Festival of outdoor theatre and performing arts Greenwich+Docklands International Festival will go ahead this year, reimagined to accommodate social distancing and other safety measures.
This 25th anniversary festival running from August Bank Holiday weekend will provide its signature wide range of outdoor work with smaller installations and events presented locally through the On Your Doorstep programme and durational installations and larger-scale pieces taking place in more isolated locations.
Various safety features for artists and audiences are being incorporated into the plans. These include safe distancing integrated into performances, distancing for audiences, reduced ticketed capacities and controlled entry to events.
The opening weekend is being created through a community engagement project, Weaving Together, with French company Gratte Ciel.
GDIF artistic director, 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.”
Greenwich+Docklands International Festival runs in various locations from 28 August until 12 September.