April's highlights include the display of 250 extraordinary images as part of the world premiere of Sebastião Salgado's 'Genesis', plus an impressive display of works at the London Original Print Fair and the Deutsche Borse Photography Prize. It is also a strong month for comedy with Richard Herring, Milton Jones, Frank Skinner and Jimmy Carr all taking to the stage.
Returning for a fourth year, the 'Alchemy' festival brings a mix of dance, music, talks and debates exploring the rich cultural connections between India, South Asia and the UK to the Southbank Centre. A celebration of music, dance, debate, literature, film, craft and fashion, Alchemy also explores the cultures of India, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and takes a close look at their relationships with and influence on the UK and vice versa. Festival-goers can expect cutting -edge music, a huge range of free workshops, classes and even a Bollywood film.
The organisers of this annual 125 mile race are hoping that last summer's Olympic success will inspire a raft of entries into "one of the most demanding open-to-all endurance events on the planet". Celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2013, the Easter Weekend Charity Canoe race starts in Devizes, Wiltshire, on Good Friday (29th March) and finishes four days later opposite the Houses of Parliament on Easter Monday. Much like the London Marathon, a minimum of six months' training is recommended for those entering the gruelling race, which is a severe test of skill and stamina. Kayaks are also welcome for all five race classes (the non-stop senior doubles class is the longest canoe race of its kind in the world). Spectators are encouraged to head down to Westminster Bridge on the Easter Bank Holiday Monday to witness the arrival of most of the participants.
Sir John Eliot Gardiner's ambitious Easter Monday Bach bonanza features twelve inspiring and elevating hours of back to back (Bach to Bach?) music celebrating the baroque composer. Join Sir John's Monteverdi Choir, the English Baroque Soloists and an array of distinguished guests for a day paying homage to the man Mozart described as the "original father of harmony".
"One of the finest sketch troupes of the last decade" (The Guardian) perform their smash hit show of the 2012 Edinburgh Festival for a three week run at the relentlessly brilliant Soho Theatre. Full of five star sketches, songs and silliness, 'Pappy's: Last Show Ever' showcases a trio at the height of their powers - and well worth their shortlisting for Best Show at last year's Fringe. Let's hope they're good liars too, for it would be an abomination if this really was Pappy's swansong gig.
Comedian Rainer Hersch is joined by Alastair McGowan, pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and a full symphony orchestra for an April Fool's Day Concert at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall. Since officially becoming a classical musician who does comedy, Rainer has hosted several gala comedy concerts in support of Comic Relief, beginning with two such concerts in March 2009. For tonight's concert, the proceeds of which go to The Musician Benevolent Fund, there will be a comedy version of Glinka's 'Overture to Ruslan and Ludmila', a unique version of Britten's 'Young Person's Guide to the Ukulele Orchestra' by The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, and 'The Cat Concerto' - or Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 - performed by 'Tom and Jerry' live on stage. Classical music has never been less serious.
Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro perform at the O2 on the back of their sixth studio album 'Opposites'. Renowned for their energetic live performances, the three-piece from Kilmarnock hit the big time with their fifth album 'Only Revolutions', which gained platinum status and was nominated for the 2010 Mercury Prize. Laying claim to possibly the worst name in rock, the band has previously linked their name to an Ayr United footballer and as a tribute to a biro belonging to Cliff Richard. There's also a school of thought that their moniker is an acronym for Big Imagination For Feeling Young 'Cos Life Yearns Real Optimism. Whatever the case, 'Only Revolutions' led to the rise of Biffy Clyro and the album of "irresistible tunes" was described as "Biffy's finest hour" by The Guardian. Not bad for a band that was started as a tribute to Nirvana.
Flemish and Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui called upon the expertise of Turner Prize-winning artist Antony Gormley, Polish composer Szymon Brzoska, and 17 Shaolin Monks to create 'Sutra', a spiritually inspired dance at Sadler’s Wells. The work includes aspects of kung fu and tai chi, set against an original score and striking staging from Gormley.
Directed by Kathryn Hunter and performed by Edward Petherbridge and Paul Hunter, 'My Perfect Mind' is a Told by an Idiot production that makes a moving yet comical exploration of the resilience of the human spirit. Once cast as King Lear, acclaimed actor Edward Petherbridge got to work on his rehearsals. However, on the second day he suffered a stroke that left him barely able to move. As he struggled to make a recovery, he made a fascinating discovery: the entire role of Lear still existed word for word in his mind. To go from being cast as one of Shakespeare's most revered roles to being helpless in a hospital bed, Petherbridge could never have foreseen the tragedies and comedies that lay in store for him.
