What's on in London this week: 20 March – 26 March 2023
Discover our pick of things to do in London this week: 20 - 26 March 2023.
Explore London
The Tragedy of Macbeth at Southwark Playhouse
Flabbergast Theatre's production of The Tragedy of Macbeth, which had a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival in 2022, is set to be showcased at Southwark playhouse for four weeks. The production takes a respectful approach to Shakespeare's classic tale and incorporates puppetry, clown, mask, ensemble, and physical theatre to provide a magical, lucid interpretation of the tragedy. The play draws parallels between its dominant recurring theme, the masculine fear of feminine power, and modern society, exploring the social contracts that dictate the actions of the protagonists. The production is designed to appeal to both new and established theatre-goers and offers a powerful and provocative interpretation of the timeless work.
Date: 14 March – 8 April 2023 Time: 7.30pm (matinees 3pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays). Location: Southwark Playhouse, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD. Book now.
Image: The Tragedy of Macbeth. © PictureGrafix
Petersham Nurseries Pasta Masterclass
Petersham Nurseries in Covent Garden is offering an exclusive pasta masterclass using fresh organic ingredients from their sister business, Haye Farm. During the interactive class, participants will learn traditional dough recipes and taste samples of the delicious pasta. Although the portions are designed for tasting, participants can enjoy an exquisite Italian feast at La Goccia restaurant after the class. Petersham Nurseries will also provide an exclusive discount code before arrival. This is an exceptional opportunity to learn the art of pasta making from the experts at Petersham Nurseries.Date: 21 March 2023. Time: 6pm-7.30pm. Location: Petersham Nurseries, 31 King St, London WC2E 9DS. Price: £70. Book now.
Elizabeth Day: Friendaholic at the Southbank Centre
Elizabeth Day celebrates the release of her new book, Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict, with a conversation with her close friend, Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The book examines Day's obsession with being a good friend and her reassessment of friendship during the pandemic. The event explores the significance and evolution of friendship, from ghosting to social media and communication styles, to the impact of life events. Attendees are encouraged to bring their friends for an intimate and enlightening conversation.
Date: Sunday 26 March 2023. Time: 8pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX. Price: £28 – £40. Book now.
London Philharmonic Orchestra: A House of Call
The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is set to give the UK debut of Heiner Goebbels' A House of Call, a unique musical composition that incorporates old recordings from Goebbels' travels and archival research into orchestral instruments. By replacing traditional soloists with these recordings, the piece aims to create a more inclusive concert experience where all voices are equally valued. The composition also challenges the traditional hierarchy of the orchestra, with the conductor rotating with the orchestra and standing in the corner of the stage. This innovative piece inspires the idea of concert venues as public spaces for artistic expression, rather than just for performances of pre-written works by composers.
Date: Saturday 25 March 2023. Time: 7:30pm Location: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX. Price: from £7-£65. Book now.
Image: Double bass section © Mark Allan
The Science of ADHD with The ADHD Adults!
The rise of ADHD in adults is a growing concern, with only a fraction of those affected receiving a formal diagnosis in the UK. The talk will provide insight into how ADHD presents differently in women than men, the neuroscience of neurodiversity, and offer advice on how to navigate a neurotypical world. The event will be led by Dr. James Brown, a biomedical scientist and science communicator who was diagnosed with ADHD in 2021, and will be a live podcast experience. The talk will also discuss the need for societal change to alter neurotypical standards as more people self-define as neurodivergent.
Date: Wednesday March 22 2023 Time: Doors at 6pm, Talk Starts at 6.45pm followed by an extended Q&A. Location: Genesis Cinema 93-95 Mile End Road London E1 4UJ. Price: from £12.88. Book now.
Boozy pottery painting
Immerse yourself in a world of creativity, relaxation, and fun at Social Pottery. With over 300 pottery pieces to choose from, including mugs, bowls, plates, figurines, and more, and with friendly studio assistants on hand to guide you, you can create your own unique masterpiece. Book your spot with a £5 Studio Fee and select a pottery item to paint on the day, with prices ranging from £20-£45. Access over 20 colours and additional tools such as stencils and stamps to inspire and guide you. Leave your finished piece to be glazed and fired in their kiln. Bring your own drinks and snacks to enjoy during your pottery painting experience!
Date: Sunday 26 March 2023. Location: 136 Kentish Town Rd 136 Kentish Town Road London NW1 9PY Price: from £5 studio fee +. Book now.
