LIMF 2019, Best of the London International Mime Festival

The coming edition of London International Mime Festival, LIMF 2019, continues its tradition of bringing the best in contemporary visual theatre to the capital. We pick the highlights of a plentiful and eclectic international programme:

- Barely Methodical Company opens this year's festival with Shift. A treat for lovers of physical theatre, Shift is a tongue-in-cheek combination of acrobatics, b-boying and cyr wheel, that displays the outrageous talents of the company's four performers.

At the Platform Theatre, Central St. Martins, 9 – 12 January

Full details and booking here

– The Marseille-based company Les Antliaclastes, presents its funny, surreal programme Waltz of the Hommelettes.

Les Antliaclastes, Waltz of the Hommelettes (c) E.Dubois

Those who appreciate Alice in Wonderland will love this show, which takes its audience into a magical cabinet of curiosities where everything is controlled by a giant, supernatural cuckoo clock. Masked performers, automatons and sculptural puppets combine with extraordinary sound and music to create a unique, transporting universe.

At Barbican, The Pit, 15 – 19 January

Full details and booking here

– Théâtre de L'Entrouvert's Anywhere is performed by ice puppets. Yes, that's right: ice puppets.

Théâtre de L'Entrouvert, Anywhere (c) Vincent Beaume

In Anywhere this Belgian company combines animated elements with ephemeral materials to tell the story of the redemptive journey of the blind King Oedipus accompanied only by his daughter Antigone. Oedipus is the ice puppet, Antigone, his guide, the puppeteer. Surely the most original show you'll see this year.

At Barbican The Pit, 22 – 26 January

Full details and booking here

– Thomas Monckton/Circo Aereo renew their highly acclaimed collaboration to bring us The Artist.

Thomas Monckton/Circo Aereo, The Artist (c) Antti Sauko

The Artist is a zanny and very funny tale of the growing calamities that befall an artist when everything in his studio seems to have it in for him. New Zealand–born, Finland–based Monckton has featured in previous editions of LIMF and is generally acknowledged as one of today's most inventive physical comedians.

At the Southbank, Purcell Room, 24 – 27 January

Full details and booking here

– Gandini Juggling/Alexander Whitley present their joyous, utterly mesmerising Spring

Spring is the last in a fascinating trilogy of works where Gandini Juggling explore the affinities between juggling and dancing, here in collaboration with the excellent choreographer Alexander Whitley. Culture Whisper had a sneak preview during the show's trial run, and can absolutely recommend it as one of the most enthralling shows of this of LIMF2019.

At Sadler's Wells, 31 January – 2 February

Details and booking here

Note: This is, of necessity, only a selection from among LIMF2019's programme. Details of the full programme here