March in London 2013

Following a two year break from the limelight, the Kaiser Chiefs returned in 2011 with their controversial fourth studio album. 'The Future is Medieval' was released in a unique way that allowed fans to buy it directly from their website, selecting 10 of 20 available songs to create their own personalised compilation. Followed by a later official release that featured one previously unavailable track, it begged the question: was this an ingenious marketing move or a scam to sell twice the number of albums? Having promoted the album - renamed 'Start The Revolution Without Me' for the US market - with a North American tour, they're now coming to the Brixton O2 Academy as part of their UK tour.

Spring sees the launch of Art13 London, a new art fair which promises to showcase the best in international modern and contemporary art. Taking place at the recently refurbished Olympia Grand Hall, the fair promises an international selection of 129 galleries from 29 countries with half of the works presented having been created by non-western artists. And with as many as 70 per cent of exhibitors participating at a fair in London for the first time, it promises to introduce new faces to the London art fair scene. Special features include 21 large-scale contemporary sculptures, an artist designed family photography trail, and a series of talks from some of the world's most prolific collectors as well as a Fortnum & Mason pop up champagne bar and restaurant serving afternoon tea.

'Tiger Tracks' invites visitors to St Pancras International to walk on the wild side with tiger themed activities including music, entertainment and a photographic exhibition for three weeks in March 2013. Many of the bars, restaurants and shops at the magnificent train station are taking part so look out for promotions and events that all the family can take part in. The event culminates with an exclusive champagne reception and black tie Gala dinner at the 5 star St Pancras Renaissance Hotel on 21st March - attended in previous years by celebrities like Joanna Lumley, Jimmy Choo and Alistair McGowan. Your £300 ticket gets you a champagne reception, dinner and entertainment as well as the satisfaction that you're supporting a good cause - saving the wild tiger. And if you want to see these big cats in real life, visit the new 'Tiger Territory' which opens at London Zoo this month.

For their latest production Future Cinema has transformed The Troxy into Rick Blaine's notorious Café Américain from the iconic wartime romance, Casablanca. The cinematic classic tells the story of Blaine's café in the centre of town, where Europeans often come to obtain exit visas to escape the Nazis. When old flame Ilsa and her husband, resistance leader Victor Laszlo, turn up in Casablanca, Rick faces an agonising moral dilemma: help the woman he loves and lose her forever, or betray her husband to the Germans. With the venue moonlighting as the famous, exclusive and romantic nightclub, guests can become one of the exclusive characters from the movie, gathering around Sam's piano, placing a bet in the café's own casino or dancing the night away with Benoît Viellefon & His Orchestra. There will also be the chance to feast on Moroccan tagines, pastries and spices. Once the movie is screened guests will truly feel like they have stepped into the world of Casablanca.

Following a successful run at the National Theatre last summer, Simon Stephens' adaptation of 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' is transferring to the Apollo Theatre. Marianne Elliott directs this adaptation of the mystery murder novel, which is written from the perspective of a 15-year-old boy with an autistic spectrum condition, working with a cast that includes Niamh Cusack, Luke Treadaway, Sophie Duval and Matthew Barker. Rising star Treadaway reprises the title role having appeared on film as the star of David Mackenzie's 'You Instead' and in Joe Cornish's 'Attack the Block', and on stage in 'War Horse' and 'Saint Joan', alongside Anne-Marie Duff.

Since Copernicus's displacement of Earth as the centre of the universe, many people, from scientists to clergymen, have considered an infinite universe and the possible inhabitants of other planets. 'Alien Revolution' will explore the development of our opinion on aliens, in both science and culture, and how it has influenced religion, literature, philosophy, art and film. The exhibition is part of the Royal Observatory's 'Alien Season', which includes planetarium shows, public talks, workshops, sci-fi movie screenings and courses.

