London Living Loves: London Wonderground
It’s festival season in London town and the city is alive and buzzing with fun activities. This week the team at London Living were lucky enough to get down to the opening day of Wonderground at Earls Court and what a treat it was!
With 20 years of side-splitting, thought provoking, spine-tingling, captivating, belly-laughing, ‘did that just happen?’, city-defining, entertainment, London Wonderground is without a doubt the summer playground with everything on offer.
The event offers shows for all the family, late night comedy, circus, a city beach, and vintage rides plus live acoustic music and some of London’s finest street food and outdoor bars. This year Underbelly has collaborated with Wonderground and as you walk into the former Earls Court 2 Exhibition Centre site, beneath the colourful flags that adorn the street, you simply cannot miss their magnificent inflatable purple cow.
Amongst the variety of eclectic and entertaining shows that Underbelly offers you will find 360 AllStars; a show full of crazy stunts and tricks from a team of world-renowned break-dancers, BMX freestylers and beatboxers. The Choir of Man, which boasts the ultimate pub sing along from the finest male vocalists, London Comedy All-stars which is an award-winning stand-up from a different selection of hilarious comedians, and Austentatious, an improvisation of a new Jane Austen novel every night based off audience suggestions.
We were in the audience at 360 AllStars and can confirm that the talent is mind-blowing. This show ticks all boxes. It’s fabulous family entertainment, high energy, engaging with a lot of audience interaction. We had moments of peeking through our fingers on the edge of our seats, moments of being off our seats clapping, chanting, and egging on the entertainers and a lot of jaw-dropping moments as we watched the team perform seemingly impossible stunts.
A particular highlight for us was the white sand ‘city beach’. To recline with a Pimm’s and lemonade, in the sunshine, on a deckchair, feeling the sand running through our toes, was heaven. After our trip to the beach, we snacked on hot dogs and nachos from one of the many food stalls and then chucked ourselves down the vintage helter-skelter. In hindsight, perhaps we should have waited to eat before zooming down a spiralling slide on a mat, but we will remember this when we go back – and go back we, most definitely, will.
London Wonderground is free to enter and will run from 15th July to 26th September.
Here’s what you can catch at Wonderground this year:
THE BEST OF THE FEST
A 75-minute showcase of the very best short films that have been screened at The Earl's Court Film Festival (2015-2020). Something for everyone (Age 16+ advisable). The show features films that have been shot locally in Earl's Court, one of the most historically significant film locations in London. You will also be able to enjoy the work of UK and international submissions from some of the most exciting emerging filmmakers. The filmmakers we have worked with over the years have celebrated global success, and we look forward to presenting their work to you as part of THE BEST OF THE FEST event.
Ticket Price: From £13.50
What: The Best of the Fest
When: 26th July 2021
Where: Empress Place, Earls Court, London SW6 1TT
Book here: http://www.londonwonderground.co.uk/whats-on/earls-court-film-festival-the-best-of-the-fest
Dinosaur World Live
Dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live in this roarsome interactive show for all the family. Grab your compass and join our intrepid explorer to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child's favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus!Don’t miss this entertaining and mind-expanding Jurassic adventure, direct from the West End. Book now before tickets become extinct!
Age guidance 3+
When: 3rd – 31st August 2021
Where: Empress Place, Earls Court, London SW6 1TT
Tickets: http://www.londonwonderground.co.uk/whats-on/dinosaur-world-live
Ticket Price: From £16.00
Austentatious
It is a truth scarcely acknowledged that Jane Austen wrote hundreds of novels that have previously stayed hidden for centuries … until now. Fringe favourites, Austentatious are dedicated to bringing her lost novels to life using nothing but their skill, wit and a title suggested by the audience.Featuring a cast of the most acclaimed and quickest improvisers (as seen on The Mash Report, QI, Mock the Week, Peep Show), expect a regency tale like no other where no two shows are ever the same! With previous masterpieces including Austen Powers: License to Quill, Dirty Darcying, Jane of Thrones and Tinderella, whether you’re insane for Jane or don’t know your Bingleys from your Darcys, this hilarious spectacle is not to be missed!
When: 18th July – 29th August 2021
Where: Empress Place, Earls Court, London SW6 1TT
Tickets: http://www.londonwonderground.co.uk/whats-on/austentatious
Ticket Price: From £20.00
The Choir of Man
When: 15th July – 5th September 2021
Where: Empress Place, Earls Court, London SW6 1TT
Tickets: http://www.londonwonderground.co.uk/whats-on/choir-of-man
Ticket Price: From £15.00
The runaway international hit comes to London! Known across the globe as “the ultimate-feel good show,” THE CHOIR OF MAN offers up one hour of indisputable joy! It’s a party. It’s a concert. It’s a pint-filled good time set in a working pub (free beer anyone?!?) that combines hair-raising harmonies, high-energy dance, and live Percussion with foot-stomping choreography. The multi-talented cast of nine handsome blokes sing everything – pub tunes, folk, Broadway, classic rock – all to roof-raising heights. It’s the best singing, dancing, stomping, pub crawl of a concert you’ll ever attend!
360 ALLSTARS
When: 17th July – 15th August 2021
Where: Empress Place, Earls Court, London SW6 1TT
Tickets: http://www.londonwonderground.co.uk/whats-on/360-allstars#calendar-07-2021
Ticket Price: From £12.00
A phenomenal physical performance exploring all forms of rotation, 360 ALLSTARS connects the street with the elite to deliver a supercharged urban circus. Boasting a stellar international cast, including the two-time World Champion BMX Flatlander, two champion break-dancers, an internationally acclaimed basketball freestyler, and a World Record holding roue cyr artist, 360 ALLSTARS is a spectacular fusion of the extraordinary artistry that emerges from street culture. Add to this a stunning live soundtrack delivered by 3x UK champion beatboxer, BallZee, and award-winning master percussionist, Mikey Sorbello, coupled with spectacular video projections, 360 ALLSTARS is as aurally exciting as it is visually astounding. A magnificent, colourful & astonishing expression of a generation that has reinvented the circus, 360 ALLSTARS is a revolutionary production that'll leave you dizzy with excitement!
The Mighty Kids Beatbox Comedy Show
When: 4th September 2021
Where: Empress Place, Earls Court, London SW6 1TT
Tickets: http://www.londonwonderground.co.uk/whats-on/the-mighty-kids-beatbox-comedy-show
Ticket Price: From £12.50
Calling kids aged 5 to 100, join our MIGHTY gang! A sensational interactive show, where the worlds of comedy and beatboxing collide with electrifying results. Pick-up beatboxing tips to impress your friends, make mind-blowing music, and laugh through your pantaloons! Direct from a sell-out run at the Edinburgh festival; fantastic family fun and silliness galore, with award-winning comedian Jarred Christmas (as seen on CBBC’s Joke Machine and The Dog Ate My Homework) and world champion beatboxer & UK Loopstation Champion, Hobbit.
Have you been to Wonderground yet? Tell us about it in the comments below!