New arts venue launched on banks of Thames

This summer, audiences will be able to attend a programme of arts events in the garden of the 16th-century Master Shipwright’s House, which in recent years has been a home and inspiration to many artists and musicians.

Artistic director, Joseph Winters and executive director Emma Halstead have delighted announced a line-up of classical music, jazz, contemporary music, theatre, dance, cabaret and visual art taking place across three weekends from 22 July – 7 August.

Introducing the inaugural festival, Joseph Winters said: ‘Here’s the big idea: audiences and performers alike come to the theatre, to gigs, to cabaret, in order to feel at home. It is with enormous excitement that we announce Shipwright’s first summer festival: three weekends of entertainment in the heart of Deptford. We welcome theatrical world premieres, riotous nights of cabaret and some of the most acclaimed live musicians to delight audiences with a truly diverse programme of great nights out, with arts, food and drink all in one unique venue. Our outdoor space is like nowhere else: from their seats audiences can see and hear the Thames lapping against the auditorium’s edge.’

The Master Shipwright’s House and Office is one of the few remaining parts of Deptford’s former Royal Dockyard. Founded by Henry VIII in 1513 the King's Yard became one of the most important shipbuilding yards in the world. Current owners Willi Richards and Chris Majeika have made it a home and creative space for artists, performers, and audiences from around the globe. The festival and new theatre venue continues in the long history of creative arts at the Master Shipwright’s House.

Music at the Shipwright’s House

22 July at 7pm
Tim Mead and Sergio Bucheli
Countertenor Tim Mead and lutenist, Sergio Bucheli present an evening of Dowland and Purcell songs. Curated by The Queille Festival.

Shunaji & Friends
24 July 7, 11:30pm
Shuanji brings jazz-influenced hip-hop with a touch of soulful synthesizer funk. With a live jazz band and DJ all evening.

Maxwell Quartet
29 July, 7-9pm
Maxwell Quartet perform Haydn, Dvorák and folk music. Curated by The Queille Festival.

Quartet for the End of Time
31 July, 12pm and 2pm
Intimate indoor performances of Messiaen’s masterpiece from the Waterperry Festival Quartet, alongside a new film by Joseph Winters.

Lucy Crowe & Friends (The Queille Festival)
31 July, 6pm-11:55pm
Soprano Lucy Crowe leads an all-night-long line-up of performers. Curated by Jonny Byers of the Queille Festival.

All tickets are now on sale from www.theshipwright.co.uk starting from £10 and an ‘Open Door’ initiative in which hundreds of tickets will be offered for free to local residents.