VAULT Festival

VAULT Festival was one of the largest and most diverse arts festivals in the United Kingdom, celebrated annually in London between its inception in 2012 until it's closure in 2024. During its 12 years, the festival grew into a major cultural event, offering a platform for emerging and established artists in theatre, comedy, cabaret, and live performance to showcase new work. VAULT Festival was known for its eclectic programming, showcasing innovative, experimental, and boundary-pushing work across multiple genres.

History

VAULT Festival launched in 2012, initially as a one-off project. A labyrinth of tunnels under Waterloo Station was derelict which presented the organisers with an opportunity to take it over for three weekends with a handful of shows, a couple of big parties, and a pop-up cinema. It was a huge project for a young company but it came through against the odds with 7,000 audience members attending the inaugural VAULT Festival in 2012. VAULT Festival returned in 2014 with a more defined and bigger ambition; the festival saw the opportunity to create a playground for diverse early-career artists to share bold and exciting work without risking everything.

VAULT Festival swiftly became internationally recognised as a linchpin of the UK’s live performance scene, delivering nine editions of the festival until what would later become the final edition in 2023. 2023 was a record-breaking edition for VAULT Festival with over 81,000 audience members watching 553 shows by more than 4,000 artists.

VAULT Festival grew 1141% in its first seven years; to meet the demand of the artists wanting to present at the festival and the audiences wanting to see that work and in doing so became one of the largest curated arts festivals in the world.

Founders

VAULT Festival was founded by Tim Wilson, Mat Burtcher, and Andy George in 2012 on behalf of the Heritage Arts Company. Staged in the labyrinthine vaults beneath Waterloo Station, a central London location that lent the festival its unique, underground atmosphere. The festival was conceived as a response to a need for accessible, affordable, and creative performance spaces for emerging artists. Over the years, VAULT Festival expanded, not only in size and scope but also in reputation, attracting both national and international performers, audiences, and programmers.

Location

Transforming the derelict tunnels underneath Waterloo Station, VAULT Festival was an underground warren of electrifying experiences, with each festival showcasing thousands of bold and brilliant new shows across theatre, comedy, cabaret, music, immersive experiences and epic late night parties.

The festival took place predominantly in the disused railway arches and tunnels of The Vaults, located underneath Waterloo Station. These atmospheric, subterranean spaces have become synonymous with the festival, adding an edgy and immersive quality to many of the performances. In addition to The Vaults, VAULT Festival also expanded to include several other venues across Waterloo and South Bank, ranging from pop-up stages to local bars and theatres.

Programming and Themes

VAULT Festival's programming was celebrated for its diversity and experimental nature across the festival's typical duration of eight weeks, usually from late January to mid-March.

The festival presented an array of new work from diverse emerging and mid-career artists including:

• Theatre: Ranging from traditional plays to immersive and interactive experiences.
• Comedy: Stand-up, sketch, and improv acts, often featuring up-and-coming comedians as well as established names.
• Cabaret and Circus: Contemporary cabaret and circus performances were a staple of VAULT, with artists pushing the boundaries of these art forms.
• Live Music: A variety of music acts, spanning genres from indie to electronic and classical.
• Spoken Word and Storytelling: Poets, storytellers, and spoken word artists present performances that explore both personal and universal themes.
• Workshops and Panels: In addition to performances, VAULT Festival often includes workshops and talks, providing audiences and artists alike the opportunity to engage more deeply with the creative process, build skills, and establish their networks.

VAULT Festival was also known for promoting inclusivity and accessibility in the arts. It frequently highlighted underrepresented voices, including works from the LGBTQIA+ community, artists of colour, and productions that explore themes of mental health, gender identity, and social justice. Of the 553 shows in the 2023 edition of VAULT Festival, the shows was led by artists who were:

• 59% LGBTQIA+
• 56% Global Majority
• 45% Working Class
• 29% Disabled or Neurodiverse

Impact and Reception

Since its inception, VAULT Festival has grown into a significant cultural event in London and the UK, often referred to as a launchpad for new talent. Many artists who presented their work at VAULT Festival went on to achieve broader recognition, with some shows transferring to the West End, national and international tours, and other festivals. The festival has been praised for its role in supporting and nurturing artists in the early stages of their careers, providing an affordable and prestigious platform. VAULT Festival has also received critical acclaim for its bold programming, with reviews frequently applauding the diversity of work on display.

VAULT Festival, across nine festivals and eleven years, showcased more than 13,500 performances of 3,000+ shows, created by over 12,000+ artists, and experienced by 476,000+ audience members. VAULT Festival gave 850 artists their full professional debuts, presented 1,150 world premieres, and launched new shows right across the globe including to Brazil, Canada, Ukraine, India, Australia & the US. 85% of the original work VAULT Festival programmed went on to have a future life nationally and/or internationally. 

Challenges and Adaptations

Like many cultural events, VAULT Festival faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 meant the final week of 2020’s Festival had to be cancelled and the organisers made the early decision to postpone 2021’s Festival. The organisers had been working towards the return of VAULT Festival in 2022 when they again had to make the decision to cancel the festival due to the Omicron variant. It was to be the festival's 10th anniversary and feature 600 shows from thousands of artists. Instead, the organisers pivoted to launch VAULT Creative Studios; a dynamic programme of development and support opportunities for artists and staff affected by the cancellation.

2023 marked the return of VAULT Festival for the first time since the pandemic and the festival celebrated a record-breaking year by welcoming more than 81,333 audience members to 1,860 individual performances of 553 shows, performed by 4,000 independent artists. VAULT Festival finally got to celebrate a decade of exceptional live performance, however, mid-way through 2023’s festival, the organisers were told they must find a new home for 2024 and beyond. Having subsequently found a new home, VAULT Festival weren't able to secure the funds needed in order to transition to their new space, and announced the closure of VAULT Festival in March 2024.

Future

There are currently no plans for VAULT Festival to return following its closure in March 2024.

References

This article "VAULT Festival" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:VAULT Festival. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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