VAULT Festival Returns

2016 promises to deliver another feast for the body, soul and mind with an international array of performances exploring themes such as gender, mental health, conflict and much more.

Boasting eight performance spaces within one venue, three stylish bars and a country style pop-up restaurant, the labyrinthine vaults beneath Waterloo Station are fit to burst.

Boasting eight performance spaces within one venue, three stylish bars and a country style pop-up restaurant, the labyrinthine vaults beneath Waterloo Station are fit to burst.

The myriad of shows on offer includes SQUIDBOY, starring award-winning physical theatre performer Trygve Wakenshaw, in which an imaginary friend creates their own imaginary friends. Audiences will be taken through a world of wheelchairs and blow up dolls in a captivating exploration of an autistic mind, dubbed The Misfit Analysis. This performance is written and lead by Cian Binchy who also acts as consultant for the West End’s Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. In a VAULT Festival debut, the award-winning company, Clout Theatre present The Various Lives of Infinite Nullity; a dark and intriguing piece of absurdism centered around a post-suicide support group held in the afterlife. Elsewhere the ‘Queen of Canvey’, Diane Chorleybrings her Diantines Ball to VAULT and comedienne Lucie Pohl offers up a host of NYC-inspired character comedy in Cry Me A Liver.

For night owls and party animals VAULT offer up ‘Lates’, every night of the festival will boast parties until the early hours. The Ceilidh Liberation Front, Artful Badger’s Valentine’s Ball, Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras and FILTHy Silent Disco hosted by TimeOut are just some of the opportunities to hit the VAULT dancefloor.

In addition to the bars keeping the VAULT audience refreshed 2016 welcomes a pop up country pub dubbed the Suffolk Punch. In collaboration with The Suffolk Young Producers and headed up by award-winning baker David Wright, Suffolk Punch will serve high quality and homely produce sourced from the best of East Anglia. Fellow multi-award winning food heroes involved include Adnams, Alder Carr Farm, Pinney’s of Orford and further specially selected suppliers. The Suffolk Punch will serve everything from light bites to full meals and Sunday roasts throughout the run of the festival.

Families are catered for this year in the biggest and most accomplished Mini VAULT programme to date. A magic day out is promised via Pirates of the Carabina, poet Roger McGough and a show from Lithuanian dance company Puzzle, devised for under 3s using the latest in young-years education teachings. Mini VAULT will also be laying on the ever-popular Big Fish Little Fish family rave and an ‘Under The Sea’ party courtesy of Mini Rumpus.

Surge, a programme of special events, workshops, talks, forums and more invites the VAULT audience to connect with a number of performers and companies. 2016 will see Devoted & Disgruntled, Hiive and the Young Producer’s forum present a variety of activities which promise to be inspiring, informative and educational.

New for 2016 will be the first VAULT Film Festival taking place each Sunday in February. Both long and short form screenings spanning drama, documentary, animation and more will feature. Additionally some pieces will appear courtesy of a partnership with Paris’ ECU Film Festival.

Details of the 150+ events at VAULT Festival can be found here.

You can find tickets online at VAULTFestival.com, by phone via See Tickets at (0)844 412 4648 and in person from the venue Box office, open from 5.30pm.

Since you’re here…

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Kate Copstick’s charity, Mama Biashara, works with the poorest and most marginalised people in Kenya. They give grants to set up small, sustainable businesses that bring financial independence and security. That five quid you spend on a large glass of House White? They can save someone’s life with that. And the money for a pair of Air Jordans? Will take four women and their fifteen children away from a man who is raping them and into a new life with a moneymaking business for Mum and happiness for the kids.
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Theatre MAD
The Make A Difference Trust fights HIV & AIDS one stage at a time. Their UK and International grant-making strategy is based on five criteria that raise awareness, educate, and provide care and support for the most vulnerable in society. A host of fundraising events, including Bucket Collections, Late Night Cabarets, West End Eurovision, West End Bares and A West End Christmas continue to raise funds for projects both in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Acting For Others
Acting for Others provides financial and emotional support to all theatre workers in times of need through the 14 member charities. During the COVID-19 crisis Acting for Others have raised over £1.7m to support theatre workers affected by the pandemic.
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