SOUTHBANK CENTRE PRESENTS AN ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS – FROM ARTIST-DESIGNED LIGHTS BY ANYA GALLACCIO TO LONDON’S FIRST SLOW FOOD MARKET

As part of this year’s Christmas offerings at Southbank Centre, The Hayward has commissioned Anya Gallaccio to create artist-designed Christmas Lights. Southbank Centre is delighted to announce this collaboration with Turner Prize nominee Anya Gallaccio, who is famed for creating site-specific installations, often using organic materials as her medium. David Batchelor’s 2006 commission Festival Remix will also return to illuminate the site.

In addition to the festive lighting, there will be a host of performances and free events for all the family that break the mould of traditional seasonal offerings, as well as a multitude of shopping and eating options. For the best the yuletide season has to offer make sure that Southbank Centre is on your Christmas list. Be transported by a contemporary take on the magical tale of Rapunzel; laugh you socks off at ‘living cartoon’ Ennio Marchetto and be entertained by our free series of Festive Ballroom events including a Christmas Tea Dance and Christmas Salsa Jam; sample the delights of artisan food producers at the first slow food market in London; admire Anya Gallaccio’s Christmas lights and the return of David Batchelor’s Festival Remix; shop ‘til you drop with 50s-inspired Christmas gifts and decorations at Southbank Centre’s Shop; and drink and dine with friends and family at one of the many onsite restaurants and bars.

Southbank Centre is delighted to host the inaugural slow food market in London, brought to you by Slow Food UK. From Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 December, the Christmas market, outside the Royal Festival Hall on Southbank Centre Square, will feature more than 20 stalls offering outstanding fresh and preserved foods, as well as sustainably produced craft products – both local and countrywide.

In addition, The Ballroom in the Royal Festival Hall will be transformed into an enchanting refuge by set designer and Associate Artist Michael Vale, providing the platform for free daytime performances and evening gigs throughout the Christmas period. Please see below for full listings information.

CHRISTMAS AT SOUTHBANK CENTRE 2007

Rapunzel
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tuesday 18 December – Saturday 5 January 2008
Kneehigh Theatre’s Rapunzel, by Annie Siddons, brings a blend of puppetry, music and physical humour to the classic fairytale. Rapunzel is a truly special folktale of a feisty heroine, lovable rogues, magic pigs, evil brothers and, of course, enduring love. A live band accompanies this in-the-round production, including songs performed by the cast while the audience sits on hay bales and seats encircling the players in the centre. Recommended for ages 7+

Ennio Marchetto
Purcell Room
Thursday 20 – Monday 31 December 2007
Following the huge success of his performances at Southbank Centre last Christmas, Ennio Marchetto transforms the art of origami into theatrical magic using nothing but paper costumes to create a multitude of celebrities, with new characters Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse as well as firm favourites such as Snow White and Rudolph. Marchetto is a unique character entertainer whose virtuoso performance is a display of technical ingenuity and extraordinary physical dexterity. Recommended for ages 8+

Festive Lights
6 December – 6 January 2008
Switch on event at 6.30pm on Thursday 6 December
The Hayward again spreads its Christmas twinkle across the site in the form of its annual Christmas Lights commission. The Hayward is delighted to announce the collaboration with contemporary artist Anya Gallaccio, who is famed for creating site-specific installations, often using organic materials as her medium. David Batchelor’s 2006 commission Festival Remix will also return to the site. Inspired by the refurbishment work to transform the Royal Festival Hall, Batchelor transformed mundane building tools such as bins, pallets and cement mixers into extraordinary glowing forms. These illuminated objects are complimented by festoons of lights, each in its own recycled plastic bottle. To see all this spectacle light lovers can gather for the switching on ceremony on 6 December, which coincides with a night of festive Christmas shopping across the site and special festive celebratory songs sung by Southbank Centre’s Voicelab choir.

Southbank Centre Christmas Market in association with Slow Food UK
11am – 8pm, Thursday 20 – Sunday 23 December
Southbank Centre Square
Southbank Centre is delighted to host the inaugural slow food market in London, brought to you by Slow Food UK. The Christmas market will feature outstanding fresh and preserved foods, as well as sustainably produced craft products – both local and countrywide. The Slow Food Movement believes that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work. A perfect opportunity to purchase unusual gifts for the foodie in your life!

Ballroom Festive
The Ballroom in the Royal Festival Hall will be transformed into an enchanting refuge by set designer and Associate Artist Michael Vale, providing the platform for free daytime performances and evening gigs throughout the Christmas period. Raising the roof, Southbank Centre’s Voicelab Choir will perform Christmas carols (14 December) followed closely by a Gamelan showcase played on the organisation’s own magnificent Javanese Gamelan (16 December). Visitors with dancing shoes need to get ready for the Christmas Tea Dance (17 December) and get down for swing band The Jive Aces (22 December) or dance away those Christmas calories to hot Salsa and Cuban rhythms for our Christmas Salsa Jam (26 December). Not to be missed out, music fans can catch the latest offering from The Blessing – the jazzy off-shoot of British trip-hop legends Portishead (21 December). There will also be storytelling and activities going on throughout the month.

