer.

Talks by artist: Sat & Sun, 1pm on the Entrance Terrace.

Totally Thames in partnership with Watermans presents

Working River: Photographic Exhibition – ALL AGES

Riverside Gallery. 10am-11pm. FREE.

Uncovering the history of the working river over the past 60 years, spotlighting how many boatyards have been forced to close.

The Working River project has documented stories of working lives in London’s Boatyards over the past 60 years, on the tidal Thames. Including the significant history of barge and boat building at Brentford Docks, and at Lots Ait, as well as yards from Toughs in Teddington, to Cory Environmental in Charlton, the project has recorded oral histories with key figures in London’s Boatyards, and the changes that have occurred over this time.

This exhibition highlights the photography of Hydar Dewachi, who was commissioned to document and respond to the working boatyards today. His photography and portraits hang alongside a documentary film about the boatyards, produced by Digital:Works, which will available to watch throughout the exhibition.

Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 September

Sat 16 – Sun 17 Sept,

Gen Doy presents

As the Crow Flies – ALL AGES

Riverside Gallery Balcony. 10am-9pm. FREE.

As the Crow Flies is a sound installation and was made from field-recordings and research in Chalkwell, Southend, and in the disused firing range on the Isle of Grain on the south side of the Thames Estuary. The two so-called crow-stones north and south of the river mark the boundary of the authority of the Port of London. Crows are disliked by farmers and gamekeepers who often kill them and string them up on fences as a warning. The skies of the Thamesestuary are home to crows and other birds but were also in the past crossed by artillery shells being fired from Isle of Grain to Mapplin Sands near Southend. During WW2 searchlights also criss-crossed the skies. This piece uses sound to invite reflections on how people with weapons and the power to enforce exclusion areas, boundary markers and fences attempt to keep out or destroy what they see as pests and intruders.

Travel Unravelled Summer Exhibition in the Gallery – ALL AGES

10am-9pm. FREE.

Come and look at the work of the talented children and young people who took part in our summer programme Travel Unravelled. Includes free drop-in creative activities.

Sat 16 & Sun 17 September

Osadia Hair Sculpture on the Terrace – ALL AGES

Riverside Terrace. Drop in to take part or watch, 12.30-2pm & 3-4.30pm. FREE.

QUOTE: ‘They create fantastically strange hairdos on willing and brave audience members’ BBC

Hairdressing becomes theatre in the barber's chairs of OSADIA. The audience becomes the central performer and is transformed on stage as styling becomes a showpiece, much to the enthralled rapture of the remaining audience. Will you be a pirate or a mermaid?

OSADIA creates original and provocative exhibitions of sophisticated make-up and hair art, set to fantastic music mixes. They are based in Barcelona.

This event is family friendly.

Artburst presents

My Gumpy’s Outing – AGE 3-8

Sat 16 Sept, 10.15am, 11.30am, 1.30pm &

Sun 17 Sept, 12.30pm, 2pm, 4pm.

Tickets: £6 per child.

Studio 1.

Interactive storytelling, craft and art workshop

Make, paint, and ride the river with your little one! Start the 50minute session with interactive storytelling based on the much-loved tale Mr Gumpy’s Outing by John Burningham, before things get messy with arts & crafts, painting and colouring! Take home your very own Mr Gumpy puppet at the end of the workshop and make sure you dress for mess (aprons are provided)!

Artburst is a member of the Communication Trust recognizing the impact workshops have on children with speech, language and communication needs.

Friday 15 September

Watermans with Words

Fri 15 Sept, 6-10pm. Various prices and free events. Theatre and Foyer.

We’ve teamed up with North London’s ArchWay with Words Book Festival to bring you our very own mini book festival, themed around London and its river. In an evening of captivating speakers and new writing, Iain Sinclair and Caitlin Davies present their latest books, and from the London Sound Archives, Ian Rawes plays vintage recordings of life on the river, while all around Watermans you'll find free performances inspired by the Thames and its bridges, from MA writers at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and London poets.

