February in London 2013

Combine a meal out, the bright lights of the West End and a bellyful of laughs with this globetrotting production featuring the neurotic Basil Fawlty, his domineering wife Sybil and the ever suffering but equally hopeless Manuel. Described by The Daily Telegraph as a "two-hour eat, drink and laugh sensation", 'Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience' returns for matinee and evening performances at the fictional Torquay Suite Theatre following a successful two month run before Christmas. Inspired by the much loved TV programme starring John Cleese, the show starts as the audience waits to be seated and then hurtles along for three courses of fully immersive, highly interactive site-specific comedy theatre. All conversations welcome at the dinner table - just don't mention the Germans...

London will look like a city in miniature from the viewing platform at the top of the tallest building in Western Europe when it opens in February 2013. Lifts will transport members of the public from ground level to The View From The Shard, on floors 68 to 72 of The Shard which at 309.6 metres (1,015 foot) tall towers over London Bridge station and its neighbouring buildings, offering exceptional views of the city stretching for 40 miles. That means that - on a really good day - you can see the sea at Southend in Essex to the east and as far as Reading in Berkshire to the west.

Stuart Lancaster's England get their Six Nations campaign under way with this home clash against Scotland at Twickenham - and morale will be sky high after the December rout of New Zealand. In the corresponding fixture last year, England edged the Scots 13-6 at Murrayfield to win the coveted Calcutta Cup. It was the first of five successive defeats for Scotland, who ended the tournament rock bottom on zero points. England missed out on the Grand Slam after losing to the all conquering Welsh side at home with Wales going on to become the fourth side in as many years to win the Six Nations trophy.

Giuseppe Verdi's bicentenary is celebrated with Peter Konwitschny's new production of 'La Traviata', one of the most consistently loved of all operas. Verdi's music takes audiences to the heart of Violetta's world as the famed courtesan gives up her wild lifestyle for love and makes the ultimate sacrifice. There's romance, there's tragedy, there's even a scandal - the portrayal of a 'fallen' heroine would have been shocking to the premiere audiences of 1853. Both old hands and opera virgins will be reaching for the tissues at the ENO's Coliseum as Violetta sings her way to the heart-rending end of Act 3, while the celebrated Brindisi drinking song of Act 1 never fails to bring the roof down. Sung in Italian with English subtitles.

London's most peculiar church service takes place on the first Sunday of February each year as hoards of clowns congregate at Dalston's Holy Trinity Church. Now in its 67th year, the annual Clowns' Church Service remembers the great Georgian gagster Joey Grimaldi, the inventor of the modern clown, who died in 1837. Around 60 clowns, harlequins, jesters and pierrots of all shapes and sizes assemble in a colourful mass of big feet, rubber noses, curly wigs, whoopee cushions and painted faces to pay their respects to Grimaldi and to light a candle for contemporary clowns who have died over the last 12 months. The service is followed by a clown show for children in the church hall.

If you missed it the first time around, Chris Addison brings his twice extended, critically acclaimed tour to Queen Elizabeth Hall for one night only. The 41-year-old star of 'The Thick of It' and 'Mock the Week' has perfected his sharp brand of observational middle class comedy to a tee and pulls no punches as he wades through a wide subject matter ranging from the Royal Family to the desirability of tattoos. Vociferous, cerebral, topical and often sparklingly original, Addison's show asks how our prejudices and views affect the way we look at the world, and is brimming with amusing anecdotes. Best enjoyed with a glass of wine, not beer.

After much speculation, it was finally announced that Michael Bennett's Tony Award-winning production of 'A Chorus Line' is coming to London's West End this year. Returning to London for the first time since 1975, the show will take to the stage at Andrew Lloyd Webber's world famous London Palladium. Directed by Bob Avian, it takes a behind the scenes look at auditions for a new Broadway musical and, through a spectacular blend of song, dance and drama, tells the stories of the auditionees and what has moulded them into the aspiring dancers they are today. The West End production will be a tribute to late composer Marvin Hamlisch, who wrote the music, and who passed away in August 2012.

The Football Association's 150th anniversary celebrations kick off with this mouth-watering midweek friendly clash between England and Samba stars Brazil at Wembley. England have not beaten Brazil in eight meetings since 1990, when a Gary Lineker goal was enough to give the home side a 1-0 win at Wembley. The last time the two sides faced each other at the spiritual home of English football, in 2007, a Diego header in injury time salvaged a draw for Brazil after John Terry had put Steve McClaren's side ahead after the break. Six years on, and it's all change as Roy Hodgson's new look side continue to find their feet ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

German electronic music group Kraftwerk play eight live performances in Tate Modern's imposing the Turbine Hall. Each performance will feature one of their albums in full, and will be performed in order of release, starting with their arguably their most famous album, 'Autobahn' (1974). The £60 tickets for the series of gigs by the influential Kraut rock pioneers, their first London dates since 2004, are expected to sell out fast.

Art collective BBKP are the creative juices behind the annual Participatory Photography Commission at Battersea Park's Pump House Gallery. Renowned for their wry humour and oddball projects, the quartet - Nathan Birchenough, Nicolas Brown, Craig Kao and Savvas Papasavva - were present at the gallery throughout the autumn to encourage the public to get involved with their artistic experiments. The resulting new works form the centrepiece of this two month exhibition at the small yet intriguing gallery, which is housed in the former Victorian water tower that once supplied water to the lakes and cascades of Battersea Park.

