Preview: Vault Festival @ The Old Vic Tunnels, 9-26 February

Franco Milazzo
By Franco Milazzo Last edited 145 months ago
Preview: Vault Festival @ The Old Vic Tunnels, 9-26 February


How good are you at spotting the best of new art? Last year's The Minotaur and Pret A Diner exhibition in the Old Vic Tunnels included work from graffiti artist David Choe. He's the man who recently went from relative anonymity to a great favourite of his relatives: his efforts at the offices of a social networking site may soon net him a cool $200m.

Before you dig out your own spray cans and head down to SE1, you may want to appreciate the latest crazy collage of live music, comedy, theatre, circus and film to be found in what is undoubtably one of the coolest venues in London. The Vault Festival runs over three weeks from 9-26 February and has a dazzling array of productions to get your teeth into. Some tasters of what to expect if you can bag a ticket:

  • The Wonder Club (9-12 February) is a promenade performance where it pays to keep off the grass, on the path and away from the wolves as you take on the mantle of Red Riding Hood around the dark tunnels. Expect circus, comedy, music and a sweet-toothed Granny. As the invite says: "No Cake, No Entry".
  • It's creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky - it's Hammer At The Vault's collection of schlock horror classics presented by the Flicker Club. Roll up for some old school chills care of Dracula, Frankenstein and Sherlock plus more modern fare like Let Me In. Remember the popcorn and the sofa to hide behind.
  • Let your hair down as Eye Saw Theatre (23-26 February) do drama with the emphasis on entertainment and recreation. As Cher famously said, "it's...not fucking Chekhov."
  • Descent (17 and 18 February) is neophile nirvana with its cavalcade of new works from up-and-coming writers, actors and directors including at least 7 different plays over two days.
  • Get your laughing gear around the post-Valentine/anti-Valentine fix that is Brand New Love Story (24 February) as Richard Marsh and Katie Bonna ask "just how long can a one-night stand last?"  Quite a while, we reckon.
  • Control freaks should get down to Broken Loops (23-26 February), an interactive tale where the audience can triggering a series of audio-visual sensors to influence key plot details and decide which of the three endings the story finishes on. Anyone else remember Choose Your Own Adventure?

More information at the official Vault Festival website.

Last Updated 08 February 2012