January in London 2013

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London Short Film Festival

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London Short Film Festival
Cirque de Soleil – Kooza
Photography by Patrick Baldwin
Ockham's Razor perform Not Until We Are Lost
London Boat Show
Alt-J
Donny and Marie
Rocky Horror Show 40th Anniversary Tour
Rocky Horror Show 40th Anniversary Tour
LOCO: London Comedy Film Festival
Feast
The Railway, 1873, National Gallery of Art, Washington
Interior at Arcachon, 1871, Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute
In the Beginning was the End
Vincent Simone & Flavia Cacace, picture credit Manuel Harlan
United Micro Kingdoms (UmK) - A Design Fiction
United Micro Kingdoms (UmK) - A Design Fiction
LAR Armchair designed by Charles Eames, 1948
Onegin
Rupert Everett in 'The Judas Kiss'
Old Times
A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings
Juergen Teller: Woo
The First Doctor: An Unearthly Child
Stand Up For Women
NBA London Live 2013
The London Bike Show
Di and Viv and Rose
Gerard Byrne: A State of Neutral Pleasure
Tango Fire: Flames of Desire
Quartermaine's Terms
London A Cappella Festival
Light Show
No Quarter
Silence of the Sea
Port
A Thousand Slimy Things
Silent Opera
LIFT
Sinead O'Connor
RAF Photographer  of the Year
London Underground Afternoon Tea
The Black Cat Cabaret
 

 

January in London sees Rupert Everett reprise his role as Oscar Wilde, Sinéad O'Connor perform her new works and Alt-J, the band of 2012, play their first two of four London gigs. Cirque Du Soleil also return with another spellbinding performance, the Rocky Horror Show celebrates its 40th anniversary and the capital hosts the first major UK exhibition of portraiture by Edouard Manet.

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A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings

A charming puppet show that appeals to adults and children alike.

Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, London, N1 2DN

Tube: Angel Station

 

Dates: 26th November - 29th January 2017

 

Gabriel Garcia Marquez's magical tale is brought to life in a spellbinding collaboration between the Little Angel puppet theatre and storytelling masters, Kneehigh. This "rewarding, mature show" is "quietly charming and visually ravishing" (The Guardian), a treat for both children and adults. The beautifully crafted puppets and wondrous design stand out in a modern fable about fame and fortune, miracles that soar, and how quickly everything can come down to earth with a bump.

 
 
 

London Short Film Festival

Celebrating UK independent film, the festival returns for its 10th year.

 

The London Film Short Festival, the premiere UK showcase for cutting edge UK independent film, celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2013 and so expect a bumper programme of daring cross-arts shorts from the very best of the country's raw talent. Described by The Guardian as "the best short film festival in the world", LSFF is renowned for its crazy, avant garde and challenging offerings in an array of venues across town – including the ICA, Curzon Soho, Hackney Picturehouse, Roxy Bar and the Cine Lumiere. This really is a buzzing, edgy and often decadent event from start to finish, accompanied by training sessions, drunken bashes, live music and awards.

 
 
 

Cirque de Soleil – Kooza

Thrills, chills and surprises galore, this show is a display of extraordinary physical talent.

Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AP

Tube: South Kensington Station

 

Dates: 05th January - 03rd February 2013

 

The Montreal based troupe has made the Royal Albert Hall something of a home -from -home and they return once again to the iconic venue for their sensational new show, 'Kooza'. Praised as a return to form and simplicity, 'Kooza' has a wonderfully retro feel and combines two circus traditions - acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. Otherworldly, mystical, garishly colourful and intimate, 'Kooza' tells the story of the Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world. There are thrills, chills and surprises galore as the contortionists, trapeze artists and acrobats test the limits of human performance – most notably with the show-stopping Wheel of Death. The Innocent's compelling journey brings him into contact with a whole raft of comic characters such as the King, the Trickster, the Pickpocket and a life size Bad Dog.

 
 
 

Trog, Flook – and Humph too!

The work of cartoonist Wally Fawkes is put on display

The Cartoon Museum, 63 Wells Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 3AE

Tube: Tottenham Court Road Station , Holborn Station

 

Dates: 07th January - 10th March 2013

 

The work of Wally Fawkes or ‘Trog’ as the cartoonist for the Daily Mail, Punch, the Observer and the Sunday Telegraph was known, is displayed at this Cartoon Museum exhibition. As well as creating the comic strip character ‘Flook’, he drew cartoons of 'Humph' – Humphrey Lyttelton, the famous voice of BBC radio programme 'I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue' who was also Wally's close friend, a fellow jazz musician and cartoonist. Cartoons by both are displayed until 10th March.

 
 
 

The Sleeping Beauty

A spellbinding revival of the classic ballet.

London Coliseum - English National Opera (ENO), St Martin's Lane, Covent Garden, London, WC2N 4ES

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

 

Dates: 06th - 16th June 2018

 

An enchanted world of castles and curses, forests and fairies returns to the West End with a new awakening of 'The Sleeping Beauty'. When an evil witch places a curse upon Princess Aurora, it dooms her to a premature death on her 16th birthday. The kind Lilac Fairy succeeds in counteracting this curse and instead sends the Princess into a deep sleep for a hundred years; but, in a fateful twist, only the touch of true love's kiss can save her. Will Prince Charming awaken her in time? With choreography by Kenneth MacMillan, beautiful costume design from Nichols Georgiadis and some of Tchaikovsky's best loved ballet music, including 'Rose Adagio' and the music for 'Once Upon a Dream' in Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty', this revival of the classic tale is set to be spellbinding.

