Vertical dancers to perform aerial spectacle suspended from St Paul’s Cathedral, kick-starting the three-week Bartholomew Fair.

The 2023 reimagining of the iconic Bartholomew Fair brings a modern twist to the historic event in a celebration of the City of London’s heritage and contemporary culture.

From Thursday 31st August to Saturday 16th September, the City will become the stage for an array of exciting, unique entertainment, and live performances taking place across the Square Mile.

A spectacular vertical dance performance on St Paul’s Cathedral will launch the Fair, and other performances include a night-time projection installation creating an extraordinary, illuminated journey through the City’s intriguing streets and hidden squares alongside an arts-filled, night-time cultural trail throughout the City.

Opening Performance

The St Paul’s Cathedral spectacular opens the three-week Fair of contemporary culture with performers suspended from the iconic façade in an unmissable fusion of dance, original music, and architecture.

The world premiere show is co-produced and co-commissioned by the City of London Corporation and Greenwich+Docklands International Festival. The performance, RESURGAM, by world-leading, US based vertical dance company BANDALOOP, will combine aerial choreography, cutting edge climbing technology and original music on London’s most famous Cathedral between 31 August and 2 September. The company, known for its innovation in vertical performance, has been granted rare access to St Paul’s to create the spectacular piece, fusing intricate mid-air choreography with rock climbing techniques.

It features as part of both the Bartholomew Fair and Greenwich+Docklands International’s 2023 festival programmes.

Bartholomew Fair

Bartholomew Fair, which dates back to the 12^th century and was last held in 1855, began as a cloth fair and quickly became London’s pre-eminent event, entertaining visitors for over 700 years. The City’s revival brings a modern twist in a celebration of contemporary culture and the Square Mile’s unique heritage.

The Wider Programme:

Follow Me Into

A series of projection installations by digital performance company imitating the dog will take over a number of locations across the City during the Fair. Full of spectacle and video-mapping magic, this extraordinary journey through the City’s intriguing streets and hidden squares sees visitors encounter figures from the past, each with a story to tell and a talent to pass on. The striking visuals will light up renowned buildings and spaces within the area each night from 8pm-10pm between 7 and 16 September.

The Midnight Run

A special edition of The Midnight Run, a walking arts-filled night-time cultural journey through the City, will run from 6pm until midnight between 31 August and 2 September. Curated by Inua Ellams, produced by Fuel and featuring local artists, guests will be taken on an adventure through the City’s hidden nooks and crannies. Come ready to explore, play, and create.

The full City-wide programme, dates, and locations will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information see www.thecityofldn.com/bartholomewfair

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City of London Corporation Policy Chairman Chris Hayward said:

“We are reimagining the capital’s greatest event and creating something that is truly extraordinary – a new landmark London cultural spectacular. With fantastic free fun for everyone, we are bringing the extraordinary story of the City to life, attracting audiences from across the capital and beyond. From the Barbican Centre and the Museum of London, to our world class pubs, bars and restaurants, we look forward to welcoming you to the City – the birthplace of London. Building on our launch last year we are proud to showcase the Square Mile as part of our Destination City programme, creating a world leading visitor destination for everyone to enjoy.”

Greenwich+Docklands International Festival Artistic Director Bradley Hemmings MBE said:

“We’re thrilled to be working with the American vertical dance company BANDALOOP to present “RESURGAM”, an extraordinary site-specific performance, at St Paul’s Cathedral. Christopher Wren’s masterpiece has always stood as an icon of hope for Londoners and the Greenwich+Docklands International Festival is proud to be working with the City of London Corporation and St Paul’s to deliver this extraordinary event offering an inspiring reflection on the way in which hope can sustain us through difficult times.”