King’s Square in York is celebrating over 40 years of street performance – with a day of spectacular performances.
You’ll know that King’s Square is home to a variety of street performances from busking and live music to sword swallowing and magic tricks, entertaining visitors and residents alike.
To celebrate more than 40 years of performance in the square, The King’s Square Performers group is organising a day of shows, talks and exhibitions on Saturday 30 September, from 12-4pm.
They will also be raising funds for Out of Character Theatre Company, a local charity that works with mental health issues.
Throughout the day there will be performers doing a variety of 40 minute circle shows featuring danger, comedy and spectacular circus stunts.
Iconic street performer Dave Southern will be doing a variation of his Pavementology Tour that first began at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and went on to be performed at Glastonbury. It is a celebration and archive of street performance in the UK.


With over 40 years experience, Dave was one of the original Covent Garden London performers in the early 1980’s. He’s a juggler, unicyclist, comic, musician and puppeteer.
There will also be an exhibition featuring a range of photographs collected by The King’s Square Performers group that will give a glimpse into how the square has become a home of street performance in York.
Performer Andrew Sumpton said, “All through the year performers at King’s Square regularly attract audiences of hundreds of people at a time.
“This helps contribute to York’s worldwide reputation both as a tourist destination and a great place to live and work.
“Join in the fun and find out more about this fantastic art form!”
King’s Square performers gallery