 
 
 
 

London Underground Afternoon Tea

The Park Lane Hotel, 1 Piccadilly, Mayfair, London, W1J 7BX

Tube: Green Park Station , Hyde Park Corner Station

 

Dates: 09th January - 10th February 2013

 

Celebrating the Tube's 150th Anniversary, The Park Lane Hotel has created a special London Underground Afternoon Tea. Running for a limited time, the tea will be held in the Palm Court, the hotel's famed Art Deco Lounge, and takes inspiration from the famous tube network. Diners will be treated to a sumptuous menu that will take them on a journey through the underground tunnels. The selection includes a honey roast ham (for Paddington Bear) toasted muffin, served with 'Piccadily' relish and cress; an egg, crème fraiche, sun blushed tomato and watercress 'London Bridge' roll; and a 'Royal Oak'-smoked salmon, capers and sour cream bagel. Diners can also choose from a number of scones and pastries, each of which are in honour of a tube station: hazelnut pound cake (Bank), orange Victoria sponge (Victoria) and white chocolate Oreo Swiss roll (Swiss Cottage). All of which will be served with a Metropolitan 1863 cocktail, a blend of Beefeater 24 gin and blackcurrant tea.

 
 
 

The Judas Kiss

A tale of betrayal that focuses on two pivotal points in Oscar Wilde's final years.

Duke of York's Theatre, St Martins Lane, Covent Garden, London, WC2N 4BG

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

 

Dates: 09th January - 06th April 2013

 

Rupert Everett reprises his role as Oscar Wilde, alongside rising star Freddie Fox as Lord Alfred Douglas, as David Hare's 1998 play transfers to the West End following an acclaimed run at the Hampstead Theatre last year. Neil Armfield's revival of 'The Judas Kiss' focuses on two pivotal points in Oscar Wilde's final years - the eve of his arrest at Cadogan Hall and a night in Naples after his release from prison - and is a tale of betrayal, downfall and sacrifice for love. Convinced by his petulant lover, Lord Alfred, ever -romantic Wilde decides against fleeing the country and instead remains to face arrest and a journey to self destruction. Following two years of imprisonment, Wilde reunites with Lord Alfred and is struck by yet more heartbreak.

 
 
 

London International Mime Festival

A number of venues showcase contemporary visual arts from around the world.

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London, SE1 8XX

Tube: Waterloo Station , Embankment Underground Station

 

Dates: 10th - 27th January 2013

 

If you thought mime was all about white faced clowns continually plagued by invisible glass and very strong winds, this will make you think again. Taking place at top arts venues across London - including the Barbican, Jacksons Lane, Roundhouse, and the Southbank - the festival brings contemporary visual arts from around the world to London. It's packed with some of the freshest and most inventive physical theatre, dance, circus, puppetry and live art. Selected highlights include: the Israeli artist, Amit Drori, who takes the audience on a journey to an imaginary 'Savanna'; aerial specialists Ockham's Razor who return with 'Not Until We Are Lost'; and Chinese-born puppeteer Yeung Fai who presents 'Hand Stories', a show that covers more than half a century of Chinese history.

 
 
 

Silence of the Sea

Powerful drama that highlights the strength of the human spirit.

Trafalgar Studios, 14 Whitehall, Westminster, London, SW1A 2DY

Tube: Charing Cross Station , Embankment Underground Station

 

Dates: 10th January - 02nd February 2013

 

Anthony Weigh adapts 'Silence of the Sea' by Vercors for the Trafalgar Studios this January. When a German soldier is billeted to a home occupied by an old Frenchman and his niece, they are powerless to turn him away so they use silence as a weapon. Resisting acknowledgement of the officer, they are fighting their own battle against the German occupiers. However, the officer is in fact dreaming of brotherhood between the French and Germans. This powerful drama examines the dilemmas of both sides and highlights the testament that the original novel gives to the power of the human spirit.

 
 
 

No Quarter

Jeremy Herrin directs Polly Stenham's new play.

Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, Belgravia, London, SW1W 8AS

Tube: Sloane Square Station

 

Dates: 11th January - 09th February 2013

 

Robin looks for sanctuary in the remote family homestead and in his music in Polly Stenham's new play 'No Quarter' which opens in the Jerwood Theatre upstairs at Royal Court Theatre on 11th January 2013. But everything around him is crumbling and he wonders what the cost will be to save it all. Tom Sturridge, Maureen Beattie and Zoe Boyle (who played Lavinia Swire in TV drama 'Downton Abbey'), appear in the drama which is directed by Jeremy Herrin. It will be a homecoming of sorts for playwright Polly Stenham whose debut play 'That Face', written when she was just 19, received its world premiere in 2007 at the Royal Court. Its subsequent transfer to the Duke of York's made her the youngest playwright on the West End since Christopher Hampton in 1966.

 
 
 
 

The First Doctor: An Unearthly Child

Countdown to the Doctor's 50th anniversary.

BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, South Bank, South Bank, London, SE1 8XT

Tube: Waterloo Station , Embankment Underground Station

 

Dates: 12th January 2013

 

'Doctor Who' marks its 50th anniversary in November 2013 and the BFI starts its countdown to this landmark with a Saturday afternoon screening of the first ever episode of the BBC science fiction drama. William Hartnell stars in the title role in this opening story from 1963 which introduces the Doctor, his fantastic time machine - the Tardis - and his first human companions, Ian and Barbara. The screening will be followed by a guest Q&A.

 
 
 

London Boat Show

The annual celebration of boats and water crafts returns to London.

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

Tube: Canning Town Station

 

Dates: 04th - 12th January 2014

 

Ahoy there! London's biggest exhibition of boats and water crafts of all kinds returns - featuring 500 exhibitors showcasing anything from 1.4 -metre sailing dinghies to 37 metre tri-deck motor yachts. Visitors can also take part in a range of thrilling watersports activities such as kayaking, windsurfing and wakeboarding in a special Action Pool. With displays ranging from indoor canoeing to sailing, tall ships, historic vessels and a marina full of some the largest exhibitor boats in production (at the Royal Victoria Dock), it's set to be an action packed event with all hands on deck - if that kind of thing floats your boat. The event coincides with The London Bike Show, The Outdoors Show and The Active Travel Show and one ticket gets you into all four.

 
 
 

Old Times

Kristen Scott Thomas and Lia Williams alternate lead roles in Pinter's emotional play.

 

Rufus Sewell, Kristin Scott Thomas and Lia Williams play Kate, Anna and Deeley in 'Old Times', Harold Pinter's emotionally wrought three-hander directed by Ian Rickson which plays at the London theatre recently renamed after the playwright. Set in a farmhouse, married couple Deeley and Kate chat about an impending visit from Kate's old friend and roommate Anna, whom they haven't seen for 20 years. But as the three old friends recall their early days in London and reminisce, underlying sexual tensions reignite. In an unusual twist, Kristin Scott Thomas and Lia Williams alternate the roles of Anna and Kate so leading man Rufus Sewell will be kept on his toes.

 
 
 

RAF Photographer of the Year

Shortlisted images from the competition are put on display.

RAF Museum, Grahame Park Way, Hendon, London, NW9 5LL

Tube: Colindale Station

 

Dates: 12th January - 30th April 2013

 

The Royal Air Force Photographer of the Year competition has run for 23 years, in recognition of the skills and talent of the Royal Air Force photographers, and from January 2013 you can see the shortlisted images at the Royal Air Force Museum in north west London. The 'Milestones of Flight' exhibition features photographs taken by serving personnel, giving the public behind the scenes access to the lives of the RAF, both at home and in the field, with the images beamed onto glass panels.

 
 
 

Science Night

The museums hosts a fun and educational sleepover.

Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2DD

Tube: South Kensington Station

 

Dates: 12th January - 07th December 2013

 

Youngsters aged 7 to 13 sleep over at the Science Museum where they can experience exciting hands-on workshops and 3D films while sleeping among the museum's amazing exhibits. It will all be under the watchful eye of experienced staff who will make your visit fun and educational, and then steer you towards a tasty breakfast in the morning. Science Nights in 2013 are on : 12th January, 20th April, 18th May, 6th July, 12th October, 23rd November and 7th December.

 
 
 
 

Stand Up For Women

Comedians take to the stage in support of women's charity, Eaves.

Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1H 0AH

Tube: Euston Square Station , Euston Station, Warren Street Station

 

Dates: 14th January 2013

 

Beat the January blues with a star-studded comedy line-up in support of Eaves, the women's support charity. Brought together by self-proclaimed feminist, writer and comedian James Mullinger, the likes of Shappy Khorsandi ('Live At The Apollo'), Isy Suttie ('Peep Show'), Sara Pascoe ('The Thick of It') and Shazia Mirza ('Have I Got News For You') join an incredible cast of comedians that also includes the bafflingly brilliant anti-comic Ed Aczel.

 
 
 

London Art Fair

Covering the last 100 years of British art, this exhibition offers works from as little as £20.

Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 0QH

Tube: Angel Station

 

Dates: 22nd - 26th January 2020

 

Now in its 25th year, the London Art Fair shows no sign of losing its cutting edge. Whether you're buying or just looking you'll have over a hundred of London's best galleries to look through. The stunning works on display cover the last 100 years or so of British art. With prices going as low as £20 it's an interesting exhibition for the amateur collector as well as the professional. There are two additional shows within the show: 'Art Projects', showcasing galleries from the UK, New York, Germany and Ireland and 'Photo50', where 50 contemporary photographs from the UK and international galleries are featured in a curated exhibition - this year Nick Hackworth, director of Paradise Row takes the helm.

 
 
 

NBA London Live 2013

The New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons come to London.

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

Tube: North Greenwich Station

 

Dates: 17th January 2013

 

The New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons head to London to play a regular season game as the NBA London Live returns to the O2. This is the second time in three seasons that the NBA has headed to London following back to back matches in 2010 between the Toronto Raptors and the New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets. Last year's scheduled match-ups between the Orlando Magic and the Nets fell victim to the NBA lockout - so London's basketball fans should be well up for this one. Three-time NBA champions Detroit Pistons have a new coach in Lawrence Frank but the young and inexperienced team are in a state of flux and playing their debut game on European soil. Meanwhile, two-time winners the Knicks boast prolific scorers Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler from the Olympic Gold medal-winning US squad.

