British Georgian Society and UCL Georgian Society are hosting an Independence Day celebration right in the heart of the City of London at St Vedast alias Foster, 4 Foster Lane, EC2V 6HH, by St Paul’s Cathedral, from 6.30pm – 8.30pm on Tuesday 26th May.

6.30pm Arrivals

6.40pm 2 dances Samaia and Jeiriani performed by Ertoba Children Dancers directed by Shalva Kavtaradze and Guka Tsiklauri

6.55pm Introduction by Jason Osborn (Interim Chair of BGS) followed by Eric Lee (author, historian and expert on the 1918 – 1921 Georgian Democratic Republic) giving some historical context and background to early Independence Days and the 1918 Republic. Followed by Mariam Vekua (previous Chair of UCL Georgian Society and post graduate student in London) will give a personal reflection on what Independence means for her.

7.15pm Giorgi Guliashvili (tenor) and Salome Jordania (piano) will perform a Chopin piano solo, 2 Italian songs and 3 Georgian songs

8pm Maryam d’Abo (actor/producer and granddaughter of a hero of the 1918 republic General Kvinitadze) will give a toast to Georgia based on her memories of growing up in her grandfather’s house near Paris.

Maryam (centre) with her grandfather Giorgi Kvinitadze at the family home in Chatou, Paris

The evening will finish with 3 songs from the Georgian choir Imano

8.30pm Departures

Georgian snacks provided by Geamos