Theatre programme for Watermans with Words:

6pm The London Sound Archives’ Ian Rawes (£5)

6.50pm Griot Chinyere Nwaubani (Free - in the foyer)

7pm Caitlin Davies (£5) signing

8.15pm Iain Sinclair (£10) followed by a book signing

Discount of 15% if you book 2 or more together.

Outdoor Cinema

Fri 15 Sept, 8pm

River Terrance

Tickets: £10

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (PG)

Dir. Mandie Fletcher/110m/2015/USA, UK

Joanna Lumley, Jennifer Saunders, Kate Moss, Joan Collins

A film sequel to the popular British sitcom, featuring an amazing number of cameo appearances. In an effort to become Kate Moss' new PR agent Eddy and Patsy accidentally kill the famous model by pushing her into the river Thames.

Saturday 16 September

Duduetsa Marimba Group presents

From Limpopo to the Thames – all ages

Sat 16, 2pm & 4pm (45 mins), Bar. FREE.

Free music on Saturday.

Duduetsa is a rhythmic African marimba band playing folk music from Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana, as well as contemporary covers from the region. From rain making to traditional healing songs, From Limpopo to the Thames seeks to share the folk songs of the cultures surrounding the Limpopo river of southern Africa with the banks of London’s Thames.

AVM Curiosities present

A Glutton’s Guide to the Thames

Sat 16 Sept, 6pm & 7,30pm. Studio 1. £18, incl free glass of prosecco/non-alcoholic cocktail.

From Monster Soup to Spam Fritters, this historical lecture is an era-straddling journey that will stop off at an Elizabethan, Victorian and mid-21st century Thames. Join award-winning food historian Tasha Marks as we sip, sniff and discuss some of the flavours, ingredients and recipes of each era: from the story of Saffron Hill to the foodscape of the post-war period. Join us for a taste of history and an olfactory adventure.

AVM Curiosities has been exploring the relationship between art and food through a series of high-calibre events and edible interventions since 2011. Founded by award-winning food historian Tasha Marks (Grey Goose Iconoclast of Taste 2013, Selfridges Bright Young Thing 2013 and Young British Foodie 2013) AVM Curiosities champions the use of food as an artistic medium, with projects ranging from museum-style exhibitions and sculptural installations to interactive lectures and limited-edition confectionary.

Vanity Fair calls AVM Curiosities ‘London at its crazy-best’ while London store Sick-Note describes Tasha’s work as ‘the love child of Leonardo Da Vinci, Willy Wonka and Ferran Adria’. Previous patrons have included the Royal Academy of Art, Victoria & Albert Museum, The National Trust and Selfridges.

Outdoor Cinema

Sat 16 Sept, 8pm

River Terrance

Tickets: £10

Pink Floyd: The Wall (15)

Dir. Alan Parker/110m/1982/UK

Bob Geldof, Christine Hargreaves, James Laurenson

This is a visually stunning film by Alan Parker who collaborated with the talented caricaturist Gerald Scarfe for the animation and a superb soundtrack to match by Roger Waters.

Sunday 17 September

Gestalt Arts present

Liquid History At Watermans

Sun 17 Sept,

Promenading Performances 1.30pm – 4pm

Free Performances on River Terrace at 4.30pm.

Opera, physical theatre and carnival collide in this brand new production that tells the story of London and the ebb and flow of its people through five found objects from the River Thames and from the Museum of London Docklands.

Liquid History sees the river brought to life through song and movement, telling these object’s stories through a mixture of opera, physical theatre and carnival.

The Thames, which is now often forgotten or seen as a leisure attraction, was once our gateway to the entire world and gave us opportunity and life. It is Liquid History. It was the making of the city and many of its secrets lie in fragments on river bed, waiting to be discovered.

Gestalt Arts bring this non-traditional opera to draw new audiences from all backgrounds. In addition to the performances the company will run family-friendly workshops using the river objects as inspiration to reflect upon what the river means to people today, and will pop up in locations around the venue.