Free

    Friday 1st July – Musical Theatre Workshop

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    Presented by Freedom Academy

    Join professional actors and choreographers in fun-packed workshops as they show you all the skills it takes to be a Musical Theatre performer. Children will learn routines, songs and scenes from popular West End musicals. All you need is bags of energy and lots of enthusiasm!

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    Friday 1st July – Judge a Book By Its Cover

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    An exhibition of outstanding book covers by innovative designers, from graffiti artists and tattooists to traditional landscape paintings, and a talk by Coralie Bickford-Smith, Senior Book Designer for Penguin. This acclaimed designer is well known for her beautiful and sumptuous covers, and will share her knowledge, enthusiasm and love of this under–appreciated art form.

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    Saturday 2nd July – Surprise Guest Storytime

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    Who will it be this week who reads gripping tales to your youngest children at Kirkdale Bookshop? Come and find out!

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    Saturday 2nd July – Make Your Mark Arts Workshop

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    Discover your artistic side! Bring an old t-shirt and make your mark on it — paint, draw, print and decorate — anything goes! Experienced artists will be on hand to demonstrate a variety of exciting skills. Come and meet our host, TV’s Kirsten O’Brien (SMart, CBBC)

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    Saturday 2nd July – Express Yourself Playwriting Workshop

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    with BAFTA award-winning playwright Roy Williams. Budding playwrights aged between 14-20 – see your work performed by professional actors. Roy Williams will lead a one-day workshop for those interested in developing their playwriting skills.The workshop explores plot development, conflict as drama, scene structure, character, dialogue, scene setting and subtext.

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    Saturday 2nd July – Sydenham Come Dancing

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    led by Laban Dance Centre.

    A Community Day of Dance packed full of FREE fun and creative dance activities for all ages.

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    Saturday 2nd July – The Incredible Sax Band

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    The Incredible Sax Band’s music is a mix of styles – mostly jazz, featuring improvised solos, ranging from traditional via funky to 30s style ‘light jazz’. They will be playing arranged pieces as well as compositions by band members and colleagues.
    (Note – this is a change of venue)

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    Sunday 3rd July – Arts in the Park

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    Family Fun Day in Home Park – In Association with Friends of Home Park. The festival kicks off its opening weekend with five fabulous hours of free family fun, entertainment and activities at Home Park.
    This is going to be the most fun you ever had in one day!

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    Wednesday 6th July – Bracelet Making Workshop

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    with Sally Earlam
    Make a pretty beaded bracelet and take it home afterwards. Drop-in session, no need to book.

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    Wednesday 6th July – The Wonderful World of Early Recordings

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    with Dr Anne Craven
    This lecture explores performances of operatic singers of the early 20th century, bringing musical history alive. It will also investigate performance practices and interpretations as revealed by recordings, which can help enhance your experience of recorded and live performances.

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    Thursday 7th July – Scratch Play: An Evening of Short Scenes

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    Turn up, perform and have fun! All performance experiences welcome. A community theatre event for all Scratch Play is an evening of vignettes and short scenes presented with minimal preparation in a workshop atmosphere comprising of monologues, duologues and scenes for multiple voice. All texts and script material that will be used will be sent

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    Friday 8th July – Acting for Camera Workshop

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    presented by Freedom Academy. If you’ve always wanted to act on the big or small screen then this is the workshop for you! Professional actor Stephen Henry has appeared in numerous films, television series and advertisements. He will guide students through all the technical terminology and techniques to develop the naturalistic skill of acting for camera.

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    Friday 8th July – Who Do Think You Are?

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    A practical workshop on family history by Susan Walker.The TV programme Who Do You Think You Are? has inspired many people to start exploring their family story. Whether you are thinking about it or have already started researching your family tree, this session led by amateur genealogist Susan Walker will help that exciting journey.

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    Saturday 9th July – Surprise Guest Storytime

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    Who will it be this week who reads gripping tales to your youngest children at Kirkdale Bookshop? Come and find out!

    More on this event →

    Saturday 9th July – Visual Arts Trail

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    Open Houses and Studios 2011 This summer more than sixty artists from Sydenham, Forest Hill and further afield will showcase their work during the last two weekends of the festival. We aim to bring the visual arts to your doorstep with exhibitions in cafes, pubs, restaurants and shops. Go to the Visual Arts Trail website

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    Saturday 9th July – Balalaika

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    An Evening of Music from Russia and Beyond Again the Dolphin hosts Balalaika, an evening of traditional music from Russia and Eastern Europe. A quintet with Justin Bateman, one of the few balalaika players performing in Britain; Nigel Austen on bayan, the Russian version of an accordion; Adam Gaiman on acoustic guitar, Lucie Holden on

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    Sunday 10th July – Visual Arts Trail

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    Open Houses and Studios 2011 This summer more than sixty artists from Sydenham, Forest Hill and further afield will showcase their work during the last two weekends of the festival. We aim to bring the visual arts to your doorstep with exhibitions in cafes, pubs, restaurants and shops. Go to the Visual Arts Trail website

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    Sunday 10th July – Raise the Roof Choir: Good Vibrations Flash Mob

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    presented by Raise the Roof Choir Directed by Melanie Harrold, hosted by the Horniman Museum An end of term concert by Raise the Roof singers will be followed by a ‘spontaneous’ flash mob version of Good Vibrations. Audience and singers of all levels of ability are invited to join in. DETAILS Date: Sunday 10th July