'Wonder' brings together two of London’s great cultural institutions, the Barbican and the Wellcome Trust, for the first time. Exploring what happens when art and neuroscience collide, the month-long event features special lectures by mathematician Marcus du Sautoy and outspoken comedienne Ruby Wax, a film season exploring mental health and a Barbican Weekender on Brain Waves which includes creative events for all ages. What happens when art and science combine? We get a rich season of events – including dance, theatre, music and art – that explore, and are inspired by our most intriguing organ, the human brain.

It is doubtful that Jonathan Kent's 'Tosca' will ever escape the shadow of its predecessor at the Royal Opera House - Franco Zeffirelli's 1964 'Tosca' had a 40 year run, which is a pretty good innings - but this production has qualities of its own. Puccini's opera overflows with dangerous passions and the darkest crimes as it twists and turns its way through a doomed love affair and, in Kent's production, an "unnerving" (The Guardian) atmosphere pervades the action. Paul Brown's designs, sitting between a backdrop of politically charged Rome and sinister imagery, play a part in this but it is Puccini's theatrical score, capturing Tosca's light hearted first entrance and then plunging to the dark depths of Scarpia's evil, that releases the tension.

Laburnum Grove is a quiet residential address in one of the newer north London suburbs. Living there is George Radfern, an upstanding respectable citizen and householder who takes pleasure from simple things. However, when his greedy in-laws and daughter’s obnoxious boyfriend try to leech money from him, he makes a surprising confession. Written by J.B. Priestley, this comedy delves into the greed and dishonesty that lurks within suburban England. Directed by Oscar Toeman, it is the first London revival of the play in nearly 40 years.

American comedian Lewis Schaffer left "the best city in the world" (that's New York, apparently) back in 2000 when he married an English belle. 13 years, two children and a divorce later, the bespectacled jokesmith finds himself a hostage in a council flat in Nunhead. In 'Lewis Schaffer's American Guide to England' at the Leicester Square Theatre, the homesick New Yorker sets out to teach the English about England - which could prove tricky for someone whose "total indifference to all things British is brilliant" (The Scotsman). Schaffer plays the middle-aged Jewish New Yorker shtick with aplomb (think the neuroses of Woody Allen and the irreverence of Greg Proops). He's certainly not shy of harsh one-liners, offensive put-downs and delusional, opinionated bitching. And yet he still remains endearingly self-depreciating - so perhaps the British customs are rubbing off on him, after all?

The world premiere of a new work by master of minimalism Steve Reich is unveiled at the Royal Festival Hall this spring. Inspired by Reich's meeting with Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, 'Radio Rewrite' reimagines two Radiohead songs – 'Everything in its Right Place' from 'Kid A' and 'Jigsaw Falling into Place' from 'In Rainbows'. These songs provide some of the harmonic and melodic material for the new piece, which is performed by the London Sinfonietta and is scored for flute, clarinet, two vibraphones, two pianos, a string quartet and an electric bass. Around 20 minutes in length, 'Radio Rewrite' is performed alongside Reich's legendary 'Clapping Music' and other pieces from the American composer's repertoire.

With their simple guitar plucks and soothing harmonies, Icelandic six-piece Of Monsters and Men are gradually captivating audiences around the world. Comparable to British band Mumford and Sons, the sextet sing in English and have reaped success from their debut album 'My Head is an Animal', which topped the charts of their homeland and numerous European countries back in 2011, and reached number six in the US Billboard chart a few months later. Finally released in Britain in 2012, it then peaked at number three in the UK album chart.  Their musical offerings may not be ground-breaking but they are undeniably alluring.

Russell Brand hosts a one-day comedy and live music show at Wembley Arena held in support of Comic Relief. A host of celebrities are 'doing something funny for money' by performing at Give It Up including comedians Jimmy Carr, Noel Fielding, and Simon Amstell and pop stars Noel Gallagher, Kasabian, Emilie Sande, Jessie J and Jake Bugg. The night will also include comedy from Frankie Boyle, Doc Brown, Eddie Izzard (who returns to Wembley for a solo show on 11th and 12th May) and Jason Manford with other acts due to be announced in the lead up to the concert.

