Ensemble Festival 2025

Certain Blacks presents: Ensemble Festival 2025

26 and 27 July 2025

Free and suitable for all age groups

This July, Certain Blacks presents Ensemble Festival 2025 in London’s historic Royal Victoria Docks. Now in its sixth edition, this outdoor celebration of circus, dance, physical theatre and street art returns on two full days, including all-new work from groundbreaking UK artists. It’s free, suitable for all ages, and strives to be accessible for all.

Taking place across East London’s spectacular waterside destination, Ensemble Festival highlights include Hydropunk, an interactive water installation by outdoor arts veterans Artizani and sustainability-focused Tenderfoot Theatre; HUG by Levantes Theatre, a visually arresting aerial performance exploring the simple act of a hug; and Waiting Song by circus director Mish Weaver, a moving trapeze duet about how hopes for the future shape the way we speak and move. Returning Olivier-winner Francesca Baglione (aka Miss High Leg Kick) brings a multi-sensory and wacky flashback to a night out in late 1950s dance halls in PALAIS DE DANSE, while Nandita Shankardass’ Roots to Rise blends dance and poetry in a call to ecological and ancestral reconnection. The acclaimed physical comedian Tiago Fonseca performs NoMo, a clown show about the contemporary addiction to screens and TELL ME by Sadiq Ali Co. tackles stigma around HIV through circus, blending breathtaking Chinese pole and physical storytelling. Theatre legend and director David Glass and internationally renowned Vidya Thirunarayan co-present HOLY DIRT, uniting earth, myth and movement in a visually stunning piece featuring Indian performance styles and modern physical theatre forms, such as bouffon and melodrama. Tilly Ingram’s The Hide offers an audio-led birdwatching installation that reflects on hidden disabilities and what not be immediately obvious to the eye. And closing the weekend with radical joy, TRUTH by outdoor artists Ramshacklicious and inclusive theatre company Hijinx transforms the docks into a revolutionary street theatre celebration that questions societal norms.

PROGRAMME

Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 July

12:00 – 20:00

The Ensemble Festival 2025 programme includes:

Artizani and Tenderfoot Theatre - Hydropunk

Outdoor arts veterans Artizani and sustainability-focused Tenderfoot Theatre come together in Hydropunk, an interactive water installation created with the public. A chaotic yet playful water machine cranks into motion in a striking environmental metaphor where everyone must work together to recycle water and keep the fun flowing. Supported by Without Walls, Stockton International Riverside Festival, Birmingham Weekender, and Brighton Festival.

Levantes Dance Theatre - HUG

HUG is a vibrant circus theatre performance that rediscovers the simple act of a hug. This work features an impressive sway pole that takes the artist high above the Royal Docks. Levantes Dance Theatre fuses aerial dance, physical theatre and bold visuals to explore our relationships with people, objects, and our surroundings. Supported by Without Walls, Certain Blacks, Stockton International Riverside Festival, Birmingham Weekender, and Brighton Festival.

Mish Weaver - Waiting Song

In Waiting Song, by circus director Mish Weaver, two trapeze artists suspended in mid-air engage in a melodic conversation about their hopes for the future. Dressed in sumptuous circus costumes and set to live music, they sway and sing in duet in a lyrical exploration of how anticipation shapes our emotions and actions. Supported by Without Walls, Certain Blacks, Birmingham Weekender, and Brighton Festival.

Miss High Leg Kick - PALAIS DE DANSE

This year sees the return of Oliver-winning live artist Francesca Baglione (aka, Miss High Leg Kick) with PALAIS DE DANSE, a multi-sensory flashback (with a modern ‘Twist’) to a night out in late 1950s British dance halls. The offbeat, interactive show with multi-generational appeal celebrates the collective excitement of teenage nights then and now. Supported by Certain Blacks.

Nandita Shankardass - Roots to Rise

A dance-theatre show by Nandita Shankardass, Roots to Rise blends movement, poetry, and music in a call to ecological action. This stirring performance is an invitation to reconnect with the earth, our ancestors, and with one another. Supported by Brighton Festival, Inspirate, and Stockton International Riverside Festival.

Tiago Fonseca - NoMo

The acclaimed physical comedian Tiago Fonseca comes to Ensemble Festival with NoMo, a clown show about the contemporary addiction to screens. With dazzling juggling and laugh-out-loud moments, Tiago explores how using smartphones affects our body language and real-life encounters.

Sadiq Ali Company - TELL ME

Produced by Turtle Key Arts, TELL ME is Sadiq Ali Company’s brand new circus theatre show. Blending breathtaking Chinese pole, acrobatics, and physical storytelling, the piece explores a narrative around HIV and overcoming stigma. Supported by Certain Blacks, Inspirate, Norfolk and Norwich Festival, Stockton International Riverside Festival, and Birmingham Weekender.