Birds Eye View returns to the BFI Southbank, ICA, Barbican and Hackney Picturehouse for its 9th annual Film Festival celebrating, championing and showcasing women filmmakers. In 2013 the eight-day event celebrates the diverse range of work from the Arab world's most talented women, with 9 premieres, 10 exclusive Q&As, cutting-edge live music events. Birds Eye View launched the UK's first major film festival to showcase women's work (a bird's perspective) back in 2005, a response to the fact that only 6 per cent of directors and 12 per cent of screenwriters are female. This year, the festival opens with the UK premiere of When I Saw You, by Annemarie Jacir, who in 2007 became the first Palestinian woman to make a feature film. It also features the work of 24-year-old Hanan Abdullah, a first-time British-Egyptian director, and Al Midan - The Square by Arab-American director Jehane Noujaim, a documentary filmed in Cairo's Tahrir Square in 2011 which won an audience award at the Sundance Film Festival.
An international festival of experimental theatre, live art and performances, SPILL Festival takes place in 6 venues across London - Toynbee Studios, Whitechapel Gallery, Barbican, National Theatre Studio, Soho Theatre and Netil House. First set up in 2007, the SPILL festival is a biannual event in London, branching out to include a second festival in Suffolk in 2012. In 2013 there are 36 events (86 individual performances) all brought together through the theme of 'contact', exploring issues of connection, exchange and advocacy. Highlights include The Salon Project, in which costumes have been made for each and every audience member so that they become part of the performance. Pacitti Company's On Landguard Point is screened for the first time in London, and keep an eye out for this year's SPILL Thinker in Residence Tim Etchells who is experiencing the festival through a series of daily correspondences.
The third most important club cup competition is open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and League Two - the bottom two in the four fully professional top divisions in English football. To further complicate things, the final is always between the Northern and Southern area winners: last year, the north prevailed with Chesterfield beating southern softies Swindon Town 2-0.
English tenor Alfie Boe returns to the Royal Albert Hall as part of his biggest UK tour to date. Dubbed 'The Nation's Tenor', Blackpool-born Boe is now a household name after becoming one of the huge success stories of 2011: his breakthrough year saw him sell almost 700,000 copies of his hit albums 'Bring Him Home' and 'Alfie'. He also starred as Jean Valjean in the blockbuster West End run of 'Les Miserables', as well as performing in the Last Night of the Proms on the back of a 23 date UK tour. Last year Alfie hit new heights as the 39-year-old performed in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert in front of a global audience of millions, singing 'Somewhere' from 'West Side Story' on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the American soprano Renee Fleming. With a book and a DVD out ahead of Christmas, it's all go for the king of classical crossover and operatic pop.
Aberdeenshire-born Emeli Sandé has risen to success in the past year. Having collaborated on 'Diamond Rings' with UK rapper Chipmunk, Sandé first entered the UK music charts in 2009. She has since gone on to write several suEmeli Sandeccessful songs for other artists, win the Critics' Choice Award at the 2012 BRIT Awards, release a double platinum album and perform at both the London 2012 Opening and Closing Olympic Ceremonies; viewed by more than 20 million people, these performances boosted Sandé's album sales and saw her become the best-selling artist of 2012. Now, promoting the release of a special edition of 'Our Version of Events', the singer-songwriter will be performing at the Hammersmith Apollo for two nights as part of her 2013 UK tour.
From 9th April 2013, the National Theatre will open The Shed, a temporary performance space at the front of the South Bank building which will be used to stage plays during the Cottesloe's closure. The distinctive red wooden box, designed by architects Haworth Tompkins who are also responsible for the refurbishment of the Cottesloe, will hold 225 seats and tickets will cost £20. The programme promises to be a celebration of new theatre, a mix of emerging and established artists, with performances by visitors from around the world and a range of unexpected collaborations. The programme at The Shed begins with Table, a new play by Tanya Ronder who achieved success with her adaptation of Vernon God Little at the Young Vic which was nominated for Best New Play at the Olivier Awards.
After nine years' absence, Los Angeles born conductor and composer Michael Tilson Thomas returns to the podium of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for a series of concerts in April 2013 including this performance for one night only at the Royal Festival Hall on Tuesday 9th April 2013. Michael Tilson Thomas conducts the esteemed orchestra as part of the Southbank Centre's year-long The Rest is Noise festival with Grammy Award-winning Yefim Bronfman, currently New York Philharmonic's artist-in-residence, on piano. The orchestra plays Schoenberg's Theme And Variations Arranged For Orchestra, alongside Brahms's Piano Concerto No 2 and Piano Quartet No 1.