 
 
 

Sinéad O’Connor

The singer-songwriter performs heartfelt classics and new works.

LSO St Luke's, 161 Old Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1V 9NG

Tube: Old Street Station

 

Dates: 17th January 2013

 

The Glenageary-born singer-songwriter performs alt-pop and new wave folk-rock with her 7-piece band on her 'Crazy Baldhead' tour. O'Connor hit the height of fame in the '80s with heartfelt classics like the lovelorn ballad 'Nothing Compares 2 U', and now presents her latest works from a career spanning 25 years. Praise for her latest album, 'How About I Be Me (And You Be You)', shows a welcome return to form: "The Irish songbird's best album in years" notes the BBC, and "feisty, fresh and confident" writes The Independent.

 
 
 

The Outdoors Show | The London Bike Show | The Active Travel Show

The three events coincide with The London Boat Show for one giant group event.

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

Tube: Canning Town Station

 

Dates: 13th - 16th February 2014

 

All three shows coincide with The London Boat Show at the ExCeL Centre and one ticket gets you into all four. More than just a giant shopping opportunity, each exhibition showcases the latest equipment, hosts talks by experts in the field and gives visitors a chance to participate in outdoors activities. At The Active Travel Show you can get professional advice on how to plan a year out, the best ways to stay safe while abroad, and there’s even a chance to take on the indoor climbing wall.

 
 
 
 

Di and Viv and Rose

The witty play returns for a run on the theatre's main stage.

Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, London, NW3 3EU

Tube: Swiss Cottage Station

 

Dates: 17th January - 23rd February 2013

 

Di, Viv and Rose all met when they were 18 at university. They lived together, which was intense but fun, and they became a force not to be messed with. Together they felt unassailable. Fast forward a few years and life has thrown them some hurdles - what will these traumatic events do to their friendship? This witty play from Amelia Bullmore first took to the stage last year in the smaller downstairs theatre and now, due to its resounding success, it's back to be showcased on the main stage – the first play to see such a transfer. Starring Anna Maxwell Martin, Gina McKee and Tamzin Outhwaite; directed by Anna Mackmin.

 
 
 

Gerard Byrne: A State of Neutral Pleasure

The artist explores the way we understand the present by revisiting the past.

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

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

 

Dates: 17th January - 08th March 2013

 

With Irish artist and film installation specialist Gerard Byrne, you're never sure what you're going to get. Previous subjects include the Loch Ness Monster, the possible location of Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot' and the history of Minimalist art. This free exhibition at the Whitechapel once again sees Byrne explore the way we understand the present by revisiting the past, through a range of investigations spanning sexual politics and the actual production of the art object.

 
 
 

Alt-J

The band play their first two of four London gigs this year.

Shepherd's Bush Empire, Shepherd's Bush Green, London, W12 8TT

Tube: Goldhawk Road Station , Shepherd's Bush Market Station (Hammersmith and City Line), Shepherd's Bush Station (Central)

 

Dates: 18th - 19th January 2013

 

With their infectious genre hopping tunes, Alt-J fast became one of the most successful British bands of 2012. Their debut album 'An Awesome Wave' – a result of five years' work recorded while at university - won the Mercury music prize, they've played sold-out shows in the US and have charted in numerous European countries with their wonderfully complex singles 'Tessellate' and 'Matilda'. The Cambridge-based band has rebranded guitar music, offering a hybrid of electro-rock and indie-pop, as well as being influenced by hip hop and trip hop. Success seems to be snowballing for Alt-J, and 2013 is set to be another promising year. The band will also take to the stage at the O2 Brixton Academy in May.

 
 
 

The Turn Of The Screw

A spooky tale based on Henry James's late 19th-century ghost story.

Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, Islington, London, N1 1TA

Tube: Angel Station

 

Dates: 18th January - 16th March 2013

 

A new governess arrives to look after Miles and Flora in the stage adaptation of Henry James's late 19th-century ghost story 'The Turn Of The Screw', and she soon learns to care deeply for her two wards. Figures start to appear in the darkness, the house is haunted, and the governess must protect the children against these worrying dangers. The spooky tale, adapted by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, is directed by Lindsay Posner and stars Anna Madeley as the governess. Gemma Jones plays the housekeeper, Isabella Blake, Emilia Jones and Lucy Morton share the role of Flora, and 16-year-old Laurence Belcher plays her brother Miles.

 
 
 

Kris Martin

The Belgian conceptualist displays his latest work.

White Cube Mason's Yard, 25-26 Mason's Yard, Off Duke Street, St James's, London, SW1Y 6BU

Tube: Piccadilly Circus Station , Green Park Station

 

Dates: 18th January - 16th March 2013

 

Belgian conceptualist Kris Martin questions the notion of time and our desire with objects and interventions designed to provoke a state of mind. For instance, in 2007 he quite literally brought London's most famous art fair, 'Frieze', to a standstill when he announced a minute's silence over the microphone in a bid to draw the entire crowd's attention to the present moment. This latest exhibition of Martin's work at White Cube's Mason's Yard gallery furthers his on-going interest in the themes of destiny, chance, time and material transformation.

 
 
 
 

Onegin

John Cranko brings his distinctive version of Pushkin's work to London once again.

