This autumn, Liberty Festival 2025 will be bringing a celebration of disabled artistry to Wandsworth from 24-29 September, as one of the highlights of its year as the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture.
A programme of free events for everyone - from seasoned theatregoers to families to total newcomers - will run in venues across the borough, spanning immersive art installations, theatre, dance, cabaret, creative workshops and more. From pioneering new voices to world-renowned talent, this year’s Liberty Festival is produced by one of the country’s most influential and outstanding disabled-led creative organisations, CRIPtic Arts.
The Artistic Director of CRIPtic Arts, Jamie Hale, says, “Liberty Festival is the Mayor of London’s flagship disability arts festival - a bold and unapologetic celebration of the extraordinary talent within the disabled community... it champions boundary-pushing work across performance, visual art, and immersive experiences, showcasing the creativity and diversity of disabled-made work.”
Some of the highlights of the programming are:
● Midgitte Bardot’s Personal Spot – described by Hale as, “a riotous, queer, disabled-led cabaret opening the festival at Clapham Grand, followed by a live music showcase from Sound Minds, featuring soulful blues and hip hop.”
● Capturing the Forest - “a stunning, immersive forest installation by Kristina Veasey and Alejandro Ahmed at Battersea Arts Centre — designed especially for those for whom nature is often out of reach.”
● A groundbreaking club night led by Deaf Rave and Disco Neurotico - “this will transform clubbing into a multi-sensory, deaf and neurodiverse-friendly, accessible party, with DJs, live art, gaming, haptic vests, and no strobe lights.”
● Provocative, entertaining and creative theatre - “including Simeon ‘Kardinal’ Campbell’s hip-hop-infused SADBOI, which explores mental health with embedded BSL, and Jack Wakely’s darkly comic Goblin - unpacking themes of identity and performance.”
● Sunday in the Park - “a joyful family-friendly picnic in Battersea Park, headlined by the incredible singer-songwriter Miss Jacqui.”
Hale added, “It’s been an honour to produce Liberty this year. As a disabled-led organisation, we’ve crafted a programme that is artistically ambitious, accessible, and proudly intersectional. We’ve brought disabled creatives into the heart of Wandsworth and created a cultural moment that centres and celebrates the brilliance of disabled-led art.”
Access is embedded at the heart of the Liberty festival. All events will take a Relaxed approach to movement and noise with audiences able to leave and re-enter, tic and move around if needed. There will also be wheelchair access, accessible toilets and quiet chill-out areas to rest and relax in. BSL, Audio Description, Captioning and other provisions will be available throughout the festival. Please check the website for detailed access information for each event and venue.
‘The Liberty Festival is a wonderful addition to the fantastic programme of events in Wandsworth as the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture,” Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said, “This festival will provide a platform for disabled creatives to showcase their talent, innovative ideas and bold new work.”
The festival itself also represents an important message, according to Hale:
“At a time when disabled rights and lives are under threat, joy is a radical act. Liberty is a powerful riposte to the increasing marginalisation we face, celebrating our community, the excellent art we produce, and showing what a different world could be. A world where access is at the heart, where people aren’t sidelined and excluded, where joy is open to everyone. You’re invited to join us in a space that celebrates disabled people instead of marginalising them.”
