We can’t wait for NHS staff, patient and visitors to experience these uplifting performances from talented artists from around the world, to take a Breathing Space to pause, relax and recharge.
We are delighted to announce our exciting line up, coming up over the next few months.
Download the April – May timetable here.
Wed 15 March 1pm-2pm – Gassiot House Waiting Area
Give Me Your Hand
Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with Give Me Your Hand, a group of outstanding, London-based musicians, who come together to perform and revel in Celtic music. The group is led by renowned Irish Fiddler and 3-times All Ireland Champion, Dermot Crehan, and joined by Breathe Resident Musician Jean Kelly on harp, Kevin Boyle on guitar and vocals, and Brendan McAuley on uilleann pipes and whistles.
Wed 22 March 1pm-2pm – Guy’s Tower Wing
Creative Pop-up Encounters
World-class, Magic Circle magician, Harry De Cruz and renowned poet and performer, Arji Manuelpillai, will sprinkle a little magic in Tower Wing this lunchtime, having short, 1-2-1 encounters with staff, patients and visitors. Prepare to enjoy a seriously memorable lunch break!
Wed 22 March 1pm-2pm – Central Hall, St Thomas’ Hospital
Lyrix Organix Presents Simeon Hammond Dallas and Sambambo
Lyrix Organix are acclaimed and defiantly independent curators of rap, poetry and music – championing emerging talent, including Kae Tempest, Mike Skinner and Ed Sheehan. Hosts of a major late night stage at Glastonbury Festival – the infamous ‘Rum Shack’ – they are also specialists in boundary-pushing youth education programmes from Roundhouse to British Council, and around the world from Mexico to Ethiopia.
Two powerhouse, up-and-coming female performers from London. Simeon is an acoustic singer-songwriter with jaw-dropping vocals, who fuses Country, Blues and Soul music to create her own blend of Americana. Sambambo is a sax player and emerging singer-songwriter, composer and producer who is heavily inspired by the sounds of jazz and Black American Music. Her lyrics are honest and vulnerable, and in her songs she tells her own and others’ stories of homelessness, grief, heartbreak and bipolar disorder.
Wed 29 March 1pm-2pm – Central Hall, St Thomas’ Hospital
Shirt Tail Stompers
London’s top vintage band, Shirt Tail Stompers are firmly established at home and internationally playing Harlem Swing and the Hot Jazz of the 1920s, 30s and 40s. Featuring music from composers such as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Count Basie, they are always crowd pleasers in Central Hall!
Wed 5 April 1pm-2pm – Atrium 1, Guy’s Hospital
Amplified Arts Academy
Be blown away by a new generation of talent! Amplified Arts is a London-based performing arts Academy for young people aged 4 to 21 designed to empower, inspire and equip young people to reach their full potential, whatever their social and economic barriers. This performance has been put together especially for today, and features students past and present.
Wed 12 April 1pm-2pm – Atrium 1, Guy’s Hospital
Zoo Nation Youth Company
ZooNation Youth Company was founded in 2006 and is comprised of some of the best young performers in the UK with dancers from all over London, Birmingham, Southampton, Dorset and Brighton. As well as performing as part of the cast of West End show Into the Hoods, they have appeared in the Channel 4/BAFTA short film The Holloway Launderette, Move Like Michael Jackson, and Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday Celebrations.
Wed 19 April 1pm-2pm – Atrium 1, Guy’s Hospital
Keziah Thomas – Harp Performance + Workshop
Breathe Resident Musician, Keziah Thomas, started harp lessons at the age of ten and made her solo debut at the Royal Albert Hall whilst still at school. She completed her studies at the Royal College of Music and has gone on to achieve a busy performing career around the world. Listen to her perform, and then join her for a half hour group workshop. By the end of 30 minutes, you will be able to play a recognisable tune on a lap harp!
Wed 26 April 1pm-2pm – Atrium 1, Guy’s Hospital
Deelee Dubé Quartet
London-born, multi-award-winning vocal artist Deelee Dubé made history as the first British Sassy Awards recipient, winning the prestigious Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2016, with her ‘warm tone, genuine blues feeling and easy rhythmic authority’ (Jazz Times). Embodying a stellar African musical lineage, the eclectic tastes of a London upbringing, and a deep love and respect for the jazz tradition.
Wed 3 May 1pm-2pm – Central Hall, St Thomas’ Hospital
Chris Fonseca and Harry Jardine
Performed using BSL, rap, spoken word and movement, this gig-theatre show explores the real-life experiences of acclaimed dancer and choreographer Chris Fonseca, who lost his hearing in infancy, and reveals how people have different experiences of sound and music. In celebration of Deaf Awareness Week.
Wed 10 May 1pm-2pm – Central Hall, St Thomas’ Hospital
Lyrix Organix Presents ABH Beatbox and Natalie Lindi
Lyrix Organix are acclaimed and defiantly independent curators of rap, poetry and music – championing emerging talent, including Kae Tempest, Mike Skinner and Ed Sheehan. Hosts of a major late night stage at Glastonbury Festival – the infamous ‘Rum Shack’ – they are also specialists in boundary-pushing youth education programmes from Roundhouse to British Council, and around the world from Mexico to Ethiopia.
UK Beatbox Champion, ABH Beatbox, makes audiences redefine their pre-conceptions of what “Beatbox” is, to include other aspects such as live productions and real, organic, danceable music. As part of the Vocal Beats project, ABH also teaches young patients with lung difficulties different breathing techniques, and is an experienced facilitator with a huge variety of different groups and communities.
Natalie Lindi is a Singer-Songwriter born and raised in London. Borrowing sounds from her South African heritage, Lindi’s raw heartfelt style can be summed up as Acoustic Soul. In 2019 Natalie was crowned winner of nationwide competition – Open Mic UK – where she performed on the O2 indigo stage during the finals. She is now 1 of 10 artists in the MOBO UnSung Class of 2022 and is receiving support from the MOBO’s organisation throughout 2022.
Wed 17 May 1pm-2pm – Atrium 1, Guy’s Hospital
De Fuego
Winners of the UK/EU Lukas Latin Awards 2019, De Fuego is a multi award-winning Spanish guitar duo playing energetic instrumental flamenco and rumba music.
De Fuego’s performances include Glastonbury Festival, Shambala, The Big Feastival, Henley Festival and they have headlined several UK festivals across Europe including Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria and Hungary.
Wed 24 May 1pm-2pm – Central Hall, St Thomas’ Hospital
Swoka Kabala
The Legendary Skowa Kabala, Reggae Ambassador, musician, drummer, and vocalist was born into a family of musicians and began to learn music at the age of 6 and became professional at the age of 14. He travelled throughout Europe for more than 21 years and played in several countries, created projects and recorded three albums with Bandoo Roots, Bandoo D’Jah and One Ground. In 2011 he moved to London and continues playing in clubs and festivals.
Wed 31 May 1pm-2pm – Central Hall, St Thomas’ Hospital
Katie Macdonald and David Palmer
British mezzo-soprano Katie Macdonald‘s recent projects include a lunchtime recital with LSO Discovery, workshops with Royal Opera House’s composer in residence, recording a selection of Rutter’s Christmas Carols for Classic FM, and being part of SWAP’ra’s International Women’s Day Showcase.
David Palmer is a London-based composer and pianist specialising in 20th- and 21st-century repertoire. He is in demand as a soloist and collaborative pianist with a particular interest in song.
The Performing Arts Programme at Guy’s and St Thomas’ is delivered by Breathe Arts Health Research and made possible with support from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity.
