February 2010

February - don't forget it's Valentine's Day on the 14th - but there's plenty more going on this month besides, from Six Nations rugby to London Fashion Week. In theatre, Judi Dench stars at the Rose Theatre and Andrew Lloyd Webber stages his long-awaited sequel to The Phantom of the Opera.

Six Nations Rugby: England v Wales & England v Ireland

Twickenham Stadium, London, TW1 1DZ
6th & 27th February 2010

England play two Six Nations games at Twickenham in February - the first match, getting their Six Nations campaign out of the starting blocks, is an appetising clash against Wales on 6th February. Then, on 27th February, they take on reigning Six Nations champions Ireland in round three of the tournament. Coming after an away trip to Rome to take on the Italians, England - if all goes to plan - could be in a strong position going into this Millennium Cup clash. After the debacle that was the Autumn Internationals, it remains to be seen if Three Lions coach Martin Johnston is still in a job. Whoever is at the helm will struggle against a strong Irish side that drew to Australia and beat South Africa in November. Last year, Ireland pipped England by a mere point at Croke Park and so the scene is set for another fiercely contested battle in south west London. For ticket information go to www.rfu.com.

More info: Six Nations Rugby: England v Wales Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube
Six Nations Rugby: England v Ireland - Information

The UK Wedding Show

ExCel London Exhibition Centre, London, E16 1XL
6th & 7th February 2010

This nationwide wedding event runs at four major cities offering the very best in dresses, suits, and every aspect of wedding planning and catering from engagement cards to honeymoon suites. In February, it's the turn of the ExCel Centre to host The UK Wedding Show. The exhibition features everything you need to plan your big day including top designer dresses, tiaras, engagement rings, wedding DVDs as well as plenty of things you never even knew you'd need to tie the knot - like wedding insurance. There are hundreds of different vendors here, and staff to guide you according to your preferences - whether you're after a small, simple ceremony or an old-fashioned white wedding with all the frills.

More info: The UK Wedding Show Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Rose Theatre Kingston, London, KT1 1HL
9th February - 20th March 2010

Judi Dench stars as Titania in Peter Hall's A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Rose Theatre Kingston, a role that she first played for the eminent director with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1962. Peter Hall's new production sets Shakespeare's magical play in Elizabethan England with Titania, the Fairy Queen, portrayed as an ageing Queen Elizabeth I. Dame Judi will be familiar with that role, too, having won a best supporting Oscar for her performance as the flame haired queen in the 1998 film Shakespeare in Love. In this new production, Titania is fascinated with the theatre, besieged by courtiers but 'married to the people of England', played out on a stage specially designed by Liz Bury. It's not often we get the chance to see the work of such a prestigious theatrical pairing. Book in quick - these tickets will sell out fast.

More info: A Midsummer Night's Dream Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Flamenco Festival London

Sadler's Wells Theatre, EC1R 4TN
13th - 27th February 2010

Foot-stamping and skirt-swirling drama returns to Sadler's Wells for two weeks with the seventh annual Flamenco Festival. Brimming with raw energy and hot-blooded passion, the art of flamenco will be displayed on one very colourful stage by world-class dancers from across Spain. From traditional performances inspired by flamenco's gypsy roots to the contemporary artists taking the form in whole new directions, this festival is set to be as flamboyant as ever with nearly 100 dancers whirling and stomping. The festival kicks off with Nuevo Ballet Espanol performing a new show choreographed by Rojas and Rodriguez, a dazzling mix of traditional and contemporary styles. Eva Yerbabuena, one of the world's greatest flamenco dancers returns with her brand new show, Lluvia. Performances by award-winning modern flamenco choreographer Rafaela Carrasco and Maria Pages, the 'firedancer' in Riverdance, are among the highlights to a festival which finishes with a grand Gala Flamenca featuring some of the most important new figures in flamenco.

More info: Flamenco Festival London Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Brit Insurance Designs of the Year

Design Museum, London, SE1 2YD
17th February - 6th June 2010

The Brit Insurance Designs of the Year is now a well established and prestigious prize awarded annually to the most innovative and forward thinking designs and attracting entries from around the world. The awards are divided into seven categories: Architecture, Fashion, Furniture, Graphics, Interactive, Product and Transport. The shortlist is drawn up by a panel of respected designers, each gets to choose five projects from the last year that they think are worthy of the award. These are designs that surround us, influence us or affect us daily and environmentally considerate designs are especially encouraged - as the 2008 winner, One Laptop per Child, shows. Last year, Shepard Fairey won the prize for his unofficial poster of Barack Obama, showing the influence a strong design can have. The seven category award-winners, announced in February, will be put forward to compete for the title of Brit Insurance Design of the Year 2010, and the winner will be announced at the awards ceremony in March 2010. Vote for the one you think should win at www.designsoftheyear.com.

More info: Brit Insurance Designs of the Year Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

London Fashion Week

Somerset House, WC2R 1LA
19th - 23rd February 2010

In February, London Fashion Week A/W 2010 arrives at Somerset House, the iconic building with its famous courtyard lending a magical setting to this high profile fashion industry event. Looking ahead to what we'll be wearing at the end of the year, designers present their collection for autumn and winter (even though we haven't even got around to sorting out our summer wardrobe). The highly fashionable catwalk shows feature top names in fashion including home grown designers like Matthew Williamson, Pringle and Burberry. Meanwhile up and coming designers get the chance to make their break at the off-schedule spin-off shows, all aimed at the fashion press and buyers. It's all wildly exclusive, of course, and if you don't have any connections with the fashion industry there's no chance of acquiring tickets to the main event. However there are ways to see what's hot off the catwalk - anyone can sign up for tickets to The Exhibition and to London Fashion Weekend where you can see the latest collections and get your hands on designer gear at reduced prices. It's a great way to get a head start and get a makeover while you're at it.

