Brace yourselves, London. The future of performance has arrived on four wheels. This April, Mette Ingvartsen’s Skatepark will bring its high-speed, boundary-pushing spectacle to Sadler’s Wells East, blending dance, skateboarding, and raw, rebellious energy. For anyone craving a dose of East London creativity with a side of kickflips, this is your next must-see.
ROYO, GOLD SKY, and PATH ENTERTAINMENT GROUP may have given us dystopian musicals, but now Sadler’s Wells East is flipping the script with Skatepark, a production where skaters and dancers unite to transform the stage into a living, grinding, spinning art form.
Skatepark at Sadler’s Wells East: Where Dance and Skateboarding Collide
For Sadler’s Wells East, innovation is the name of the game. Enter Skatepark, the UK premiere of Danish choreographer Mette Ingvartsen’s large-scale spectacle, landing from 10-12 April 2025. Forget your standard theatre seating and polite applause. Instead, imagine skaters carving up the stage with dancers weaving through them, all backed by the sound of wheels hitting the floor and bodies defying gravity.
What started as a Los Angeles street sport has evolved into an art form of its own. Skateboarding’s iconic subculture now takes centre stage, sharing the spotlight with contemporary dance. Mette’s goal? To turn the passion of her youth into something entirely new—a performance fuelled by community, creativity, and the unfiltered joy of movement.
Sadler’s Wells East Becomes a Playground for London’s Skating Community
However, Skatepark at Sadler’s Wells East is not just about showcasing the professionals. In true East London spirit, it’s about community. Before the curtain rises, Ingvartsen ran workshops with local East London skaters, giving them a chance to swap tricks and stories. But that wasn’t all. Seven young skateboarders, aged just 10 to 24, have been handpicked to join the cast, making Skatepark as much a local project as it is an international masterpiece.
This collaboration between world-renowned dancers and East London’s skateboarding scene brings an authenticity you simply won’t find elsewhere. These aren’t just performers—they’re the heart and soul of a community being given the platform it deserves. So, if you thought Sadler’s Wells was only about ballet and contemporary dance, think again.
Why Skatepark at Sadler’s Wells East Is the Show You Can’t Miss
In a year where skateboarding becomes a mandatory sport at the 2028 Olympics, Skatepark at Sadler’s Wells East couldn’t be more perfectly timed. Skateboarding’s rebellious edge meets polished choreography in a show that throws tradition out the window and invites the audience along for the ride.
Mette Ingvartsen, known globally for her genre-breaking performances, has once again created something bold and brilliant. Fresh off a European tour, Skatepark is not just a performance—it’s a movement, quite literally. And honestly, when was the last time you watched a 10-year-old local legend share the stage with professional dancers in one of London’s most iconic venues?
So grab your tickets, leave your expectations at the door, and prepare for a night where Sadler’s Wells East becomes London’s most stylish skatepark. Because this isn’t just another dance show. This is Skatepark, and it’s here to shake things up.