The Clay Connection and David Glass - HOLY DIRT

This year’s festival features HOLY DIRT, a new collaboration between physical theatre legend and director David Glass and internationally renowned Vidya Thirunarayan from The Clay Connection. Set to live percussion, the show bridges Indian performance styles, particularly Bharatanatyam and Kathakali, with modern physical theatre forms like bouffon and melodrama. Clay, stones, water and sand erupt across the space in a visually startling performance where the rawness of earth converges with myth and ritual. Supported by Certain Blacks and Arts Council England.

Tilly Ingram - The Hide

An audio piece driven by live birdwatching, The Hide is both an installation and an audio experience led by artist Tilly Ingram that reflects on hidden disabilities. The piece offers a space to sit—binoculars and a bird ID spotting at the ready—and consider what might not be immediately evident to the eye while listening to Tilly’s own story with an invisible disability. Supported by Without Walls, Brighton Festival, Norfolk and Norwich Festival.

Ramshacklicious and Hijinx - TRUTH

Performing exclusively on Sunday 27th July and taking the Royal Docks in a joyful street revolution, outdoor artists Ramshacklicious and inclusive theatre company Hijinx challenge societal norms in TRUTH. Featuring a mixed cast of disabled and non-disabled performers, this riotous performance blends clowning, physical theatre, and original music. Interactive and partly improvised, this theatrical revolution leaves audiences united and with a fresh sense of hope. Supported by Arts Council England.

For full details of performance times, precise locations, and access provisions, please visit www.certainblacks.com

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Ensemble Festival is part of Without Walls, a network of organisations bringing innovative outdoor arts to towns and cities across England. Find out more on withouthwalls.uk.com

GETTING HERE

Royal Victoria Docks, Western Gateway, London E16 1FA

26 & 27 July 12 pm – 8 pm 2025

Ensemble Festival 2025 takes place at the Royal Docks in East London:

DLR Royal Victoria - The site is a 10-minute walk from Royal Victoria DLR station. This is an accessible station.

Elizabeth Line Custom House

Buses 325, 474, 241 and 129 (from Lewisham and Greenwich through the new Silvertown Tunnel)

IFS Cable Car from the O2 Centre

ACCESS FOR ALL

We aim to offer an unforgettable and accessible festival for everyone, and inclusion is at the heart of Certain Blacks.

The Royal Docks have step-free access, accessible toilets, and a festival Access Team ready to help you navigate the site and find out what access options are available for each performance. Head to our website for detailed information on access provisions. If you would like to discuss your access needs, please get in touch through our website or visit the Information Tent during festival hours.

OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT

Certain Blacks recognises its responsibility to protect the environment. We’re working hard to make Ensemble Festival more sustainable and less wasteful—and we’d love your help:

- Choose low-carbon travel when you can.

- Bring your water bottle and reusable cutlery.

- Dispose of waste responsibly and look out for recycling stations.

We approach our access and environmental efforts with empathy, openness and kindness, and we welcome your feedback as we continue to learn. Share your ideas with our team—we’re listening.

“Ensemble Festival represents everything we're about at Certain Blacks. Our aim is to bring diverse artists from the margins into the mainstream, and with a number of new commissions which include The Clay Connection and David Glass with Holy Dirt and Miss High Leg Kick with PALAIS DE DANSE along with Certain Blacks supported Without Walls Commissions Sadiq Ali Co’ - TELL ME, Mish Weaver – Waiting Song and Levantes Theatre - HUG, we hope to present a truly engaging, spectacular and entertaining festival to mark 10 years of Certain Blacks “ Clive Lyttle – Certain Blacks Artistic Director

About Certain Blacks

Celebrating 10 years of artistic innovation, Certain Blacks is an arts development organisation rooted in East London, now firmly embedded in the region’s cultural fabric. We are dedicated to supporting diverse artists from all dimensions of diversity, including different socioeconomic, ethnic, gender and neurodiverse identities. We firmly believe in nurturing long-term relationships with artists, arts organisations, venues, festivals, and promoters, as they are integral to our mission. With a focus on live art, dance, music, theatre, and digital platforms, our goal is to secure lasting investments in diverse works, enabling them to tour and perform not only in the UK but also internationally.

In 2020 we joined Without Walls and became part of its artistic directorate, contributing to the development of innovative outdoor work, the fruits of which have been enjoyed at Ensemble ever since. Without Walls is a network of over 35 organisations presenting the best outdoor arts to people in towns and cities across England. Since its formation in 2007, Without Walls has developed and toured over 200 new shows both in the UK and internationally across 22 countries. Without Walls is supported by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation. Find out more: withoutwalls.uk.com

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Thank you.

Thank you to the artists shaping this year’s festival– whether long-time collaborators or joining us for the first time. Your creativity and work fuel everything we do.

Thank you to our core funder, Arts Council England, our partner Without Walls, and the support of the Royal Docks. Your help has been crucial to developing the artistic ambition behind the festival.

Thank you to the Ensemble Festival core team and their unstoppable tenacity – a living testament to the reach of dedication and energy.

To every volunteer who has been part of this journey: we are deeply grateful for your time, commitment, and passion.

To all festival-comers and participants: a heartfelt thank you, and please know that this is all for you.

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