Opening at 2pm on the Wednesday of the festival, just six hours after gates, The Pavement is one of the first stages on the entire site to offer live entertainment, with sets on the main music stages not kicking off until late morning or early afternoon on Friday.
Sitting on something of a crossroads between Leftfield, West Holts, William’s Green and the Circus Big Top, The Pavement represents the Western edge of the Theatre & Circus fields.
A good performer here will catch people as they filter past on their way to a set by Corinne Bailey Rae or Black Pumas on West Holts, holding their attention long enough that they might abandon other plans and stay a while. Crowd work, then, is an important aspect of any performance on The Pavement.
It’s also surrounded on all sides by a host of food options and Glastonbury regular The Tea Stop – a 1966 Routemaster bus converted into a 60’s style diner. So get some lunch, grab a cuppa, and check out these acts to see across the weekend.
The Pavement: Picks of the Weekend
Dan the Hat / Friday from 16:45 to 17:15 and Sunday from 16:30 to 17:00. Also on A Little More Sensation and Outside Circus Stage
When Dan the Hat was still at school, his reports read “should concentrate more on the books and less on being a clown.” Someone clearly lacked the same foresight that Dan had because here he is, back again for another year at Glastonbury with his blend of comedy and juggling.
Read our interview with Dan the Hat about this year’s festival – coming soon.
Rob Roy Collins / Thursday and Friday from 14:05 to 14:35 and Saturday from 16:10 to 16:40. Also on the Outside Circus Stage
Rob Roy Collins is a street performer and escapologist and it’s the latter element that is the most entertaining, according to our review from last year’s festival. He’s back again to work his way out of padlocks, handcuffs and chains. Can he manage it? Come along and find out.
Read our review of Rob Roy Collins from Glastonbury Festival 2023
Chinnen / Friday 12:35 to 13:05, Saturday from 13:30 to 14:00 and Sunday from 15:00 to 15:30. Also on the Outside Circus Stage
Born in Tokyo and raised in Osaka, Chinnen offers a unique take on circus performance with his unique blend of Japanese and Western styles including juggling, physical balancing acts and unicycle performance, as well as his fire show from last year’s festival. We can’t wait to see what Chinnen has in store for us this year.
Mr Peewee and the Drumming Puppet / Wednesday from 15:45 to 16:15, Thursday from 12:55 to 13:25, Friday from 15:15 to 15:45, Saturday from 15:00 to 15:30 and Sunday from 15:35 to 16:05. Also in Bella’s Field.
Mr Peewee himself describes this show as ‘really silly but it’s also quite fun’ – and we agree. Parents with children who find themselves in need of a distraction but away from the Kidzfield will find particular comfort in Mr Peewee and the Drumming Puppet. And even if you don’t have kids, it’s still good fun.
Read our review of Mr Peewee and the Drumming Puppet from Glastonbury Festival 2023
Billy Kidd Show / Friday from 14:40 to 15:10, Saturday from 14:25 to 14:55 and Sunday from 12:35 to 13:05. Also on The Glebe
Billy Kidd is a magician, a conjurer, a wizard and a liar. She has performed all over the world – from close up magic to full stage shows – starting in street magic she has played in theatres and on television and her work was described by Penn & Teller as a “combination of the best magic you have ever seen with Blue Man Group.” How’s that for praise?
Read our interview with Billy Kidd from Glastonbury Festival 2023
Akira / Saturday 17:40 to 18:10 and Sunday 17:05 to 17:35
Also arriving on The Pavement from Japan is Akira, a creative artist, DJ and dancer, his shows combine these elements as he mixes tracks while simultaneously dancing and painting.