Southbank Centre

Southbank Centre – upcoming events

Really Old, Like Forty Five27th Jan – 17th Mar 2010
“Really Old, Like Forty Five” is a new play by Tamsin Oglesby, a furious comedy which confronts our embarrassment and fear about old age. Relations are put to the test across three generations… Lyn’s memory starts to go, Alice takes a fall and even young Robbie has to face the signs of ageing.

“The 14th Tale”, at the National Theatre9th, 10th Feb, 4th to 6th and 10th to 13th Mar 2010
The 14th Tale is a free-flowing narrative that explores the hilarious exploits of a natural born mischief-maker moving from the clay streets of Nigeria to the rooftops of Dublin and London. Inua Ellams challenges the audience’s expectations of what it is to be a young, black male in London today.

“London Assurance”, at the National Theatre2nd – 22nd Mar 2010
“London Assurance” tells the story of Sir Harcourt Courtly, lured away from his fashionable London life by the promise of a rich and beautiful bride, Grace. Settling down happily in her country pile, he soon finds her charms eclipsed by her hearty cousin, the foxhunting Lady Gay Spanker…

London Philharmonic, playing Ravel and Brahms12th Mar 2010
Join conductor Gunther Herbig, pianist Helene Grimaud and the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, as they perform a selection of classical works by Ravel, Schumann and Brahms.

The Southbank Centre is London’s largest entertainment venue, comprising chiefly of the Hayward Gallery, Royal Festival Hall, Royal National Theatre and National Film Theatre.

Hayward Gallery

The Hayward Gallery is the worst of the Southbank Centre’s concrete catastrophes (one architect accused it of having a quite frightening ugliness), but don’t let the depressing shell keep you from the inside – where you’ll find major exhibitions by the world’s leading artists.

Royal Festival Hall

The Royal Festival Hall is the Southbank Centre’s main concert venue. Classical music recitals are always on the agenda, with regular performances by the Philharmonic and London Philharmonic. You can also find jazz, ballet and world music pieces.

National Theatre

The National Theatre was opened in 1976, and combines three different auditoria: the Cottesloe, the Lyttelton and Olivier.

BFI Southbank shows a broad range of British, international and foreign language films, and is the focus of the annual London Film Festival.

If you don’t like all the art-house movies, then you can always catch one of their frequent film premières – where, if you’re really lucky, you’ll also catch the director or movie-star introducing the piece with a short talk. Previous stars have included Clint Eastwood and Cate Blanchett.

Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Purcell Room

The Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room feature small-scale productions by orchestras, bands and dance companies.

If you like skateboarding, then head for the car-park underneath – it’s full of kids falling off their bits of wood.

Information

Facts and information

Address:: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, Southbank,
London SE1 8XX
England
Telephone:: Work +44 (0) 871 663 2500
Bus route:: 1 4 26 59 68 76 77 139 168 172 176 177 189 253 341 381 521 RV1 X68
Train station:: Embankment BK CR DS NR, Temple CR DS, Waterloo BK JB NR WC