Image: Josh Calabrese
The Cambridge v Oxford Boat Race
The Boat Races are an annual event that takes place towards the end of March in southwest London along the River Thames. The event sees Oxford University and Cambridge University competing in two races - one for women at 4pm, and the other for men at 5pm. The races last around 15-20 minutes and attract over 250,000 spectators who gather on the banks of the Thames to watch the event. The Boat Races have been a tradition since 1829 and is not to be confused with Oxford's Head of the River Race, which sees around 400 crews of eights competing from different parts of the world. Both events draw lively crowds to nearby pubs and bridges adding to the exciting atmosphere!
Date: 26 March 2023. Location: Putney Bridge to Hammersmith Bridge.
Food this week
Savour the best of London's culinary scene with our handpicked selection of the week.
Image: Jam Delish. © Seyi Odeyemi.
Jam Delish
Jam Delish is a vegan restaurant in Islington that offers authentic Caribbean dishes made with traditional spices, such as "Saltfish" Tostones and Jerk "Chicken" Wings. The restaurant began as a pop-up during lockdown and has become known for its innovative and tasty vegan take on classic Caribbean cuisine. Jam Delish also has its own bar serving cocktails, vegan wine, champagne, and beer. Customers can enjoy their meal on the restaurant's outdoor terrace in warm weather.
Location: 1 Tolpuddle St, London N1 0XT. Instagram: @jam.delish
Akub
Akub is a Palestinian restaurant located in Notting Hill, London. Chef Fadi Kattan creates modern interpretations of traditional Palestinian dishes using locally sourced British ingredients. The menu includes sharing plates featuring salads from the Gaza coastline, stews from Ramallah, and unique dishes like freekeh risotto and mousakan mille feuille. The restaurant is housed in a four-story earth green building with picturesque views of Notting Hill and provides an authentic taste of Palestinian hospitality.
Location: 27 Uxbridge St, London W8 7TQ. Instagram: @akub.london
Chet’s at the Hoxton Hotel
Chet's is a new dining destination located in the latest Hoxton Hotel in Shephard's Bush. The menu, created in collaboration with Kris Yenbamroong of NIGHT + MARKET in LA, offers a fusion of classic Americana and Thai cuisine. Breakfast includes Pandan Cinnabon and Babka French Toast, while lunch and dinner feature dishes like Green Curry, Chicken Noodle Salad, and Chet's Smashburger. The restaurant's interiors are inspired by Wes Anderson's style, with maximalist design and fun details in the artwork and vintage frames. Chet's offers a unique and lively dining experience.
Location: 65 Shepherds Bush Green, London W12 8QE. Instagram: @chets_ldn
Dorothy & Marshall
Dorothy & Marshall is an all-day dining restaurant and bar located in a Grade II listed building. The restaurant offers classic British dishes made with locally sourced seasonal ingredients, including artisan cheeses, London honey, and fresh produce from Kent. The menu includes twists on favourites like cheddar cheese soufflé and braised beef short rib, as well as weekend brunch dishes such as avocado toast and French toast. Sunday roasts are also available. The restaurant has an intimate atmosphere with burnt-orange and green tones, perfect for evening dinner and cocktails.
Location: Bromley Old Town Hall, 4 Court Street, BR1 1AN. Instagram: @dorothyandmarshall
Arts & Culture
Opening this week
Image: Gilbert Spencer (1892-1979), Trees at Garsington, c. 1925. Image courtesy of Liss Llewellyn
Private and Public: Finding the Modern British Garden
Are you a fan of beautiful gardens? If so, you won't want to miss this spectacular exhibition showcasing stunning paintings of British gardens. From enchanting hidden gems to expansive public spaces, these works, created between the First and Second World War, feature renowned artists like Eric Ravilious, famous for his breathtaking portrayals of the Sussex landscape, and pioneering artist Evelyn Dunbar, who captured the hard work of the Women’s Land Army during World War II.
Date: 22 March - 4 Jun 2023. Location: Garden Museum, 5 Lambeth Palace Rd, London SE1 7LB. Price: from £11. Concessions available. Book now.
Ian Kiaer: Endnote, oblique
Prepare to be amazed by Alison Jacques' latest exhibition, Endnote, oblique' featuring the incredible new works of London-born artist Ian Kiaer. This exhibition is a preview of his upcoming participation in UNBUILD, the highly anticipated reopening of London's Drawing Room later this year. Kiaer builds upon his ongoing research into the 'Function of the Oblique', a revolutionary architectural concept introduced by Claude Parent and Paul Virilio. Together, they proposed a radical shift away from the traditional vertical and horizontal paradigm of urban architecture, to create a dynamic, sloping environment that caters to the body's physical experience of space. Kiaer's large-scale paintings, created using acrylic and crumpled cellophane on handmade Korean paper, evoke a variety of sensory perceptions such as touch, colour and scale, as visitors navigate the gallery spaces. This exhibition is an opportunity to witness the future of architectural artistry, so don't miss out on this incredible experience!