Celebrating International Women's Day (8th March), the Women of the World Festival (WOW) is back in full force at the Southbank Centre for 2013. The five-day festival boasts a complete programme of gigs, films, comedy, classical music, theatre and poetry and this year includes performances by Mitsuko Uchida (6th March), the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment with Marin Alsop (8th March) and the annual 'Mirth Control: March of the Women' comedy, storytelling and musical event, hosted by Sandy Toksvig and starring Petula Clark, Sharon D Clarke, Marin Alsop and Sue Perkins (10th March). There will also be the chance to join in debates, networking, mentoring, workshops and free participatory events. The festival was originally launched by Jude Kelly, Southbank Centre's Artistic Director, following the criticisms she received as a woman new to the role: "I created WOW to celebrate the formidable power of women to make change happen, to remind us of our history and to encourage men to add their support as we aim to achieve a fairer world". Performers in previous years have included: Katy B, Jess Mills, Emeli Sandé, Annie Lennox, Jo Brand, and Sinead O'Connor.

Guest starring Robin Windsor and Kristina Rihanoff from 'Strictly Come Dancing', and featuring a strong cast of 16 world class dancers, 'Burn the Floor' is ballroom at its best. Choreographed by Australian Jason Gilkison (former World Champion Latin and Ballroom dancer), the globetrotting show features a spectacular blend of Latin and Ballroom routines. Originally put together for Elton John's 50th birthday celebrations in 1997, 'Burn the Floor' had its first public showing two years later. All aspects of ballroom dancing are here from the elegance of the Viennese waltz to the sensual samba, from the tango to the mambo, the cha-cha to the Charleston.

Sigur Ros, the four-piece from Reykjavik, Iceland, led by singer Jonsi Birgisson, play three nights at London's Brixton Academy as part of a European tour. Renowned for their wonderfully atmospheric music, expect sweeping and classically influenced post-rock and ambient music from their back catalogue of greatest hits as well as new tracks from their latest album, 'Valtari'. The support act is Blanck Mass, the solo project of young British musician Benjamin John Power, whose music featured in the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Over 100 galleries exhibit a huge array of affordable contemporary art in Battersea Park for the biannual Affordable Art Fair which has become a well loved institution on London's art scene. Showing original paintings, prints, sculpture and photography all under one roof, it's an event that strips away the pretension of the art world and gives buyers a chance to pick up some really great work at fair prices, ranging from £40 to £4,000 (last year, around £4.5m exchanged hands). A fun, family day out, it's accessible to connoisseurs and the merely curious. There's a free crèche, artist-led workshops, informal talks and tours, and a specialist exhibition showcasing work by new artists.

In the past, they've taken over Guys Quad and a sorting office in Islington but now the guys behind Feast are bringing their four-day food festival to a warehouse once used to store tobacco, the 19th century Tobacco Dock in Wapping. Bringing some of London's best chefs, restaurants and market stalls to unusual places, Feast is more than just a food festival (it's been dubbed "Glastonbury for foodies" by future space magazine), there's music from new bands and DJs as well as art installations; truly a feast for all the senses. Run by the team behind the hugely successful Long Table, Feast brings together a mouth watering selection of well established eateries, market stalls and burger vans like Patty and Bun, Spuntino, Dishoom, HIX, The Wright Brothers, The Meringue Girls, Roti Chai, Bone Daddies. Book tickets online at www.wefeast.co.uk/tickets where you can view the full list of participants.

Following their previous Young Vic production 'On Ageing', performance company Fevered Sleep are back with their latest offering. 'Above Me the Wide Blue Sky' is a multi-screen installation that delves into our relationship with the ever changing world and how we are linked with nature. Staged with a soundscape of birdsong, electronic music and a new score for string quartet, it will weave together images, movement and sound with stories of love, loss and belonging.

Internationally acclaimed director Yael Farber sets her contemporary reworking of August Strindberg’s ‘Miss Julie’ in the remote Eastern Cape Karoo. This explosive revival focuses on one night that is intriguingly both brutal and tender as it explores sexual drama and class politics after apartheid.  The play delves into the haunting and violent, the intimate and epic as the two main characters, John and Mies Julie, have a deadly battle over power, sexuality and memory. 