Cheek By Jowl performs Alfred Jarry's brutal French language satire about greed and the abuse of power at the Barbican. Drawing heavily from Shakespearean drama and boasting a bigger body count than a Quentin Tarantino film, 'Ubu Roi' tells the story of the anarchic Pere Ubu, egged on by his monstrous wife to murder the royal family of Poland and usurp the crown. There follows a reign of terror, the perversely evil yet comically absurd nature of which inspired riots upon the play's Paris premiere in 1896. Subsequently outlawed for its scandalous language (Ubu's first two words are 'Merde' - the French for shit), violence and disrespect for authority, Jarry's curious work inspired future absurdist playwrights such as Beckett and Ionesco, and is celebrated for its quality and impact despite its often nonsensical phrasing.
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of one of the 20th century's great masterpieces, Sadler's Wells associate artist Michael Keegan-Dolan brings his Olivier-nominated version of 'The Rite of Spring' for a very limited run. Keegan-Dolan's version of Stravinsky's ground-breaking ballet premiered at the London Coliseum in 2009 to great critical acclaim, being described as one of the few accounts that truly realise the Russian composer's vision. The evening is completed by Keegan-Dolan's new interpretation of 'Petrushka', composed by Stravinsky in 1911, to be performed by the exceptional dancers of Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre. This is the first of three events in 'A String of Rites', a series dedicated to Stravinsky's masterpiece.
It's an object of shame and pride; it inspires laughter, awe and fear; it's a symbol or power and lust, yet it's both fragile and ugly; it can be a sound pound of flesh or a spam gram of wrinkles; often used to express love, it's more frequently shrouded in guilt (and a pair of ghastly Y-fronts). Most of the time, it just wees. Richard Herring's 'Talking Cock' is "man's answer to the 'Vagina Monologues'" (The Guardian), a study of masculinity, cultural identity and sexual anthropology - as well as a chance to joke about flutes of love, flesh canoes, porridge guns and schlongs. First performed in 2002, Herring's tenth anniversary update of his critically acclaimed show comes to the Bloomsbury for back to back nights of what The Metro describes as a "constantly pleasurable hour" despite its "stiff proposition". We only wish it could be a little longer...
The English National Opera and the Barbican are coming together to collaborate for this unique multi-platform world premiere. Telling the story of a missing person and those who are searching for him, this film-opera explores what connects the disappearance of a software engineer with a neurotic film maker and a gullible patroness of the arts. It delves into hoax and dark truth, the virtual and the real. Best-selling author David Mitchell will be providing a libretto and Michel van der Aa, the Dutch composer, film and stage director, will make an ENO debut with one of opera's first uses of 3D film. Using his internationally acclaimed technique, Van der Aa will mix live and recorded images and sounds to create this multimedia occult mystery opera.
Despite an outcry from the traditionalists, both FA Cup semi-finals have been played at Wembley Stadium over one weekend since its reopening in 2008. The clash between Millwall and Wigan Athletic takes place on Saturday 13th April at 5.15pm, the first meeting between the two sides since 2005 and the first FA Cup game between the two teams since 1935. The following day, on Sunday 14th April, the second tie will see Premier League champions Manchester City take on either current FA Cup holders Chelsea or local rivals Manchester United. Kick-off for this match is at 4pm. A win in either game means £900,000 for the winning side, with £450,000 going to the runners-up.
Die Zauberflöte
A fairytale story that takes audiences into a world of dancing animals and flying machines.
Sir Colin Davis and David Syrus conduct a revival of David McVicar's beautiful staging of Mozart's 'Die Zauberflöte', with Joseph Kaiser and Kate Royal singing the roles of Tamino and Pamina opposite Christopher Maltman as Papageno. Drawing on the magical spectacle and earthy comedy that was popular in Viennese theatre in the late 18th century, 'The Magic Flute' tells the tale of Prince Tamino and his mission to save the Queen of the Night's daughter, Pamina, from the enchanter Sarastro. The fairytale story transports the audience into a fantasy world of dancing animals, flying machines and glittering starry skies, and is often seen as an expression of Mozart's spiritual beliefs and his search for wisdom and virtue.
The crazy-haired king of one-liners is back on the road with a selection of garish shirts and this new live show, the imaginatively entitled 'On The Road'. Star of TV's 'Mock The Week' and Radio 4, Milton Jones is the comedic genius behind wonderfully simplistic jokes such as: "My wife, it's difficult to say what she does... she sells seashells on the seashore" and "To the man on crutches, dressed in camouflage, who stole my wallet... you can hide but you can't run" and "Here's a picture of me with REM. That's me in the corner". You get the picture. This night at the Hammersmith Apollo brings Jones's 'On The Road' tour to a no doubt raucous conclusion.
