February in London 2020

 
 
 
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Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour

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Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour
British Surrealism: 1783-1952
Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk
Jennifer Saunders stars in Blithe Spirit
Steve McQueen
British Baroque: Power and Illusion
Masculinities: Liberation through Photography
Message In A Bottle
God of Carnage
Imagine Children's Festival
Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs
Woburn Treasures
My Cousin Rachel
Queen Symphonic: A Rock Orchestra Experience
Chinese Arts Now (CAN) Festival
Far Away
Leon Spilliaert
Kathy Burke in rehearsals for Frantic Assembly's I Think We Are Alone
Sanctuary: Artist-Gardeners 1919-1939
Viviana Durante Company: Isadora Now
Darkfield: Seance - Flight - Coma
Be More Chill
Montague on the Gardens: Mix It
BrewLDN
International Art Fair for Modern Craft & Design: Collect 2020
Club Golf
The Prince of Egypt
 

 

New musical The Prince of Egypt opens in the West End, David Hockney's Drawings are in the frame and the kimono is unwrapped at the V&A, it's all in February 2020.

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My Cousin Rachel

Helen George plays the unconventional countess in Daphne du Maurier's Gothic romance.

Richmond Theatre, The Green, Surrey, London, TW9 1QJ

Tube: Richmond Station

 

Dates: 03rd - 08th February 2020

 

Theatre Royal Bath Productions presents Joseph O'Connor's stage adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's classic Gothic romance in which a countess travels from Florence to Cornwall, to the home of her recently deceased husband. Her presence arousing suspicion and desire in equal measure. This touring production of My Cousin Rachel is directed by Anthony Banks and stars Helen George who is best known for playing the lead role of Trixie Franklin in the BAFTA-winning BBC One series Call the Midwife.

 
 
 

Chinese Arts Now (CAN) Festival

The first arts festival in the UK dedicated to British-Chinese performance and culture.

 

Dates: 03rd - 23rd February 2020

 

The first arts festival in the UK dedicated to British-Chinese performance and culture, the Chinese Arts Now (CAN) Festival comes to London this February. With the aim of building on the representation of Chinese artists in the UK, it boasts a packed programme covering everything from Chinese classical music to dance and circus. Highlights this year include Augmented Chinatown 2.0, an augmented reality tour around Chinatown; an award-winning comedy set by comedian Nigel Ng; and Invisible Harmony, a dance and circus performance that reflects on the East Asian experience of living in the west. Venues taking part include Jacksons Lane, Rich Mix, Shoreditch Town Hall and Little Angel Theatre.

 
 
 

Royal Opera: Alice's Adventures Under Ground

The topsy-turvy worlds of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass are given an innovative twist.

Royal Opera House, Bow Street, London, WC2E 9DD

Tube: Covent Garden Station , Leicester Square Station

 

Dates: 04th - 09th February 2020

 

Antony McDonald directs Gerald Barry's operatic treatment of Lewis Carroll's classic surreal tale as Alice's Adventures Under Ground receives its stage premiere on the Royal Opera House main stage in February 2020. The topsy-turvy worlds of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass are given an innovative twist in this madcap opera which should be the ideal family treat.

 
 
 

British Baroque: Power and Illusion

The first-ever exhibition to focus on British baroque culture.

Tate Britain, Millbank, London, SW1P 4RG

Tube: Pimlico Station

 

Dates: 05th February - 19th April 2020

 

In 2020, Tate Britain presents the first-ever exhibition to focus on baroque culture in Britain, which remains far lesser known in comparison to the pomp and glory of European baroque. British Baroque: Power and Illusion focuses on key historic moments such as the Restoration of Charles II in 1660 and the death of Queen Anne in 1714 in order to shine a spotlight on a much overlooked era and a time of momentous change in Britain. Works on loan from stately homes are shown in public for the very first time in order to explore how art was used to project a vision of power within the recently restored monarchy.

 
 
 

Time And Tide

A touching LGBT drama about a community struggling to deal with change.

Park Theatre, 11 Clifton Terrace, London, N4 3JP

Tube: Finsbury Park Station

 

Dates: 05th - 29th February 2020

 

James McDermott's brand-new play, Time and Tide, receives its world premiere in London this February with a run at Park Theatre. A touching LGBT comic drama set in Norfolk, the new production from the award-winning playwright follows May, Ken, Nemo and Daz as they struggle to deal with life's pressures within a close-knit community that's struggling to come to terms with change. Wendy Nottingham, Paul Eason, Elliot Liburd and Josh Barrow make up the cast while Rob Ellis directs.

 
 
 
 

Message In A Bottle

A new dance show set to Sting's musical hits.