With its free display, 'Murillo at the Wallace Collection: Painting of the Spanish Golden Age', the Wallace Collection ties in with the exhibition, 'Murillo and Justino de Neve: the Art of Friendship' being held at the Dulwich Picture Gallery at the same time. The Wallace Collection display reunites paintings by the seventeenth century Spanish artist Bartolome Esteban Murillo, a key protagonist of Spain's Golden Age, not seen together in over two hundred years. The collection put together by the 4th Marquess of Hertford includes eight Murillo masterpieces as well as several works by his workshop and associates, Francisco Meneses Osorio and Juan Simon Gutierrez.

'Murillo and Justino de Neve: the Art of Friendship' brings together a group of late works by the seventeenth century Spanish artist, Bartolome Esteban Murillo, in an exhibition shown at the Museo del Prado in Spain in the summer of 2012. From February 2013 London's Dulwich Picture Gallery, which holds an important group of works by the artist, hosts the exhibition which examines the artist's friendship with Justino de Neve, canon of Seville cathedral. The display of seventeen paintings, five of which have been specially restored for this event, ranges from religious and devotional works to portraits, allegories and the only known miniature attributed to Murillo. It is the first major exhibition on the artist since 1982 and runs at the same time as the free display, 'Murillo at the Wallace Collection'.

Since coming onto the scene in 2009, former burlesque dancer Paloma Faith has made a name for herself in both music and acting, as well as being known for her quirky personality and unique sense of fashion. Her debut album 'Do You Want the Truth of Something Beautiful?' was certified Platinum and produced five singles. After announcing in 2010 that she had started to shape her second album, it wasn't until 2012 that Faith released 'Fall to Grace'. With the album's initial single 'Picking up the Pieces' being her highest charting song to date and the album reaching number two in the UK albums chart � second to Gary Barlow's Diamond Jubilee record � the soul singer is now coming to London for one night to perform tracks from this latest album.

To mark the centenary of the birth of one of the finest and most influential composers of the past century, Kings Place is holding a three day 'Britten at 100' special. Three concerts on consecutive evenings see Benjamin Britten's own works placed alongside music by some of the composers he most admired (such as Schubert and Faure), his contemporaries (including Finzi, Tippett and Grace Williams) and a handful of present day British composers who carry on the song-writing tradition with which Britten is so closely associated.

A deck of cards and the games played with them can represent rules, skills, symbols, mythologies, signs and characters. Using this concept, international director and theatrical master Robert Lepage has created a quartet of plays that focus on the meaning behind the cards; each play is shaped around one suit and what that suit represents. Playing Cards 1: Spades will be the first in the series and, exploring the theme of war, will juxtapose two desert cities at the time when the United States invaded Iraq. Based in Las Vegas, a caricature of the Western World and its values, it delves into a world of illusions, escape and private battles with a heavy dose of sex, drugs, violence and politics. Bets are on as to how the story will play out in Sin City.

Described as "un peu shocking", 'The Vortex' was Noel Coward's first great success. Its dark plot focuses on drug abuse among the upper classes and a tense relationship between Florence, a highly sexed mother and Nicky, her cocaine addicted son. With Nicky struggling to deal with his cocaine addiction, the resentment he has for his mother and her extramarital affairs is on the verge of an explosive climax. Coward wrote the character of Nicky with the intention of casting himself and, like Coward, he was homosexual � a fact that had to be subtly conveyed due to attitudes at the time. Brimming with controversial topics, the notoriety attracted large audiences and encouraged the move from a small theatre to a West End stage. Now, after numerous successful revivals, 'The Vortex' is set to take the stage once more.

A selection of 70 highly finished watercolours, sepia drawings and pen and ink sketches by the classical scholar Edward Dodwell and the Italian artist Simone Pomardi are grouped together in an exhibition that examines the motivation for travel as well as its cultural consequences. Inspired by the journey the pair made through Greece in 1805-6 during the age of Enlightenment, these intriguing travel drawings range from beautiful rural landscapes to the striking antiquities of Greece, and include five vast panoramas measuring up to four metres in length.

Discover masterpieces from the last Ice Age drawn from across Europe in an exhibition 40,000 years in the making. Some of the world's oldest known sculptures, drawings and portraits - including a bison sculpted from mammoth ivory about 20,000 years ago - will be presented alongside modern works by Henry Moore, Mondrain and Matisse, to explore art as a form of communication and worldly understanding.

Over 150 vintage Man Ray prints, including works never before exhibited in the UK such as studies of Catherine Deneuve, Ava Gardner, and the American impersonator, high wire performer, and trapeze artist Barbette, can be seen at the National Portrait Gallery. 'Man Ray Portrait''s, the first major museum retrospective of the artist's photographic portraits, highlights the role Man Ray played in the Dada and Surrealist movements and examines his friendship with French artist Marcel Duchamp. Featuring photographs taken between 1916 and 1968, the exhibition shows Man Ray's revolutionary photographic techniques such as solarisation - evident in his own 'Self-Portrait with Camera' - and experiments with colour in the 1950s. The exhibition reveals the wide variety of his subjects - famous stars, friends, lovers and contemporaries - and closes with his 1968 portrait of film star Catherine Deneuve in which she wears the twisted gold 'lampshade' earrings the artist designed.