Though St George's Day is always on 23rd April, in 2013 it falls on a Tuesday so the London celebrations in Trafalgar Square are taking place on the Saturday before the saint's day, on 20th April. Flag waving is encouraged at this free event held in recognition of England's dragon-slaying patron saint with live bands playing on the main stage and food stalls surrounding the square. William Shakespeare's birthday falls on the same date, and Shakespeare's Globe often hosts its own set of celebratory activities at the theatre to tie in with St George's Day. Workshops and interactive fun and games bring the Bard to life for all-comers, young and old. Sadly, despite tireless campaigning to make St George's day a national bank holiday, celebrations on the actual day itself will have to fit in with working hours.
Britain's double Olympic champion Mo Farah will join the elite runners for the first half of the 2013 London Marathon - one of the top five international marathons and the largest annual fund-raising event in the world. Every spring, around 30,000 runners flood the streets of the capital to take part in the race. Serious competitors mingle with charity fun-runners in the April sunshine as the 26.2 mile route comes alive to the sounds of bands, cheering crowds and pounding feet. The race kicks off at Greenwich Park and Blackheath with a loop around Charlton and Woolwich, continues through Rotherhithe and Bermondsey, crosses the Thames on Tower Bridge before circling Canary Wharf and the City ahead of the showpiece finish along the Embankment, past Parliament Square and onto The Mall in the shadow of Buckingham Palace. Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich, the surprise winner of the London 2012 Olympic Marathon, will return to the capital to do battle with Olympic silver medalist and world champion Abel Kirui (Kenya) and Olympic bronze medalist Wilson Kipsang. And Great Britain's David Weir and Shelly Woods return in 2013 to defend their London Marathon wheelchair titles.
The Queen celebrates her actual birthday on 21st April privately, but the occasion is marked publicly by gun salutes in central London. However gun salutes are not fired on Sundays, so as the date falls on a Sunday in 2013, the salute will take place the next day, on Monday 22nd April. In central London there's a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park at midday, a 21 gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62 gun salute at the Tower of London, at 1pm. At Hyde Park the Queen's Birthday Gun Salute is carried out by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery who ride into the park from the north by Marble Arch along North Carriage Drive, line up abreast and gallop down the parade ground to roughly opposite the Dorchester Hotel. The Troop itself arrives at around 11.45am ready to fire the first round at midday. The guns are then unhooked and the salute is fired off. Duty performed, the horses gallop back up towards North Carriage Drive. The band arrives separately and can usually be seen from about 11.30am. It is a spectacular show of pomp and ceremony and it's also the only time when you will see horses legally at a full gallop in Hyde Park - with a ton and a half of cannon in tow! The Queen's Birthday Gun Salutes are held in celebration of her actual birthday, ahead of her official birthday in June which is marked by Trooping the Colour.
Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi, the supreme talent behind the wonderful soothing scores for the British TV drama 'This Is England' and the French film 'Untouchable', plays two nights at the Barbican Hall with his band this spring. Blending minimalism, pop, classical, jazz, chillout and world music, the bespectacled Einaudi performed his chillingly affecting music on the Europe stage at the BT 'River of Music' ahead of last summer's Olympics. The 57-year-old from Turin has a definite ear for a poignant melody and his emotional, moving, simple, sad yet uplifting cinematic strains have seen Einaudi compared to the great Michael Nyman. Einaudi's music transports and mesmerises in equal measure and having amassed a silent legion of fans, the Italian should sell out the Barbican for these concerts, which come on the back of his latest album.
This is the fourth year for the UK's first contemporary graphic arts fair after a successful launch in April 2010. The most innovative graphic artists, collectives and galleries in the country and from across the world will be on display at 'Pick Me Up' offering an exuberant mix of artworks for sale to the public. A lively series of events and activities accompanies the eleven day fair, including a Portfolio Surgery and workshops given by the artist in residence - Rob Ryan in 2010, Anthony Burrill in 2011, and the Peepshow Collective in 2012. The spectacular Somerset House once again hosts this excellent opportunity to discover the latest talents in the graphic art scene and purchase prints from as little as £10.
The audience becomes part of the action, playing colony inspectors in 'Project Colony', an immersive, site-specific piece at Trinity Buoy Wharf which is based on existentialist author Franz Kafka's short story, 'In the Penal Colony'. Meeting at a designated pick-up point the audience is transported to the colony on a double decker bus in this unusual production presented by the Fourth Monkey theatre company. Once on the island, they experience the true life of the colony from both sides of the coin before being returned safely to whence they came. Conceived and directed by James Yeatman and Hamish MacDougall, two young directors who last collaborated on the Complicite 'Master and Margarita' at the Barbican, 'Project Colony' promises a unique theatrical experience delivered by a large ensemble cast.