Date: 23 March – 29 April 2023. Location: 16–18 Berners Street, London W1T 3LN. Price: Free
After Impressionism: Inventing Modern Art
The National Gallery is set to unveil an extraordinary new exhibition called After Impressionism: Inventing Modern Art this week. The exhibition will showcase around a hundred remarkable paintings and sculptures by legendary artists such as Cezanne, Van Gogh, Rodin, Picasso, Matisse, Klimt, Käthe Kollwitz, Sonia Delaunay, Kandinsky, and Mondrian. These masterpieces, borrowed from museums and private collections around the world, will reveal some of the most important works of art created between 1886 and around 1914. The exhibition will celebrate Paris as the artistic capital of the time and pay tribute to the revolutionary artistic developments that occurred in other European cities during this period.
Location: Rooms 1-8
, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN. Date: 25 March – 13 August 2023. Price: from £24 Monday – Friday, from £26 Saturday and Sunday. Book now.
#FLOFavourites This WEEK
Finding Family
The Foundling Museum presents Finding Family, an exhibition that explores the idea of family through art from the 17th Century to the present day, challenging visitors to think beyond the traditional definition of family and to consider the various meanings of the word, including blood relations, social bonds, personal connections, and love. It includes historic and contemporary works from the Foundling Museum's collection, as well as pieces loaned from The National Gallery and newly commissioned works. The exhibition also features creative responses from the participants of the Tracing Our Tales program, which offers support to young care leavers. The show encourages visitors to think deeply about the social construct of family and asks important questions about how we define ourselves, interact with one another, and perceive others.
Date: 17 March – 27 August 2023. Location: 40 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AZ. Price: from £10.50 . Book now.
Image: 404.zero, 3.24, Thin Air Exhibition, The Beams
Thin Air
Experience a groundbreaking fusion of art and technology at Thin Air, a captivating exhibition showcasing the works of seven contemporary artists and collectives from around the world. Spanning an impressive 55,000 square feet of interconnected environments, the exhibition will transport you to a world of hidden complexities and intricate details that shape our everyday experiences, through the use of light, sound, atmospherics, and experimental new media.Curated by renowned digital artist and curator Alex Czetwertynski and produced in collaboration with That Right There, a leading arts and culture consultancy, Thin Air represents the inaugural visual arts programme at Beams, an exciting new cultural venue brought to you by Broadwick Live - the creative force behind some of the UK's most iconic venues, events, and development projects. Whether you're an art enthusiast, a tech aficionado, or simply curious about the intersection of the two, Thin Air is a must-see experience!
Date: 17 March – 4 June 2023. Location: The Beams, Factory Rd, E16 2HB. Price: from £20. Concessions available. Book now.
Master of Reality: Talks on Nelson’s Exhibition
Experience a thought-provoking afternoon of talks at Southbank Centre as experts from the worlds of art history, architecture, film studies, and neuroscience delve into the themes explored in Mike Nelson's immersive exhibition, Extinction Beckons. Organised in collaboration with the Centre for Practice Research in the Arts of Kingston University, London, this enlightening event promises to challenge your perceptions and broaden your understanding of Nelson's psychologically charged and atmospheric installations. As one of the most celebrated contemporary artists of our time, Nelson's work has been exhibited in prestigious galleries across the globe and featured in international exhibitions.
Date: Friday 24 March 2023. Time: 3pm. Location: Level 5 Function Room, Green Side, Royal Festival Hall. Price: £10. Book now.
Last chance to see
Image:Jon Rafman, Minor Daemon Vol 1 2022, film still
Jon Rafman – Minor Daemon: Volume 1
180 Studios present the UK premiere of Minor Daemon: Volume 1, a cutting-edge film by Canadian artist and filmmaker Jon Rafman. Through mesmerising 3D animation, it vividly portrays the anxieties of our modern techno-society.
Date: until 25 March 2023. Location: 180 The Strand, London, WC2R 1EA. Price: £10/Concessions available. Book now.
Ermias Ekube and Eric Pina: Foreign Lands
Foreign Lands is an art exhibition that brings together two talented African artists, Ermias Ekube and Eric Pina, to explore themes of integration, self-identification, and cultural ownership through their experiences of foreign landscapes. The exhibition showcases their masterful skill in creatively capturing the unique narratives of the places they have experienced and the stories of their past and present.
Date: until 25 March 2023. Location: Ed Cross Fine Art, 19 Garrett Street, EC1Y OTY. Price: Free.
