Sarah Gray latest short story collection, Urban Creatures, is out now. For more information about Sarah visit: https://sarahgrayracontesse.com/       Big Jane (so-called because my younger sister was named after her) was responsible for my first visit to an art gallery. She was our cool auntie; playing David Bowie albums, wearing baggy jumpers […]

  For the third time running, Waterloo Festival, in collaboration with Bridge House Publishing, organised a writing competition over the winter along the theme of Transforming Communities. Writers were invited to interpret freely the theme in a 1000-word story. We announced the winners a few weeks ago.       As part of the celebrations, […]

  In an alternate universe, in this year’s Waterloo Festival ERSO would have been proudly presenting a concerto performed by the winner of the 2020 ERSO Soloist of the Year. Sadly that can’t happen, but we wanted you to meet our finalists.               ALASTAIR PENMAN, saxophone   What is […]

  Location: St John’s Churchyard   St John’s Waterloo   Waterloo Road   London SE1 8TY       Exhibition open: Wed 9 June – Sun 27 June       Times: Daily 10am-8pm           Coming Up for Air, Susan Haire PLG       The London Group is delighted to […]

  Waterloo Festival thrives on creative partnerships and bringing professionals from the world of art and music together, showcasing their wonderful work to our communities in Waterloo, Lambeth and – thanks to the marvels of the internet – elsewhere. In this series, we meet some of our creative partners for 2020.       Today […]

  This podcast episode, released for #WorldRefugeeDay 2020. features a conversation between Euchar Gravina, Artistic Director of Waterloo Festival and John Speyer, Director of Music in Detention.           Over the course of the episode, they chat about the creative work carried out in detention centres with refugees, the questions and challenges […]

  For Waterloo Festival 2020 – this year presented online – we worked alongside Hart Club to design our website and commission original artwork by David Bassadone which features throughout.               Exterior of St John’s Waterloo by David Bassadone       Hart Club is a non-profit organisation based […]

  For the third time running, Waterloo Festival, in collaboration with Bridge House Publishing, organised a writing competition over the winter along the theme of Transforming Communities. Writers were invited to interpret freely the theme in a 1000-word story. We announced the winners a few weeks ago.       In early May 2020, we […]

  For the third time running, Waterloo Festival, in collaboration with Bridge House Publishing, organised a writing competition over the winter along the theme of Transforming Communities. Writers were invited to interpret freely the theme in a 1000-word story. We announced the winners a few weeks ago.       As part of the celebrations, […]

  With Coin Street Community Builders‘ Over 50s Art Group, we were planning a very ambitious art-installation in the Churchyard of St John’s. The severity of this pandemic encouraged us to change our approach. Through this series, we present the artists involved and their work. Next is Lily Bakratsa, who was previously one of the […]

  by Shanon Shah       The second and final part of our interview with Sara Kwagala delves into her experiences as youth leader of Okusinza mu Luganda (Worship in Luganda).         A fun night out in Peckham after a youth forum (Photo:Sara Kwagala)   Shanon: Could you please tell me […]

  Throughout Waterloo Festival 2020, we’ve been platforming artists who either live in or are connected to Waterloo. The penultimate artist of this series, street-photographer and musician Paul Steptoe Riley.         Portrait   Flux Soup are delighted to feature Paul’s work as part of the Waterloo Festival. Whilst asking our neighbours for […]

  In June and July 2021, work created by members of the Coin Street Over 50s Art Group was displayed at St John’s. The pieces responded to Waterloo Festival’s theme of ‘Respair’.       In sessions facilitated by students from the University of Westminster the artists discussed their experiences of the Pandemic and hopes […]

  PROGRAMME           The Adoration, Hans Feibusch (St John’s Waterloo)       10:00 Welcome by Euchar Gravina, Artistic Director of the Waterloo Festival       Session I       10:10 pre-recorded address by Edmund de Waal   10:20 Emma Rose Barber: On Hans Feibusch, setting his work for […]