London Mime Festival

Dominic Cavendish
Saturday 09 January 1999 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

For many people, modern mime isn't an artform, it's a con trick, perpetrated by weirdos who daub themselves in silver paint and hang out in Covent Garden, confident that an act of self-paralysis will pull on tourists' heart- and purse-strings. Every year, the London International Mime Festival endeavours to persuade people otherwise and the 25th, starting today, is as eloquent a statement as any that "mime" is just shorthand for "brilliantly inventive theatre". Highlights this week include a silent Woyzeck from France (Purcell Rm), two sublime adult puppet shows at the ICA - a German tribute to the Dadaist Max Jacob and the haunting Tunnel Vision from the UK's Faulty Optic - as well as the award-winning Once (right), a macabre fairytale from the possibly insane Russian clown troupe Derevo (Queen Elizabeth Hall). Give them all a big hand.

Festival runs today to 24 Jan at venues across London (info: 0171-637 5661)

Dominic Cavendish

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in