Multi-purpose arts venue Woolwich Works has been open less than a year but it has already fulfilled its promise of becoming a melting pot of diverse, world-class culture, writes Holly Mahony…
Home to The Burnt City, the latest roaming theatrical extravaganza from immersive theatre pioneers Punchdrunk, and The Dreamachine, a unique experience in which small groups are invited to lie back and experience the trippy effects of flashing lights on their closed eyelids, Woolwich Works also offers weekly performances in comedy, spoken word and music. All three art forms are being drawn together for the inaugural Woolwich Words and Sounds festival, running for two weeks this July.
The music…
There’s a heady mix of sounds wafting out of Woolwich Works over the two-week festival. Avant-pop band Penguin Cafe, who built up a following in the ’80s and ’90s, are performing to celebrate the re-release of their first album A Matter of Life… Audiences can also catch sets from soul singer-songwriter Jake Isaac and jazz virtuoso Rueben James, plus some electronica from Laura Misch. Guest performances come from American jazz star Bob Mintzer, who performs here with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, and DJ Norman Jay MBE, who’s teaming up with Lovers Rock producer Dennis Bovell. Don’t miss Sam Lee and Soumik Datta either as they co-headline the line-up on July 24.
The comedy…
In need of a good laugh? Lightening the mood with their latest gags are Jamali Maddix (Taskmaster, Never Mind the Buzzcocks); Jayde Adams (Snackmasters, Good Omens); Fern Brady (The Russell Howard Hour); Alfie Brown (Imagination); Sindhu Vee (QI, Sex Education), plus more rising stars from the comedy circuit and a yet-to-be-revealed special guest.
Spoken word…
Whether you’re already a spoken word aficionado or a first-timer, listen in as words leap from the page, acquire new meaning, and ebb and flow into one another in the hands of Sophia Thakur (Superheroes, Somebody Give This Heart a Pen) and Anthony Anaxagorou (After the Formalities, How To…Write It), each of whom is headlining a spoken word night and offering support act spots to rising names in the field.
For families…
Woolwich Words and Sounds is also very much a family affair. In the venue’s Beanfest area, catch a performance of The Adventures of Mangolina (July 24) written by Malika Booker and developed by kids’ charity Discover Children’s Centre in 2021. The 25-minute adventure is a chance to head to the carnival with a host of colourful characters.
Also not to be missed is Lizzie Corscaden’s All Aboard (July 30), a Woolwich-specific play about a non-binary sailor, navigating their way through life on a ship.
Completing the festival vibes at Woolwich Words and Sounds will be street food stalls dishing up flavours from around the world, plus an all-important bar pouring measures of the good stuff.
James Heaton, CEO of Woolwich Works, said: “Woolwich Works naturally lends itself to festival-style programming with so many great spaces of all sorts of different shapes and sizes. With a strong line-up for Woolwich Words and Sounds and loads of different things to see, do, eat and drink, I hope we’ll persuade people from all over London to come down for the day and discover what an exciting, creative destination Woolwich has become. It’s the place to be at the moment – there’s a real buzz about it!”
Woolwich Words and Sounds is taking place
at Woolwich Works, The Fireworks Factory, 11 No 1 Street, Royal Arsenal, London
SE18 6HD.
July 15 – 31, various times.
Admission: £5 – £31.50 depending on event.
www.woolwich.works/whats-on/category/woolwich-words-sounds-2022
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