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

Tube: Covent Garden Station , Leicester Square Station

 

Dates: 19th January - 08th February 2013

 

John Cranko's adaptation of Alexander Pushkin's verse-novel 'Eugene Onegin' will once again take to the stage this year. Having choreographed the dances for Tchaikovsky's opera 'Onegin' in 1952, Cranko then created a distinctive version of Pushkin's work for the Stuttgart Ballet in 1965. The three act ballet of the same name uses powerful duets and an eclectic range of dance forms -  folk, modern, ballroom and acrobatic - to showcase the turbulent relationship between Eugene Onegin, Tatyana, her sister Olga and Olga's fiancé. Accompanied by Kurt Heinz Stolze's unique arrangement of Tchaikovsky's music, the piece is emotionally charged and showcases technical finesse.

 
 
 

The Rest is Noise

This ambitious year-long festival celebrates music of the 20th century.

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London, SE1 8XX

Tube: Waterloo Station , Embankment Underground Station

 

Dates: 19th January - 01st January 2014

 

One of the Southbank Centre's most ambitious classical music projects to date, 'The Rest is Noise' is a year-long festival that takes audiences on a chronological journey through music in the 20th century. Based on the 2007 book by Alex Ross, the series will bring the book to life through concerts, performances, films, talks and debates. The backbone of the festival will be provided by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, who will play more than 30 concerts to help with the storytelling and dramatisation of the most important musical, political and social moments of the 20th century. Jude Kelly, the Southbank Centre's Artistic Director, describes the festival as viewing 20th century music "through the prism of history with its revolutions and counter-revolutions, its major moral and philosophical upheavals around race, gender, faith, political credo and pacifism – and its new relationship to technology and artistic democracy."

 
 
 

Donny and Marie

The singing siblings bring a piece of Las Vegas to London.

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

Tube: North Greenwich Station

 

Dates: 20th January 2013

 

Singing siblings Donny and Marie Osmond bring their Las Vegas live show to London with this one night only performance at the O2 Arena to kick off a mini UK tour in celebration of five decades in the business. Backed by eight dancers and a nine piece band, the duo will run through a medley of unforgettable hits - including classics such as 'One Bad Apple', 'Paper Roses', 'Love Me For A Reason' and 'Crazy Horses'. Together, the Osmonds have recorded more than 70 albums and have topped the charts worldwide. They have also done wonders for the dental and tanning industries - not to mention, in all likelihood, Hollywood's big suppliers of Botox.

 
 
 

Rocky Horror Show 40th Anniversary Tour

The famous musical returns for more pelvis-thrusting action.

New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway, London, SW19 1QG

Tube: Wimbledon Station

 

Dates: 21st - 26th January 2013

 

Sharpen your stilettos for the rockiest ride of your life as the world's favourite musical comedy returns to the stage with a 40th anniversary UK tour starring the 'X Factor''s Rhydian and 'Emmerdale''s Roxanne Pallett. First performed in 1973 at the Royal Court Theatre, Richard O'Brien's famous musical - whose central character is a mad cross-dressing scientist - ran for almost 3,000 performances before closing in 1980 and features timeless classics such as 'Sweet Transvestite', 'Damn It Janet' and the pelvis-thrusting 'Time Warp'. The tour will also stop by London's Richmond Theatre in May.

 
 
 

Alexei Sayle

The comedian returns for his first full length show in over 16 years.

Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, Soho, London, W1D 3NE

Tube: Tottenham Court Road Station , Leicester Square Station

 

Dates: 21st January - 13th April 2013

 

The father of modern comedy, Alexei Sayle, returns with his first full length solo stand-up show in over 16 years. A key component in the alternative comedy circuit of the '80s, Sayle is just as much at home as a cynical political comic as he is performing physical comedy in the tradition of Spike Milligan and Monty Python. Renowned for his absurd and surreal riffs, Sayle promises a calmer second incarnation and comes to the Soho Theatre on the back of a sell-out tour of small UK venues testing out new material. "Still gobby and engagingly self-deprecating," says the Evening Standard, while The Times praises the loudmouth Liverpudlian for his "rare and wonderful" comic control.

 
 
 
 

Port

Award-winning play that celebrates courage and the human spirit.

National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre, South Bank, South Bank, London, SE1 9PX

Tube: Temple Station , Waterloo Station

 

Dates: 22nd January - 24th March 2013

 

Award winning playwright Simon Stephens is producing plays like there’s no tomorrow. With ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’, ‘Morning’, ‘A Doll’s House’ and ‘Three Kingdoms’ all taking to the stage last year, his Pearson Award-winning play ‘Port’ now comes to the National Theatre. Set between 1988 and 2002 and inspired by Stephens' childhood in Stockport, 'Port' starts with a pivotal moment when a young brother and sister are abandoned by their mother and left with a drunk of a father. Celebrating courage and the human spirit, it follows them over a 13 year period in the deprived shadows of Manchester.

 
 
 

Silent Opera

Audience members are invited to create their own bespoke theatrical experience.