Alongside the Ballroom Festive Bellowhead blast off their tenure as Southbank Centre Band In Residence with their infectious and unique brand of cabaret folk with a special Christmas theme (18 December, Tickets £17.50). If this has got you in the mood then New Years Eve is also warming up to be bigger, better and bolder than ever.

Eating and Shopping at Southbank Centre
To celebrate the reopening of the Royal Festival Hall this summer, Southbank Centre’s shops’ Christmas offerings will include both classic 1950s and contemporary ranges. The 50s range is full of quirky, nostalgic greetings cards, starburst decorations and knitted baubles, traditional confectionery and collectable tin toys. Fun decorations in felt, candles in the shape of reindeer’s heads and Michelangelo-inspired chocolate angels are on offer for those with a more contemporary taste. If you are still left wondering what to buy that special someone then let them decide with a Southbank Centre Gift Arts Voucher or a gift membership – a perfect present for arts lovers – or for that extra special gift name a seat for them in the Royal Festival Hall.

All culinary tastes will be catered for at the 14 restaurants, cafes and bars on site many of which have Christmas menus to tantalise the taste buds. The Riverside Terrace Café and Central Bar inside the Royal Festival Hall will be serving seasonal snacks and a full range of drinks and draught beers, whilst the adventurous can head to The Hayward’s new bar and café ‘Concrete’ for unusual beers and fresh new cocktails.

BALLROOM FESTIVE LISTINGS
ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL
Admission is FREE for all events unless specified.

Friday 14 December, 6.30pm
VOICELAB CAROLS
Sing along with Southbank Centre’s Voicelab choir to Christmas carols of all kinds. Song sheets provided.

Saturday 15 December, 4pm
COLIN CURRIE
Part of Close Up
The dynamic young percussionist Colin Currie performs an informal and entertaining introduction to percussion music, presenting the music of Dave Maric and Louis Andriessen in conjunction with the release of his CD, Borrowed Time.

Sunday 16 December, 12.30pm
THE GAMELAN SHOWCASE
A free celebration of gamelan music featuring a mixture of gamelan groups affiliated with Southbank Centre, showcasing a variety of repertoire on the organisation’s magnificent Javanese Gamelan. Experience the gamelan first hand by taking part in taster sessions throughout the afternoon.

Monday 17 December, 5.30 – 8.30pm
CHRISTMAS TEA DANCE
The magic of dance and the flavours of Christmas are joined together for a special evening of dance. Spend time dancing to your favourite Ballroom Latin and sequence music, with compere Nicky Miles, while catching a few special surprises.

Tuesday 18 December, 7.30pm
BELLOWHEAD
Bellowed blast off their tenure as Southbank Centre’s Band In Residence with their infectious and unique brand of cabaret folk with a special Christmas theme.
Tickets £17.50

Thursday 20 and Friday 21 December, 11.30am
MALIKA BOOKER
Writer and performer Malika Booker brings you a treasure trove of magical stories and poems for Christmas. Treat yourself to her myths and mysteries, and discover festive stories for young and old retold by a compelling storyteller.

Friday 21 December, 6pm
THE BLESSING
Part of Friday Tonic
Jazzy off-shoot of British trip-hop legends Portishead, this quartet led by Jim Barr and Clive Deamer don their jazz hats and get down to some serious improvisation. With the release of their much-anticipated debut album, All is Yes (Candid) in early 2008, the group is arguably producing some of the edgiest and freshest jazz-rock tracks to date.

Saturday 22 December,12.30pm
THE JIVE ACES
Infectious rhythm, screaming horns and slapping bass all add up to The Jive Aces being the favourite band of swing and jive dancers across the globe.

Sunday 23 December, 12.30pm
SHANGHAI SYNCOPATED ORCHESTRA
Playing original 1920s and 30s jazz and dance orchestrations that were rediscovered in a junk shop many decades on, a class act from the past returns to the Royal Festival Hall to concoct some magical and seasonal nostalgia.

Monday 24 December, 12.30pm
THE MELODI ENSEMBLE
Direct from Soweto, South Africa, this remarkable ensemble has come out of a project giving opportunities for disadvantaged children to read, write and play music.

Wednesday 26 December, 5pm
CHRISTMAS SALSA JAM
Watch the best Salsa dancers perform, and dance away those Christmas calories to hot Salsa and Cuban rhythms. Top DJs and salsa shows combine for this spectacular festive treat, presented in association with Salsa UK.

Thursday 27 and Friday 28 December, 11.30am & 1.30pm
THE HOPE OF MIDWINTER
Renowned storyteller and musician Eric Maddern will take you on a midwinter journey – touching on ancient traditions through tale and song – into the darkness and out the other side. Suitable for all ages.

Saturday 29 December, 12.30pm
INDIGO MOSS
“This young quintet have successfully transplanted the sounds of the Appalachian mountains to the land of St George’s Cross and Poundstretcher shops without turning the whole exercise into pastiche… a feeling for melody and harmony pulls the band beyond their obvious influences… vibrant and contemporary” – Mojo

Sunday 30 December, 12.30pm
LONDON SALON ENSEMBLE
Full steam ahead towards the traditional New Year’s Day celebrations with a fine selection of Viennese favourites and many other treasured gems from this unique ensemble that have been performing at the Royal Festival Hall at Christmas nearly every year since 1988.