Sadler's Wells Theatre, Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4TN

Tube: Angel Station

 

Dates: 06th February - 21st March 2020

 

In a first-time collaboration between Sadler's Wells and Universal Music, Message In A Bottle is a brand-new dance show from triple Olivier Award-nominee Kate Prince. Set to the music of 17-time Grammy Award-winning artist Sting, the world premiere sees a village in the midst of celebrations come under siege, resulting in three siblings - Leto, Mati and Tana - separated from their parents and launched into an extraordinary journey to new lands. Gravity-defying lyrical hip hop dance and uplifting music come together in the feel good show with a cast of international dancers performing to Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Walking On The Moon, Shape of My Heart and Fields of Gold.

 
 
 

Radical Figures: Painting In The New Millennium

The gallery puts the spotlight on a new generation of artists.

Whitechapel Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, London, E1 7QX

Tube: Aldgate East Station , Aldgate East Underground Station, Aldgate Station

 

Dates: 06th February - 10th May 2020

 

The Whitechapel Gallery puts the spotlight on a new generation of artists this year with its major new exhibition, Radical Figures: Painting in the New Millennium. Focusing on artists who use the body as a tool to tell stories and explore vital social concerns, the exhibition explores contemporary subjects such as gender and sexuality, society, politics, race and body image. Demonstrating how the medium of painting has garnered renewed interest in the past two decades, it puts the focus on artists who have come to prominence since 2000 with works on display by the likes of Michael Armitage, Cecily Brown, Ryan Mosley and Sanya Kantarovsky.

 
 
 

Far Away

Jessica Hynes reprises her role in this revival of Caryl Churchill's dystopian drama.

The Donmar Warehouse, 41 Earlham Street, Seven Dials, London, WC2H 9LD

Tube: Covent Garden Station , Leicester Square Station, Tottenham Court Road Station

 

Dates: 06th February - 28th March 2020

 

Caryl Churchill's dystopian drama, Far Away, receives a revival at the Donmar Warehouse this winter, twenty years after its ground-breaking premiere. Set within a world where government surveillance knows your every move and everything and everyone are at war, the chilling production is one of Churchill's best-loved plays. This production will see Jessica Hynes reprise her role while Lyndsey Turner directs.

 
 
 

Upstart Crow

Comedian David Mitchell makes his West End debut.

Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6AR

Tube: Piccadilly Circus Station , Leicester Square Station

 

Dates: 07th February - 25th April 2020

 

David Mitchell makes his West End debut in Ben Elton's stage adaptation of the critically acclaimed BBC TV sitcom, Upstart Crow as the all-new comedy - written especially for the stage - comes to the Gielgud Theatre. Mitchell puts on the bald wig and bardish coddling pouch in his iconic characterisation of Will Shakespeare, starring alongside Gemma Whelan (a familiar face from Game of Thrones and as Anne Lister's sister Marian in Gentleman Jack) who plays Will's friend and housekeeper, the sweet and fragrant Kate. They are joined by a troupe of players as Will desperately tries to come up with a brilliant new plot. Olivier award-winner Sean Foley (The Ladykillers, Jeeves and Wooster and The Miser) directs.

 
 
 

Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour

Strictly 2018 winner Stacey Dooley hosts the live show this year.

The O2 Arena, Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0BB

Tube: North Greenwich Station

 

Dates: 07th - 09th February 2020

 

Strictly favourite and the show's winner in 2018 Stacey Dooley returns to host the tour for the first time in 2020 as the Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour waltzes its way around the country from January. Celebrities and professional dancers from the 17th series of the award-winning BBC One show put on a sequin filled show, recreating the glitz and glamour seen on TV. Expect to see the impressive choreography and toe tapping live music that Strictly is known for. The tour judges will, as always, provide their feedback and scores after each performance, however it's the audience who decides who wins the coveted Glitterball Trophy at the end of each show as you vote via text for your favourite couple. Performing 32 sequin-filled shows, the live tour comes to London's O2 Arena for five shows in February for the grand finale.

 
 
 
 

Kew Orchid Festival

The festival marks its 25th year with a celebration of the vibrant culture of Indonesia.

Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens), Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AB

Tube: Kew Gardens Station

 

Dates: 08th February - 08th March 2020

 

An annual visual treat, the Kew Orchid Festival returns for its 25th year in 2020. This year the festival celebrates the diverse wildlife and vibrant culture of Indonesia. Made up of more than 17,500 islands, including Bali, Java and Borneo, the country's vast topography ranges from tropical rainforests to spectacular volcanoes and is home to a plethora of flora and fauna. Visitors to the festival will find themselves transported into an exotic paradise that captures the sights, smells and sounds of the country with a display of life-sized orangutans, tigers and rhinoceros decorated in flowers.

 
 
 

Civilised Sundays at Jikoni

Enjoy talks from special guests while tucking into a specially designed menu.

Jikoni, 19-21 Blandford Street, London, W1U 3DH

Tube: Bond Street Station

 

Dates: 09th February - 19th April 2020

 

Running on one Sunday a month from February to April, Civilised Sundays at Jikoni returns for its second year in 2020, welcoming a broad line-up of guest speakers from the worlds of food, music and literature. Taking over Ravinder Bhogal's Marylebone restaurant, the event will see the chef serve a special one-off menu inspired by each guest, to be enjoyed while they discuss their backgrounds, careers and heritage. The series launches with award-winning musician Nitin Sawhney CBE, who combines jazz and electronica with Asian and other world influences. Next up is novelist, essayist and author Salman Rushdie who penned the Booker Prize-winning Midnight's Children. Finally, its the turn of Claudia Roden, one of the most respected and best-loved food writers in the business.

