2022

 A Bit Of A Do 2022 took place 21st - 29th October at venues across the London Borough of Croydon.

All events included British Sign Language / English interpreters and were Relaxed. Most events included Audio Description, Step Free / Wheelchair access.

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 took place both online and in person.

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

The festival was funded by by Arts Council England, Didymus, City Bridge Trust and Garfield Weston Foundation.

The stage is bathed in blue light illuminating two dancers. The first is laid on the floor with arms and legs bent. The second is bending to the side at the hip, one arm out and fingers splayed.
A performer is on stage, surrounded by tiny paper objects. There is a screen on stage showing a projection of cut out letters saying "Rust is a metal illness'
George the Dragon is on stage smiling and talking into a microphone. Their face is painted blue and they wear blue sparkly horns, a blue sparkly top and blue shoulder pads.
In black and white. The performer is dressed up to look like Elvis. He sings into a microphone, clearly giving his all. The performer is a wheelchair user.
Black and white. A performer is on the floor of the stage holding up a homemade cardboard sign saying "Coral reefs bleaching". Several other cardboard signs are in the floor in the background
Black and white. A Drag King wearing a jacket with tasseled sleeve and dark sunglasses plays an electric violin
Four performers strike a pose on stage in front of a red glitter curtain. One wears a blue suit covered in white clouds, one wears a mint green suit, one wears a silver sequined two piece and one wears a black and white striped suit.
A Performer dressed from head to toe in orange plays the guitar and sings. We see them in profile. In the background, out of focus, is the BSL interpreter
A group of performers stand on stage surrounded by cobwebs. They are all posing, their arms outstretched. They wear feather boas, flower garlands and glitter on their faces.
Black and white. Three performers dressed like Teddy Boys stand behind old fashioned microphones. They have their hair in quiffs, and wear trousers with braces. They all look surprised.
Black and white. Two theatre lights. The head and shoulders of a Drag Queen performer, sticking her tongue out.
Black and white. Two dancers are on stage. They wear suit jackets, trousers and bare feet. They are mid dance, captured on one leg while leaning back and the other leg in the air.
Two dancers are on stage. One has bright red hair and wears a white dress. This dancer looks like they are performing a curtsey. The other dancer wears a grey suit and is pointing one two. It is very elegant.
A performer stands on stage surrounded by cobwebs. He wears a black cropped top. He also wears a gold star costume over his head and shoulders, in each hand he holds a point.
Dolly is a Drag Queen wearing a green wig and a Ghostbusters leotard. She has one hand on her hip and the other by her ear as if listening to the crowds response
In black and white. A performer stands in front of a microphone with their arms up, eyes shut, shouting into the microphone
In black and white. An empty stage except for one dancer who is on one leg leaping away from centre stage
In black and white. A performer holds a large tin can on their head and speaks into a microphone. Several other people all out of focus with cans on their head can be seen.
Two people stand on a pub stage, there are Halloween decorations in the background. They both have blonde hair, black glasses and hold microphones. One holds a clipboard. They look like they are joyfully shouting
A performer wearing a black suit and bow tie holds a very long white banner on stage. We can make out the words "Edy Hurst's" in big red letters
Four performers stand on stage, they raise both their middle fingers. They look gleeful, happy, serene. They stand in their underwear in front of a glitter curtain.
In black and white. A performer sits on stage. In front of her are small walls made of polystyrene and other small objects. She has a small magnifying glass in her mouth.
Black and white. George the Dragon, a performer smiles and speaks into a microphone. In the background, out of focus there is a BSL interpreter.
In black and white. A performer with long dark hair and glasses stands in front of a microphone on a pub stage. Behind them are big cobwebs. The performer is holding up one arm and one finger, as if making a point
A performer wears an alien costume comprising of a red tunic, litter grabbers for arms and a white and silver helmet. In the background, out of focus is a BSL interpreter.
Inside a club, lots of neon lights. A crowd stands with their backs to the camera. They are all holding large tin cans on their heads
Two performers are on a pub stage, Halloween decorations and a skeleton are in the background. One performer wears a white shirt and a Beagle mask, the other wears a green dress, holds a clipboard, raises an arm into the air and speaks into a microph
In black and white. A performer impersonating Elvis and singing into a microphone is out of focus in the foreground. In the background a man is interpreting the performance into British Sign Language
Black and white. A performer stands on stage, only their face illuminated, holding a homemade cardboard sign saying "Changes to the jet stream". Several other cardboard signs are in the floor in the background
Black and white. A Performer stands on stage facing out to the audience. He speaks into a headset microphone. In the background, out of focus is a BSL interpreter
Two people stand on a pub stage, there are Halloween decorations in the background. On the left is a BSL interpreter and on the right is Dolly the Drag Queen with a green wig, holding out one arm and speaking into a microphone
The stage is bathed in blue light illuminating two dancers. The first has his back to us, bent knees and arms stretched out in a diagonal line. The second is in profile, knees bent, one arm stcretched out in front, the other down by his side
A performer stands on a stage wearing a simple black dress and bare feet. There are many wooden objects on the stage, they look like parts of something. In the background there is a bike wheel. The performer speaks into a microphone. A BSL interprete

Photos by Paul Fuller

 
A Drag Queen is mid lunge on stage. Her arms are open and she swirls brightly coloured fabric. She's dressed in a silver sparkly leotard. She has long blonde curly hair. The photo is wild!

