Croydon’s to have its very own Fun Palace this weekend.
The Fun Palace idea was conceived more than 50 years ago by the great theatre director Joan Littlewood – Fings Ain’t What They Used To Be, and Oh What A Lovely War! – and the architect Cedric Price. They imagined the Fun Palace as a “laboratory of fun”, “a university of the streets” – a place where everyone could be encouraged to be creative in both the arts and sciences.
A national movement has been launched to mark the centenary of Joan Littlewood’s birth in October 2014, with the aim of fostering local, independent Fun Palaces.
The Fun Palace in Croydon is one of many popping up over the weekend of October 4-5, with no admission charge, bringing arts and science together, built on community participation. “They intend to transform spaces, they transform the makers, and they transform the participants,” the organisers say.
The Croydon Fun Palace will be on level 2 of the Whitgift Centre, next to Aquazoo and close to Waterstones, from 11am to 5pm on both days. “It has been built by the community, for the community, and everyone is welcome.”
The organisers say: “A bustling hub in the Whitgift Centre will host a whole range of activities, and be the starting point for an interactive explorer trail that offers lots more to see and do.
“Beyond the Hub there will be an explorer trail around the local area as well as a programme of performances in the Whitgift Centre. Experience the Croydon Fun Palace buzz all weekend by joining in with a pedal-powered disco, Azonto dancing, singing workshops, apple pressing, and unusual musical instruments made from fruit.”
- To find out more about the national movement, check out their page
- For more details about the Croydon Fun Palace, including the full programme of activities, visit their website
Coming to Croydon
- David Lean Cinema: Bright Days Ahead, Oct 2
- Tree Sides, Spread Eagle Theatre, Oct 2-4
- East Croydon community meeting, Oct 7
- The Goon Show, Spread Eagle Theatre, Oct 8-11
- David Lean Cinema: Boyhood, Oct 9
- David Lean Cinema: Grand Central, Oct 14
- Norwood Society Talk: From Fire Station to Theatre, Oct 16
- David Lean Cinema: Finding Vivian Maier, Oct 16
- Cinema Ruskin film show, Oct 18
- South Croydon business breakfast, Oct 18
- Croydon 10km road race, Oct 19
- David Lean Cinema: Mood Indigo, Oct 23
- This Was The World and I Was King, Spread Eagle, Oct 23-25
- Upper Norwood Library Book Club, 2.30pm, Oct 25
- David Lean Cinema: Ilo Ilo, Oct 28
- CODA’s Wind In The Willows, Charles Cryer, Carshalton, Oct 29-Nov 1
- David Lean Cinema: Belle, Oct 30
- Albert Einstein – Relativity Speaking, Spread Eagle, Nov 12-15
- South Croydon business breakfast, Nov 15
- Norwood Society Talk: Lambeth’s Archives, Nov 20
- Choose Your Own Documentary, Spread Eagle Theatre, Nov 21-22
- The Last Sense of Sudden, Spread Eagle Theatre, Nov 27-29
- Ghost Stories for Christmas, Spread Eagle Theatre, Dec 3
- Fog Horn Funnies, Spread Eagle Theatre, Dec 6
- South Croydon business breakfast, Dec 13
- South Croydon business breakfast, Jan 24
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