Anthony Neilson's latest play, Narrative, is to be created from scratch in the rehearsal room at the Royal Court Theatre to produce a new play at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs. The young cast, which includes two actresses familiar to us from TV appearances in 'Fresh Meat' actress Zawe Ashton, and 'Misfits' Imogen Doel, will work with Anthony Neilson who is known for his groundbreaking and imaginative work. Neilson's previous productions at the Royal Court include 'Get Santa!', 'The Wonderful World of Dissocia (winner of Best Production in both the TMA and Critics' Award for Theatre in Scotland), 'The Lying Kind' and 'The Censor'. His reasoning behind creating this drama: "Because I want to write from passion, not obligation. Because I want to write for the actors I've cast, not cast for the parts I've written. Because I want to surprise you".
Romantic India provides the setting for one of The Royal Ballet’s favourite full length works: 'La Bayadere', a tale of love, murder and vengeful judgement by the gods. A principal piece in the repertoire of the Mariinsky Ballet, 'La Bayadere' is performed to music composed by Ludwig Minkus and is choreographed by Natalia Makarova. At the centre of this showcase of classical dancing are the warrior Solor and his love Nikiya, the beautiful temple dancer of the title. Threatening their love is the jealous High Brahmin, who is also in love with Nikiya; enraged at being rejected, he becomes furious with Solor and is determined to have him killed.
This April, the Roundhouse will be engrossed by a mesmerising and enthralling promenade performance from Nofit State Circus. Last seen at the Camden venue in 2009 with their sell-out show 'Tabu', the company are now returning to this ideal venue for their latest venture 'Bianco'. Taking place above, behind and all around a standing audience, the show is an all-consuming, spellbinding concoction of contemporary and traditional circus, dance, beautiful stage design, and music from a live band. "Gymnastic feats that make you gasp…a saucy melange of tightrope walks and acrobatics" (The Telegraph).
Look out for an upside down purple cow as you're crossing over the Golden Jubilee footbridge to the Southbank Centre from mid-April - failing that, just listen out for the belly laughs - and you'll find your way to London's funniest summer event. The colourful, comic, curvaceous cow marks the spot of the 'Udderbelly' - a two month festival of comedy, cabaret and theatre from around the globe. There's a huge variety of entertainment taking place both in and outside the bulbous bovine - which also appears at the Edinburgh Festival - with something going on almost every night. Confirmed acts for 2013 include Festival of the Spoken Nerd, Susan Calman, Doc Brown, Tony Law and Nick Helm.
The culmination of eight years' work exploring 32 countries, the world premiere of Sebastião Salgado's 'Genesis' unveils 250 extraordinary images of landscapes, wildlife and remote communities by the world renowned Brazilian photographer. Depicting the majesty of nature and the balance of human relationships with our fragile planet, the striking pictures provide unique glimpses into ancestral traditions and cultures.
After an acclaimed run in Sweden, 'Doktor Glas' is now transferring to London's Wyndham Theatre to be performed in its original Swedish with English surtitles. Krister Henriksson, star of Sweden's hit television series 'Wallander', will make his West End debut as he takes on the role of Doktor Glas. The story follows a 19th century physician who falls for a beautiful young wife and soon becomes her confidante as she despairs of her failing marriage. Agreeing to help in whatever way he can, Doktor Glas is forced into a situation where he has to choose between his passion and his morality which, ultimately, leads to a dramatic climax.
The dance equivalent of the Turner or a Man Booker, the Place Prize is a prestigious accolade in the dance world. It is awarded annually and is worth £25,000 for the winning choreographer. Having been selected from video entries, 16 acts are commissioned £5,000 and given three weeks to perfect their piece, after which they battle it out in the semi-finals. Four acts make it through to the final stages - three of which are chosen by the judges while the fourth is voted for by the audience. During the finals in April the audience vote for nightly awards of £1,000 but it is the judging panel who decide on the overall winner. The 2013 finals will see h2dance, Riccardo Buscarini, Rick Nodine and Eva Recacha compete for the prize. The judging panel includes The Daily Telegraph's Sarah Crompton and Jonzi D of Breakin' Convention.
Tate Modern presents the UK debut of pioneering Lebanese abstract artist Saloua Raouda Choucair in an exhibition which brings together paintings, sculptures and other objects made by the artist over five decades. Born in Beirut in 1916, Choucair, now in her 90s, was an early innovator of abstract art in the Middle East and her passions for both Sufic and scientific principles can be translated through her experimental and geometric sculptures.
