Tue 27 July – Sun 1 August

What's On

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• Against The Tide

  Graeae Theatre (UK) in association with Strange Fruit (Australia)

  Wed 28 July at 4pm & 6.30pm, Thu 29 July at 1pm & 6.30pm, Fri 30 July at 1pm & 4pm

  On an island separated from the world by a vast desert, a surviving tribe has almost forgotten what water is; every day they tell stories of the ocean, hoping they might encourage it to flow back. A story of survival, with a haunting soundtrack and stunning aerial work on 4 metre high swaying poles by disabled and non-disabled artists. Each show has live Audio Description and is signed using BSL.

  www.graeae.org | www.strangefruit.net.au

  Originally commissioned by Greenwich & Docklands International Festival. Supported by Circus Space. 

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• The Whale

  Talking Birds (UK)

  Wed 28 July at 1-6.30pm, Thu 29 July at 12-6.30pm

  A giant silver Whale basks by the Thames; enter inside to be serenaded by a lovesick submariner and you might leave with a gift from the sea. A three-minute journey for one adventurer at a time (or two if you're shy). www.talkingbirds.co.uk

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• Funny Business

  Fraser Hooper (UK)

  Fri 30 July at 3pm,  Sat 31 July at 3pm & 5.30pm

  Guaranteed giggles galore with Fraser’s ridiculous routines, inexplicable dancing and bundles of charm. www.fraserhooper.com

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• Thrills & Spills Cabaret

  With Fraser Hooper, Ian Marchant, Craig Reid and Arron Sparks

  Fri 30 July at 6.30pm

  Fraser comperes a special cabaret for children of all ages, featuring Ian’s thrilling plate spinning, Craig’s hula-hooping tribute to Dorothy and Toto and Arron’s amazing cancan yo-yo show-show!  www.thatjuggler.com | www.hulaboy.co.uk | www.arronsparks.co.uk

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• Les Polyamide Sisters

  Compagnie Les Fées Railleuses (France)

  Sat 31 July at 1pm & 6.30pm, Sun 1 August at 1.30pm

  Roll up, roll up, Les Polyamide Sisters present a unique camping circus of sleeping bag acrobats, nylon animal acts, a backpack ballet and guy-rope couture; which will tie you in knots. www.lesfeesrailleuses.com

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• Grow Your Own

  Nu Urban Gardens (UK)

  Sat 31 July from 2-6pm

  Head Gardeners, Chris Lewis-Jones and Simon Withers, invite you to create your very own miniscule garden allotment. Choose your tiny tools, erect a miniature fence and grow microscopic trees, then stand back and admire your petite plot’s perfection. The best design will win the prestigious Golden Spade Award.

  www.chrislewisjones.co.uk | www.simonwithers.weebly.com

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• Hodman Dodmanott & Sally Forth

  The Flying Butresses (UK)

  Sat 31 July at 2pm & 4pm, Sun 1 August at 12.30pm & 2.30pm

  A pair of curious wanderers from the country of Oblivia attempt to explain to the strange peoples of England, the new and baffling world around them. Their observations will leave you wondering about this curious country too. www.hodmanandsally.com

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• (T)hat Juggler

  Ian Marchant (UK)

  Sun 1 August at 1pm

  The plate spinner extraordinaire defies gravity with crockery, and he’s pretty nifty with juggling balls, clubs, hats, a unicycle too. You lucky people! www.thatjuggler.com

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• A Little Night Flight Of Fantasy...

  OzStar Airlines

  Circus OzStars (Australia)

  Sat 31 July at 10.30pm

  It’s been family fun all week, so here’s a little late night fun for grown-ups. Fasten your seatbelts for this exciting array of live in-flight evening entertainment. Get your boarding passes ready and prepare for hula hoop madness from two of Australia’s most celebrated trolley-dollies. www.ozstar.info

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• Playspace Puppets & Storytelling

  Paper People | Little Red Hen | Goldilocks and How Many Bears? | Fabulous Families

  In an inflatable mini auditorium for the younger theatre-goer you and see a performance of Paper People on Thu 29 July, Little Red Hen on Sat 31 July and Goldilocks and How Many Bears? on Sun 1 August.

  On Fri 30 July listen to Fabulous Families by storytellers Daniel Morden and Oli Wilson-Dickson.

  Tickets £3 each.

  Visit the Playspace page for full details and to book. 

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• Chez Cocotte

  Compagnie Carabosse (France)

  Tue 27 - Sat 31 July at 9.30pm (see calender for details)

  A theatrical fantasy for a retired railwayman and 55 pressure cookers. ‘Cocotte’ invites you into his hissing world of gas flames, boiling kettles and airborne potatoes.

  A close relative of the Heath Robinson school of engineering, this National Theatre debut is French steam-powered theatre at its most explosive.

  Find out more & book | Find out about all Square² events

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• BFI Film: Auden and Britten at the GPO

  Projected on the Flytower Fri 30 July at 10.30pm (50 mins)

  In the 1930s the GPO Film Unit was home to some of Britain’s most audacious creative talents. Among them were WH Auden and Benjamin Britten, the two central characters in The Habit of Art, who brought a radical approach to the development of sound in British film, most famously in Night Mail (1936). Also a chance to see their collaborations Coal Face (1935), God’s Chillun (1938) and Lotte Reiniger’s delightful animation, The Tocher (1938), scored by Britten in a particularly playful mood.

  Find out more about all Flytower Films

• Green Room

  Late bar with music & games every Fri & Sat 10pm - 1am.

  Join us in the Green Room where the performers for both our indoor and outdoor shows hang out after their performances with the National's resident DJs, Bring&Share. Friday night is Games Night - come and play Bring&Share's infamous Musical Bingo.

  Find out more about all events in the Green Room

Week 6: Flights of Fantasy...

A week for all the family to marvel at creatures and people from far away lands with tales from the sea, old fashioned laughs and super silly circus and celebrate those most British of summer holiday activities: camping and gardening! Families positively encouraged and children of all sizes compulsory – these flights of fantasy aren’t affected by volcanoes and don’t require a passport.