ESEA Encounters

The Southbank Centre has announced the lineup for a brand new cultural series

showcasing East and Southeast Asia and the diaspora - ESEA Encounters.

Taking place from Thursday 17 - Sunday 20 July, ESEA Encounters will showcase a

selection of some of the most exciting contemporary art and culture of East and Southeast

Asia in an incredible lineup of performances, music, poetry, literature and art alongside a

pop-up market. ESEA Encounters brings together leading artists from across the region and

diaspora artists from the UK, continuing the Southbank Centre’s ongoing mission to reflect

and support the breadth of creative communities represented in London and across the

country.

Commenting on ESEA Encounters, Southbank Centre Artistic Director Mark Ball said,

“This is an insight into the work of artists from East and Southeast Asia and its diaspora

communities that illuminates the preoccupations and ideas that are driving new artistic forms

through a plethora of events - from the Japanese musical legend Haruomi Hosono, to a

breathtaking 12-hour theatrical performance in the Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer by Tianzhuo

Chen, alongside a variety of dance, literature and family events across the weekend. This is

an open programme welcoming anyone of any age and background to be inspired by the

span of creativity in this major cultural hub of the world.”

Find more info at Southbank Centre

Event Listings

Ye Xian - A Story Untold

Thursday 17 July, Purcell Room, 7pm

Tianzhuo Chen: TRANCE

Friday 18 July, Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer, 1pm

Haruomi Hosono

Saturday 19 July, Royal Festival Hall, 7pm

Seeing Ghosts: Pio Abad & Susan Barker

Saturday 19 July, Purcell Room, 12.15pm

Epic Intimacies: Tash Aw & Will Harris

Saturday 19 July, Purcell Room, 3pm

Language & Lineage: Poetry from SE Asia and the diaspora

Saturday 19 July, St Paul’s Pavilion, 4.30pm

Love in the Time of Tech: Elaine Castillo & John Lau

Saturday 19 July, Purcell Room, 5.45pm

Ura Matsuri’s Daylight Ninjas

Saturday 19 July, Riverside Terrace, 1pm

Ura Matsuri 2025

Saturday 19 July, Clore Ballroom, 7:15pm

Yokimono Japanese Summer Market

Saturday 19 July - Sunday 20 July,

Clore Ballroom, 12 - 7pm (Saturday) / 11am - 6pm (Sunday)

Ayatori & Lotus Code

Sunday 20 July, Purcell Room, 3pm

No One’s An Island

Sunday 20 July, Purcell Room, 6pm