For the first time since 2019 the National Theatre’s River Stage festival will return to the South Bank. Over five weekends, starting in July, leading arts and performance companies will take over the stage to celebrate the best of British culture including performances from drag artists, dance performances, live streamed theatre and plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy.
From 22 – 24 July HOME will be taking over the River Stage to bring the best of Manchester (and beyond) to the South bank. Expect music, spoken word, shows for families, drag and DJs.
Here’s a lineup of the artists scheduled to appear:
Fri 22 Jul
- 6.30pm – 7.45pm: Drag Royalty Jubilee
Join the real Royalty of Manchester celebrating the jubilee and the drag excellence of Manchester hosted by Donna Trump and featuring an array of performances from Kings, Queens, Things and all in between! - 8.00pm – 10.45pm: DJ Paulette
Known worldwide from La Discotheque and Glitterbox to Hacienda and Homoelectric, DJ Paulette returns as part of the HOME takeover with a set of house party disco, funk, boogie and house classics to get you raving and ready for the weekend.
Sat 23 Jul
- 12.00pm – 1.00pm: Me & My Bee
Our fuzzy little friends need our help, so we’re launching a political party disguised as a party party disguised as a show. There’s only one problem… The bees are dying and without them, we will too. A show for children & adults. - 1.15pm – 2.00pm and 2.15pm – 3.00pm: Lakshmi
Manchester based singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with a background in classical music performs with her band. Lakshmi is a session musician for artists including Ed Sheeran and Tyler the Creator & Ollie West and the Wildflowers. - 3.00pm – 4.00pm: Steve Varden
Relax and unwind to a live performance DJ and musical cocktail mixer of iPads, Kaossilators, synth’s and oddball midi-controllers. Expect dance beats, rhythmic loops and unworldly familiar random sounds from the depths of the after dark synthesiser. - 4.15pm – 5.15pm: Yemi Bolatiwa
Yemi Bolatiwa and her live band showcase as a 4 piece, with dynamic musicality for River Stage 2022. Original confessional soul tracks, paying homage to hip-hop, garage and DnB through versatile arrangements and high energy performance! - 5.45pm – 7.45pm: Dj KhanFu
DJ KhanFu (Boom Bap And Breaks) will be providing a soundtrack encompassing Funk and Breaks mixed with classic Hip Hop music. One for everyone to enjoy. - 8.15pm – 10.45pm: Mix Stress
A lover of Manchester and its melting pot of talent, Rebecca is the founder and curator of events and arts collective, RebeccaNeverBecky, and Co-founder of queer DJ Collective, Queer Latifah.
Sun 24 Jul
- 12.00pm – 1.00pm: Me & My Bee
Our fuzzy little friends need our help, so we’re launching a political party disguised as a party party disguised as a show. There’s only one problem… The bees are dying and without them, we will too. A show for children & adults. - 2.30pm – 3.30pm: Young Identity
A boisterous afternoon of poetry featuring some of Manchester’s finest young artists. Resident artists at HOME, Young Identity brings lyrical mastery, charisma and wonderfully crafted words to the River Stage. - 3.30pm – 5.00pm: Beat Chics
In a return to River Stage, the Beat Chics will be spinning an all-vinyl eclectic mix of rare disco, global grooves and female fronted gems from around the world.