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the Lions part

image of green man

the Lions part

Welcome to the home of the Lions part

Twelfth Night celebrations 2025
will take place on Sunday 5th January
starting at 12 Noon on Bankside

Link for Crowdfunder


We are 30 this year! We are raising money to put on our much loved and joyous celebration of Twelfth Night and we need your support to help!

Over the years our funding sources have disappeared, and raising money by passing round the hat, though fun, does not cover the £3,000+ it takes to make this life affirming event happen - especially now that we as a society carry less cash!


TWELFTH NIGHT is a time-honoured, collective celebration of the New Year held in the Bankside area of London every January. It mixes ancient Midwinter seasonal customs and contemporary festivity.

It is free, open to all and happens whatever the weather.

There will be wassailing led by our beloved Holly Man, a Mummers' play, Twelfth Night Bake, the crowning of Queen Pea and King Bean, a lively procession, music, singing, dancing and general shenanigans. There will be much to please you and surprise. For those who have not seen it before, you will not be able to believe your eyes!


Bring your friends, your family and celebrate on the streets of London. Think of your donation as a way of putting your money in the hat before the event, a bit like buying a ticket in advance. We want to keep Twelfth Night happening every year, and it will disappear without your help, so please give what you can.

Thank you... and Wassail! the Lions part will roar, so it will do any man's heart good to hear them!



We regularly perform on the Bankside in our free theatre-based seasonal festival which celebrates with games, old customs, music, dance, the Green Man in his various guises and performances of traditional plays.

All we do, we do as volunteers and without funding.
Please, however small it may be,
help us to keep this much loved traditional festival alive.

We hope to see you soon!


Keep an eye on our facebook and twitter feeds, our Instagram Account, our Youtube Channel and this website for news.

Make a Donation

The Lions part is a small Charity whose core work centres on creating annual street theatre festivals that reignite connection with the seasons. We do this with theatre, music & visual creations. What singles out our Festivals is that we celebrate the seasons in an urban environment, bringing traditions alive for City dwellers that are more often fostered in the countryside. Patron Sir Mark Rylance,"I feel I always learn something about community and spirit and nature when I see the Lions part"

 If you would like to make a regular or a one-off donation towards our future work

Thank you!!


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