Adam Bridgland: Small Tom, Middle Tom, Floor Tom, Crash
Jealous Gallery presents Adam Bridgland's successful exhibition, Small Tom, Middle Tom, Floor Tom, Crash, which draws inspiration from the artist's discovery of an old folder containing song lyrics and band memorabilia while clearing out his old bedroom following his mum's passing. The exhibition showcases a diverse range of mediums, including print, photography, sculpture, drawing and painting, inviting visitors to explore a broad range of themes, imagery and human emotion. Due to popular demand, the exhibition has been extended until 26 March.
Date: until 26 March 2023. Location: Jealous East, 53 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3PT. Price: Free
Image: Adam Bridgland: Small Tom, Middle Tom, Floor Tom, Crash Exhibition, Jealous Gallery, Shoreditch
Pop-ups & Venues
eBay Sneakers Swap 'Em Out Store
Image: Nelson Ndongala
eBay is opening its first Sneaker Swap Store in London on March 25th, 2023, offering sneakerheads a chance to swap their old, unwanted sneakers for a new pair worth up to double the value. The event will feature an in-person sneakerhead community space and opportunities to win massive prizes, including Jordan 4 KAWS and Off-White Air Jordan 1s “Euro.” To participate, attendees must bring sneakers worth at least £100 but no more than £300 to the Swap ‘Em Out Store, where eBay authenticators will inspect them. Access to the concept store will be ticketed at scheduled times, and there will be an exclusive afterparty for those on the waitlist.
Date: Saturday 25 March 2023 Time: 10am - 8.30pm. Location: 59 Greek Street London W1D 3DZ. Price: Free. Book now.
Eat & Drink Festival
The UK's beloved indoor food festival offers an all-in-one experience showcasing the best in modern cuisine, mixology, and independent produce. Attendees can expect to learn new culinary skills, get top tips on mastering new dishes, discover new wines, beers, and spirits, witness celebrity chefs cooking their favourite dishes, receive advice on food pairings, shop for fresh ingredients, and take home fantastic produce from unique artisan producers. With The Artisan Producers' Market, Eat & Drink Stage, and The Great Eat, there's something for every food and drink lover. The festival promises to leave attendees with new foodie ideas, inspiration, and a taste for food they never thought they had.
Date: 17 March-2 April 2023. Location: Olympia London, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX. Price: from £14. Book now.
#FLOFavourite: Pick of the week
FREE ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK
Page 65: An Open Mic Poetry Night with Bui
Join Libreria Bookseller Buitumelo (Bui), in their bright and vibrant yellow bookshop for an exhilarating monthly evening of open mic poetry. Page65's goal is to unite thinkers, adventurers, and visionaries to share what inspires them to be better or worse. Whether you are reciting your own poetry or someone else's, Bui creates an inclusive space where everyone can share their art. While the event is free, a discretionary donation at the door is collected and shared among all the poets at the end of the evening.
Date: Thursday 23 March 2023. Time: 7 - 9pm. Location: Libreria Bookshop, 65 Hanbury Street London E1 5JP. Price: Free. Book now.
Interview of the week
We had a chat with Erica Pina.
Image: Eric Pina
Eric Pina is a Senegalese artist who focuses on human body language and micro-interactions between people from diverse backgrounds. Pina works with painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture, creating intimate, parallel universes that give rise to a range of scenarios. Despite diverse material forms, his figures maintain an emblematic presence.Click here for the full interview.
Cause of the week
Teenage Cancer Trust is a registered charity: 1062559 (England & Wales), SC039757 (Scotland)
The Teenage Cancer Trust hosts events and provides support for young people with cancer in the UK. They fund specialised nurses, youth workers, and hospital units to provide dedicated care for young cancer patients. Additionally, they organise events for young cancer patients to regain independence and connect with others going through similar experiences. This year's Teenage Cancer Trust music performances at London’s Royal Albert Hall, curated by Roger Daltrey of The Who, will feature headliners such as Underworld, Wet Leg, Kasabian, and Courteeners. The Teenage Cancer Trust, has been supported by the concert series for two decades. Website: teenagecancertrust.org.
Tickets to the events are available from the Royal Albert Hall website.
Upcoming events
Southbank Centre to celebrate 50th anniversary of David Bowie album Aladdin Sane
Image: Photo Duffy © Duffy Archive & The David Bowie ArchiveTM
The Southbank Centre in London is hosting an exhibition titled Aladdin Sane: 50 Years, curated by Chris Duffy, featuring the journey of the Aladdin Sane portrait and how it influenced audiences to rethink their identities. The exhibition will showcase the unique relationship between David Bowie and photographer Brian Duffy. In addition, the Southbank Centre Archive will present a free display exploring David Bowie's history with the Centre, including never-before-seen archival material. Live performances, talks, and poetry events will also take place alongside the exhibitions. Click here to read more.
Date: 6 April – 28 May 2023. Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX.