Edy Hurst's Comedy Version of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of H.G. Wells' Literary Version (Via Orson Welles' Radio Version and Steven Spielberg's Film Version) of the War of the Worlds

28 Oct 22

A roaring hour of comedy and songs retelling for the final time, the definitive version of War Of the Worlds. If you're not on board from the title, I don't know how this is going to convince you

A Bit Of A Knees Up: Closing Night Cabaret

29 Oct 22

Join us in the pub to mark the closing night of A Bit Of A Do 2022!

Two performers are in a pub. One is wearing a suit and a dog mask, the other a sequined dress and a unicorn mask

Drunken Chorus: Who Knows? (DIGITAL + LIVE)

21 Oct 22 – 29 Oct 22

A hybrid digital and live pub quiz – kind of!

Black and white. A pair of hands dig into the sand and scrunch it up. It looks like it would feel very satisfying.

Short Film Showcase (DIGITAL)

21 Oct 22 – 29 Oct 22

Three short films by Jameisha Prescod, Emily Beaney and Sam Metz


George stands in the middle in a dark suit jacket. Their face is painted blue and they have horns and antlers. Around them in small circles are photos of the supporting acts. These images are eclectic and varied

Opening Night Cabaret: George the Dragon’s Cabaret of Curiosities

21 Oct 22

A cabaret extravaganza to launch A Bit Of A Do 2022

Two dancers are captured striking a pose in mid air. The poses are elegant. The dancers are both dressed in trousers, one grey, one brown. They both wear blue short sleeve t-shirts and knitted vests. They're outside on grass against a cloudy sky

SPUN: Dance Showcase

22 Oct 22

A brand-new contemporary dance showcase, featuring SLiDE, Thick & Tight, Kitsch n Sync and Clare and Lesley

Three performers stand on a stage with a shiny purple tinsel background. Two are wearing suits both with bold patterns, one is wearing a shiny silver dress. They're facial expressions show they're having fun performing.
Frankie is sitting on stage. In front of her are small walls made of polystyrene and other small objects. She has a small magnifying glass in her mouth
A man stands on stage in glasses and a sparkly top hat. Next to him is another man, also in a sparkly top hat balancing on one foot. Behind them is a band. The stage is lit with purple light.
A figure holds a folded forward pose, centre of the image. They're washed with blue light. The background is of four outlines of people, three are green in colour, faint and blurred, one has a solid green outline and is filled in black.

Not Your Circus Dog: Not F**ckin’ Sorry

22 Oct 22

‘So, just what is it that you f**kers want? The cracks, the scars? We are sick of being your circus dogs. Everything you think we can’t do, we can.’

Frankie Thompson: SPACE

23 Oct 22

After two sold out performances at The Place and Camden People’s Theatre in 2019, SPACE is back! A magical multimedia miniature circus spiraling through scale, perspective and place

Club Soda present: SoDaDa 2022 (LIVE + DIGITAL)

24 Oct 22

Our friends Club Soda return are back this year with another accessible and inclusive club night celebrating art, performance, music and dance by artists with learning disabilities

Chisato Minamimura: Scored in Silence (DIGITAL)

26 Oct 22

A solo digital sign language performance by London-based Deaf Japanese artist Chisato Minamimura

A woman in a floral dress stands on stage with her arms held high in celebration. She looks extremely happy, as if she's won. Next to her is a young boy smiling. It's a competition and everyone looks like they're having fun.
Frankie, the performer, is on stage wearing glasses and an oversized coat. She is holding a small cardboard tube.
A woman stands alone on a rocky beach, with cliffs behind her. She stands with a microphone and pink amplifier. She is dressed in a skirt and pink top, although the day looks rather dull.
This looks like a hand crafted image. A crude drawing of the earth coloured in with felt tip pen. Edy Hurst is in what looks like a red and white Martian costume. He smiles.

Benny Shakes: The Blue Badge Bunch (FAMILY SHOW)

26 Oct 22

A hilarious rip-roaring game show with humour for all ages, where kids join in the games and learn about disability!

THAT'S RUBBISH!

27 Oct 22

A free live art workshop with Frankie Thompson

Double-Bill: Climate Grief Karaoke +  An Attempt to Lose Time

27 Oct 22

A double-bill of new performances by Katy Dye and Miranda Prag

Line Up

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