The organisers of the Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (GDIF) have announced plans to adapt this year’s 25th anniversary event to take into account the need for social distancing measures as the country emerges from the Covid lockdown.
Running from 28 August until 12 September, London’s leading festival of outdoor theatre and performing arts has adapted its programme to observe social distancing rules and prioritise the safety and well-being of both artists and audience members.
Announcing a programme of ‘uplifting installation and outdoor arts presented on local people’s doorsteps’, the artistic director of GDIF, Bradley Hemmings, said: “As we emerge from these difficult and socially isolated times, I believe that outdoor arts can potentially offer audiences a bridge to a new and safe-distanced world of live performance.
“In reimagining our plans, our primary concern has of course been the welfare of artists and audiences. Thanks to the resourcefulness of artists, staff and partners we are proceeding optimistically towards the 25th anniversary edition of the Festival, which whilst it will be very different to previous years, will retain at its heart the spirit of togetherness and transformation, for which GDIF has always been renowned.”
The weekend for the festival is being created through Weaving Together, a community engagement project which has been taking place during lockdown. Through a partnership with the Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency, local residents have been demonstrating their community spirit through the theme of weaving. As part of this, French company Gratte Ciel has created a weaving workshop which has been sent out in emergency food parcels for local residents. This now forms part of a longer-term engagement project which will include a range of installations and performances as part of this year’s festival and will lead to the creation of a new show in 2021.
Installations celebrating the NHS, togetherness and the environment will be in place for the entire Festival to ensure people can visit at different times allowing plenty of space for social distancing.
New initiative On Your Doorstep will bring a curated programme of family-friendly circus and street theatre to the heart of communities in Greenwich, Woolwich, Thamesmead, North Woolwich and Eltham.
The team have also re-invented the Festival’s annual outdoor dance programme at Canary Wharf, Dancing City with safe-distancing integrated into the performances and audience experience.
Larger scale outdoor theatre pieces will take place in more isolated locations with reduced capacities and controlled entry and audiences will be encouraged where possible to walk or cycle to events.
Commenting on the changes to the Festival content, Councillor Adel Khaireh, cabinet member for Culture & Communities, Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “Last year I was just blown away by the amazing scenes at the opening of the Greenwich+Docklands International Festival. The community spirit was out of this world and it was a complete honour to be part of that amazing atmosphere. I’m therefore really heartened to see that GDIF has announced its plans for a postponed festival, with social distancing and audience safety as the top priority. We will all need it more than ever by 28 August.”
London area director at Arts Council England, Joyce Wilson, added: “Greenwich+Docklands International Festival is a go-to event for accessible, world class culture, appealing to a wide and diverse audience. This year’s festival will offer that same punchy programme, but delivered in a very different way to keep audiences and artists safe. People will be invited to view the work at their own pace, and in ways which suit the extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves living in. Regardless, we are sure that it will be as entertaining and engaging as ever.”
Angela Thomas
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