Top 5 must-see events in Mayor of London Presents programme for sumer 2012

Friday, July 13, 2012
2:15 PM

Mayor of London Presents will be the biggest outdoor cultural festival the city has ever seen.

Dancers from English National Ballet perform Like a Fish Out of Water as part of the Secrets programme

Working with international artists and cultural organisations, as well as the London 2012 Festival, the Mayor has commissioned an unprecedented variety of free events, entertainment and cultural treats to add to the celebrations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Here are five must-see events.

Sacrilege, July 21 - September 9

Quite literally Stonehenge on tour, Sacrilege, by Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller, is a giant inflatable replica of the ancient monument which people can actually bounce on!

A bouncy castle version of Stonehenge is part of the Sacrilege programme

It is set to travel across London this summer with its first appearance taking place at Central Park in Greenwich. It will welcome Londoners in 14 venues.

Streb, one day in July

For one extraordinary day Elizabeth Streb's daredevil dancers will perform across the London skyline.

But, shhhh, it's a surprise so the exact when and where of the event are not being revealed until nearer the time.

Elizabeth Streb's daredevil dancers will perform across the London skyline

It should be a spectacular show, with 36 acrobatic dancers flying, jumping, swooping and soaring from famous landmarks.

Saurus by Close Act, July 21 - September 9

Saurus will see the biggest beasts that ever walked the Earth return with a roar. And they're hungry.

Family show Saurus is one of the many spectacular performances Londoners can see for free during the Showtime programme.

Close Act perform Saurus as part of the Showtime programme

High-quality outdoor arts and entertainment from the best UK and international artists will perform across the city, with something in every borough.

Like a Fish Out of Water, until July 14

English National Ballet, working with Seven Sisters Group, has created a new performance that brings together dancers, actors, stunning designs and a specially created cinematic soundscape.

Utilising handheld video technology, audiences will be taken on a magical journey around two of London's beautiful lidos - Uxbridge and Hampton. Myths and legends, mermaids and selkies, all are explored in this multi-sensory experience in the Secrets programme.

The Owl and the Pussycat, July 20 - August 2

Also in the Secrets programme, this new Royal Opera House production will feature a water-bound operatic spectacle inspired by the Edward Lear poem.

It features a libretto from ex-Monty Python Terry Jones and a newly commissioned score from critically acclaimed musician and Oscar-winning (The Full Monty) composer Anne Dudley.

Directed by Martin Constantine, this new opera bridges both the water and the banks along London's canals and waterways, with performances at various locations along the route as it makes its way from west to east London.