Celebrating Waltham Forest’s unique relationship to Epping Forest, these once-in-a-lifetime events will take place in and around Epping Forest; opening up the urban woodland and bringing the forest into unexpected spaces.
4 May – 10am
Direct! Action!: Protest And The Forest
A day of workshops linking the historical environmental activism that led to the saving of Epping Forest with the protests against the M11 link road in the 1990s, up to the contemporary activism movements of today led by writer and filmmaker Ed Webb-Ingall. Early sign up required. Participants will create a new piece of video that will be shown at Art Night.
Where? Leytonstone Library
Tickets? FREE
wfculture19.co.uk/events/risingup
17 May – 8pm
Lone Women In The Woods
A women-only walk traversing Epping Forest from twilight to nightfall. Artist and poet Clare Archibald (Lone Women In Flashes of Wilderness) is joined by writers/artists/walkers Louisa Thomsen Brits, Carole Wright and Alison O’Connor (Epping Forest expert). Participants will experience the forest’s history, artist’s reflections, and the unique ecology of Epping at night.
Where? The View and Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge
18 May – 3.30pm
Flying Solo: Triple Bill
Soloists Tyrone Isaac-Stuart, hip-hop artist, contemporary dancer, lyricist and saxophonist, Hayley Matthews contemporary dancer and vocalist and Nii-Tete Yartey Contemporary and Traditional African dancer, take you on a journey into the forest.
Where? The View
Tickets? £10 (£8 concessions)
wfculture19.co.uk/events/flyingsolo
20-21 June – from 12pm
The Dark Outside
The Dark Outside is a temporary radio station broadcasting from Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge out over the Epping Forest treetops for 24 hours over the 2019 Summer Solstice. Members of the public are invited to submit sounds, be that musical or verbal, for broadcast – so long as they’ve never been heard before.
Where? The View
Tickets? FREE
wfculture19.co.uk/events/darkoutside
3 August – doors 8pm
Out In The Forest
The forests have always been places where convention and order have been subverted, where the self might be reinvented and people can explore sexual identity under the cover of the leaves. We’re having a party at Magic Spells with nasty and gorgeous performances, DJs and space to dance hard and soft. Weeds crack concrete, the moon pulls you. Come out!
Where? Magic Spells Brewery
Tickets? Early bird £5, 2nd release £12, final release £20
wfculture19.co.uk/events/outintheforest
13 September – 8pm
Gazelle Twin Presents: Pastoral
A performance of Gazelle Twin’s Pastoral album, which explores preconceptions of the bucolic English countryside. Support comes from Waltham Forest native, experimental electronic musician Helm.
Where? Mirth, Marvel and Maud
Tickets? £12 (£8 concessions)
wfculture19.co.uk/events/gazelletwin
4 October – 7.30pm
Matana Roberts: Forest And Fantasy
Matana Roberts, known for her exploration of African American history through her COIN COIN series of albums, delves into the landscape of Epping Forest via the prism of the work of Ursula K Le Guin, who was born 90 years ago, in a special commission for The Peoples’ Forest.
Where? St Mary’s Music Hall
Tickets? £12 (£8 concessions)
wfculture19.co.uk/events/matanaroberts
31 October – 2 November
(Halloween evening event, finishing 7pm 2nd November)
Becoming The Forest
Artist Una Hamilton-Helles creates a soundscape of the forest, reflecting on sentient plants, trees, ecology from root to the canopy, and voices from the woodland. Echoing the sonics of black metal, this is a deep dive into the forest on Halloween weekend.
Where? Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge
Tickets? FREE
wfculture19.co.uk/events/becomingtheforest
11 November – 3 January
Echoes: Unearthing Stories Of The Forest
Epping Forest’s Artist-in-Residence, composer/violinist Ellie Wilson will also create a new installation of musical works inspired by human impact on the forest through the centuries, which will be available to experience as a public installation at The View from 11 November.
Where? The View
Tickets? FREE
wfculture19.co.uk/events/echoes
13 November – 8pm
The Imagined Forest
An evening of conversation and music exploring how the woodland impacts our human imagination, featuring writers Sara Maitland, Will Ashon and Amy Cutler, and musician Alison Cotton. Hosted by Luke Turner.
Where? Walthamstow Trades Hall
Tickets? £7 (£4 concessions)
wfculture19.co.uk/events/imaginedforests
3 December
Will Burns + Willowherb Review
Faber New Poet and Caught by the River poet-in-residence Will Burns will read from his series of new works inspired by Epping Forest alongside the selected Willowherb residencies in a poetry event to wrap up the seasons and relationships with Epping Forest.
Where? Leytonstone Library
Tickets? £5 (£2 concessions)
wfculture19.co.uk/events/willburnswillowherbreview