 
 
 

God of Carnage

A hilarious study of middle class parenting starring Elizabeth McGovern and Nigel Lindsay.

Rose Theatre Kingston, 24-26 High Street, Kingston upon Thames, London, KT1 1HL

Tube: Richmond Station

 

Dates: 10th - 15th February 2020

 

Elizabeth McGovern and Nigel Lindsay reprise their roles in Yasmina Reza's award-winning God of Carnage this winter when it comes to Rose Theatre Kingston as part of a UK tour. The hit comedy production enjoyed an acclaimed run in 2018 and this time round it will welcome two-time Olivier Award-winning actress Samantha Spiro and Star War's actor Simon Paisley Day to the cast. A study of modern parenting, the ruthless comedy sees two sets of parents meet for a tense discussion after their children are embroiled in a playground spat. But who will turn out to be the childish ones in the end?

 
 
 

Be More Chill

The internet sensation and Broadway hit transfers to the London stage.

The Other Palace Theatre, 12 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JA

Tube: Victoria Station

 

Dates: 12th February - 14th June 2020

 

Its online success led to a Broadway staging and now internet sensation Be More Chill is receiving a London run. What started out as a low-key production in New Jersey soon went on to become a phenomenon thanks to a strong fan base downloading the full soundtrack and getting it to number two on the Top Albums Chart. Now the Tony Award-nominated score and stage production will be brought to life at The Other Palace Theatre with a brand-new UK cast. Based on the novel of the same name by Ned Vizzini, the plot is centred around a boy, a girl and a supercomputer that lives inside the boy's head in order to form a zany, atypical love story accompanied by the infamous catchy songs More than Survive, Be More Chill and Michael in the Bathroom.

 
 
 

Imagine Children's Festival

Twelve days of family fun with special guests including Dermot O'Leary and Konnie Huq.

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX

Tube: Waterloo Station , Embankment Underground Station

 

Dates: 12th - 23rd February 2020

 

Keeping kids entertained for twelve days this February, the Imagine Children's Festival delivers a line-up of family fun for 0-12 year olds. Head to the Southbank Centre for colourful puppet show The Very Hungry Caterpillar, multi-sensory experience Nest and the chance to meet a dinosaur at Erth's Dinosaur Zoo. Other highlights include a celebration of the Harry Potter books and an adventure with Pippi Longstocking while special guests include Michael Rosen, Dermot O'Leary, Cressida Cowell and Konnie Huq.

 
 
 
 

The Dog Walker

Harry Burton directs the world premiere of Paul Minx's new play.

Jermyn Street Theatre, 16B Jermyn Street, London, SW1Y 6LT

Tube: Piccadilly Circus Station , Leicester Square Station

 

Dates: 12th February - 07th March 2020

 

Many Londoners are no doubt likely to relate to Paul Minx's new play, The Dog Walker, with a story revolving around loneliness and friendship in a big city. The world premiere of the brand-new comedy comes to the Jermyn Street Theatre this February, inviting audiences to follow the story of professional dog walker Herbert when he encounters lone ouzo drinker Keri. Harry Burton, best known for his acclaimed productions of Harold Pinter's The Dumb Waiter, The Leisure Society and Barking in Essex, directs the production.

 
 
 

La Cage aux Folles (The Play)

A new translation of the play from Simon Callow.

Park Theatre, 11 Clifton Terrace, London, N4 3JP

Tube: Finsbury Park Station

 

Dates: 12th February - 21st March 2020

 

A new translation of La Cage aux Folles by acclaimed actor, writer and theatre director Simon Callow comes to Park Theatre this February. While the story has spawned four blockbuster films and a Tony Award-winning musical, this will be a new version of the play with direction from Jez Bond and a cast featuring Michael Matus, Paul Hunter and Georgina Ambrey. Set in St. Tropez, the zany comedy focuses on nightclub owner Georges and his drag artiste partner Albin, who together create spectacular shows. Things take a more dramatic turn, however, when Georges son Lauren announced his engagement to the daughter of a right-wing politician.

 
 
 

Nevin Aladag: Fanfare

Nevin Aladag's first UK solo show explores sound, rhythm and music.

The Hayward Gallery, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XZ

Tube: Waterloo Station , Embankment Underground Station

 

Dates: 12th February - 13th April 2020

 

This February, the Hayward Gallery presents Nevin Aladag's first UK solo show, Fanfare. Staged in the gallery's HENI Project Space, the free exhibition explores sound, rhythm and music through a display of recent works that see instruments played by the city rather than musicians. The playful video work Traces illustrates a tambourine bounding down a deserted street, a violin revolving on a spinning merry-go-round and an accordion hanging from a lamppost. Session, meanwhile, presents drums, bells and other percussive instruments from Pakistan, India and Iraq.