Multitalented Aussie Rolf Harris has been adopted by Britain and become legendary for his artwork, TV presenting, and silly songs, not forgetting his love of the wobble board. This February, the eccentric entertainer will be stopping by the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall for an evening of unique family entertainment. The audience can expect plenty of sing along opportunities as he'll be performing classic songs 'Stairway to Heaven', 'Tie me Kangaroo Down, Sport', 'Sun Arise' and 'Two Little Boys'. He'll also paint live on stage, be joined by a seven-piece band and play possibly one of the biggest didgeridoos in the world. Strewth, now that's what you call a variety show!

Northern Irish indie band Two Door Cinema Club revelled in success after their 2010 debut album 'Tourist History' achieved platinum status in the UK and Ireland, was awarded the Choice Music Prize and sold over 1 million copies worldwide. With the pressure on to record that 'difficult second album', they released the highly anticipated 'Beacon' in 2012. Recorded in LA with acclaimed producer Jacknife Lee, this album showcased a more mature sound for the collective and, as described by the BBC, "takes all the greatest components of its predecessor, armour-plates them and gears itself up for a much more immediate impact". With two successful albums under their belt, the trio are coming to London twice in 2013 to perform for their ever growing fan base. The second concert takes place at Alexandra Palace in April.

Ninety nine per cent of all species to have graced the Earth are extinct - does that mean we are fighting a lost cause? Asking whether extinction could mean a new start as opposed to an irrevocable end, this highly topical exhibition uses the latest scientific findings to study the real risks to today's endangered species. Will the tiger and orangutan soon go down the same road as the dodo and the dinosaurs - or can we solve the enigma of extinction? Using astonishing images, real specimens and interactive installations, this Natural History Museum exhibition brings to life lost species such as giant deer, eerie insects and super-sized birds, and tells the remarkable stories of the survivors of mass extinctions.

The BFI continues its monthly countdown to November's 50th anniversary of 'Doctor Who' with a Saturday afternoon screening of the episode that most ardent fans cite as the true zenith of the Cybermen - the Doctor's most persistent enemies alongside the infamous Daleks. 'Tomb of the Cybermen' (1967) gave fans of the BBC science fiction drama the first taste of the show's second Doctor, Patrick Troughton, who reinvented the character as a mischievous and witty soul with unexpected steel beneath his apparent bonhomie. 'Who' addicts will delight in this episode, which delivers some key strands within the over arching mythology of the show. The screening will be followed by a guest Q&A.

Plan B, aka Ben Drew, has become much more than an east London rapper. Aside from his third studio album 'Ill Manors', Drew has released a film of the same name, starred in the remake of 'The Sweeney', supported his community at the BBC Radio 1 Academy and set up a charity. His debut album 'Who Needs Actions When You Got Words' was critically acclaimed but it took his 2010 work 'The Defamation of Strickland Banks' to boost his status. With soulful songs 'She Said' and 'Stay Too Long', the multiplatform star attracted a greater audience and gained top ten hits. However, his latest album offers political, heavy hip hop aimed at educating listeners on "David Cameron's broken Britain". Described by NME as "a one-man iPod shuffle", Plan B will stop by the O2 to perform his broad spectrum of musical offerings.

Scottish actor James McAvoy, who has enjoyed big screen success with 'Atonement' and 'The Last King of Scotland', stars as Macbeth in a new season at Trafalgar Studios, called 'Trafalgar Transformed', directed by Jamie Lloyd. The pair previously worked together when McAvoy last appeared on stage in 2009 in (the Olivier Award nominated) 'Three Days of Rain' at the Apollo Theatre which Lloyd also directed. For this production to be played in the round Shakespeare's darkest tale is played out in a dystopian Scotland brutalised by war. Design for all the plays in Jamie Lloyd's season is by Soutra Gilmour, who won the 2012 Evening Standard Award for Best Design.

By his own account, British designer Hussein Chalayan has never quite fitted in and he has chosen this as the topic of his School of Life Sunday Sermon on 10th February 2013. In this sermon at Conway Hall the designer who famously made fashion from furniture will share the projects that he calls his 'life studies' which he makes to help him understand the world. One such study investigates how national events transform our personal identities while another changes disgust to an appreciation of beauty. A revealing insight into the mind of one of the brightest creative talents working in the fashion industry today.

Chinese New Year in London is one of the most spectacular in the West with over 300,000 people taking part in the celebrations across the capital last year. This year, the Year of the Snake, Chinese New Year falls on 10th February 2013 and a number of festivities through Chinatown, Shaftesbury Avenue and Trafalgar Square will be taking place. Festivities usually begin at 10am with a parade which passes through Chinatown, Shaftesbury Avenue, Charing Cross Road and Rupert Street, before reaching its final destination of Trafalgar Square. An official opening ceremony then takes place in the square with speeches from special guests. Once officially opened, the real celebrations kick off with Dragon dancing, music and performances on the Trafalgar Square stage. Join the throng in a stall-covered Chinatown for fun and firecrackers on and around Gerrard Street, Lisle Street and Shaftesbury Avenue where there are impromptu parties, food stalls and lion dancing.

