Grand Soft Day
Explore the excitement of the wind, rain, frost and much more in this curious and charming new show that celebrates the wonder of the world around us.
Splashing in puddles, wind whipping your hair, crunching frost under your feet, and rain dripping on your nose – now that’s a grand soft day. A playful show about always being prepared even though you do not know what the day will bring.
Commissioned by The Ark, Grand Soft Day is a predominantly non-verbal piece that combines physical storytelling, live music and colourful wellies, performed by Greg Hall, Helen Gregg, Jonathan Gunning and Linda Scaramella.
It is an international co-production from the award-winning teams of Branar (Ireland) and New International Encounter (UK/Norway).
Branar is one of Ireland’s leading theatre companies making work for children. Based in the West of Ireland, Branar is renowned for creating highly imaginative and beautiful work. The company tours nationally and internationally, bringing its work with equal enthusiasm to leading arts venues as to local schools in Galway, Ireland.
Branar is committed to reaching its audience, wherever they are. Branar’s aim is to install not just wildness inside audiences but wonder, joy, curiosity and compassion.
Established in 2001, New International Encounter (NIE) is an international theatre company that creates award-winning shows and participation projects with young people through a mix of physical theatre, multiple languages, live music, storytelling and a European ensemble.
The core of the group is made up of 20 artists from Norway, the UK, Poland, Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain, Denmark and France. NIE creates spellbinding theatre, which has been performed in over 25 countries on 4 continents, from New York to Shanghai, and Berlin to Sydney.
Supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Arts Council England, Culture Ireland, Galway City Council and Foras na Gaeilge.
Need to know
Access
This event is a Relaxed Performance (RP).
Relaxed Performances have a relaxed approach to noise and movement in the space, and you are free to enter and exit during the performances. A chill-out space and noise-cancelling headphones are available for both adults and children. There are no adjustments to sound and lighting for these performances.
This show is predominantly non-verbal with some English, Irish and Italian and is suitable for non-English speakers, audiences with English as a second language, or those with developing communication skills.
For your visit
This event is held at the Purcell Room Southbank Centre
The Purcell Room is located in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Purcell Room is an auditorium located within our Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.