Returning to the stage this year, Conor McPherson's 'The Weir' first premiered in 1997 and won the Evening Standard, Critics' Circle and Olivier Award for Best New Play, establishing McPherson as one of the greatest living playwrights. Opening with a gathering of three men in a rural Irish pub, a routine daily pint is soon interrupted by the arrival of a further friend and a female companion. The presence of the woman encourages the men to embark on telling stories that have a supernatural theme. Delving into tales of Irish folklore, ghosts, fairies and mysterious happenings, one story is eventually told that is so realistic and chilling that it surpasses anything the men could have envisaged. Directed by Josie Rourke, the return of this modern classic will be its first major London revival since the premiere.
The renowned annual £30,000 prize rewards the living photographer, of any nationality, who has made the most significant contribution to the medium of photography during the past year. The four shortlisted artists for the 2013 prize are South African duo Adam Broomberg & Oliver Chanarin, whose 'War Primer 2' book pays homage to the great Bertolt Brecht through a contemporary prism of internet and mobile phone images; Mishka Henner for his exhibition 'No Man's Land', which re-appropriates urban and rural images used by Google Street View; Chris Killip for his black and white study of industrial Britain's decline in 'What Happened Great Britain 1970-90'; and Christina De Middel for her publication on Zambia's short-lived space programme, 'The Afronauts'.
Kenneth Macmillan's harrowing tale of Crown Prince Rudolf's passage from a lonely youth, through a series of affairs, and finally to suicidal erotomania, returns to the Royal Opera House with all its edginess intact. Based on the true story of the mysterious, violent deaths of the Austrian heir and his lover in 1889 and set to music by Franz Liszt, the two leads’ descent into their frenzied madness is played with wonderful skill. The lucid poise of the role of the doomed Prince perfectly complements the fervid obsession of his young mistress. This is a demanding and ambitious ballet, performed with pulsating eroticism by a superb cast.
Running concurrently with 'The Taming of the Shrew', 'Twelfth Night' is brought to the Rose Theatre by the all-male Shakespeare company Propeller. Seeking to find a more engaging way to present Shakespeare, they take influences from classic and modern film, animation, and music from all ages to ensure their productions appeal to a greater audience. Another one of Shakespeare's most loved comedies, 'Twelfth Night' is a tale of disguise, mistaken identity, love and heartbreak. When one of the characters disguises herself as a boy, it causes confusion, love triangles and a fine line between reality and illusion. Overall, it examines what happens when you fall in love with the wrong person.
British presenter, writer, actor and all round funny guy, Frank Skinner takes to the stage without his television side kick, David Baddiel, at the Soho Theatre. For fans, this is a chance to enjoy some of the comedian’s new material and a rare opportunity to see him perform in such an intimate venue.
The all-male Shakespeare company Propeller will be bringing two simultaneous plays to the Rose Theatre this year: 'The Taming of the Shrew' and 'Twelfth Night'. A controversial comedy from Shakespeare, 'The Taming of the Shrew' is viewed by some as derogatory to women due to their submissive tendencies throughout. Two competing suitors are striving to gain the hand of the beautiful Bianca. However, Bianca's father will not allow her to date until Kate, her older, vicious-tempered sister (the shrew), also starts dating. The suitors therefore take on disguises while they attempt to win her affection. Meanwhile, gold-digging Petruchio agrees to wed Kate and so the taming of the shrew begins.
Ladies in red will no doubt flock to the Royal Albert Hall as pop maestro Chris de Burgh promotes his latest album, 'Home' - an acoustic selection of his favourite songs from previous albums. The leather blouson-clad balladeer, who has sold 45 million records, will also treat the audience to some of his greatest hits as well as songs from his 2011 album 'Footsteps 2', which includes his interpretations of ABBA, Mike & The Mechanics and Roy Orbison.
Known for her autobiographical songs and spectacular live concerts, Pink will be touring Europe for the first time in two years in 2013. Concluding with four nights at the O2 Arena, the tour will support the release of her sixth studio album and, if previous tours are anything to go by, is anticipated to be yet another extravagant affair. The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter has previously captivated fans with tours such as' 'Funhouse' and 'Summer Carnival', which saw her pour in every drop of physical and emotional strength as she sung about her much publicised love life and performed impressive acrobatic stunts. Now, following the storytelling of her ups and downs in love, the feisty songstress is returning and promises to tell her fans 'The Truth About Love'.
Adrian Lester, known for starring in the BBC's 'Hustle', will take on one of Shakespeare's more demanding roles when 'Othello' comes to the National Theatre this spring. The jealous and conniving Lago will be played by Rory Kinnear – winner of best actor in the Evening Standard's drama awards after his 2010 portrayal of Hamlet. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, this production of Shakespeare's drama will take to the stage as part of the National Theatre's 50th anniversary season.
