Musical Magic at University of East London's Mayfest

Hundreds of Londoners, students and community groups celebrated the joys of spring in the sunshine at Mayfest 07, a free art and cultural festival held on the waterfront at the University of East London’s (UEL) Docklands Campus on Wednesday 2 May.

Mayfest’s exciting programme featured live music, dance workshops, art exhibitions, poetry readings and theatrical performances, bringing together the work of professionals, students and school and community groups for a celebration of culture and creativity.

The event kicked off with the Samba Showdown, a stunning musical collaboration between The Hoxton Bloco, Godwin Junior School and University of East London's own Barking Bateria. More music and dance performances followed from Honey’s Dance Academy, gospel choir Solid Harmony, Hackney indie band Summer Holiday and a host of talent from across East London and around the world.

South American dancers, musicians and singers warmed up in style for the Latin Carnival of Independence so be held in July. Lina Usama, Carnival organiser, said: "Mayfest was a fantastic day and a great opportunity for us to learn about different cultures and share our musical traditions with a wonderfully diverse audience."

Other highlights included Dinner with Artaud, an anarchic theatrical performance by first-year University of East London Theatre students, Unspeakable, a thought-provoking work in development by Typenet Theatre, and Sprout, a dramatic sculpture by University of East London Fine Art Lecturer Gereon Krebber that was unveiled in University Square.

Mayfest also hosted the Celebrating Enterprise Festival Futures Seminar, supported by the ESF Equal fund, and the grand opening of the new East London Theatre Archive, celebrating 25 years of New Variety performances. The festival was partly supported by the London Borough of Newham.

Mark O’Thomas, Director of University of East London’s Institute for Performing Arts Development, said: “Mayfest 07 was a wonderful celebration of culture and creativity that now seems set to establish itself as a popular annual event. The sun shone as brightly as the performances, and it was great to see so many students and local community groups getting involved. Roll on Mayfest 08!”

University of East London’s Institute for Performing Arts Development is becoming established as a national centre for excellence with groundbreaking undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in music, theatre, dance and community arts. For further information, visit www.uel.ac.uk.


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