Area by area

Actors riding the Drive Ride Walk tube.

Either way, the travel theme was much in evidence.  Drive Ride Walk is a musical theatre show which depicts London's commuters on the move.   The show was on the move too.  Our junior audio reporters caught up with it at the Homerton Hospital, but it was also performed at the Bethnal Green Working Man's Club, Rich Mix, Crisp Street Ideas Store and the Geffreye Museum.  Listen to the report and find out what it was like to hop aboard.

Steven Berkoff's EAST in rehearsal

Performance is of course at the heart of the Festival.  Steven Berkoff's EAST was revived at the Courtyard Theatre and extended well after the end of the festival until 29th March.  Directed by Fela Oke, it provided a contemporary take on a 30 year-old play, showing it is still bang on for relevance. 

Bishopsgate Institute tour on March 5th

But if passive viewing isn't your thing, the festival provided any number of ways to  get active and explore the historical East End.  Our audio companion gives you a taste of three quite different such tours.    First, reviving that cycling theme, Mary Sewell, a Blue Badge Guide, invited people to follow her around East London on two wheels.  But if walking is more your style, you could learn where London's pirates used to hang out in Wapping by listening to the taster of Steve Newman's tour.  And there were indoor tours as well.  The Bishopsgate Institute, with a fantastic collection of historical records and artifacts in its library, opened its doors.  Annabelle Flower went along to share it with you, and if you like her report, the Insititute runs other tours through the year, so you can book up in advance.

No festival is complete without music, and the range of what was available out East was as varied as you'd expect.  Catch up with Jane Denny's wonderful introduction to the early-music vocal ensemble The Clerks, who had been working alongside singers from Syria to create something quite unique.  Alternatively, venturing downstairs at the Slaughtered Lamb pub, you can encounter the Electroacoustic Club.  They  programmed some of their favourite artists for East 2009.  Intimate gigs with Jamie Woon, Sam Carter and Orphans and Vandals are also reviewed.

Good eating is all over the East End

No part of our city has seen more waves of immigration than the East, and that's reflected in what's served up on our plates. Gaurav Malik is an Eastender with a passion for food, and he went on a mini culinary world tour for us, stopping at various restaurants, including Stratford Circus, where the restaurant and bar celebrated by dedicating its menu to international flavours and fusions.

"The East Festival makes East London into a mainstream destination."

Pawlet Brookes, Rich Mix

2009 was the third year of the East Festival, with more venues seeking to get a slice of the action than ever before. Richmix in Bethnal Green Road was a key venue for films, music and performance this year.   Chief Executive, Pawlet Brookes, told  Benjamin Till that East London is a mainstream arts destination which rivals the West End, though not all Londoners realise that yet. 

Mark Prescott is responsible for East.

The East Festival coordinator, Mark Prescott, from the Greater London Authority, was interviewed about his vision for the Festival.  "If you take any day in East London there's a magnificent array of events going on - from weird fashion nights to amazing club nights to classical music. Everyone who's on the scene in East London knows that, but people who're travelling into the area aren't so sure".