what the dog said to the harvest
A groundbreaking call for climate justice, this immersive show fuses opera, dance, spoken word, sound and film, presented by lisa luxx and Jasmin Kent Rodgman.
This isn’t a story about plastic straws or bags for life, this is the tale of how we got to here, this is what the dog said to the harvest.
Tracing 400 years across multiple narratives, we confront the era of human displacement.
Combining the immediacy of live performance and the intimacy of installation, what the dog said to the harvest is an invitation to solidarity; highlighting the ripple effect of Western-centric behaviours on silenced communities, and drawing on stories from across the UK, Lebanon and Syria.
The work is an immersive promenade experience. Audience members are free to move around the space as the work unfolds around them.
lisa luxx weaves poetry, fiction and memoir alongside critiques of Europe’s foundational philosophies. The inclusion of verbatim illustrates how the climate crisis has long since arrived for Middle Eastern communities and the Global South, and leaves us asking how we can build towards a more progressive future across borders.
Jasmin Kent Rodgman’s installation and score blends sound art, contemporary x electronic music featuring field recordings, vocals, electric guitar, synths and percussion, experienced via live performance and 360-degree surround sound.
Co-commissioned by Shubbak Festival and the Bagri Foundation.
Generously supported by the Bagri Foundation, Arts Council England and London Community Foundation (Cockayne - Grants for the Arts)
The Bagri Foundation is a UK-registered charity whose main mission is to realise unique, unexpected ideas from and on Asia, weaving traditional culture with contemporary thinking. The Foundation provides support towards artistic and educational projects and establishes collaborative partnerships with institutions internationally.
The Foundation’s supported projects include film, visual arts, music, literature, courses and lectures, and each of them aims at giving artists and experts from across Asia and the diaspora, or those inspired by the continent, wider visibility on the global stage.
Need to know
Please note that haze is used during this performance, and the installation may affect those with a grass or pollen allergy.
The work is an immersive promenade experience. Audience members are free to move around the space as the work unfolds around them. This isn’t mandatory – you can also enjoy the show from a fixed position. Please speak to a Visitor Assistant if you require a chair.
The installation is also open to the public on Sunday 25 June, 12 noon – 3pm.
The performance contains images that some audiences may find upsetting, including the image of a dead animal.
Dates & times
Sat 24 June 8pm, Sun 25 June 4pm & 7pm
Price
- Standard entryFrom £10*
- Concessions25%**
* Excludes £3.50 booking fee.
Book as early as you can to ensure the best choice of tickets. Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.
** Limited availability. Read about concessions.
Tickets can only be sold through the Southbank Centre and our authorised agents, and can't be resold. You can return your tickets to the Southbank Centre for a credit voucher up to 48 hours before the event. Tickets resold on any third-party platforms will become invalid.
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Venue
Royal Festival Hall
Our number one priority is the health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff.
The Royal Festival Hall is open to all for access to the Level 2 foyers and toilets, Level 1 and Changing Places toilets, the National Poetry Library, Skylon, Riverside Terrace Cafe, Southbank Centre Shop and Members' Lounge at the following times:
*The Royal Festival Hall is open Mon & Tue, 10am – 6pm**; Wed – Sun, 10am – 11pm.
**On event days, the Royal Festival Hall building remains open until the end of the event.
Our address is: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. The nearest tube and train stations within 5 – 7 minutes walk are Waterloo (Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee and Waterloo & City lines) and Embankment (District & Circle lines). There are also lots of bus routes with stops 2– 5 minutes from our venues. For more information on getting here by road, rail or river, see below.
Pre-booking online is recommended. Check our website on the day for returns. There’s no need to print your e-ticket – just show your phone to our Visitor Assistants on entry.
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If you don't receive your e-ticket
Your e-ticket will be sent to you seven days before the event date from [email protected]. If you don't receive your e-ticket, and it's not in your junk or spam folder, please get in touch.
More information
Find out all you need to know about tickets, including concessions, group bookings, returns, credit vouchers and more, via the link below.