For the first time in history, George Catlin's whole body of American Indian Portraits are displayed together outside America, with over 50 offerings giving great insight into the indigenous people and their ways of life. Between 1796 and 1872, Pennsylvanian-born artist Catlin is known to have made five trips to the western region of the United States in order to create what is now one of the most prominent and extensive recordings of the native people.

Alex Vann, Pete Judge and Paul Bradley are Three Cane Whale, a multi-instrumental acoustic trio who hail from Bristol. Their debut album, recorded live in an 18th century Bristol church, was chosen by Cerys Matthews as one of her 'Top five modern folk albums' (Sunday Telegraph). Alex plays mandolin, bowed psaltery, music box and something called a 'zither', Pete is a dab hand on the trumpet, harmonium, lyre, glockenspiel and dulcitone, while Paul plays acoustic guitar and miniature harp. Together they create "elegant and atmospheric" music, says The Guardian.

One of the world's most adored musical films is given a unique cinematic makeover at the Royal Albert Hall this spring featuring a live orchestral accompaniment by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Celebrating the 60th anniversary of 'Singin' In The Rain', this European premiere of the original 1952 American musical follows in the footsteps of 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, 'The Matrix' and 'West Side Story', all of which have enjoyed sold-out live orchestra screenings at one of London's most magical settings. Audiences can enjoy all the classics from the original film, including 'Broadway Rhythm', 'Should I?', 'Make 'Em Laugh', and of course, the title track, 'Singin' In The Rain'. These back to back performances are followed later in the year by a live orchestral rendition of Disney's 'Fantasia' in October.

Whether you want to be a ballerina or learn how to dance like a 'Strictly Come Dancing' star, 'Move It' has all the dances covered. In fact, there are around 250 dance classes you can take part in, covering everything from the bunny hop to hip hop. If that sounds a bit too energetic, you can always see how it's meant to be done with performances from 1,500 dancers representing groups as diverse as the English National Ballet and the Urban Strides. There's something for all levels from beginners to the serious professional, including seminars on nutrition and how to do a good audition.

After a well-received premiere at the 2012 Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, George Benjamin's 'Written on Skin' arrives at the Royal Opera House for an eagerly anticipated run. Set in 13th century Provence, the story follows the Protector, who invites a scribe into his home and commissions a manuscript. However, when the scribe gets too close to the Protector's wife, an unimaginably violent tale runs its course. The story of love, passion and violence is given a unique contemporary twist as it is narrated by three angels who are in the present day. Benjamin's score is "more impassioned, more sensuously beautiful and, at times, more fiercely dramatic than anything he has written before" (The Guardian).

Award-winning theatre director Lindsay Posner comes to The Old Vic to direct Terence Rattigan's 1946 play 'The Winslow Boy'. The plot is set in Edwardian England and is based on the true story of a young naval cadet whose wrongful conviction for the theft of a five shilling postal order sparked a media storm and debate that went all the way to the House of Commons.

'Rock on Top of Another Rock' is the first and only public sculpture by Swiss artists Fischli and Weiss to be commissioned in the UK. Located in Kensington Gardens, the unique sculpture is a representation of the earliest and most basic types of monument from around the world. Formed of two glacial igneous granite boulders, it shows one rock balanced precariously on top of the other and is visible from a number of viewpoints across the park. The aim was to create a piece that is initially startling but also fits both locally and historically with its surroundings.

Dame Judi Dench stars as Alice Liddell Hargreaves in 'Peter and Alice', a new play by American playwright John Logan - his first since 'Red', which went on to win six Tony Awards in 2010. The second of five plays which are part of the Michael Grandage season at the Noel Coward Theatre, 'Peter and Alice' imagines a chance meeting between Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan who here becomes Peter Llewelyn Davies, played by Ben Whishaw. Set in the 1930s, the drama unfolds as Alice attends the opening of a Lewis Carroll exhibition, and meets Peter in a Charing Cross Road bookstore.