Michael Rosen, David Walliams and Judith Kerr are just some of the well known names taking part in the Southbank Centre's Imagine children's festival, a treat for the kids during the February half term. The annual children's literature festival offers two weeks' worth of activities and there's a huge amount to choose from... readings, storytelling, beat-boxing, poetry, puppet shows, comedy, just about everything. Children will get a chance to run the festival during Kids Takeover, have the opportunity to feature in performances, and play alongside the Philharmonic Orchestra. As well as appearances by leading children's writers, there's poetry hopscotch, music and magic for all ages. Much of it is free and you don't always need to book so just turn up and you can help build a giant 8 foot high book made out of Lego.

In celebration of Shrove Tuesday, pancake enthusiasts leg it down Dray Walk at The Old Truman Brewery near Brick Lane with a frying pan and a slab of batter for a relay race with a difference. All participants need for The Great Spitalfields Pancake Race is a team of four spirited souls dressed up in wacky costumes and armed with frying pans (pancakes are provided). Heats kick off at 12.30pm, followed by the finals and ceremonial prize giving (for the winners: an engraved frying pan, of course). There's an award for the best dressed team too so pick a theme and don the appropriate garb - however ridiculous. It's a really eccentric occasion made only better by the wandering clowns and string band playing in the background.

Through its free exhibition, 'Looking at the View', Tate Britain invites visitors to contemplate landscapes and the way artists have influenced our view of them over the last 300 years. Featuring works by artists as diverse as Tacita Dean, Julian Opie and JMW Turner, this exhibition, which consists entirely of works from the Tate collection, presents works from a sizeable stretch of time, drawing surprising parallels in the way artists have looked at the scenery that surrounds them.

Since becoming the first ever group to win the 'X Factor', Little Mix have been working hard to ensure they don't fall under the same umbrella as many previous unsuccessful winners. They seem to have succeeded with this mission so far as their winner's single 'Cannonball' topped both the UK and Irish singles charts, followed by another number one with 'Wings'. Their third single 'DNA' offered a more mature sound, showing potential growth for the foursome. With their debut studio album released in November 2012, they are now embarking on their first UK tour.

After his successful 2012 tour, 'Live and Unjudged', Brendan Cole is back to thrill audiences once more but this time he has a licence to do so. Known to be one of the most charismatic 'Strictly Come Dancing' professionals, 'Licence to Thrill' is set to be another dazzling show from the television star. With six world-class dancers and a 14 piece orchestra in tow, plus the musical direction of Barry Robinson, this 2013 tour will incorporate classical ballroom with feisty Latin dance and will offer music from across the ages to create an enjoyable show for everyone.

This year, the London Jazz Festival invites Salif Keita, known as 'The Golden Voice of Africa', to perform. Returning to London for the first time in two years, Keita is at the forefront of modern Malian music and has a distinctive musical voice. He combines rock, funk and jazz with West African griot traditions. The Evening Standard describes his voice as 'grainy and searing tenor, its power continues to drop jaws, cause goosebumps'.

"An elegant, mind-expanding refusal of the standard big-game retrospective," is how The New York Times described 'Rosemarie Trockel: A Cosmos' when it appeared in the city's New Musuem in October 2012. London's Serpentine Gallery now hosts the exhibition, juxtaposing works created in the last 30 years by this mid-career German artist with a range of objects and artworks created by others with whom she feels an affinity. Knitted paintings, often considered her signature style, are displayed along with ceramics and zoological specimens as well as artefacts by fellow artists including outsider artists like Morton Bartlett, James Castle and Judith Scott.

North Carolina acid jazz soul vocalist Jocelyn Brown returns to her favourite London haunt, Camden's Jazz Cafe, to head up three nights of dance classics. Best known for her '80s anthem 'Somebody Else's Guy', Brown is one of the world's most popular session queens and has collaborated with the diverse and contrasting talents of Luther Vandross, Better Midler, John Lennon, Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson (to name but a handful). The soul diva's immortal line "I've got the power" was sampled from her 1986 dance hit 'Love's Gonna Get You' by the electronic group Snap! for their worldwide hit, 'The Power', making Brown's powerful voice instantly recognisable to clubbers the world over.

The late Pina Bausch's Tanztheater Wuppertal returns to London after last summer's critically acclaimed 'World Cities 2012' season with two rarely performed works from the German choreographer's outstanding canon. 'Two Cigarettes in the Dark' (1985) looks at the monotony of life, while 'Vollmond' ('Full Moon') from 2006 sees Bausch create a completely unique world for the dancers on stage. If you missed these "inspired and committed dancers" (The Telegraph) last summer then this is an ideal opportunity to put things straight.

Homer's classic is vividly brought to life by The Paper Cinema with beautiful illustrations, live animation and masterful puppetry in "a delicately executed piece which is bound to delight" (The Telegraph). Follow the trials and tribulations of Odysseus during his seemingly interminable journey back to Ithaca following the Fall of Troy, through high seas and supernatural obstacles. Featuring the Cyclops, the Sirens and the slaying of the suitors, this is a truly original portrayal of these timeless gods, men and monsters, set against a wonderful live score.