As well as a 2,700 capacity auditorium, the Royal Festival Hall is also where you'll find our Welcome Desk and Ticket Office, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe, The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge and Skylon.
Toilets
Toilets, including accessible toilets, are open on Level 2 of the Royal Festival Hall.
A Changing Places toilet is located on Level 1 Royal Festival Hall next to the JCB Glass Lift, for the exclusive use of disabled people who need personal assistance to use the toilet.
The facility includes a height-adjustable bench, tracking hoist system, a centrally-placed toilet, a height-adjustable basin and a shower. The facility is open daily 10am – 11pm.
Please visit the Welcome Desk on Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, where a member of staff can provide you with the key. You can also use the phone next to the Changing Places toilet to speak to a member of staff.
Cloakroom
There's a cloakroom in the Green Side Foyer, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, opposite the Ticket Office. It’s £1 per item, card only. The cloakroom opens about an hour before ticketed events, and closes around 15 minutes after the performance ends. It can be accessed via Lifts 4 & 5, Blue Side, Royal Festival Hall.
Any sized item can be left in our cloakroom, including fold-away bicycles. We don’t accept non-folding bicycles. Items must be collected on the same day they are stored. From time to time, the cloakroom may not be available. You won’t be able to bring any bags over 40 x 25 x 25cm into the auditorium of the Royal Festival Hall or the Queen Elizabeth Hall, or into the Hayward Gallery, so please leave large bags at home.
Items are left in our cloakrooms at the owner’s risk, and we cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage, from any cause, to these items.
We're cash-free
Please note that we're unable to accept cash payments across our site.
Booking wheelchair positions
When booking a wheelchair position in the Royal Festival Hall for large motorised wheelchairs (more than 65cm wide), please book in the rear stalls or side stalls. Boxes aren't able to accommodate larger wheelchairs due to limited space. If you have any queries, please contact [email protected] or call 020 3879 9555.
Entering the hall
For level access to the Royal Festival Hall from the Queen Elizabeth Hall Slip Road off Belvedere Road, please use the Southbank Centre Square Doors. The JCB Glass Lift is situated at this entrance and will take you to all floors. All floors are accessible from the main foyer on Level 2. If you need further assistance, our Visitor Assistants are here to help you.
You can also use the external lift near the Artists' Entrance on Southbank Centre Square to reach Mandela Walk, Level 2.
We welcome wheelchair users and guide companion dogs.
More about Access & facilities
Parking
Blue Badge holders and those with access requirements can be dropped off on the Queen Elizabeth Hall Slip Road off Belvedere Road (the road between the Royal Festival Hall and the Hayward Gallery).
There are four Blue Badge parking spaces available for visitors located on the Queen Elizabeth Hall Slip Road. Spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and are free to use. You must display your Blue Badge as you enter the site. Vehicles that do not display a Blue Badge are refused entry.
Blue Badge parking at National Theatre
Alternative parking for Blue Badge holders visiting the Southbank Centre can be found at the National Theatre car park (330 metres). If you are visiting the Hayward Gallery, just take your badge and car park ticket to the Ticket Desk in the gallery foyer for validation before you leave.
Please note: when the National Theatre building is closed (on Sundays, and on days without performances) there is no step-free access from the car park. Please contact the National Theatre directly to check before travelling. Call 020 7452 3961 or email [email protected]
Alternative parking is available nearby at the APCOA Cornwall Road Car Park (490 metres), subject to charges.
Blue Badge parking at APCOA Cornwall Road
Alternative parking for Blue Badge holders visiting the Southbank Centre can also be found at the South Bank Car Park – APCOA Cornwall Road Car Park. Just take your badge and car park ticket to the parking attendant office at the entrance to the car park for validation before you leave.
A drop-off point at the Royal Festival Hall (30 metres) has been created for visitors who are unable to walk from alternative car parks.
Our Access Scheme
If you have any access requirements, please sign up to our Access Scheme for discounts, wheelchair spaces, dedicated seats and free companion tickets. You can also join our mailing list to get news about accessible events and exhibitions.
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