Armour, textiles and an extraordinary display of silver are among more than 150 objects in 'Treasures of the Royal Courts: Tudors, Stuarts and the Russian Tsars'. Riches from the royal courts from Henry VIII to Charles II, and from Ivan IV - the Terrible - to the early Romanovs are gathered together from several state collections to create a narrative. At the heart of the exhibition, which marks the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, is a showcase of the spectacular British and French silver given to successive Russian Tsars. Some would have been melted down for money had they remained in Britain or France.

Olly Murs is yet another act to have spawned from the 'X Factor' and has since journeyed on the road to success. Crediting his career to 'Right Place, Right Time', the title of his chart topping third album, Murs has established himself as a singer-songwriter, sold out arena tours and turned his hand at TV presenting. As part of his 2013 tour, Murs will be performing three times in London and, if you're lucky, he might split his trousers mid-performance again. He will also be accompanying Robbie Williams on his 'Take the Crown' tour later in the year.

In last year's match against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, England relied largely on the boot of Owen Farrell as they limped past their opponents 19-15 in true underwhelming fashion. With Stuart Lancaster now settled as England coach, this third and final home game at Twickenham should be relatively straight forward for England as they bid to win back the Six Nations crown from Wales. The game comes a fortnight after England's home game against France and one week ahead of their final game of the tournament against the Welsh at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The soulful voice of Lianne La Havas has gradually been acquiring more and more fans. From being invited to "hang out and play guitar" with Prince at his home in Minneapolis, flown to Milan by Tom Ford to perform at the launch party for his 'Noir' fragrance and graced by a surprise appearance from Stevie Wonder at one of her gigs, the London-born singer has attracted some serious attention. Now, promoting her debut album 'Is Your Love Big Enough?', the Mercury Prize-nominated artist embarks on her biggest UK headline tour to date.

The London Handel Festival has been running for 25 years, celebrating Handel's music at venues across London with an extensive six week season of concerts, talks and walks. Venues include the delightful St George's Church in Mayfair, Handel's own parish church, where the Handel Singing Competition and dozens of intimate performances take place. This year's programme includes a performance by the winner of last year's singing competition, Ukrainian Anna Starushkevych, who became the first mezzo-soprano to win the award. Collaborations with the Royal College of Music and the London Handel Players continue in 2013 with the latter joined by special guest Francis Colpron on recorder.

Little Angel presents its first ever FIRSTS, a new two-week festival celebrating puppetry premieres by emerging companies. It's a great way to support fledgling talent working in this fascinating field and all tickets are just 5 pounds so it's also an incentive for audiences to take the plunge. Shows by the five selected companies include The Engineer's Thumb, inspired by a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle; a reworking of the well-loved Swedish poem, Tomten; and The Nose, a darkly humorous adaptation of a satirical short story by Nikolai Gogol, presented by Carnival of Objects. Productions vary in age range from over 3's to adults only.

Following rave reviews while on show at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 'Dirty Great Love Story' returns to the Soho Theatre for a highly anticipated three week run. The award-winning romantic comedy tells the story of Rich and Kate, who are both eager for some romancing. After spending a drunken night together, the unlikely lovers struggle to avoid each other and become bound by an unexpected turn of events. Packed with a series of laugh-out-loud moments, the production fuses poetry and prose, asking the big question: are they really right for each other? Co-written and performed by Richard Marsh and Katie Bonna, this very human story strikes all the right chords.

The Turner Prize winning artist Simon Starling has been selected to create a major new project for the 2013 Tate Britain Commission. Winning the Turner Prize in 2005 with 'ShedboatShed' - in which he dismantled a wooden shed on the banks of the river Rhine, created a boat and sailed it down the river before reassembling it in a museum - Starling is tasked with creating a new piece for the Tate's Duveen Galleries which should address the heritage of the space as a sculpture gallery.

