Croydon is preparing for an exciting two-day celebration of Asian arts, community, and culture later this month. The Surprised! festival will take over the town centre on Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17, offering a packed programme of performances, workshops, music, dance, and street food.
Festival Highlights
Audiences can look forward to large-scale puppetry, roaming street performances, a bandstand filled with live music, a dedicated dance stage, hands-on craft workshops for all ages, and a lively array of food stalls. The weekend is inspired by Henri Rousseau's iconic tiger painting 'Surprised!', currently on display in The Whitgift Centre, and aims to unite artists and communities in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere.
Street Performances
Croydon's North End and Whitgift Square will come alive with a dynamic mix of roaming acts, including:
- Sonia Sabri Company – The Peacock and The Princess, an outdoor walkabout inspired by Indian and Persian miniature painting.
- Inspirate – Ancient Giants, featuring large-scale puppets retelling the South Asian epic battle between Hanuman the Monkey God and Ravana the Demon King.
- Vietnamese Family Partnership – Traditional Lion Dance with family workshops to try on the costume and learn the dance.
- Bollywood Brass Band – A pioneering brass band roaming North End with high-energy Bollywood hits.
Music Programme
Curated by Shri Sriram and Drum the Bass, the music programme spans traditions and contemporary sounds at the North End Bandstand, featuring:
- The Sound of China
- Hengām Ensemble performing Iranian classical music
- Djanan Turan Quartet
- DJ Bobby Friction (TV and BBC Radio presenter) with a set celebrating British Asian and South Asian music across the decades.
Dance Stage
Curated by Anusha Subramanyam and Beeja Dance Company, the Whitgift Square Stage showcases traditions from across Asia, including:
- Chinese Fan Dance (UK China Performing Arts)
- Chhau Tiger Dance (Rhythmotion)
- Moroccan and Turkish dance
- Flamenco–Bharatanatyam fusion (Fin de Fiesta) blending Spanish and South Indian styles
- Balinese and Sri Lankan masked dance.
Workshops
All workshops are free and last two hours, offering hands-on activities for all ages at North Square:
- Origami
- Chinese knotting
- Mask making
- Anatolian tile painting
- Henna hand painting
- Vietnamese lion dance workshop
- Balinese dance workshop (Lila Bawa).
For further information and the full programme of events, visit Surprised! Read all the latest news from in and around Croydon.