Maxim Gorky's 1905 play is staged at the National Theatre with Howard Davies directing. Controversial at the time, Children of the Sun refers to the privileged elite of Russia and how they are unaware of the cholera epidemic that is currently developing. The message is epitomised by the main character Protassoff who, despite being noble and idealistic, is completely unaware of the events that unfold around him. He doesn't see the love Melanya holds for him, is ignorant to the confused affection that his wife has for his best friend and is dangerously oblivious to the armed mob that are on their way to attack him.
Giving opera a new twist, Pop Up Opera will be touring across a number of quirky and unusual venues this spring. Having previously performed in farms, pubs, barns and churches, the young company will now be touring the country and coming to an equally unusual selection of London locations. This tour will see the company revive their productions of Gaetano Donizetti's two loved operas: Don Pasquale and L'elisir d'amore. The intimate performances are adapted accordingly for each individual venue and through the use of props, story-telling and interaction, the audience is given the impression of having a backstage pass. London venues vary from the famous The White Horse pub in Parson's Green to the Brunel Museum for a matinee next to the Thames Tunnel in Rotherhithe.
Snap up some original art from some of London’s most promising emerging artists, before they get signed and the prices soar. All the artists showing at 'The Other Art Fair' have been carefully selected by an eagle-eyed committee of art experts, so even if you’re not buying, this show is a great day out for art -lovers looking to discover new talent.
The London Original Print Fair, London's premier print fair, offers the chance to see specialist dealers displaying their etchings, engravings, linocuts and lithographs in the grand setting of the Royal Academy of Arts. Over the past 20 years it has become a firm favourite with dealers and print fans alike. Prices start from £100 and rise to £1,000,000, covering old Masters (including Rembrandt and Durer), 18th and 19th century painters (Hogarth, Goya, Sickert) and top names from the contemporary scene (Hockney and Hirst). Whether you're looking for an investment or something pretty to put on your walls, limited edition prints offer a more affordable alternative to one off, original art works - and it's great fun to browse.
Following the success of the first ever 'Sundance' London film and music festival last year, the event returns to the O2 for four days in April 2013. The spin-off of America's indie film festival founded by Robert Redford in 1987 will showcase films screened at the Utah-based film festival in January. Last year the film festival included 27 film screenings, including many European premieres, and performances by 17 musical acts. Prince Charles attended one of the premieres, and Rufus and Martha Wainwright performed live following the world premiere of Lian Lunson's film about the music of their mother. If last year's format is repeated, audiences will be treated to thought-provoking panel discussions featuring industry experts, live music performances, screenings and panel discussions.
The London Coffee Festival returns once again and embraces the fact that the capital is gaining respect as a great place to uncover, experience and indulge in artisan coffee. The festival launched in 2011 and enticed 7,500 coffee enthusiasts, food lovers and professional baristas to enjoy three days of coffee-fuelled activities. The festival is divided into themed zones - London landmarks Hyde Park, Soho and Shoreditch among them - where visitors can interweave between a number of tastings, demonstrations and entertainment. Features include a Tea Garden, Chocolate Factory, Street Food, Artisan Markets and the Roastery.
Cheese and Wine Festival
An event dedicated to high quality and ethical produce.
Now in its fifth year, the Cheese and Wine Festival is an event dedicated to promoting high quality and ethical produce. Previous years have had plenty of highlights on display, including a cooking demonstration from stage host Valentina Harris and a wine tasting session with the BBC's Tim Atkin MW. Companies will be selling a variety of cheeses and wines from around the world and there will also be cheese making kits, cheesecakes, accessories and more. Visitors can plan the event around lunch or dinner and enjoy some delicious hot savoury foods made with cheese or wine.
Crude comedian Jimmy Carr takes time out from filing his offshore tax returns to continue his 'Gagging Order' UK tour. Renowned for his acerbic scattergun one-liners and vile, brutally honest anecdotes, Carr is deliciously rude for some and downright unacceptable for others. Audiences should really leave their moral compass at home before settling in for an evening of Carr's "guilty-pleasure, playground humour" and "laser-guided tongue-lashings" (Evening Standard). The gagging order in question refers to the reaction that followed Carr's infamous quip a few years back about amputee soldiers doing well in the Paralympics. Presumably his next show is to be called 'Tax Avoidance'. One of the hardest-working men in comedy, Carr also performs at Brixton Academy on 18th May 2013.
The very best professional and amateur contemporary photography from around the world goes on display at Somerset House for the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition. Showcasing the winning and shortlisted photographers from the awards, the exhibition spans photo-journalism, fine art and commercial photography. The overall winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony Gala at the Hilton Hotel on 25th April. This year, the event coincides with the World Photo London festival, a collection of events, seminars, talks and workshops which runs for three days (26th - 28th April) in Somerset House and another as yet unidentified venue.