Trinity Buoy Wharf, Orchard Place, Tower Hamlets, London, E14 0JY

Tube: Canning Town Station

 

Dates: 23rd January - 10th February 2013

 

Much like the silent disco concept, Silent Opera is an immersive experience in which spectators don a pair of wireless headphones and are allowed to roam freely through the performance space, following the story and creating their own bespoke theatrical experience. Following the successes of Puccini's 'La bohéme' and Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas', both performed in the tunnels beneath Waterloo station, Silent Opera's next project is a run of Monteverdi's 'L'Orfeo' at Trinity Buoy Wharf in East London, which tells the story of the mournful Orpheus travelling to the underworld to retrieve his beloved Eurydice after her untimely death. Further interactive innovations sees one audience member per night given the choice between two different endings. This is opera as you've never seen, heard or experienced it before.

 
 
 

Juergen Teller: Woo

Celebrity images, landscapes and family portraits taken by the German photographer are displayed.

Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), 12 Carlton House Terrace, The Mall, St James's, London, SW1Y 5AH

Tube: Piccadilly Circus Station , Charing Cross Station

 

Dates: 23rd January - 17th March 2013

 

German-born photographer Juergen Teller, who has lived and worked in London since 1986, is the subject of a major solo exhibition at the ICA this month. Considered one of the most important photographers of his generation, Teller has seen success in both the commercial and art world. For the past fourteen years, Teller has been working with Marc Jacobs on his advertising campaigns and this exhibition takes visitors on a tour through his landmark fashion and commercial photography from the '90s. Alongside images of celebrities including Lily Cole, Kate Moss and Vivienne Westwood are more recent landscapes and family portraits.

 
 
 

Quartermaine’s Terms

Rowan Atkinson returns to the stage for the first time since 2009.

Wyndham's Theatre, Charing Cross Road, Soho, London, WC2H 0DA

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

 

Dates: 23rd January - 13th April 2013

 

Rowan Atkinson was last seen on stage in 2009 with his Olivier-nominated portrayal of Fagin in 'Oliver!'. The actor will now return to the West End to star in Simon Gray's 'Quartermaine's Terms'. A tragedy set in a 1960s English language school, it tells a moving account of several years in the lives of a seven teachers. Predominantly focusing on St John Quartermaine, an agreeable but hopeless teacher played by Atkinson, the quintessentially British drama takes a comical yet serious view of the teachers' stories and their tendency to treat Quartermaine as an agony uncle. However, despite being part of the furniture, his job is put under threat after the arrival of a new school Principal.

 
 
 

London A Cappella Festival

An eclectic line up of jazz, contemporary, beatbox and more.

Kings Place, 90 York Way, King's Cross, London, N1 9AG

Tube: King's Cross Station

 

Dates: 24th - 27th January 2018

 

Curated by five-time Grammy Award-winning vocal group the Swingle Singers and showcasing some of the best choral, jazz, contemporary and beatbox ensembles, the annual festival offers an eclectic assortment of music that ranges from choral masterpieces to extraordinary beatbox and Nordic folk to retro pop. The line-up includes The Magnets, an all-male group that boasts razor -sharp harmonies and slick vocal stunts; The King's Singers, Grammy award-winners that have enjoyed global success for more than forty years; and Finnish triple platinum recording group Rajaton, who have proved to be a favourite of the 'A Cappella' Festival. The event will also see the hosts, Swingle Singers, begin the celebrations for their 50th anniversary.

 
 
 
 

LOCO: London Comedy Film Festival

This festival provides a barrel of laughs, just in time to kick those January blues.

BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, South Bank, South Bank, London, SE1 8XT

Tube: Waterloo Station , Embankment Underground Station

 

Dates: 22nd - 25th January 2015

 

A playful, provocative, pioneering and passionate programme of comedy films hits the Southbank to lift the January blues. Spread over four days at the BFI and selected cinemas across London, 'LOCO' celebrates Britain's great tradition of cinematic comedy with screenings of a number of humorous movies and a range of workshops and events all aimed at kick starting the next generation of British comedy film talent. Last year's screenings included 'The Muppets', the gory yet laughable 'Shaun of the Dead' and classics from Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. All screenings contain an interactive element with the aim of being mischievous as well as educational.

 
 
 

Feast

Five playwrights across the world have collaborated for this production.

The Young Vic, 66 The Cut, South Bank, London, SE1 8LZ

Tube: Southwark Station , Waterloo Station, Lambeth North Station

 

Dates: 25th January - 02nd March 2013

 

Directed by award-winning director Rufus Norris, who is known for 'Cabaret', 'London Road' and Olivier-nominated 'Vernon God Little', 'Feast' is an epic Young Vic and Royal Court co-production. Written by five playwrights across the world - Yunior García Aguilera (Cuba), Rotimi Babatunde (Nigeria), Marcos Barbosa (Brazil), Tanya Barfield (US) and Gbolahan Obisesan (UK) – it takes a journey through Nigeria in the 1700s, the Americas and London in 2013, and explores Yoruba culture and religion. When a family are on their way to dinner, three sisters are separated at a crossroads.  With an immense amount of courage, mischief and resilience, the sisters' spirits enable them to survive.

 
 
 

Fate, Hope & Charity

A display of items left by destitute mothers at the Foundling Hospital in the 18th century.

The Foundling Museum, 40 Brunswick Square, Bloomsbury, London, WC1N 1AZ

Tube: Russell Square Station

 

Dates: 25th January - 19th May 2013

 

A heart-wrenching selection of coins, jewellery, buttons, poems and playing cards left as identifying tokens by destitute mothers when they placed their unwanted babies at the Foundling Hospital in the 18th century.