 
 
 

Steve McQueen

The Turner Prize and Oscar-winning artist gets a major Tate Modern show.

Tate Modern, Bankside Power Station, 25 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9TG

Tube: Blackfriars Underground Station

 

Dates: 13th February - 11th May 2020

 

He's done the double, winning both the Turner Prize and an Oscar, and in spring 2020 '12 Years a Slave' filmmaker Steve McQueen is the subject of a major Tate Modern show. Putting on the first survey of his work, Tate displays personal and large-scale works spanning more than 20 years. Highlights include McQueen's earliest film shot on a Super 8 camera, Exodus 1992/97, a reflection on migration and multiculturalism in his home city of London. Recurrent themes in his work address issues of representation, identity and history. Large, immersive video installations present a close-up aerial view of the Statue of Liberty and an intense exploration of the labour conditions of gold miners in South Africa. The exhibition also features Weight 2016, a gold-plated mosquito net draped over a prison bed-frame and an exploration of the relation between protection and confinement.

 
 
 

Pretty Woman: The Musical

Bryan Adams presents an original score for this stage adaptation of the classic rom-com.

Piccadilly Theatre, 16 Denman Street, London, W1D 7DY

Tube: Piccadilly Circus Station , Leicester Square Station

 

Dates: 13th February - 02nd January 2021

 

Everyone's favourite Hollywood love story comes alive on the London stage this February when Pretty Woman: The Musical transfers from Broadway to the West End with a run at the Piccadilly Theatre. The direction and choreography come from two-time Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde, Hairspray) along with a book by the movie's director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton. Grammy Award-winning musician Bryan Adams and his long-time collaborator Jim Vallance are responsible for the score with a number of original songs as well as Roy Orbison's 'Oh, Pretty Woman'.

 
 
 
 

Woburn Treasures

Works by Van Dyck, Gainsborough and Canaletto are put on display.

The Queen's House, Park Row, London, SE10 9NF

Tube: New Cross Station (East London line closed. Bus service operates)

 

Dates: 13th February - 17th January 2021

 

This year, Queen's House presents Woburn Treasures, a major new collaboration with Woburn Abbey that sees the venue showcase works from the private art collection of The Duke and Duchess of Bedford - widely regarded as one of the most important private art collections of today. With a number of pieces on public display in a national museum for the first time in over 60 years, visitors will be able to see pieces by the likes of Van Dyck, Reynolds, Gainsborough and Canaletto. Highlights include a full-length portrait of Anne of Denmark by Flemish artist Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, Lady Elizabeth Keppel by Sir Joshua Reynolds and Regatta on the Grand Canal by Canaletto.

 
 
 

A Number

Roger Allam and Colin Morgan star in Caryl Churchill's haunting drama.

Bridge Theatre, 3 Potters Fields Park, London, SE1 2SG

Tube: London Bridge Station

 

Dates: 14th February - 14th March 2020

 

Caryl Churchill's haunting drama, A Number, returns to the London stage in 2020 with a run at Bridge Theatre starring Roger Allam and Colin Morgan. An exploration of identity, intimacy and belonging, it sees an only son discover that he is, in fact, one of a number of identical copies. What will happen when he confronts his father about his outrageous genetic experiment? The thrilling piece won the 2002 Evening Standard Award for Best Play and has since been staged at the likes of The Young Vic theatre. Polly Findlay directs this production with Allam taking the role of Salter, the father, and Morgan playing all his sons.

 
 
 

Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs

Discover what life was like before dinosaurs arrived on Earth.

Horniman Museum, 100 Road, London, SE23 3PQ

Tube: Denmark Hill Station

 

Dates: 15th February - 01st November 2020

 

Meet the giant insects and bizarre looking animals who used to inhabit earth 252 million years ago in the family friendly Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs exhibition at the Horniman Museum. Before Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex, life on earth was dominated by fearsome sabre-toothed predators, giant insects and strange reptiles with mammal-like characteristics. The Permian age ended with a mass extinction caused by a phenomenon getting a lot of press right now - global warming. It destroyed 90 per cent of all life. It would be millions of years before our planet's next great rulers arrived - the dinosaurs. You'll get to see fossil skeletons as well as full-size models and animatronics that bring the Permian back to life. Put your inner paleontologist to work with fossil digs in interactive pits throughout the exhibition.

 
 
 

Blithe Spirit

Jennifer Saunders plays the clairvoyant Madame Arcati in Noel Coward's witty comedy.

