Block Universe, London's international performance art festival, is back for the third year running, from 29 May to 4 June 2017, presenting five newly commissioned and site-specific performances, four UK premieres as well as exclusive talks and workshops.

The week long programme will present work by some of the most exciting UK-based and international artists working in performance art today: Eglė Budvytytė’s disruption of public space; a performative dinner by lşıl Eğrikavuk; Liz Magic Laser’s political therapy workshops at the Showroom; Nicole Bachmann’s new commission examining the relationship between language, voice and power; Rory Pilgrim's performance exploring sci-fi robotic support systems of care; Stina Nyberg's choreography questioning historic Swedish physical ideals accompanied by audio description; whilst Will Rawls will lead a subversive Q&A in a grade-II-listed site; Young In Hong will work with the choreography of protest at the Royal Academy of Arts; Zadie Xa will create an immersive environment at Somerset House and audiences will experience a first-time collaboration between Kim Coleman, Zoë Poluch and Cara Tolmie.

This year’s festival theme will address notions of nationhood, inclusivity and identity politics set against a changing socio-political landscape. Looking at networked communities and the power of collective voices, Block Universe will champion work that questions the status quo in divisive times.

Louise O’Kelly, Founding Director of Block Universe, says:

As Block Universe enters its third edition, it has been a pleasure to see what a vital platform the festival has proven to be in such a short space of time for both artists working in this medium and for audiences to experience exciting, relevant new work. The festival has proven to be a real incubator for emerging talent and we hope to continue to support artists in making ambitious new works and increasing visibility of performance practices from UK- based artists within an international context. We have a truly exciting line-up this year with ambitious new commissions and premieres that are pushing the boundaries of cutting edge performance art today.

For more information visit: www.blockuniverse.co.uk