SMOOSH! by Paraorchestra heads to the South Bank

The internationally acclaimed music ensemble Paraorchestra bring their pioneering SMOOSH! to the Southbank Centre for the first time.

Dozens of Paraorchestra musicians and professional dancers will be joined by local performers for the rip-roaring kaleidoscopic pop music parade. The musicians will play a lively mix of well-known classics from Fatboy Slim, Kate Bush, Massive Attack, Basement Jaxx and Adele on the wind, brass instruments and drums. It’s a joyous performance that breaks down barriers between the audience and players, with the public encouraged to dance and sing along.

There will be two appearances, with the parade leaving the Southbank Centre’s Riverside Terrace at 3 pm and 5 pm.

Composed by multi-instrumentalist Emma-Jean Thackray and directed by award-winning conductor Charles Hazlewood, with choreography by Tom Jackson Greaves with Beth Hinton-Lever, SMOOSH! is Paraorchestra’s biggest commission.

Formed by its Artistic Director, Charles Hazlewood, Paraorchestra has gained a reputation for high-quality musical performances that bring together professional disabled and non-disabled musicians to produce and perform a mix of newly commissioned work and exciting interpretations of classical and popular music. They have collaborated with Hannah Peel, Jarvis Cocker, YolanDa Brown, Lianne La Havas, Will Gregory, Adrian Utley, Brett Anderson, Nadine Shah and Gwenno.

Immediately following the Southbank, SMOOSH! Heads to Glastonbury where it is performing on Sunday