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    Sunday 10th July – Short Cuts

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    Have you ever made a short film? Now’s the time to dust it off and submit it for inclusion in an open access screening night. We’re interested in all types of films from animation to drama, documentary or even old super 8 home movies. To submit a film please contact Colette Rouhier at colfive@yahoo.co.uk. DETAILS

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    Monday 11th July – Young People’s Film Screening

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    A showing of short films made by local young people, including Envy, filmed during last year’s Sydenham Arts Festival Summer Season. To submit a film please contact Melissa Knight at Sydenham and Forest Hill Youth Forum. Hosted by film-maker Joyce Treasure.
    (Note this is a change of date from the 4th)

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    Wednesday 13th July – Free Film Show

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    The Italian Job, preceded by Live Music For one night only, Sydenham Arts Festival will transform Mayow Park into an open-air cinema and music venue. Following 2009’s screening of The Bride of Frankenstein and last year’s Fantastic Mr Fox, this year film fans will see the original 1969 version of classic British crime caper The

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    Thursday 14th July – Short Film Explosion

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    with Dr Duncan Reekie Dr Duncan Reekie, local filmmaker, performer and author of the acclaimed Subversion: The Definitive History of Underground Cinema will give a talk on the London short film scene including spectacular video excerpts DETAILS Date: Thursday 14th July Start time: 7.30pm Venue: The Hob Upstairs – 7 Devonshire Rd, Forest Hill SE23 3HE Tickets:

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    Thursday 14th July – Lambeth Wind Orchestra Celebrates Bastille Day

    Thumbnail image for Thursday 14th July – Lambeth Wind Orchestra Celebrates Bastille Day

    Conducted by John Holland A free concert of wind band music from and inspired by France, featuring works by Maurice Ravel, Haydn Wood, Guy Woolfenden and more. A free French-style buffet will be available after the concert and there will be a retiring collection for the church. Lambeth Wind Orchestra, established in 2008, is a

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    Friday 15th July – Pop Up Theatre Project

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    A unique collaboration between local theatre companies and Sydenham Arts Festival, the Pop Up Theatre Project brings live theatre into the high street. Audiences will be invited to sample innovative theatrical experiences in empty shops and premises, specially converted into performance spaces.

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    Friday 15th July – Festive Fluterama

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    Flute Ensemble London will be performing festive “lollipops” on flutes, piccolos and alto & bass flutes. In the glorious setting of Dulwich Woodhouse, beside the ancient ‘Dulwich Woode’, which was designed c. 1850 by Sir Joseph Paxton, architect of the Crystal Palace. DETAILS Date: Friday 15th July Start time: 8pm Finish time: 9pm Venue: Dulwich

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    Saturday 16th July – Street Celebration

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    For the final weekend, the high street of Sydenham transforms into a cavalcade of free music, theatre and activities for all the family. Pavements are changed into stages and music venues, shop-fronts converted into playgrounds, empty premises become art galleries and theatre spaces, with buskers, performers and pavement artists along the whole street. And don’t

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    Saturday 16th July – Surprise Guest Storytime

    Thumbnail image for Saturday 16th July – Surprise Guest Storytime

    Who will it be this week who reads gripping tales to your youngest children at Kirkdale Bookshop? Come and find out!

    More on this event →

    Sat 16th July – Visual Arts Trail and Havelock Walk Open Studios

    Thumbnail image for Sat 16th July – Visual Arts Trail and Havelock Walk Open Studios

    Open Houses and Studios 2011 This summer more than sixty artists from Sydenham, Forest Hill and further afield will showcase their work during the last two weekends of the festival. We aim to bring the visual arts to your doorstep with exhibitions in cafes, pubs, restaurants and shops. Go to the Visual Arts Trail website

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    Saturday 16th July – Kirkdale Bookshop Goes Bohemian

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    As part of the Street Celebration, the pavement outside the bookshop will become an artists’ quarter with painters, caricaturist Terry Christien, performance poets, children’s activities and live music with Peter Caesar.

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    Saturday 16th July – Pop Up Theatre Project

    Thumbnail image for Saturday 16th July – Pop Up Theatre Project

    A unique collaboration between local theatre companies and Sydenham Arts Festival, the Pop Up Theatre Project brings live theatre into the high street. Audiences will be invited to sample innovative theatrical experiences in empty shops and premises, specially converted into performance spaces

    More on this event →

    Sunday 17th July – Visual Arts Trail and Havelock Walk Open Studios

    Thumbnail image for Sunday 17th July – Visual Arts Trail and Havelock Walk Open Studios

    Open Houses and Studios 2011 This summer more than sixty artists from Sydenham, Forest Hill and further afield will showcase their work during the last two weekends of the festival. We aim to bring the visual arts to your doorstep with exhibitions in cafes, pubs, restaurants and shops. Go to the Visual Arts Trail website

    More on this event →

    Sunday 17th July – Vocalpercussion – a Universal Vocal Workshop

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    by renowned international artists Randolph Matthews Randolph’s musical journey has taken him around the world, writing and performing with musicians from varied cultures and musical styles. These experiences have led him to create his own dynamic style: Vocalpercussion – drawing not only on the power of the voice, but also on Randolph’s mastery in fusing

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