Beginning in 17th century Covent Garden, 'Floriculture' tells the story of the cut flower trade from those early times, when the central London square was a flourishing fruit and veg market, to today's blooming £64 billion industry. The perfect way to spend Valentine's Day, the exhibition at the Garden Museum includes paintings which reveal the art of floristry and their symbolism. Not just pretty to look at, flowers play an important role in marriage, funerals and are often loaded with meaning. Examples used to illustrate changing tastes in floral design include the 1961 marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Kent and Shane Connolly's floral creations for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding in 2012.

The year is 1901 and the 19-year-old Pablo Picasso is a relatively unknown artist outside Barcelona. All this was about to change as this Courtauld Gallery exhibition reveals. Focusing on the remarkable story of the Spanish artist's breakthrough year, 'Becoming Picasso' gives visitors an opportunity to experience the artist's very first masterpieces which mark the beginnings of his famous 'blue period'. On 24th June 1901, Picasso's first major exhibition opened at a gallery on rue Lafitte in Paris, marking the beginning of Picasso's meteoric rise to becoming one of the greatest artists of the 20th century.

This spring, the Barbican celebrates Marcel Duchamp with 'Dancing Around Duchamp', a major cross-arts season which explores the work of the famous French Surrealist artist, his precursors, collaborators and those he influenced in music, dance, theatre, film and art. At the heart of the season is an exhibition at the Barbican Art Gallery, 'The Bride and the Bachelors: Duchamp with Cage, Cunningham, Rauschenberg and Johns', which features over 90 artworks, including some of Duchamp's readymades and iconic works by Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. The gallery will also host live and recorded performances of music by John Cage and dance by Merce Cunningham. Live shows take place on Thursday evenings and at the weekends; but even at other times the show promises to be a lively experience with soundscapes, and music from a remote-controlled grand piano.

'The Bride and the Bachelors: Duchamp with Cage, Cunningham, Rauschenberg and Johns' explores Marcel Duchamp's American legacy by tracing his relationship to four great modern artists - composer John Cage, dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham, and visual artists Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns. A central part of the Barbican's 'Dancing Around Duchamp' season, the art exhibition opens with Duchamp's enigmatic 1912 painting 'Bride', hanging on a Plexiglas wall, and features over 90 works across the disciplines of art, dance, and music - Duchamp's 'Bride' is flanked by Jasper Johns's nine drawings based on it and by Robert Rauschenberg's painting, 'Bride's Folly'. In summary, the show is really about "the rediscovery of Marcel Duchamp in the fifties by four great younger artists", according to fashion bible 'Vogue' magazine.

Alongside New York, Paris and Milan, London Fashion Week is one of the world's leading designer fashion showcases and it takes place in February and September at Somerset House. It features 200 of the industry's most creative designers and businesses, in the UK and internationally, with catwalk shows, exhibitions and award ceremonies. The Exhibition at Somerset House houses over 100 ready-to-wear and accessory designers and includes The Estethica stand which highlights the best in fair-trade and ethical design, while the NEWGEN stand (sponsored by TOPSHOP) picks out the finest up -and -coming designers. Over 5,000 visitors - fashion buyers, press and photographers - are expected and while events tend to be invite-only you can still spot top models and designers around town while it's on.

This winter, the English National Opera will be showing the first ever UK staging of Charpentier's dramatic full scale opera 'Medea'. One of the most disturbing of all the Greek myths, 'Medea' delves into the troubling world of a barbarian sorceress who has been banished, betrayed and besieged. Feeling lost and desperate, she uses witchcraft to poison her faithless lover and anyone he holds dear to him � even those who are also dear to her.� Opera director David McVicar returns to the ENO to take on this thrilling piece that, with its daring and psychological complexity, was incomparable to anything of its day.

BAFTA award-winning film director Joe Wright, known for 'Pride and Prejudice', 'Atonement' and 'Hanna', will make his theatre directing debut this year as he directs Arthur Wing Pinero's 'Trelawny of the Wells' at the Donmar Warehouse. Josie Rourke, the Donmar's artistic director as of 2012, describes the play as Pinero�s love letter to theatre and says, �it feels very apt that having grown up in a theatre, Joe should be directing 'Trelawny of the Wells'�. The play is an 1898 comic piece that tells the story of Rosie Trelawny, the shining star of a theatre company who gives it all up for love. However, once married, she is left with the stark reality of a life away from her beloved melodramas and recapturing her vivacious persona becomes something of a challenge. Wright will take on another theatre project later in the year with 'A Season in the Congo' at the Young Vic.

For the first time, Giovanni Battista Piranesi's fifteen highly resolved preparatory drawings of the three great Doric temples in Paestum, Sicily, are shown together in a focused exhibition which considers them as great works of art in their own right, as well as examining how they revolutionised architects' and artists' understanding of early Greek Classical architecture.