Richmond Theatre, The Green, Surrey, Soho, London, TW9 1QJ

Tube: Richmond Station

 

Dates: 17th - 22nd February 2020

 

Jennifer Saunders plays the clairvoyant Madame Arcati in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, directed by former National Theatre director Sir Richard Eyre. Written in 1941, Coward's witty comedy provided light relief at the height of World War II when it was first staged. In this new production, which played to sell out audiences at Theatre Royal Bath last summer, Jennifer is joined by original cast members Geoffrey Streatfeild who stars as novelist Charles, Lisa Dillon as his second wife Ruth Condomine and Emma Naomi as his first Elvira whose ghost is inadvertently summoned at a seance. When she appears, visible only to Charles, and determined to sabotage his current marriage, life gets more complicated. This is the third play from Jonathan Church's Summer Season to transfer to the West End following Arthur Miller's The Price and Switzerland at the Ambassadors. The new production tours the UK coming to Richmond Theatre from 17th until 22nd February before arriving in the West End at the Duke of York's Theatre for a five week run.

 
 
 

Club Golf

A outdoor crazy golf course inspired by the former rave culture in King's Cross.

Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross Goods Yard, London, N1C

Tube: King's Cross Station

 

Dates: 19th February - 20th March 2020

 

A crazy golf course inspired by the King's Cross rave culture of the '80s and '90s is popping up at Coal Drops Yard for six weeks from mid-February. Designed by artists Baker & Borowski, Club Golf is a striking new nine-hole outdoor course that has been designed with iconic warehouse clubs such as Bagleys and The Cross and The Key, both of which used to reside in Coal Drops Yard, in mind. Players will have their putting skills put to the test with an array of stairs and obstacles to tackle, all while trying not to get distracted by the bespoke wacky design.

 
 
 
 

Masculinities: Liberation through Photography

An exploration of how masculinity is experienced, performed and socially constructed.

Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

Tube: Barbican Station , Moorgate Station

 

Dates: 20th February - 17th May 2020

 

Bringing together over 300 works by more than 50 pioneering international artists, the Barbican surveys the representation of masculinity across several mediums in its new exhibition, Masculinities: Liberation through Photography. An exploration of how masculinity is experienced, performed and socially constructed, it demonstrates how both photography and film have played a central role in influencing how masculinities are understood in contemporary society. Topics covered include queer identity, the black body, power and patriarchy and fatherhood and family.

 
 
 

The London Classic Car Show

Over 500 classic and racing cars go on display.

ExCeL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1XL

Tube: Canning Town Station

 

Dates: 20th - 23rd February 2020

 

Over 500 classic and racing cars go on display at the London Classic Car Show which comes to Olympia London this February. This year sees Range Rover celebrate 50 years as the leading luxury SUV while Audi quattro marks 40 years since its premiere. Both milestones will be referenced at the show with specially curated displays of the finest offerings from both of the brands. The 2020 show will also feature Car Stories, a brand-new addition that celebrates six of the world's most iconic and interesting cars along with high-profile personalities, drivers and owners in the industry. The 1987 Rothmans Porsche 962C, Adrian Newey's Lotus 49, and Sir Stirling Moss's Maserati 250F are just three of the cars on the line-up.

 
 
 

Slice World

London's biggest ever pizza party.

Hawker House, Canada Street, London, SE16 7PJ

Tube: Canada Water Station

 

Dates: 21st - 22nd February 2020

 

Street food pioneers Street Feast are making pizza the headline act this February with Slice World at Hawker House. London's biggest every pizza party, it will celebrate the best of the UK's pizza scene with the likes of Fundi, Vicoli di Napoli, Born and Raised, and Poli all serving their best slices - priced at just £2 a slice - to 4,000 diners. Winners of the 2018 London Pizza Festival, Wandercrust, will also be in attendance and there will be several vegan and vegetarian options.

 
 
 

Jan Svoboda: Against the Light

A showcase of works by the pioneering Czech photographer.

Photographers' Gallery, 16-18 Ramillies Street, London, W1F 7LW

Tube: Oxford Circus Station

 

Dates: 21st February - 07th June 2020

 

Having hosted Jan Svoboda's first solo exhibition back in 1982, the Photographers' Gallery now presents Against the Light, the first major UK presentation of the Czech photographer since that first exhibition. Svoboda's ground-breaking experiments and visionary methods led to him becoming a pioneer in photographic appropriation and he went on to redefine many aspects of photography by bridging the traditions of Symbolism and Romanticism with the conceptual and self-reflexive tendencies of late Modernism. Co-organised with The Moravian Gallery in Brno, the exhibition puts around 50 vintage works on display showcasing a broad range of biographical material, personal photography and video interviews.

 
 
 

Deutsche Borse Photography Prize 2020

The photography prize returns for its 24th year.

Photographers' Gallery, 16-18 Ramillies Street, Soho, London, W1F 7LW

Tube: Oxford Circus Station

 

Dates: 21st February - 07th June 2020

 

In spring each year The Photographers' Gallery in London shows an exhibition of work by the four artists shortlisted for the prestigious Deutsche Borse Photography Prize - worth £30,000 to the winner. The 2020 exhibition marks the prize's 24th year and features images by Mohamed Bourouissa, Anton Kusters, Mark Neville and Clare Strand, all four of whom are deemed to have made a significant contribution to photography over the past 12 months. The winner will be announced during the run of the exhibition, rewarding the photographer who has made the most significant contribution to the medium of photography during the past year.

