The Old Vic Bicentenary (200th Birthday Second Line)

London’s Ruckus was seen parading around waterloo yesterday, as part of The Old Vic’s 200th birthday celebrations! To kick off Saturdays celebrations, we located ourselves outside the National Theatre on the Southbank. Here we started to play to an already growing crowd, a mixture of those there for the celebrations, and those just interested by the hustle and bustle. 

Starting the day off with Joe Avery's Blues, we started bringing the Ruckus to the Southbank! Between songs we had a compere teaching the crowd the history of the Old Vic, and after a brief interlude we were off!

Oh When the Saints go Marching in was the tune to draw the crowds, alongside the National Theatre and through the tunnels around waterloo station roundabout. After a brief drum break to allow the stragglers to catch up, we pressed on through the tunnels and out outside St John’s church. By this time we were a large spectacle. It's not often Londons streets get filled with a Mardi Gras type atmosphere. 

Waiting outside of St John’s church were the breakdancers, ready to perform their dance along with us playing a James brown type number. After this we make our way into the gardens of St John’s churchyard and to surprise the audience theres a bit of Shakespeare in the park, well, churchyard. 

After a brief and entertaining love story we are on the home straight. Down by the Riverside takes us all the way to the Old Vic, and as a parade of London's Vibrant art and culture would seem as if its drawn to a close, from the balcony of the Old Vic, bellows the music of Puccini through the lungs of the greatly talented Sarah Minns! 

Including the weather, it was a very British affair!  

Watch the video here