2021

 A Bit Of A Do 2021 took place 18th - 28th November. The festival featured a series of digital events, alongside the live programme. This included live streams, pre-recorded performances, unique events for digital-only audiences, and some hybrid events that take place both online and in person.

We worked with some wonderful partners to deliver the festival, including Stanley Arts, Improbable, Club Soda & Gig Buddies and Willow Learning for Life.

The festival was funded by Arts Council England, Didymus, City Bridge Trust, The Foyle Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Ironmongers’ Charity, The Grocers’ Charity and The Schroder Charity Trust.

5 performers are on stage bathed in pink light. They are all punk rock, and wearing glitter, leather and denim. They look joyful and are all dancing with their arms stretched out wide.
Frank, a Drag King is wearing blue silky boxer shorts and a white vest. He hands and one foot are on the floor in a sort of downward dog pose, but with the head up. His other leg is aloft so he is doing the splits in the air!
Two male performers are on stage, both wearing dark clothes. The first is wearing a gold sparkly hat and bow tie. He reaches his arms to the ceiling with his mouth open as if shouting. The second performer, with a green sparkly hat and bow tie has a
Two dancers wear white frilly leotards, white tights and white ruffs around their necks. They also wear black leather gloves and balaclavas. They stand with their feet wide apart one behind the other.
A performer is on stage signing. He wears a black bandana on his head, a white t-shirt, a black waistcoat and jeans.
A performer is on tip toes, leaning back, arms out stretched, mouth open in terror. She wears a grey suit with a white shirt underneath and her long brown hair is in a pony tail. On a screen behind her are the words 'A Bit Of A Do'
The stage is bathed in orange light. Two performers stand at the front with microphones. On the left is a man with brown hair and a beard, he wears jeans and a green stripey top. He is singing. Next to him is a woman with long brown wavy hair. She we
Two female dancers are on the stage, they are wearing red, yellow and turquoise swimwear. They also wear red and yellow flowery swimming caps and yellow crocs. They pose upside down on beach chairs, their feet spread in the air. The words 'A Bit Of A
A performer in a wheelchair is wearing a glitter wig and a furry jacket is playing a large drum. Behind her is another performer pulling a long thin piece of orange material.
A performer with long dark hair and black glasses, wearing a red woollen top stands speaking into a microphone. In the background, out of focus, is a British Sign Language Interpreter.
Dolly Trolley, a Drag Queen wears a mint green leotard two piece, white tights and white high heeled shoes. She has blonde curly hair. She is on one leg with her arms outstretched, mid dance. She has a big smile.
The stage is bathed in blue and pink light. A group of dancers improvise dance moves, some bending down, some raising their hands high.
Two audience members sit at a round table and chat in between acts. They are drinking pints of beer. Other audience members can be seen out of focus in the background.
Two members of the front of house team stand in the doorway outside the venue. They wear lanyards and hold a bottle of sanitiser. They look like a good team.
We look down on the venue, it is full of people dancing and having a brilliant time!
Frank, a Drag King is wearing a yellow t-shirt and knee high socks and a khaki waistcoat, shorts and explorer hat. On the floor is an army net and Frank is sticking his tongue out!
In the audience during the Moxie Brawl performance, the house lights are up and the performers (all wearing punk rock outfits) chat to the audience.
A performer stands on stage with her hands held up like paws and her tongue out as if panting. She wears a grey suit with a white shirt underneath and her long brown hair is in a pony tail. On a screen behind her are the words 'A Bit Of A Do'
Two performers are on stage, they both wear sparkly hats and bow ties, one green, one gold. One appears to be showing the other and imaginary scroll. Behind them musicians play and a giant screen says DISCO DISCO in pink and purple letters.
Dolly Trolley, a Drag Queen wearing a mint green leotard two piece, white tights and white high heeled shoes. She has blonde curly hair. She is on the stage talking into the microphone. We can see the whole audience watching her.
Two DJs stand behind their decks, smiling into the camera
Two performers are on the stage. The first is a black man who is signing. He wears a black bandana on his head, a white t-shirt, a black waistcoat and jeans. Next to him is the second performer, a white man wearing jeans and a black jumper. He sings
The Moxie Brawl performance has moved out of the venue and the performers plus some audience members are stood cheering on the street in front of a red London bus.
The stage is bathed in turquoise light. 5 performers wearing are dancing and rocking out wearing glitter, leather and denim.
Seven performers dressed as different characters stand in a line across the stage. Their hands are raised and they are smiling, about to take a bow. The lights are blue and white
From the back of the venue which is full of people dancing and having fun. The light is pink and a large screen says the words “Dance Hall”
The stage is bathed in blue and pink light. A group of dancers are in a circle improvising dance moves.
A closer shot of people dancing and having a brilliant time!
A member of Willow checks in an audience member at A Bit Of A Do. She has brown hair, and is wearing a black t-shirt with the Willow logo on. She also wears and blue and red face covering.
We are in the middle of the dance floor right in the action, with everyone dancing and having fun!
Three performers are on stage, all wearing smart clothes and sparkly party hats. One performer has their hands up in the air. Next to them is a British Sign Language Interpreter. Behind them musicians play and a giant screen says DISCO DISCO in pink
The stage is bathed in blue light. A Performer with long curly hair and wearing a checked shirt sings into a microphone. Behind her, another performer sits down and sings into a microphone.
Frank, a Drag King is dressed very smart in a shirt and tie. He holds a pink landline phone out in front of him and sticks out his tongue. The words 'A Bit Of A Do' are on a screen behind them.

