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Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, and a young Londoner’s fancy turns to thoughts of what to do in the long April evenings. Well, Easter is packed with great events – here’s the cream of the crop, edited by Alex James.
1st April – 31st August: Dirt, the filthy reality of everyday life, The Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, NW1. The Wellcome Collection is a free destination for the incurably curious, where science collides with art. The current exhibition takes in the mystery, history and future of dirt in our lives. Get down and dirty with microbes, hospitals, shanty towns and landfill sites. See: www.wellcomecollection.org
Until 2nd April: The Peroni Collection – Italian Style on the Silver Screen: UK-wide, free. Peroni Secret Cinema is a collection of rare images depicting the influence of Italian style on film, featuring some old classics like Cinema Paradiso as well as some more modern films that showcase Italian designers such as Casino Royale, running at art centres across the UK. See: www.peroniitaly.com
2nd April, 9pm-3am: Masked Ball at The Last Tuesday Society, Adam Street, Charing Cross. Dance Practice – The Waltz plus Orphanage Masked Ball. Over 18s only, dress code – Divine Decadence: masks obligatory, clothes optional. Literary extravagance at its finest, at London’s most authentic quirky venue, dancing encouraged by way of dance classes teaching the waltz. “But when he put his arm around her, pressed her to his breast, cavorted with her in the shameless, indecent whirling-dance of the Germans and engaged in a familiarity that broke all the bounds of good breeding – then my silent misery turned into burning rage.” Thus wrote Sophie von La Roche of the Waltz in Vienna in 1771. See: www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org
8th April – 7th May: Funk it Up About Nothin’, Theatre Royal Stratford East. This exciting programme launches with acclaimed Chicago Shakespeare Theater production Funk It Up About Nothin’, presented by Theatre Royal Stratford East, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Richard Jordan Productions. Created and directed by The Q Brothers, this adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing is a fresh urban take on a story as oldskool as love itself, a perfect spin on the Royal wedding fever sweeping the nation. Complete with a live DJ, B-boys and girls, MCs and divas, this is a romcom street party and much, much more. See: www.stratfordeast.com
10th April: John Cooper Clarke, Rose Theatre, Kingston. Now recognised and studied as one of England’s most important poets and performers, John Cooper Clarke’s verse is biting, satirical, political, very funny and – as always – delivered in his unique rapid-fire performance style. See: www.rosetheatrekingston.org
16th April: London Maze, Guildhall Art Gallery and Yard. The much anticipated return of the capital’s free local history fair will take place at the Guildhall Art Gallery and in and around the Guildhall complex. Devoted to London and its past, the fair includes the chance to visit stalls from libraries, archives, museums and local history societies, as well as specialist talks, guided walks and a wide range of fun and educational activities. See: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
22nd April onwards: Southbank Centre’s Festival of Britain, South Bank, London. The Greater London Authority has planned a season of events exploring life and culture in contemporary Britain to tie in the 60th anniversary of the Festival of Britain. This celebration of British culture and creativity will allow visitors to experience performances, new outdoor environments, talks and events by some of Britain’s leading artists and thinkers. Festival highlights include Ray Davies curating this year’s Meltdown, Tracey Emin’s first major survey show in London, plus appearances by Lang Lang, Heston Blumenthal, Billy Bragg, John Berger, Meera Syal and Tony Benn. Themed weekends celebrate just some of the highlights of British culture. See: www.southbankcentre.co.uk
24th April: Storytails, The Drop, below Three Crowns, Stoke Newington, London N16. Free. Storytails, the free Sunday night storytelling event, presents new and established writers reading their own work. This month’s line up includes Nikesh Shukla, author of the novel Coconut Unlimited. This chilled out afternoon begins at 3pm so drop in after lunch to catch some tales. See: www.storytails.org
26th-30th April: London Burlesque Week, various London locations.
London Burlesque Week is back and better than ever with local and international burlesque stars, boylesque, twisted cabaret and much more! London Burlesque Week is the largest international showcase of burlesque in the world, which will present five huge nights of burlesque and cabaret at various venues throughout London. The week’s programme includes an 80-minute opening gala, presenting the stars of worldwide burlesque in London, twisted cabaret, showcasing performers with a darker take on neo-burlesque and cabaret, and a newcomers’ contest, which will reveal the finest new talent – plus much more. See: www.londonburlesquefest.com
