SATURDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER
11AM - 7PM
Centre Stage was a free new multi-arts festival that reclaimed George Street and Whittaker Square as a platform for creativity, community and contemporary culture.
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For one day only, the streets became a stage, canvas and playground, as Richmond town centre came alive with music, theatre, food, art and joyful public participation.
Highlights
What Was On
Music & DJs
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Live music, spoken word, and DJ sets celebrated Richmond’s rich — and often untold — musical legacy, inspired by Gilles Peterson’s legendary Belvedere Arms parties. The day featured genre-spanning sets from Femi Koleoso (Ezra Collective), who brought jazz, Afrobeat, UK Garage and more to Whittaker Avenue; Joe Davis (Far Out Recordings), who channelled samba, soul and disco from the iconic Jazz Juice era; and a grassroots Youth Music Showcase curated by BandIt from Richmond Music Trust and Basement Door, culminating in a homecoming performance from glam-tinged indie band, Gingerella.
Whittaker Square
Theatre & Procession
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Street theatre met storybook magic as Orange Tree Theatre presented a playful, promenade-style adaptation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, reimagined for George Street with pop-up performances across the town centre. The day began with a spectacular opening procession — a high-energy burst of music, dance, and costume from youth collective Kinetika Bloco, with the public invited to join in under the direction of Combination Dance.
George Street
Hands-On Creative Workshops
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Hands-on workshops and playful interventions reimagined George Street — from child-led stage building, puppet making, and banner design, to clay modelling, spoken word, and music-making with instruments built from waste. Artists and collectives invited families and young people to co-create costumes, ceramics, and collaborative installations, transforming Richmond’s town centre into a space for imagination, protest, and community.
George Street
Art & Installation
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Recycled-fabric banners transformed George Street into a patchwork of colour. Below, fantastical giant puppets, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky creatures, joined the parade — brought to life by theatre makers and prop artists. Clayground Collective invited everyone to get hands-on with clay, shaping Richmond’s icons from the river’s bends to the palace walls. And Drift Tricks turned the pavement into a skateable landscape, blending art and play.
George Street
Long Table Dining
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Guests grabbed a bite and pulled up a seat at the communal long table — a shared space for eating, connecting, and celebrating together.
George Street
Curated Design Market
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Shop from a handpicked selection of independent designers and makers across fashion, art, homewares, and lifestyle. As well as charity retailing pioneers,
George Street
Charity Super.Mkt
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Charity Super.Mkt, providing a carefully curated selection of pre-loved garments, where every penny spent contributes towards people and the planet.
George Street
Street Food & Local Produce
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A curated mix of street food, local producers, and artisanal food and drink - from savoury to sweet.
George Street
