The Portobello Road Arts Day

Join us on Portobello Road for an afternoon of amazing street theatre creatures, puppet shows, music and dance, feisty historic suffragettes (14 July is Emmeline Pankhurst Day) and interactive art activities.
See our map for location of events.

Events on the day:

Monkey Biz

1pm - 1.25pm, 1.45pm - 2.10pm, 2.40pm - 3.05pm, 3.25pm - 3.50pm.

Colville Square W10

Free

Monkey Biz is a set of marionette trick puppets performing various acts, which include a monkey on a trapeze, a pole balancer, stilt walker, contortionist and others including a baby monkey on a pogo stick. The puppets are based on traditional English trick marionettes. These tricks were introduced to England by the Italians in the 18th century and used extensively by the Victorian marionettists. A live performance of trick marionettes is rarely seen today.

The show is accompanied by live music and is suitable for all members of the family.

Epico the dragon and Aurelious Jones

1pm, 2.15pm and 3.30pm

Powis Square W10

Free

Meet the biggest, brightest and most beautiful dragon ever seen! A child from the audience will be selected by the finger of destiny to step forward for a quest only for the brave. Are you willing to join our gallant Knight Sir Aurelious Jones and take on the task of taming the beast? Come along to Portobello Road and be part of the fun.

Hooligans or freedom fighters?

1pm - 4pm

Promenade event on Portobello Road W10

Free

Would you support the cause? The date is 1913 and Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst, Miss Kitty Marion and Mrs Amelia Rodwell are recruiting supporters for the right for women to vote! But there is conflict between the Suffragists and the more militant Suffragettes who believe that ‘deeds not words’ will achieve their aim at last! Join the ‘rally’ and express your views!

Mechanical Marvels

1pm - 4pm

Promenade event on Portobello Road W10

Free

Come and see the caravan of marvels making its way through the crowds, stopping every now and then to give impromptu demonstrations. Fire, smoke, bubbles, music and movement present an odd event within an even odder spectacle. The caravan of Mechanical Marvels looks as if it’s emerged out of time itself.

Introducing Roma music and dance

1pm - 4pm (Special workshops at 1.30pm and 2.30pm)

Cambridge Gardens W10

Free

Colourful, vibrant, dramatic....there are so many words that can be used to describe the special music and dance of the Roma people. This is your opportunity to find out about the sights and sounds of a culture with a long and rich history.

Throughout the afternoon a wide range of Romany songs and dances will be performed. There will also be two half-hour workshops where you can find out more about this fascinating culture.

Lobster A La Carte

1pm - 4pm

Promenade event on Portobello Road W10

Tickets: £8 (£5 Concessions, £2 World’s End Residents). Book tickets here.

STOP PRESS! The conquest of the crustaceans – giant lobsters take over! As evolutionists predicted, the new masters of the planet have arisen from the seas. Come and witness a huge surreal lobster taking over Portobello Road.

Drawabout

2pm - 3.30pm

Meet Portobello Square

Free event - booking essential (limited to 20 places)

Everyone has a story to tell. Drawabout is a real life walkabout drawing experience where we travel a small distance through a location, stopping and inviting strangers to pose for us and tell us about themselves as we draw them. The emphasis is on creative expression and capturing the story, not on exactly copying what you see.