A group of young creatives aged 15-25 will be taking over the Tanks and Turbine Hall at Tate Modern this April with a three-day festival of installations, performances and workshops by visual artists, designers, gastronomists and musicians. Hyperlink will be the first of eight festivals taking place around the country as part of 'Circuit', a new national youth network for visual artists. The dynamic programme will include George the Poet, a hot name in spoken word; Akala, who will give a live performance and unveil his new album artwork; fashion photographer Rankin, running a small number of workshops to show what it's like to be on the set of a photo shoot; and Raw Material, offering a blend of live art, electronic sound, spoken word and visual art. Food will also be available across the two days.
The first Vogue Festival was such a success that they're bringing it back in 2013 but this time it'll be at the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall. Like last year, it will be a two day event that brings together fashion's top designers, models, photographers and writers to showcase their work and interact with visitors. Fashion followers will be able to immerse themselves into the industry by posing questions to some of the industry's most influential names, as well as take part in workshops, makeovers and watch fashion films. With Vogue being the doyenne of fashion publications, they promise only the best in the creative industry will be present, so expect a programme packed with fashion heavyweights - Tom Ford, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana and Diane von Furstenberg all appeared last year. Tickets are on sale from February 2013.
Wembley Arena will have a distinctively trans-Atlantic feel to it with the showpiece showdown of the British basketball calendar. The BBL Play-off Final features the two best sides in the UK's professional basketball league and last season saw Newcastle Eagles defeat Leicester Riders 71-62 to complete a clean sweep of the domestic titles. The final is preceded by the UK Slam Dunk Contest trophy - featuring top slam dunkers from all over the country - while the whole event will be spiced up by acrobatic dunking ensembles, FOXY the dunking mascot and - most importantly - the glorious 'BBL Babes Cheerleaders'.
Flame-haired soul singer Mick Hucknall swings by the Apollo to conclude a mini UK tour showcasing his new solo album 'American Soul', which features the former Simply Red frontman's own take on classic songs that have inspired him throughout his heavily documented life. With the curtain falling on Simply Red at their triumphant sell-out 'Farewell' tour in 2010, 'American Soul' marks a new beginning for the smooth Mancunian, who begins a new chapter in his life as a solo performer. Renowned for his sweet mature vocals, love-torn lyrics and curly copper-red locks, Hucknall interprets classics from the American soul genre, including 'I Only Have Eyes For You', 'I'd Rather Go Bling' and 'That's How Strong My Love Is'. Lock up your daughters (or mothers).
On Monday 29th April auction house Bonhams will be holding its annual classic car auction in the Dermot Boyle Wing of the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon, north west London. Even if you're not in a position to buy, you can see the wide variety of vehicles that will form part of the auction the day before the sale, on Sunday 28th April. One of the highlights of last year's sale was an unrestored 1959 Austin Mini Se7en, a remarkable time warp survivor and the eighth of its type produced.
The Oregon-based 'little orchestra' Pink Martini bring their "swiftly intoxicating and elegantly chilled" (The Telegraph) blend of multilingual lounge pop back to the Royal Albert Hall for a night of easy listening world music. Founded in 1994 by bandleader and pianist Thomas Lauderdale and his fellow Harvard student China Forbes - the "Diva next door" with an uncanny ability to sing in an extraordinary number of languages - Pink Martini have been described as the United Nations of music, blending '30s Cuban dance, classical chamber music, Brazilian marching street band, speakeasy cocktail jazz and Japanese film noir. The mesmerising Forbes was absent for the ensemble's debut visit to the Royal Albert Hall in 2011, making this return all the more appealing for Pink Martini's cosmopolitan hordes of fans.
As Rodolfo the poet and Mimi the seamstress fall for each other by moonlight when their candles are blown out, the beginning of this production promises all the fragile romance of a great love story and Puccini's indulgent score does not disappoint. Some lovely touches bring to life the spirited world of 19th century bohemian Paris, peppered with colourful characters, including a warmly funny rent-dodging interlude and the merry chorus of a street market. Isabella Bywater's period designs evoke the grimy streets, adding a faded glamour to the story. John Copley's 1974 production has been revived countless times but its classic, evocative sets and beautiful, soaring music have earned it a place as one of the all-time greats.
Offering newly introduced fashion catwalks, burlesque dancing and body painting, The Great British Tattoo Show returns for the second time in 2013. Held at Olympia, the unique event brings together world class artists, vendors and traders for a truly spectacular show. As the one and only tattoo convention in the country, it is a great excuse for tattoo enthusiasts to head down for a few hours with mates.