Rufus Wainwright performs UK premiere of his Shakespeare sonnets at Barbican Weekender

Street dance, opera and graffiti workshops invite audiences to participate

Released on: February 13, 2012, 7:32 am
Author: Kieran Kerrigan
Industry: Travel

Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright joins the BBC Symphony Orchestra for the Barbican's annual Weekender which this year is themed as Urban Stories and delivers a combination of Shakespeare, opera and hip-hop.

Part of BBC's Music Nation and the London 2012 Festival, the Barbican Weekender takes place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th March 2012 and anyone travelling to London for this popular annual fixture, much of which is free and suitable for families, can book one of the many hotels in London listed on the website LondonTown.com which supplies users with useful information on London events, popular visitor attractions and nearby accommodation.

In the year that the centre celebrates its 30th anniversary audiences will be treated to a weekend of free entertainment by East London drummers, performance poetry by the Barbican Young Poets, and ‘flashmob' free running displays by Streets United. There will be a chance to join in with classes in street dance by Boy Blue Entertainment, workshops led by the Hip Hop Shakespeare Company, as well as graffiti and urban-style art workshops suitable for families.

Children as young as two can enjoy a performance by German children's theatre company florschütz & döhnert in The Pit theatre in which they take a playful look at the wonders of gravity. And there will be a variety of street foods on offer in the foyer throughout the weekend.

For Opera in a Day, 100 members of the public will get the chance to perform on the Barbican stage, under the guidance of rap artist Akala Daley and the Hip Hop Shakespeare Company with support from the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

On Saturday evening, Ms Dynamite, Fazer, Devlin and Skepta – leading figures from the UK's urban music scene – perform Urban Classic with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jules Buckley, fresh from his collaboration with Basement Jaxx and the Metropole Orchestra. The following evening it's the turn of Rufus Wainwright to present the UK premiere of his Shakespeare sonnets.

For information on the weekend line-up visit LondonTown.com where a wide range of London hotels can be booked including family friendly accommodation close to the Barbican Centre.

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About LondonTown.com

Londontown.com is the number one Internet site for London. With over 16 years of experience assisting visitors to the capital, they pride themselves on their customer service and editorial independence – no advertising or paid for content is allowed. The LondonTown.com team assist in finding cheap London hotels, sightseeing tours, ticket information and events. Trusted and with a loyal following, LondonTown.com is a very reliable source of recommendations and advise on what to do in London. http://www.LondonTown.com

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