Following her Oscar-winning performance in the 2006 film 'The Queen', Helen Mirren is to reprise her role as Queen Elizabeth II in Peter Morgan's play 'The Audience'. For the past sixty years, private meetings have taken place between the Queen and each of her Prime Ministers. With an unspoken rule of utmost privacy, they provide a time for confession, advice and consoling � sometimes resulting in heated discussions and maybe even some teasing. The contract of this silence is about to be broken for the world premiere of this drama as the content, tone and the Queen's thoughts are to be imagined for a series of pivotal meetings - ranging from Churchill to Cameron.

The London Underground is not only famous for its ingenious concept and operation but also the artwork that features on the tunnel walls. Since its first graphic poster commission in 1908, the London Underground has commissioned countless outstanding poster designs and has become a pioneering patron of poster art. 'Poster Art 150' will exhibit 150 of the best designs - chosen by an independent panel - that have been displayed over the years. Well-known pieces such as Man Ray's 'Keeps London Going' pair will feature alongside lesser-known works. Visitors will be asked to vote for their favourite piece and the most popular one will be revealed at the end of the exhibition.

After a decade away from stand-up, the comedian, writer and actor Alan "Jonathan Creek" Davies continues his UK tour with these back to back weekend performances. Straightforward, autobiographical and brimming with "blokey-fogeyish bewilderment" and "droll close-to-home riffs about parenting" (The Telegraph), this nostalgic show sees the affable Davies plough through a raft of contrasting topics including the language employed by fellow Essex men, the imminent end of the world, social media, the London riots and his upbringing, touching even on the effect of his mother's death when he was six. During his absence from stand-up, Davies became a regular on the Stephen Fry-fronted 'QI'. Reviews of 'Life is Pain' seem to be pretty unanimous: the dunce from 'QI' is in fact QE - Quite Entertaining.

The 6th BFI Future Film Festival returns to the Southbank this February with a long weekend of workshops, masterclasses, networking opportunities, screenings and Q&As designed to inspire and develop your film knowledge and skills. Saturday focuses on fiction, Sunday is all about animation, and Monday delves into documentary. Young film makers are invited to submit their short films in each category for consideration at the Future Film Awards - the best will be shown in front of a panel of industry experts who will offer their advice and feedback. For anyone looking for a leg-up into the film business - whether you're advanced or a beginner, a writer or a producer - this is a must.

The Chiswick House camellia collection, housed in the spectacular conservatory, is a national treasure and the oldest in the Western world. Guests can also celebrate these beautiful blooms in the newly restored nineteenth century Italian Garden, which was replanted in 2012. Known as the queen of the winter flowers, the camellias at Chiswick bring a burst of glorious colour to season - from pinks to reds, whites to stripes.

Families are invited to spend an exclusive evening�in the magical Eltham Palace, the childhood home of Henry VIII. Enjoy a hearty supper, a late night tour and a storytelling session before bed, and then a full English breakfast the next morning. Steeped in history, Eltham Palace is one of London's secret wonders, a captivating blend of 1930s art deco decadence and classic medievalism.

Fighting fit from sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, this one-woman show certainly packs a punch. Chloe from Leytonstone, East London, is like most 21-year-olds: she loves singing along to Rihanna, winding her dad up and cherry Sambuca. Oh, and she's a boxer. Down the road in Stratford, women step into the Olympic ring for the very first time. With London 2012 acting as an inspiring backdrop, Chloe trains for the fight of her life - just when she's left winded by two life changing events. "Sweat-slick and tough, yet sweet and gifted with terrific timing," says The Times.

The biggest music event in Britain's calendar, The Brit Awards is returning to the O2 Arena for 2013 Justin Timberlake joining the likes of Robbie Williams, Muse, Mumford & Sons and Emeli Sande to perform on stage. This year, Mercury Prize winners Alt-J feature heavily on the nominations list after their debut album 'An Awesome Wave' reaped success. Alt-J, Mumford & Sons, and singer/songwriter Emeli Sande are tipped to be the most likely to win with three nominations each. James Corden hosts once again - despite some complaints last year when he cut short Adele's speech. The 'Rumour Has It' singer claimed two awards last year, for Best British Female Solo Artist and the prestigious Mastercard British Album of the Year, while Ed Sheeran also picked up two awards in 2012: Best British Male Solo Artist and Best British Breakthrough Act.

To celebrate the re opening of the wonderful Wilton's Music Hall following much needed repairs, Peter Joucla's Tour de Force Theatre production of 'The Great Gatsby' returns to the enchanting East End venue for a six week run. The immersive adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's great American novel was a sell-out success during its first run last May, described by The Telegraph as "an unashamed nostalgia party for a world we never knew". The audience are encouraged to dapperly dress in their '20s best for this night of jazz, glitz and Prohibition themed decadence at the Wilton's speakeasy. There's no better way to get geared up for the belated summer release of Baz Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby' movie.

The most breath taking and inspiring collection of adventure, action sports and environmental films returns to the UK for a fourth adrenaline-packed year in 2013. The bumper week-long London leg of the annual Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour comes to the Union Chapel for seven nights of mind-blowing films, shorts and documentaries paying homage to the great outdoors. Showcasing remote landscapes, vibrant cultures and extreme sports such as hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, paragliding and kayaking, the festival draws on some of the world's best film makers and accomplished outdoor heroes to celebrate the wonders of the natural world through film. Suitable for dreamers, adventurers, environmentalists and anyone prone to wanderlust, this festival basks in exhilarating imagery from some of Earth's last great wild places.