More info: London Fashion Week Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

X Factor Live Tour

Wembley Arena, London, HA9 0DH & O2 Arena, London, SE10 0BB
20th & 21st February & 20th & 21st March 2010

Joe McElderry, the cherubic 18-year-old from South Shields, won 2009's X Factor and pops into Wembley Arena (20th & 21st February) and the O2 Arena (20th & 21st March) with his fellow competitors as part of the X Factor Live Tour. McElderry, the odds-on favourite, beat nice guy Olly Murs in the final, which was watched by an estimated audience of 20 million after third-place Dagenham diva Stacy Solomon bowed out the night before. Joe, Olly and Stacy may have got the nation into a voting frenzy over the competition's final weekend - and Joe's debut single The Climb will certainly roar to Christmas number one - but expect the main focus of the X Factor Tour to involve Jonathan and Edward, the bequiffed blond twins from Ireland. Surely, if the producers have any sense, the Tour will see Jedward performing their cringe worthy renditions of Oops I Did It Again and Ghostbusters? It just wouldn't be the same without Louis Walsh's proteges making complete and utter fools of themselves in front of an expectant crowd of adoring girls screaming their names in unison. Also appearing at the all-singing, all-dancing live show: the beleaguered Danyl, bouffant rocker Jamie, flat Welshman Lloyd and the pretty girl from the Valleys, Lucie.

X Factor Live Tour, Wembley Arena - Information
X Factor Live Tour, O2 Arena - Information

Love Never Dies

Adelphi Theatre, WC2E 7NA
20th February - 23rd October 2010

The long-awaited sequel to Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, makes its world premiere in London at the Adelphi Theatre on Tuesday 9th March 2010 (previews from 20th February). With lyrics by Glenn Slater (The Little Mermaid, Sister Act), Love Never Dies continues the story of The Phantom with the subterranean world of the Paris Opera House exchanged for the fairgrounds of Coney Island, New York. The timing has also moved on too, it's now ten years since the mysterious disappearance of The Phantom from Paris. All five of the original characters make a return with only one new addition, that of a 10 year-old-boy, the child of Christine and Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. Running for 23 years, The Phantom of the Opera has been a phenomenal success and if even a small fraction of those who have seen the first installment want to see what happens next, Love Never Dies will sell out fast. Add to that the fact that Andrew Lloyd Webber still reigns supreme on the London musical scene and you have a sure fire hit on your hands. Following its world premiere in London the musical will tour to New York, opening on Thursday 11th November, and then Australia in 2011.

More info: Love Never Dies Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Chinese New Year Celebrations

Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DS
21st February 2010

The Chinese New Year Celebrations in London are among the most spectacular in the West, with huge dancing puppets, martial arts displays and an abundance of incredible food. Each and every year the celebrations get more extravagant, attracting an ever-expanding crowd. This year, the Year of the Tiger, Chinese New Year falls on 14th February 2010 but the London celebrations are on 21st February. In London, the main event takes place at Trafalgar Square with the area taken over by stalls, marquees, dragon and lion dances, traditional and contemporary music and performance. Join the throng in a stall-covered Leicester Square for fun and firecrackers then head to Gerrard Street, Lisle Street and Chinatown for the impromptu parties, food stalls and lion dancing.

More info: Chinese New Year Celebrations Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Private Lives

Vaudeville Theatre, WC2R 0NH
24th February - 1st May 2010

Sex And The City star Kim Cattrall returns to the London stage with Matthew Macfadyen (Tom Quinn in Spooks) playing her ex-husband in a new production of Noel Coward's comedy, Private Lives, directed by Richard Eyre. Divorced couple Elyot and Amanda meet again five years after going their separate ways when they are both on honeymoon with new spouses at the same hotel in the south of France. When they happen to meet across a balcony, the spark is rekindled. Love, lust and comedy ensues. Kim Cattrall is best known for her role as seductive Samantha Jones in the US TV series, (the movie Sex And The City 2 is due out 28th May this year, ladies take note). But this is not the first time Kim has appeared on the London stage, she made her West End debut in Whose Life is It Anyway in 2005 and also starred in David Mamet's The Cryptogram at The Donmar in 2006, proving that her acting talents go well beyond the saucy inuendo.

More info: Private Lives Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Lady Gaga

The O2 Arena, London, SE10 0BB
26th & 27th February 2010

The Lady Gaga circus rolls into town this February as the multi-million album selling singer performs back-to-back concerts at The O2 Arena. Having last appeared on these shores clad in a striking red PVC Salvador Dali-inspired dress while shaking the hand of the Queen at the Royal Variety Show, Lady Gaga has a lot to live up to. One thing's for certain - with Gaga it's never boring, as her bizarre king-sized bath dance routine while singing her latest single Bad Romance on the X Factor proved only too clearly. Expect classic Fame singles such as Poker Face and Paparazzi to be given an airing at London's premier live music venue - as well as new darker material from revamped album, The Fame Monster. Oh, and also a fair few costume changes because this lady won't be happy with just dancing.

More info: Lady Gaga Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube