Relaxed Sessions with Alphabet Soup
Come along for an inclusive, adapted version of Saturday Sessions, where A Line Art lead a workshop for families in a relaxed environment.
Our Saturday Sessions are a perfect place to start the weekend, with different performances and creative activities for children and their adults each week – all for free. Watch a new performance, make something with artists and come together to create and play with other little performers, makers and creators.
November’s Saturday Session is led by A Line Art. Experience the enchanting world of words and music with poet and performer Arji Manuelpillai, joined by jazz guitarist Matt Smith, for a workshop and performance celebrating the words of cookery. Expect poetry, rap, freestyles and sing-along classics.
Relaxed Sessions are our adapted version for children and families who would benefit from a sensory adapted space and a smaller group. See all access changes in the access section below.
The day ends with a Ballroom boogie where we encourage everyone to move, dance and shake it out with the people you came with and the friends you’ve made throughout the session.
Every month, we bring together brilliant artists and London’s children to experience top quality work in a playful setting. Saturday Sessions welcomes everyone into the Southbank Centre to make, do and create. Come on down and discover the inner artist in us all.
Need to know
Free tickets are available to book one week before the event.
Relaxed Sessions are part of our Open Doors programme to welcome everyone into our creative spaces.
Relaxed Sessions are the adapted version of Saturday Sessions: if you or your child have SEND or other needs and would benefit from a smaller group and an adapted space, please book a free ticket. See all access changes in the access section.
The performance and workshop is repeated in the afternoon’s Saturday Sessions, without the adaptations of Relaxed Sessions and with no need to book a ticket.
Find out more
Access
This session has a relaxed approach to noise and movement, a reduced capacity, sensory adaptations and a nearby rest space available to use for the duration of the session whenever needed.
Relaxed Sessions and Saturday Sessions take a relaxed approach to noise or movement coming from the audience. They give everyone permission to relax and respond naturally and people are free to come and go as they please.
The following changes are in place for Relaxed Sessions:
- Smaller group: these sessions have a reduced number of spaces, and only people with tickets can attend
- Fixed lighting state, with no sudden changes
- Moderate sound levels and no extreme or sudden changes in noise
- Curtains partly drawn to reduce distractions and noise
- Chairs, benches, bean bags and floor space to get comfortable on
- A team member present who specialises in play for children with SEND
- A rest space available nearby available from 10.30am – 3.30pm
- Noise-cancelling headphones on request
- A slow start to the session: we aim to start at 10:45 to allow everyone 15 mins to arrive and get settled
- A slow finish to the session: you may relax in the space for 15 minutes after the workshop ends
For your visit
This event is held at the The Clore Ballroom Southbank Centre
The Clore Ballroom is open six days a week.
Tuesday, 10am – 6pm*
Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
*If we’re hosting a performance, the building will stay open until the event ends.
Plan your visit
The Clore Ballroom is located inside our Royal Festival Hall on Level 2.
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.
There is step-free access to The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, via a ramp.
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
Next to The Clore Ballroom is our Ballroom Cafe where you can grab a coffee and a piece of freshly made cake. Also on Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace.
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.