 
 
 

Manet: Portraying Life

An examination of the relationship between the artist's portraits and scenes of modern life.

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

Tube: Green Park Station , Piccadilly Circus Station

 

Dates: 26th January - 14th April 2013

 

Behold the first major UK exhibition of portraiture by the famous French painter Edouard Manet, featuring more than 50 paintings together with pastels and photographs which provide an insight into Parisian society in the 19th century. By arranging portraits thematically, into family, friends, status portraits and genre scenes, the exhibition examines the relationship between Manet's portrait painting and his scenes of modern life. Highlights include 'The Luncheon' which depicts Leon, the son of Manet's wife; 'Mme Manet in the Conservatory'; 'Berthe Morisot with a Bouquet of Violets', on loan from the Musee d'Orsay in Paris; and an early version of 'Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe'. His 1862 painting, 'Music in the Tuileries Gardens', is another hugely popular work and was his first major piece depicting modern city life, in which the band plays to a fashionable crowd - a gathering of Manet's literary friends and theatrical acquaintances.

 
 
 

The NATYS

A variety of acts take to the stage in a bid to be crowned comedy's New Act of the Year.

Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, Bloomsbury, London, WC2H 7BX

Tube: Leicester Square Station , Piccadilly Circus Station, Covent Garden Station

 

Dates: 31st January 2016

 

Twelve new acts are given five minutes to work their magic in the annual final to crown comedy's New Act of The Year. Now in its 30th year, this comedy showcase and awards event comes to the Bloomsbury Theatre for the first time and promises a variety of performers - from stand-up to sketch shows, singers to surrealist and spoofs. Previous finalists include the likes of Russell Brand, Harry Hill, Ed Byrne, Lee Mack, Tim Vine, Micky Flannagan, Jack Whitehall, Simon Amstel, Rhod Gilbert and last year's winner Patrick Cahill. Auditions and heats for the 2014 competition will be held in December 2013 at Brixton's Rich Mix Arts Centre.

 
 
 
 

In the Beginning was the End

Theatre company dreamthinkspeak offer their signature blend of film, installation and live performance.

Somerset House, Strand, Covent Garden, London, WC2R 1LA

Tube: Temple Station

 

Dates: 28th January - 30th March 2013

 

A promenade performance exploring the subterranean passages and hidden spaces of Somerset House and King's College, this is the first chance audiences have to experience a new work by acclaimed site-responsive theatre company dreamthinkspeak since the sell-out success of their 2004 show 'Don't Look Back'. Through their signature mix of film, installation and live performance, a vision of the world on the verge inspired by the apocalypse - is it on the brink of collapse or rebirth? - is revealed.

 
 
 

A Thousand Slimy Things

A charming blend of storytelling and theatre for children.

Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, More , Bankside, London, SE1 2HZ

Tube: London Bridge Station

 

Dates: 30th January - 07th February 2013

 

Based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem 'The Rime of The Ancient Mariner', this play for children takes you on a mythical imaginary adventure on the high seas. 'A Thousand Slimy Things' opens at a beautiful wedding and all seems well, until the Ancient Mariner begins to tell you his story with words full of dread. Your mood changes from impatient to intrigued, fascinated to fearful as this tale of doom and destruction takes you into the gloomy depths of your imagination. Will you be brave enough to let go and follow him? Will this gothic adventure change you forever? Suitable for children aged 10 and up, The Guardian described the play as "a distinctive mix of storytelling, physical theatre and live music".

 
 
 

Tango Fire: Flames of Desire

World tango champions perform mesmerising showdances.

Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, Holborn, London, WC2A 2HT

Tube: Holborn Station , Covent Garden Station, Temple Station

 

Dates: 30th January - 24th February 2013

 

Argentina's hottest dance company Tango Fire returns to the West End with its latest dance production 'Flames of Desire'. Having wowed audiences in 2011 with their speedy footwork and hypnotic moves, the Buenos Aires beauties are returning to put on another spectacular show. Made up of ten world class dancers, the production showcases both group numbers and duets, starting out with traditional dances performed in 1940s costumes and then progressing into impressive acrobatic tango showdances. With the line-up including four world tango champions and Quarteto Fuego, the company's quartet of musicians, the show is a sexy and mesmerising performance.

 
 
 

LIFT

An unassuming London lift is the backdrop to this story of love, life and loss.

Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, Soho, London, W1D 3NE

Tube: Tottenham Court Road Station , Leicester Square Station

 

Dates: 30th January - 24th February 2013

 

The uncomfortable silence, unnatural proximity to strangers and fear of eye contact are just a few factors that can make a lift journey unbearably awkward. Yet, when eight people get into one of the lifts at Covent Garden tube, and we are privy to everything they are thinking, including the revelations of their deep secrets, it doesn't take long before we realise that they are all connected. This world premiere of new musical 'LIFT', from the book by Ian Watson and with original music from Craig Adams, will delve into love, life and loss all within a seemingly normal London lift.

 
 
 

Midnight Tango

Audiences are transported to Buenos Aires in this Latin dance extravaganza.