The very essence of Spain and the secrets of Seville are served up in this acclaimed in the round production of the world's most popular opera. Raymond Gubbay's take on Bizet's 'Carmen' returns to the Royal Opera House for a limited run of 14 performances, telling the story of a captivating love triangle between Carmen, a fiery gypsy girl, her hapless prison guard Don Jose, and the glamorous bullfighter Escamillo. Brimming with passion and jealousy, Bizet's rich and timeless score contains some of opera's finest and most recognisable arias - including 'Song of the Toreador' and 'Flower Song'.

In 1964, Lichtenstein became the first American to exhibit at the Tate Gallery, and in 2013 the American pop artist reunites with the London gallery for the first time since it staged his 1968 show when people were queuing round the block. Tate Modern reveals the pop artist's hidden side in 'Lichtenstein: A Retrospective', "the biggest Lichtenstein show since the Guggenheim staged a retrospective in 1993 when the artist was still alive" (The Guardian). Alongside instantly recognisable pop art images - including 'Whaam!', one of the most popular artworks at Tate Modern - are less well-known early abstract expressionist paintings which may take visitors by surprise. The scale of his work is sometimes overwhelming; take the enormous 1988 version of the 'Laocoon'; or 'Interior with Waterlilies', painted in 1991, which is a vast painting at more than four metres wide and approximately three metres high. Queues are likely, once again, for this Lichtenstein exhibition which shows works from private collections, some of which usually hang in collectors' bedrooms, alongside monumental paintings, comic book art, sculptures, abstracts and close to 50 works on paper taken from 70 boxes of works to which curators have never before been given access.

Following a two year hiatus to focus on side projects, British band Bloc Party reformed in 2011 and finally released their fourth studio album in 2012. Aptly named 'Four' the album title represents both the placement in the band's discography and the four year gap since their last album. Established as an indie rock band, the four-piece experimented with R&B styles for their second album 'A Weekend in the City' while also incorporating electronic music. Having always indulged in guitar rock, they have stepped away from electro and moved back to their original roots for this fourth album. The BBC states, "Bloc Party sounds full of potential where just four years ago they sounded depleted. Indeed, Four may be 2012's most exciting guitar album." The London-based four-piece will stop by Earls Court this February to perform new tracks as well as classics from their previous records.

They've conquered the UK, cracked America and invaded girls' hearts worldwide, now British boy band sensation One Direction are coming to London for eight nights as part of their 2013 world tour. With the 'X Factor' a distant memory, the five heartthrobs have exploded onto the music scene since their infectious 2011 debut single 'What Makes You Beautiful'. They've also won several awards and released two studio albums - the first of which was the UK's fastest selling debut album of 2011. Whether it's for their musical talents or simply their boyish good looks, it can't be denied that the five-piece are currently winning the popularity contest in the music industry.

Electronic hip hop, house and grime at Earls Court from the chart-topping London-based rapper and singer-songwriter Example, born Elliot John Gleave, in support of his newest album 'The Evolution Of Man'. After a quiet period surrounding his first record, Example shot to fame in 2009 with his second album 'Won't Go Quietly' and has since released 2011's 'Playing In The Shadows', which went to number one in the UK album charts. He has collaborated with artists such as Professor Green, Wretch 32, Giggs and Calvin Harris. Expect the crowd to be wowed by popular tracks such as 'Kickstarts', 'Changed The Way You Kiss Me' and 'Stay Awake'.

England take on France in the third round of the Six Nations tournament at Twickenham with the visitors eager to avenge last season's narrow 24-22 defeat at the Stade de France last year. This will be Stuart Lancaster's England's second home game of the tournament and it comes two weeks after what will no doubt be a fiercely contested game against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Games between England and France are traditionally ferocious affairs - and the French will be looking to bounce back after finishing last year's tournament in lowly fourth place.

The London Super Comic Convention brings the US comic convention to London. A vast number of US and UK creators will be attending, turning the ExCeL Centre into heaven for any lover of comic books. With fanatics invited to dress up as their favourite characters, and the chance to get comics signed by artists and writers, this two day event will be bringing comic books to life. Creators attending the event include living legend Neal Adams, responsible for rescuing Batman from the campy TV show of the '60s and transforming him into his present persona; J Scott Campbell, known for his exceptional work on the cover of the Amazing Spider-man; and Simone Bianchi, who found his big break in 2004 when he worked on Grant Morrison's 'Seven Soldiers: Shining Knight'. There will, of course, also be the chance to purchase new comic books to enhance any collection.

The country faces an economic crisis and there's a hung parliament. If you are a sick MP you're still expected to make your way through the lobby to cast your vote. There are fist fights a-plenty in the Westminster bars, and the parties' whips bend the rules, but not all the time. Following a successful run at National Theatre's Cottesloe, James Graham's 1974-set drama now transfers to the Olivier. Based in the engine rooms of Westminster, the play strips back politics and takes a brutal but humorous look at Britain's government. "There's tremendous fun here, as Graham contrasts the ancient rituals of parliament with the grubby realities of party politics" (The Guardian).

