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If you've strolled through Covent Garden, chances are you've stopped to watch one of its iconic street performers in action. It's one of the area's most-loved traditions, and even helped launch stars like Eddie Izzard, Dynamo and Stomp. This May, the area is celebrating an impressive 50 years of street performance in the Piazza, and to mark the massive milestone, the Covent Garden Street Performers Association (CGSPA) is throwing a full day of fun and festivities on Sunday 11 May.
The big 50th anniversary celebration will be packed with epic acts, from world-class acrobats and magicians to long-standing local legends. Highlights include Magic Sam (who once levitated Machine Gun Kelly), high-energy ladder acrobatics and clowning from Unstable Acts, daring Cyr wheel spins, and trampoline-breakdance mashups. Street theatre veterans like sword-swallower Mighty Gareth, chainsaw juggler Yann Elvis, and two Charlie Chaplins will also take the stage. Expect music, magic, comedy, circus stunts, and a huge sing-along with the West End Musical Choir.
While the day's all about celebrating, there's a bit of drama behind the scenes. Covent Garden's performers are sticking to their tried-and-true self-regulated setup, rather than hopping on board with Westminster Council's borough-wide permit scheme. A recent High Court ruling banning some acts in Leicester Square has added to the uncertainty, raising eyebrows about where – and how – street performance fits into London's future.
“Street performance is the heartbeat of Covent Garden,” said Covent Garden Street Performers Association (CGSPA) performer and spokesperson Peter Kolofsky “We're incredibly proud to celebrate this anniversary with the public – and to honour everyone who's kept the spirit of live performance alive for 50 years.”
But for now, Covent Garden's street performers are sticking to what they know best: creating a fun, free, and self-regulated space for everyone to enjoy. The 50th anniversary celebration is a poignant reminder of the significant contributions these artists make to the culture and energy of London, but it also serves as a call to attention to the future of street performance.
“Covent Garden works because we built it,” said CGSPA spokesperson Melvyn Altwarg. “No one had to come in with a policy document – we figured it out on the cobblestones.”
The 50th anniversary is both a celebration and a gentle reminder that Covent Garden's street performers are an essential part of London's culture – and they deserve to be supported for the next 50 years, too