Bigger and bolder than ever before, Ensemble Festival returns for a fifth edition!
Produced by East London arts development organisation Certain Blacks, Ensemble once again presents an action-packed and diverse programme of spectacular circus, street theatre, live music, dance and more. Ensemble Festival is completely free to the public.
At this year’s Ensemble Festival, Docklands audiences are set to experience the celebrated feats of NoFit State Circus, one of the UK’s most treasured contemporary circus companies, set to create and perform their signature stunts on towering structures built entirely from bamboo. Following a dazzling display last year, Gorilla Circus are back for 2024, their new show combining acrobatics, street dance and roller skating, performed on a giant moving treadmill.
Renowned theatre company Cardboard Citizens present Cardboard Collective, a showcase of young talent from their in-house youth programme and as a festival opener and JW3 pay homage to an East London working class tradition via the Great Yiddish Parade. All of this and much more at Ensemble’s outdoor extravaganza including commissioned emerging artists from the UK and beyond.
This year marks the fifth Ensemble Festival, which first took to the streets in 2019 as part of Newham’s Join the Docks Festival. With ongoing support from the Royal Docks and as part of the Without Walls consortium, Certain Blacks have grown and diversified Ensemble year on year, including a Covid-safe event in 2021.
Schedule of Events: Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 July 1-8pm
- Cardboard Citizens – Cardboard Collective (Saturday only)
- Gorilla Circus – RMP
- Joli Vyann - Life’s A Beach
- JW3 - The Great Yiddish Parade: Sunday only
- Head Over Wheels - Anchored in Air
- Bureau of Silly Ideas - Island Storm
- NoFit State Circus – BAMBOO
- Tit for Tat Circus - Now I am become Deaf (Destroyer of Words)
- La Casa Oscura – Uroboros
- Stompy - The Mod Father
- Chad Taylor – Closer to My Dreams
New Commissions
Certain Blacks have commissioned two short new works performed by local artists especially for July’s Ensemble festival following an open call. More details soon.
For full details of all events, including times and precise locations, please visit www.certainblacks.com