Although often treated by top Premier League managers as a chance to give their reserve team a run-out, the Football League Cup has been won by the likes of powerhouses Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool in recent years - underlining Sir Alex Ferguson's claim that the trophy is still "a pot worth winning". Liverpool are the current holders, having beaten Championship side Cardiff City on penalties last year after a thrilling 2-2 draw at Wembley Stadium. Funnily enough, it was a missed penalty by Cardiff's Anthony Gerrard - cousin of Liverpool captain Steven - which sealed the win for the Reds in front of 89,000 fans.

A cricket match between celebrities in February does admittedly sound rather foolish - but it's all in the name of charity and good fun. Played at the resplendent Bank of England Sports Ground in Roehampton, this annual clash usually sees TV darling Chris Tarrant and Sky Sports presenter Max Rushden captain the 'Luvvies XI' and 'Broadcasting XI' with guaranteed play - whatever the weather. Last year, the actor Jim Carter (Mr Carson from 'Downton Abbey') and John Altman ("Nasty" Nick Cotton from 'EastEnders') bowled the first balls while journalist Damian Radcliffe was man of the match for the winning Broadcasters team. It's free admission for spectators with auctions, a raffle, book stall and children's lucky dip raising money for the Twickenham-based David Adams Leukaemia Appeal Fund in aid of The Royal Marsden Hospital. A licensed bar serves hot and cold food and drinks - probably hot, given the time of year. Howzat for a winter Sunday's entertainment?

It's been two centuries since 'The Barber of Seville' made its premiere - and Rossini's masterful prequel to 'The Marriage of Figaro' remains as popular as ever. This 25th anniversary ENO revival sees conductor Jaime Martin making his operatic debut, adding a suitably Hispanic touch to the tuneful, ironic and uproariously funny production. Bronze-voiced baritone Benedict Nelson stars as Figaro, charismatic soprano Lucy Crowe returns as the feisty Rosina, while Andrew Shore reprises his "classic portrayal" (The Guardian) of Doctor Bartolo.

The creators of 'Southpark', Trey Parker and Matt Stone, have turned their satirical eyes to the cheery world of musicals. With a helping hand from the composer of 'Avenue Q' (Robert Lopez), this ballsy comedy has collected an obscene amount of Tony Awards and lands in London at the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2013. The plot follows two fresh faced young Mormon Missionaries who find themselves posted to Uganda; humour ensues as they follow their faith through some fairly trying situations. With quick witted references to the musical genre, and its own set of well-crafted tunes, 'The Book of Mormon' looks set to breathe fresh air into the West End theatre scene. The unique brand of humour was a big hit across the pond but some themes verge on the downright rude and this show is certainly not for the easily offended.

At the tender age of 18, Jake Bugg has already firmly established himself as an incredibly talented songwriter. Having rejected his friends' proposition to audition for 'Britain's Got Talent', stating "it doesn't seem genuine", Bugg proceeded to go it alone and his determination paid off. The singer-songwriter's self-titled debut album draws on his experiences from growing up in Clifton, the UK's former largest housing estate, and offers some poignant and wistful lyrics. NME gave the album an impressive review and described it as "%u2026rife with uncommon wit, insight and melody". Having already found fans in Noel Gallagher and The Stone Roses, Bugg's future is looking bright. The young star will be stopping by Shepherd's Bush Empire this February to showcase his talents.

When envisioning a ballet dancer most people will likely draw upon an image of a girl who resembles an English Rose. Stepping away from this stereotype, Ballet Black is a professional ballet company dedicated to international dancers of black and Asian descent. Aiming to bring ballet to a more culturally diverse audience, their intention is to see an increase in the number of black and Asian dancers in mainstream ballet companies and, as a result, reducing the need for their company. Returning for another season, Ballet Black is set to showcase another mesmerising programme at the Royal Opera House. 

Sixteen spectacular altarpieces by Italian artist Federico Barocci go on display at the National Gallery in an impressive collection of works by the late 16th century artist who once created a fresco for the Casino of Pope Pius IV at the Vatican. 'Barocci: Brilliance and Grace' gives visitors a chance to see his important altarpieces, devotional paintings and portraits alongside preparatory drawings and oil sketches. Barocci, a native of Urbino in central Italy, is best represented by his Marchigian altarpieces, including the famous 'Entombment' from Senigallia on Italy's Adriatic coast and 'Last Supper' from Urbino Cathedral, which are being shown outside Italy for the first time. Noted for his skill as a portrait artist, Barocci often took inspiration from the people and animals around him, and his prolific studies attest to the time he spent on preparation.

Hoping for a pleasant break from his life in Moscow, Kolia visits his oldest friends on their estate in the country. Upon arrival, the comedy of provincial life unravels around him and he is caught amongst false expectations, missed opportunities and unspoken passions. Adapted by William Boyd, the play is based on two short stories by Anton Chekhov and delves into the familiar and unfamiliar aspects of nineteenth century Russian life. 'Longing' will see Nina Raine return to the Hampstead Theatre following her critically acclaimed transfer to the West End for 'Jumpy' and 'Tribes'.