Lewisham Loop - Issue 30 ✨

Mid-September is doing quite a lot for four days. There’s useful school admin in Catford, a proper Deptford High Street conversation, West African drums, beginner swing dancing, Bowie, Guillermo del Toro and enough low-key local extras to rescue a quiet evening.

If secondary-school applications are already producing seventeen open tabs and a mild headache, this should help. Meet representatives from Lewisham’s mainstream secondary schools, speak to the admissions team and get advice from SEN, Free School Meals and TfL teams. There are three identical school talks at 4:45pm, 5:45pm and 6:45pm, so you only need to book one.

Reserve a free spot and view details here. Booking is required. There’s no onsite parking, and parents are asked to leave children at home where possible because space is limited.

Foli Douman brings live West African percussion, dance and cultural storytelling to the Fox & Firkin, drawing on traditions from Guinea, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Mali. The ensemble is led by master percussionist Seydou, with a night built around rhythm, movement and the continuing life of African diasporic arts.

Tickets can be booked from the Fox & Firkin’s website here - priced at £12 - £15.

_{Note: This event is 18+}

Never Lindy Hopped before? Perfect. Jazzbourne’s weekly beginner session starts completely from scratch, with champion swing dancer Sharon Davis teaching the basics before the room turns into a social dance floor. No partner is needed, partners rotate during class and walk-ins are welcome.

Tickets can be booked from Eventbrite here - £16.96, or £11.55 concession for full-time students and Equity members.

_{Note: This event is 18+. No experience or partner needed.}

Pregnant women and new mums can join this free weekly Hilly Fields walk for some gentle exercise and local company. Babies and young children are welcome, the route works for buggies and slings, and there’s tea or coffee afterwards. It goes ahead rain or shine, because South London weather was never going to be given veto power.

More details can be found here - the event is free and no booking is required.

Goldsmiths’ postgraduate Musical Theatre performers take on Seussical, bringing together Horton the Elephant and a whole tangle of familiar Dr Seuss characters in a story about imagination, friendship and sticking up for what you believe. Playful, odd and very much at home in New Cross.

Book/check details here. Tickets are £9 general admission or £6 concession.

_{Note: Step-free access is available, but there’s no accessible entrance once the performance has started, so allow a little extra arrival time if you need it.}

Absolute Bowie have been touring their Bowie tribute show for 19 years, and they’re bringing the costumes, songs and full-stage homage to the Fox & Firkin. A solid choice if your preferred Thursday soundtrack involves rather more Life on Mars? than laptop notifications.

Tickets are available on the Fox & FIrkin’s website here, for £20-£25.

Sydenham Arts is marking 20 years of Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth with a seated screening upstairs at The Sydenham Centre. The Spanish-language (with English subtitles) fantasy follows young Ofelia into a strange mythical world against the brutal backdrop of Francoist Spain. Beautiful, dark and definitely not the sort of labyrinth you’d want the kids wandering into.

An overview of the film, as well as tickets can be found here - priced at £6.50

_{Note: Certificate 15 years old. Running time: 1 hour 58 minutes.}

🧸 Family Day - Tuesday 15 September, 10:30am-2:30pm. A free drop-in at Downham Health and Leisure Centre with multisensory storytelling, baby book-making, face painting, outdoor play and soft play. A good one if the small people need occupying properly.

✂️ Pattern and Paper | Adult Craft Club - Wednesday 16 September, 7:30pm-9pm. A relaxed adults-only collage evening at The Crown Tavern in Lee, with hand-printed and marbled papers, simple techniques and zero previous artistic brilliance required.

🎬 Deptford Library Cinema Club - Thursday 17 September, 6pm-8pm. A free weekly film screening at Deptford Lounge with no booking required. The current film schedule is advertised inside the library; under-12s need an accompanying adult.

Roller Disco - Thursday 17 September, 6pm-9pm. Deptford Lounge turns the Main Hall into a pay-what-you-decide skating session with disco lights and a playlist. Bring your own skates; under-16s need an adult. Wobbling absolutely counts.

🎤 Something Different - Thursday 17 September, 6pm-9:30pm. Free live music at Home on Deptford High Street from Lilac Underworld, Shaun Shears and Sam Castell-Ward, as part of Heart n Soul’s 40th birthday celebrations. Doors 6pm; show 7pm.

See you next week ~