Preview: Greenwich & Docklands International Festival

Four free amazing festive days begin on Thursday as the Greenwich & Docklands International Festival looks to the element that shapes it - the water. The outdoor arts programme has thrilled us in past years but been difficult to get a grip on due to its shaggy beast nature. This year it's all pulled together around an oh so appropriate theme and looks like a much more manageable creature. Get a load of this:

Handel's Water Music will be performed in an al fresco son et lumiere performance at the National Maritime Museum, Thursday-Saturday at 10pm

Millwall Outer Dock will be the scene of a magical watery journey Fous de Bassin along the river with - wait for it - underwater stagecraft AND pyrotechnics on Thursday and Friday night at 10pm

Street theatre cascades through Woolwich town centre on Saturday night from 9.30pm as melting ice caps and the apocalyptica of climate change flood the senses. Performance pops up where you least expect it in Greenwich Waves over all four days.

Saturday 27th is Dancing City day, transforming uptight Canary Wharf with lithe dancing boys, a block party with actual blocks, Gallic tango and lively street dance about being a Londoner. Take note, here's also an opportunity to get some Punchdrunk magic before they whisk their wondrous worldmaking to Manchester: The House that Jack Built will immerse you in Canada Square Park at 1, 2.30 and 4.30pm.

And it's ALL FREE. All of it. Enjoy.

GDIF takes place between 25-28 June. Dancing City is on Saturday 27 June, all over Canary Wharf.