Photos by Paul Grace

Bert & Nasi: HELLO

18 Nov 21 – 24 Nov 21

Sign up to receive text messages from Bertrand Lesca & Nasi Voutsas for 7 days throughout the festival

A white woman with brown plaited hair is looking down and holding a white swaddle that resembles a baby. There are four other people are standing either side of her, they are all looking down. The background is dark green and hazy.

Anthropocene: The Human Era

18 Nov 21 – 28 Nov 21

A digital ‘choose your own adventure’ experience from physical theatre company GymJam

A disco ball that is reflecting green and red lights has three yellow circles, that have arrows on them, drawn in different directions around it. The circles are similar to rings that are around a planet. The circles cross over each other.

Aby Watson: DYSCO

18 Nov 21

A relaxed online dance party hosted by DJ DYSCOURSE aka artist and disabled dance maker Aby Watson

A Drag Queen is dancing on stage. She wears a silver sparkly leotard and knee high boots. Large thin pieces of coloured material swirl around her.

A Bit Of A Knees Up - Cabaret Launch Night

19 Nov 21

A night of cabaret, comedy, music, theatre and dance from Drunken Chorus and Special Guests

A black male performer stands on stage in the middle of a of small pieces of paper. He is in the middle of speaking and has his arms stretched out at his sides. He wears dark casual clothes. He has short greying hair and a beard.
Five performers in brightly coloured punk rock costumes are in the centre of the stage, lit with blue lighting. They are all singing. One performer uses a wheelchair, one performer is signing.
Two screenshots collaged together to make an image. Each screenshot is of a different man waving to the camera. One wears a black shirt, the other has a beard, wears a furry hat and a blue and red top.
An illustration of a red heart pierced by a sword with a blue and yellow handle. Blood drips from the sword's point. In a white scroll over the heart are the words "Devoted & Disgruntled" and around the heart "Satellite".

Tim Etchells / Forced Entertainment: To Move In Time

20 Nov 21

An unnamed protagonist speculates playfully about what he’d do if he were able to travel backwards and forwards in time. A new text by Tim Etchells, performed by Tyrone Huggins

Moxie Brawl: Punk Alley

21 Nov 21

A family dance show with live music performed by inclusive dance company Moxie Brawl

HELLO: Post-show discussion with Bert & Nasi

25 Nov 21

An online discussion with award-winning artists Bert & Nasi, on the creative process behind their digital experience, HELLO

Devoted & Disgruntled Satellite: w/ Club Soda, Gig Buddies

25 Nov 21

A live discussion event facilitated by Improbable, a theatre company who specialise in using a process called Open Space Technology

Three performers are on stage, all wearing smart clothes and sparkly party hats. One performer has their hands up in the air. Next to them is a British Sign Language Interpreter. Behind them musicians play and a giant screen says DISCO DISCO in pink
Two people are on a beach, it is cloudy and the tide is coming in. They are both playing musical instruments, one a guitar, one the drums. They wear jeans and jumpers. Both performers have their eyes closed, they are lost in the music.

Club Soda x DISCO DISCO

26 Nov 21

Join local collectives Club Soda and DISCO DISCO, as we celebrate the work of local performers, alongside some invited guests, in this accessible and inclusive club night

Jack Dean & Company: Hero & Leander

27 Nov 21

A modern musical that tells an epic seaside story performed and created by Jack Dean and Company

This is Ellen Renton, she is stood in the middle of the frame and you can see her from torso upwards. She has pale skin and pale hair. She is wearing a dark blue sports top and a headset microphone, the background is dark.

Ellen Renton: Within Sight

27 Nov 21

A multimedia theatre performance with soft-spoken but hard hitting poetry, dismantling ableism. Performed and created by Ellen Renton

Two photos of a cloudy sky at sunset are collaged together to make this image. One has a high rise building in. Pinks, purples and oranges light up the fading sky.

Line up

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