In pictures: the trials of being a London street performer
‘Just texting to let you know the costume you made me isn’t working at all. Thanks for nothing.’
On the South Bank, around Covent Garden and in Trafalgar Square, a motley crew of street performers ply their trade. In some cases, they wow the crowds with circus skills, illusion and trickery. In others, they don costumes of varying calibre and either stand very still… or wave. It’s a tough job, so in solidarity, peruse our gallery of photos (submitted by John Kortland) documenting the trials and tribulations of London’s public entertainers.
When the doctor asks how often he smokes, I bet he says ‘usually only at knight-time.’
This guy actually doesn’t smoke; that’s just the pose he chooses to strike as a human statue. He was like that for hours.
Before one can go to WAR, one must first go to PRET.
’Here she comes, lads. Just act natural and play it cool.’
Peace out, dudes. Dudes? Anyone?
‘Ugh. BLANDstand, more like.’
This lonely piper is struggling to pull in the crowds. But his latest musical creation, ‘bagstep’, is set to take Dalston by storm.
Don’t have a skill? Get a catsuit instead.
Brian the Pigeon described this guitarist as a ‘virtuoso’, but sadly couldn’t spare him any change. (Pigeons don’t have ‘change’, or any money at all in fact.)
Chaplin takes five.
Don’t forget, in the human statue business, you can strike any pose you like. So why not make it a relaxing one?
Many thanks again to John Kortland for submitting his photos to our Time Out London Flickr pool. Check out more brilliant photos of London life here.