Phoenix Theatre, Charing Cross Road, Soho, London, WC2H 0JP

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

 

Dates: 30th January - 02nd March 2013

 

Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace of BBC's 'Strictly Come Dancing' fame star in this dance-narrative extravaganza set in a Buenos Aires bar but performed in London's West End. 'Midnight Tango' has enthralled audiences on a record-breaking UK tour and Simone and Cacace are joined by ten of the finest tango dancers in the world as they throw down some intoxicating tango rhythms in front of a captivated crowd. Co-produced by acclaimed choreographer Arlene Phillips, 'Midnight Tango' tells the story of a young couple as they meet in a late night bar, dance and fall in love right before the audience's eyes. Allow yourself to be entranced by this dazzling tale of rhythmic passion and romance.

 
 
 
 

Light Show

A display of artwork that showcases light in all its forms.

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

Tube: Waterloo Station , Embankment Underground Station

 

Dates: 30th January - 06th May 2013

 

Exploring the powerful effect of light and the way in which it can affect our state of mind, this exhibition displays artworks from the 1960s onwards including pieces by Olafur Eliasson, Anthony McCall and Conrad Shawcross. Visually stimulating artworks as well as rarities not seen for decades are brought under one roof, including intangible sculptures and installations that use light to create atmospheric works in which you can move around. A sensory experience that enables visitors to experience light in all its forms, whether colourful or casting a shadow.

 
 
 

Schwitters in Britain

The first major exhibition to examine the work of Kurt Schwitter.

Tate Britain, Millbank, Westminster, London, SW1P 4RG

Tube: Pimlico Station

 

Dates: 30th January - 12th May 2013

 

The late work of Kurt Schwitters, a significant figure in European Dadaism, comes under the spotlight in the first major exhibition to examine the artist, who was forced to flee Nazi Germany. The exhibition focuses on Schwitters' British period, from his arrival in Britain as a refugee in 1940 until his death in Cumbria in 1948. The works, which show traces of the impact of his exile, number over 150 collages, assemblages and sculptures, many shown in the UK for the first time in over 30 years.

 
 
 

Extraordinary Stories about Ordinary Things

Everyday items are presented as examples of extraordinary design.

Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, Bankside, London, W8 6AG

Tube: High Street Kensington Station

 

Dates: 30th January - 04th January 2015

 

The anglepoise lamp is just one of the archetypal designs celebrated in this collection display devoted to contemporary design and architecture. Other everyday items such as the post box and the London 2012 logo are presented as examples of extraordinary design and emblems of modernism in an exhibition which offers a snapshot of modern day design. Sections include 'National Identity', 'Plastics and Modernism' as well as 'Style Through The Decades', featuring fashion from the '70s to the '90s, from Carnaby Street to the Kings Road.

 
 
 

Jane Birkin

Jane Birkin pays homage to the late Serge Gainsbourg.

Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, Belgravia, London, SW1X 9DQ

Tube: Sloane Square Station

 

Dates: 31st January 2013

 

The English actress and singer makes a rare London appearance performing the songs of her late partner Serge Gainsbourg. Initially scheduled for last October, this special concert is a reinterpretation of the late Gainsbourg's repertoire performed by his muse with a group of four Japanese musicians with whom Birkin first performed in Japan in 2011, soon after the tragic tsunami that shocked the world. Featuring classic Gainsbourg songs such as 'Requiem Pour Un Con', 'Comic Strip', 'Amour Des Feintes' and 'Do Di Dah', this poignant and celebratory concert comes alive with the musical versatility of the Japanese quartet, pays homage to one of music's most iconic figures and showcases the remarkable talent that is the effortlessly gamine Birkin.

 
 
 

United Micro Kingdoms (UmK) - A Design Fiction

Two professors use live laboratories to challenge the way we live.

Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, Bankside, London, W8 6AG

Tube: High Street Kensington Station

 

Dates: 01st May - 25th August 2013

 

The Design Museum begins its 2013 programme with an exhibition which presents a fictional future for the United Kingdom, as imagined by Dunne & Raby, a London based design studio established in 1994 by Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby. The duo - both professors: Dunne at the Royal College of Art in London; and Raby at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna - use 'live laboratories' to challenge the way we live. Everything from industrial design to transport systems, science and politics is used to provoke debate about the potential of design.

 
 
 

The Black Cat Cabaret

A new decadent and glamorous cabaret show premieres this January.

 

New to London for January 2013, The Black Cat Cabaret is a decadent and otherworldly show. With the co-creators of Boom Boom Club and La Rêve inviting their most exceptional performers to showcase their talents, the result is a truly unique experience. Taking place in the grand Titanic Ballroom of Café de Paris, guests will step into a weird and wonderful, glamorous and extravagant world that's descendant of the legendary Le Chat Noir Club in Paris. Using the absinthe-soaked heyday of Montmartre's dark cabaret underworld as inspiration, the show boasts an intriguing carnival of street singers and mad musicians, acrobats, dancers and illusionists, delirious comics and exotic artistes - prepare to be shocked by the crude humour of Dusty Limits, entranced by seductive aerialist Katharine Arnold and completely disgusted, yet enthralled, by the greedy fire breathing Pig from Hell. Those who opt for dining tickets are also treated to a sumptuous meal, with tempting choices such as salmon Carpaccio, rib eye steak and chocolate tart; table entertainment, where illusions are performed before your very eyes; and, be warned, a lucky individual may well be chosen to take the limelight on stage...

 
 
 
 

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