Ensemble Festival 2026

Ensemble Festival returns this summer, transforming Royal Victoria into a vibrant outdoor stage for contemporary performance. Over two days, this free festival brings together bold, joyful and thought-provoking circus, dance and theatre.

Join us for a weekend of free performances for all ages, featuring some of the UK's most exciting contemporary artists.

See here for the Ensemble Festival programme

Highlights from the festival include:

Fragments of Us by Talawa Theatre in collaboration with FUBUNATION and Sonia Hughes – a dance and spoken word performance exploring ancestry, belonging and shared experiences.
🕐 13:45 & 18:15

Garbh by Shyam Dattani and Mira Salat – a contemporary reimagining of the Gujarati folk dance Garba, featuring visually rich choreography and design.
🕐 14:45 & 18:30

ElevateHer by Daughters of the Wire – an all-female wire walking performance celebrating female camaraderie and empowerment.
🕐 12:45 & 16:45

The Torch by Nigel “Kobby” Taylor – a vibrant gig-theatre experience blending Afrobeat, hip-hop, rap and storytelling to explore identity, legacy and self-discovery.
🕐 15:45 & 19:15

Stick and Stone by Ferdinando + Bernstein – a physical comedy performance using striking visual imagery to bring audiences together and reconnect with nature.
🕐 13:45 & 17:30

Balance by Brainfools – a circus-theatre show combining found objects and acrobatics to reflect on pub culture.
🕐 13:15 & 17:45 (Sunday only)

Captain C-Man by Cormac Mohally – a dazzling juggling and circus spectacle for audiences of all ages.
🕐 13:15 & 17:45 (Saturday only)

Certain Blacks are also thrilled to showcase performances by some of the most exciting artists from Catalonia this year! Including:

Water Silhouettes by Teatro en Movimiento Callejerx, a performance set in a dystopian world and exploring water scarcity through poetic, participatory and sensory storytelling
🕐 12:00 & 15:00

U.F.A by Cris Clown, a public space installation centred around a clown suspended in the middle of the street.
🕐 13:45 & 16:15

Domte by Nacho Flores, a poetic street circus duet inspired by mythology and transformation.
🕐 12:00 & 16:45

Please note timings are subject to change.

See full info & updated information on Certain Blacks website