New Commissions

Chilean NGO Hilanderas present ‘Little Clown’.
Their mission is to transform current social realities into artistic and poetic languages. They promote collaborative, identitarian and cultural creation, with an emphasis on the biographical recognition of those of us who share stories forgotten by the speed of the present. Hilanderas defend the belief that creative rights are human rights and they provide this space for safe and responsible co-creation with women, the LGBTIQ+ community and childhood. The meaning of their name comes from the collaborative creation of a collective active in spinning stories by intersecting personal experiences through imagination.

'Little Clown' tells the story of a boy who travels through enchanted natures and diverse sounds that help and accompany him to recognise and perceive himself and to go beyond the barriers of a childhood full of injustices and fears. The story of 'Little Clown' is told through the Lambe Lambe Theatre, an animation technique (puppets, shadows, objects and shapes) of Brazilian origin, which is accompanied by music or voice in a small stage box. Secret and sensitive theatrical stories for only one spectator per performance are presented in a few minutes. The show also explores other artistic techniques with an original approach to the work, incorporating and intertwining different cultural and artistic traditions.
The audience will experience an approximate 7-minute performance through an open Lambe Lambe, adapted for Ensemble Festival 2024, with an Italian marionette and headphones for an immersive experience.

Amanda Gillian Thompson presents 'The Nest'

A movement/dance/circus piece incorporating elements of text and narration, ‘The Nest’ by Amanda Thompson is a physical narrative which evolved from a childhood memory generously shared by artist Isatta Sheriff. As a new and evolving piece about play and life in London's East End, 'The Nest' explores inquisitiveness, awe and wonder about nature - no matter where it occurs. The piece has now been re-imagined for outdoor performance as part of Ensemble Festival 2024 and will be performed by Amanda Thompson and Katherine Miriam.

Amanda Gillian Thompson
Amanda is a London-based creative and educator with a background in contemporary dance and aerial circus. She trained at Laban and went on to work freelance as a dance artist and aerialist. As an educator, Amanda has held many roles from teaching assistant to assistant headteacher and holds a master’s degree in social justice and education. Her many interests include exploring the role that storytelling and the creative arts have in the lives of children and young people.

Katherine Miriam
Katherine Miriam is a multi-disciplinary physical performance artist of East African and British heritage. Her movement background includes aerial circus, and traditional and physical theatre. She uses blended mediums of contemporary dance theatre, and aerial and circus elements to explore physical narratives.