Things to do in London this week
What to do and see in London this week, 26 November to 3 December : The coolest, cultural, current events in London as selected by the Culture Whisper team
Get booking: London theatre
Booking opens this Friday for one of the most anticipated theatrical production of 2015, Hamlet at the Barbican , starring Benedict Cumberbatch, directed by Lyndsey Turner and produced by Sonia Freidman Productions (of The Book of Mormon and Rylance’s Twelfth Night fame). And as tickets are guaranteed to sell out in seconds, we recommend you plant these dates firmly in your diary; Fri 1 Aug, 10am for Barbican Red Members, Mon 4 Aug, 10am for Barbican Orange Members, and Mon 11 Aug, 10am for general on-sale including booking in person.
Best events in London this week
Another exciting and imaginative cinema curation from the BFI, the Teenage Kicks Season, will showcase a selection of some of the most iconic films about teenage life from 1– 17 August 2014, from the treasured Fast Times at Ridgemont High to the shocking Thirteen or Larry Clark’s Kids.
A cultural highlight of the London summer, the community film festival brainchild of director Danny Boyle, Shuffle, returns to the East End from today until this Sunday. Hosting an eclectic mix of outdoor music, film screenings, Q & A’s,a film competition and food pop-ups, the venue is styled as a kind of mini festival, with a feel-good, friendly feel.
This Saturday acclaimed ex-Blur guitarist Graham Coxon will be performing a solo acoustic set, followed by a second live set with his band at the Camden Roundhouse. Expect the Britpop-esque hooks that made his name, as well as plenty of tasters from his own creative and influential musical style.
Kicking off the new season at the Donmar, Kevin Elyot’s award-winning My Night With Reg – a touching and moving play following a group of friends over several years during the 1980s London AIDS epidemic) is revived, opening this Thursday 31 July and promises great things from up and coming director Robert Hastie, as well as a cast littered with rising stars and established talent, including Matt Bardock, Geoffrey Streatfeild and Julian Ovenden.
Events for kids
It’s a tough racket getting children enthusiastic about opera but The Jinnee – an opera come workshop come innovative musical experience – will do the job for you.Based on the ancient tale of Aladdin and his magical lamp, the eastern setting of the story is brought to life with lively dancing, singing and interactive fun.
Children's art at the National Gallery is also guaranteed to get the young’s creative juices flowing, offering a rare masterclass in character design with children’s illustrator Jenni Desmond; a free event but tickets are limited and will be allocated just an hour before it starts, so definitely worth arriving early.
Last chance London
At the Mele et Pere pop-up in Soho– ending this Saturday, the head chef Andrea Mantovani has been rustling up fresh gastronomic takes on the Great British pub menu for a month now, coming up with innovative dishes relevant to British summertime food, but with a delightful Italian twist. Catch it while you can.
Ahead of The Hackney Jumble Trail this Sunday 3 August, Hackney residents will set up shop in their front gardens to flog their collected wares to each other, with an online map for visitors to track down each stall. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure and whether you’re after vintage clothing, homemade jam or artistic creations, this is a unique opportunity to get your hands on some good old jumble sale gems.
The first festival organised by charity and members’ club The House of St Barnabas, Art Social ’14 is a four-day cultural smorgasbord,featuring music, talks, contemporary art from the likes of artist Margot Bowman and HoSB founding member Gavin Turk (see our interview with him here).
Enjoy.
The Culture Whisper team
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