 
 
 
 

Viviana Durante Company: Isadora Now

See legendary ballerina Viviana Durante in her first solo appearance for a decade.

Barbican Theatre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

Tube: Barbican Station , Moorgate Station

 

Dates: 21st - 24th February 2020

 

Celebrating the freedom that Isadora Duncan brought to dance - particularly to women dancers and choreographers - Italian ballerina Viviana Durante directs Isadora Now at the Barbican. American dancer Isadora Duncan is often seen as 'the mother of modern dance' and this evening pays tribute to her contribution. The programme includes the rarely seen Dance of the Furies created by Duncan in 1905, the Five Brahms Waltzes in the Manner of Isadora Duncan by Frederick Ashton, and to close, a new group piece by choreographer Joy Alpuerto Ritter set to specially composed live music by Lih Qun Wong. The all-female ensemble includes Viviana Durante herself, giving her first solo appearance for a decade.

 
 
 

Nicolaes Maes: Dutch Master of the Golden Age

Take a peek into the lives of the high society of the Dutch Golden Age.

National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN

Tube: Charing Cross Station , Leicester Square Station, Embankment Underground Station, Piccadilly Circus Station, Covent Garden Station

 

Dates: 22nd February - 31st May 2020

 

Downton Abbey has proved the nation's fascination with the upstairs and downstairs divide in high society, so many will be glad to hear that The National Gallery is providing the chance to peer into the goings on of such households with its major winter exhibition, Nicolaes Maes: Dutch Master of the Golden Age. Depicting everything from the illicit goings on of a servants' quarters to the enviable lives of the high society, Maes perfectly captured the upstairs and downstairs lifestyle in the Dutch Golden Age. This new exhibition puts nearly 50 paintings and drawings by the artist, who began his career as one of Rembrandt's most talented pupils, to show his full repertoire of both historical and biblical scenes as well as those capturing everyday life.

 
 
 

Leon Spilliaert

The UK's first monographic exhibition of the artist.

Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, London, W1J 0BD

Tube: Green Park Station , Piccadilly Circus Station

 

Dates: 23rd February - 25th May 2020

 

The Royal Academy of Arts invites visitors to admire the work of Flemish artist Leon Spilliaert this winter with the UK's first monographic exhibition of the artist. Through the display of around 90 works, the exhibition shines a spotlight on an artist who has remained surprisingly unknown outside of his native Belgium, where his dreamy landscapes - most notably night-time scenes - and moving self-portraits are well-known and admired. Striking images of his hometown and the coast are among those to be displayed in the exhibition with works from both public and private collections.

 
 
 

Queen Symphonic: A Rock Orchestra Experience

Four rock singers, a five-piece rockband and a symphony orchestra rock out to Queen.

London Palladium, 8 Argyll Street, London, W1F 7TF

Tube: Oxford Circus Station

 

Dates: 24th February 2020

 

Four rock vocalists who starred in the musical We Will Rock You, a five-piece rock band and symphony orchestra perform Queen's greatest hits. After playing to sell out audiences in the UK and globally - including the London Coliseum where it was recorded for BBC Radio 2 - Queen Symphonic: A Rock Orchestra Experience comes to the UK in February 2020 for nine shows, stopping by the London Palladium on 24th February. Expect rousing rock as hit songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are the Champions, Crazy Little Thing Called Love and We Will Rock You are given the full orchestra treatment.

 
 
 

The Prince of Egypt

The story of Moses told through a lavish new musical.

Dominion Theatre, 268-269 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7AQ

Tube: Tottenham Court Road Station

 

Dates: 05th February - 31st October 2020

 

With new musical numbers and lavish sets, The Prince of Egypt brings a glittering production based on the Dreamworks film to the Dominion stage. Journey through the wonders of Ancient Egypt as the brand-new stage show follows the story of Moses, adopted by the Pharaoh and raised together with his adopted brother, Ramses. Tensions rise as the two find themselves suddenly divided by a secret past. One must rule as Pharaoh, the other must rise up and free his true people. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (who wrote the score for Wicked) and songs like 'When You Believe' - a big hit for Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey - you can expect a spine tingling soundtrack which includes ten new songs. The cast comes with a wealth of experience in shows like Sweeney Todd and Les Mis with Luke Brady as Moses and Liam Tamne playing his adopted brother, Ramses, while Gary Wilmot stars as Bedouin leader Jethro.

 
 
 
 

I Think We Are Alone

Kathy Burke and Scott Graham co-direct Sally Abbott's new play.

Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, London, E15 1BN

Tube: Stratford Station

 

Dates: 25th February - 21st March 2020

 

With co-direction from Kathy Burke and Scott Graham, Sally Abbott's new play, I Think We Are Alone, comes to Stratford East this winter to celebrate the 25th anniversary of physical theatre company Frantic Assembly. Created in partnership with Theatre Royal Plymouth, the play examines our need for love and forgiveness by following four individuals going through tough times. Sisters Charlotte and Polly have been drifting apart but they're about to come together and clear the air over events that still haunt them from their younger years. Meanwhile, Josie is struggling with grief and Graham is considering letting someone in to fill the missing piece in his heart.

 
 
 

British Surrealism: 1783-1952

The first major exhibition to explore the origins of surrealism.

Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, Dulwich Village, London, SE21 7AD

Tube: Denmark Hill Station

 

Dates: 26th February - 17th May 2020

 

Almost 100 years since the concept of surrealism was born, Dulwich Picture Gallery hosts the first major exhibition to explore its origins. British Surrealism: 1783-1952 shows how British Surrealism was a fundamental movement in the history of art and how it actually pre-dated the international movement's official beginnings. The works of more than 30 artists, including Francis Bacon, Henry Moore, Paul Nash and Graham Sutherland, go on display in the exhibition, offering an eclectic mix of paintings, sculptures, etchings and prints from 1783 to 1952. The exhibition poses the question of whether Henri Fuseli and William Blake deserve the title of 'proto-surrealists', and it explores how Surrealism had a major impact on British artists in the 1930s and '40s. Visitors can expect themes of war, dreams, politics, violence, the unconscious and the uncanny.

 
 
 

Sanctuary: Artist-Gardeners 1919-1939

An exploration of the golden age of garden painting between two world wars.

Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7LB

Tube: Lambeth North Station

 

Dates: 26th February - 05th April 2020

 

The Garden Museum explores the golden age of garden painting between two world wars with its new exhibition, Sanctuary: Artist-Gardeners 1919-1939. Showcasing the works of over 20 artists, the exhibition illustrates how the peaceful period between two wars allowed for a number of artists who also gardened to entwine their pastimes and find sanctuary by producing a number of exceptional works showcasing gardens and plants. After World War One, many reacted to the trauma by returning to pastoral landscapes and the exhibition showcases works such as Mahoney's 'The Garden', Evelyn Dunbar's 'Woman Tending Bocconea Cordata' and Nancy Nicholson's playful depiction of her father 'William Nicholson at Work'.

 
 
 

David Hockney: Drawing from Life

Intimate portraits of Hockney's muse Celia Birtwell and his mother Laura.

National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, London, WC2H 0HE

Tube: Leicester Square Station , Charing Cross Station, Piccadilly Circus Station, Embankment Underground Station, Covent Garden Station

 

Dates: 27th February - 18th March 2020

 

Widely acknowledged for his expertise in drawing, David Hockney's intimate portraits are put under the spotlight at this National Portrait Gallery exhibition showing around 150 works. David Hockney: Drawing from Life focuses on four sitters close to him and his self-portraits to examine his distinctive way of observing the world. His admiration for old and modern masters, from Holbein to Matisse, is evident in his neo-Classical style line drawings of the 1970s and the 'camera lucida' drawings of the late 1990s. Always open to new technology, in the 1980s he used composite Polaroids to 'draw with the camera', as he described it, creating Cubist depictions of form which paid homage to Picasso. More recently years, he has used iPhone and iPad apps to create vast landscapes. As well as self-portraits dating from his school-boy days, this exhibition reveals four subjects dear to Hockney's heart: his muse, Celia Birtwell; his mother, Laura Hockney; the curator, Gregory Evans, and master printer, Maurice Payne.

 
 
 

BrewLDN

A brand-new beer festival with live music and 150 brewers.

The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL

Tube: Aldgate East Station

 

Dates: 27th - 29th February 2020

 

Showcasing 150 of the world's best brewers, BrewLDN is a brand new beer festival launching in 2020. Bringing all-female brewers Mothership, wood-fired brewery Cassels from NZ and local London and UK breweries to the Old Truman Brewery, the three-day event gives you the chance to sample a huge range of beers. Breweries including Small Beer Brew Co, London Fields Brewery and Tiny Rebel in Wales are on hand to educate visitors on their brewing processes and products. Enjoy tasting sessions, workshops and talks curated by beer expert Melissa Cole, author of The Beer Kitchen, and Gabe Cook, the Ciderologist and resident expert on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch. There will also be gourmet street food from Brigadiers, Prairie Fire BBQ and Vegan Nights, among others, as well as live music from Greg Wilson and the Old Dirty Brasstards plus resident DJs from Hoxton Radio.

 
 
 
 

International Art Fair for Modern Craft & Design: Collect 2020

International galleries from across the world present works by leading contemporary artists and designers.

Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA

Tube: Temple Station

 

Dates: 27th February - 01st March 2020

 

The only gallery-presented art fair dedicated to modern craft and design, Collect 2020 comes to Somerset House this February. Returning for its 16th year, the fair has been a vital aspect in growing the market for contemporary craft, and this year's fair will see 40 international galleries from across the globe take part. Each gallery will curate their own displays made up from work made in the last five years by some of the world's leading contemporary artists and designers. All of the pieces will be for sale with the chance to purchase ceramic, glass, metal, wood and textile works from over 25 nations. Additionally, this year will present Collect Open with new craft-led installations by 12 individual artists and collectives showcased around Somerset House.

 
 
 

Rob Brydon: Songs & Stories

The comedian intertwines songs and music into his comedy show.

Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, London, N22 7AY

Tube: Bounds Green Station

 

Dates: 28th February 2020

 

Fresh from returning as Uncle Bryn in the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, Rob Brydon heads on tour in 2020, stopping by Alexandra Palace for one night in February. Songs and Stories sees the funny man show another string to his bow with the introduction of singing and music. Accompanied by an eight-piece band, it will be his first show to combine songs and music with his witty jokes and will see him perform everything from Sondheim to Rodgers and Hammerstein.

 
 
 

Darkfield: Seance - Flight - Coma

Three immersive shows set in individual containers.

Lewis Cubitt Park and Square, Handyside Street, London, N1C 4AY

Tube: King's Cross Station

 

Dates: 28th February - 22nd March 2020

 

Described as a 'multi-sensory sonic theme park' Darkfield comes to London's King's Cross following three sold-out Edinburgh Festival runs. Three immersive shows - Seance, Flight and Coma - all take place in pitch black inside an individual container, plunging audiences into an exciting show where the use of headphones ensures they are fully immersed. Seance is set in a Victorian seance room and explores the psychology of the group taking part; Flight resembles an Airbus 320 economy cabin and takes audiences into two parallel worlds; and Coma puts all participants in a mass experiment where they must imagine a new collective reality.

 
 
 

Drag Bingo and Bottomless Bubbles

A three-course feast accompanied by drag bingo and free-flowing bubbles.

Mama London, 419-437 Hackney Road, London, E2 8PP

Tube: Bethnal Green Underground Station

 

Dates: 28th February 2020

 

Eccentric east London hotel Mama London presents an evening of Drag Bingo and Bottomless Bubbles this February. John Sizzle and his fellow queens Just May, Honey Foxx and Margo Marshall will bring their wit to the proceedings as they present their take on classic bingo. Guests will be able to tuck into a three-course feast with the Drag & Dine menu featuring carpaccio beef sirloin with horseradish cream and frangipane tart with blood orange puree, and there will be an hour of free-flowing bubbles to wash it down. After the bingo there will be live DJ sets until late along with house punch made with Havana rum and pie spiced apple juice.

 
 
 

Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk

Costumes from Star Wars and Memoirs of a Geisha go on display in this major exhibition.

Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL

Tube: South Kensington Station

 

Dates: 29th February - 21st June 2020

 

Catwalk designs by Yves Saint Laurent, Star Wars costumes and a Jean Paul Gaultier designed kimono created for Madonna go on display at the V&A in 2020 as part of Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk - the first major exhibition on the kimono in Europe. Exploring the kimono as a dynamic and evolving icon of fashion in both Japan and the rest of the world, the exhibition will also display a broad range of artworks alongside the kimonos to reveal the sartorial, aesthetics and social significance of the garment from the 1660s to the present day. Further highlights include costumes from the Oscar-winning Memoirs of a Geisha and a couture gown designed by John Galliano for Christian Dior.

 
 
 
 

Mardi Gras at Pop Brixton

A taste of New Orleans comes to London.

Pop Brixton, Brixton Station Road, London, SW9 8PQ

Tube: Brixton Station

 

Dates: 29th February 2020

 

A taste of New Orleans comes to London this February when Pop Brixton presents the biggest Mardi Gras celebration in Europe. Party goers will be able to enjoy a non-stop line-up of Afro-Latin jazz rock in an event that will see Carnival and Mardi Gras collide. The Coalminers will present uplifting funk, Dom Pipkin will bring the soul of New Orleans to the UK, and the Pomba Girls will bring their glitter, costumes and frolics to the occasion. There will also be street food vendors serving Louisiana-inspired food and drink.

 
 
 

Montague on the Gardens: Mix It

Create cocktails at the Montague's much Instagrammed Garden Terrace.

The Montague on the Gardens Hotel, 15 Montague Street, London, WC1B 5BJ

Tube: Russell Square Station

 

Dates: 29th February - 09th May 2020

 

Bottomless cocktail making experience Mix It pops up at the Montague's much Instagrammed Garden Terrace. Heated for the occasion, the garden terrace hosts an interactive two-hour cocktail class where you'll learn how to create new mixes from a list of cocktail ideas created by Pernod Ricard, famous for its anise-flavoured alcoholic drinks. During the two hour session you get unlimited spirits, plus mixers and cocktail ingredients while an expert bartender leads your group of a maximum of 14 people. Food from the hotel's bar menu can be ordered alongside the drinks at an additional charge. Bookings are essential.

 
 
 

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