A letter from the Artistic Director Mark Ball

LIFT creates extraordinary cultural events, festivals and experiences for London, and in 2011 the organisation will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Inspired by the internationalism of the city we’re inviting artists from around the world to connect with Londoners and create theatre that lifts us out of the ordinary.  Transforming our understanding of ourselves, our communities and the world around us, LIFT is celebrating its grand 30th with a warm glance back over the past three decades, and an exciting eye on the future with new cultural ideas, new forms of theatre, new voices and new things to say.

LIFT’s 30th birthday year will offer something a little bit special. Like a year-long pass-the-parcel where the tearing off of every layer of paper reveals a mouthwatering surprise, LIFT will begin its year of celebrations in July 2011 with the first of a year-long programme of birthday presents to London - a series of events that represent the best in contemporary culture.

From July 2011 to June 2012, LIFT gives you twelve months of celebratory experiences from around the world; a cornucopia of international work in familiar spaces and odd places; London’s great performing centres and its hidden nooks and crannies. From performances beneath your feet and above your head, to commissions and collaborations that consider the driving issues of the day head on, to talks, seminars, parties and priceless moments of pure indulgence. We will be celebrating across every corner of London with work with and from communities that link London to the world, with special emphasis on work from the Middle East – one of the most exciting and surprising new theatre cultures we’ve found on our travels.

Join me and a guest list of artists and companies from across London and around the globe for LIFT’s 30th birthday celebrations and see the familiar landscape of our great capital in a dazzling new light.

The party, and the countdown to LIFT Festival 2012, starts here.

Mark Ball