The Chelsea Antiques Fair has been a popular annual fixture on the Kings Road since 1950, catering for all sorts of budgets – from £20 to tens of thousands of pounds. The antiques are presented against the gilded opulence of Chelsea Town Hall, with its marble columns, chandeliers and original oil paintings. The fair has a host of specialist dealers, and a quick browse will reveal 19th and early 20th century porcelain and pottery, fine gem set jewellery, oak furniture, silverware, Chinese antiquities, art deco furniture, fine maps and prints, Persian carpets and rare glassware and much, much more.

As Sir Michael Caine celebrates his 80th birthday, the Museum of London reflects on the life of the prolific actor and iconic Londoner. Born in Southwark on 14th March 1933 as Maurice Micklewhite, Caine burst into the limelight as a soldier in 'Zulu' before taking on myriad roles from Alfie through to Alfred. Renowned for his distinctive cockney accent and famous for blowing the bloody doors off, Caine was voted London's favourite Londoner in 2008 and said in his acceptance speech: "If you're born in London you're one of the luckiest people on earth. This is a city that I will love to the day I die and I'm so proud to be a Londoner." This photography exhibition focuses on key moments in both Caine's personal life and in his career as an actor and explores how his background as a rebellious working class Londoner influenced his path to stardom.

The RCA Secret show is that rarest of artistic events - a chance to get your hands on a piece of genuine art by a bona fide artist for a mere £45. And for the first time ever the fundraising sale of postcards will be held at the college's Dyson building in Battersea. The way it works is simple. You go to one of the viewing days (or view online), look at the postcards which have been sent in by all sorts of people (famous artists, celebrities, artists in training and talented but not well known artists), then return on the sale day and purchase the ones you liked - for £45 a pop. The catch is that you can't tell who did the postcard until after you've shelled out your dosh, so you might come home with a Hirst original or, well... you might not. You will need to register in advance to buy. If you're dead set on a particular postcard, get there before the doors open at 8am on 23rd March when the buying starts. If you're a little more relaxed, leave it until later; the queue usually disappears by around midday.

Showcasing the best in new queer film and video, the BFI London Lesbian & Gay Festival returns for its 27th year. The third largest film festival in the UK, the LLGFF festival sees hundreds of film makers, cast, crew and more than 250,000 visitors flock to the city. The programme boasts around 250 feature films, shorts and documentaries, as well as plenty of events and club nights.

Britain's most successful punk rock band drop into the Roundhouse as part of an extensive UK tour. Fans feared the worse when The Stranglers' frontman Hugh Cornwall quit back in 1990, but the progressive punk outlaws refused to lie down. Having re-signed to EMI in 2004, the veteran four-piece are enjoying a renaissance halcyon era with whippersnapper 48-year-old Baz Wayne taking over singing duties for the last three studio albums alongside original members Jet Black, JJ Burnel and Dave Greenfield. Having garnered a total of 24 Top 40 hits over four decades, The Stranglers have withstood the test of time, and are taking to the stage on the back of their critically acclaimed album, 'Giants'. Support comes from the reformed alternative rock band, The Godfathers.

Foot-stamping and skirt-swirling drama returns to Sadler's Wells for the 10th anniversary of the 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 more flamboyant than ever with eight magnificent productions in the main house and two special performances in the Lilian Baylis Studio.

The Royal Ballet stages a stunning version of Lewis Carroll's fantastical tale which returns to the Royal Opera House following its well received 2011 world premiere. Christopher Wheeldon's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' combines elaborate costumes, projections and backdrops with inventive props and music by Joby Talbot. Praised for its theatrical effects, all of Carroll's famous characters through the looking glass are portrayed in incredibly inventive ways. Although the story has been tweaked, beginning with a party in Oxford held by Alice's parents, children will enjoy the engaging show and atmospheric music and will recognise the twitchy White Rabbit, a tap dancing Mad Hatter, a sinuous caterpillar and The Queen of Hearts.

Sunday 17th March 2013, St Patrick’s Day, marks 75 years since HMS Belfast was first launched in 1938. Now the floating military museum located on the River Thames, between Tower Bridge and London Bridge, is a reminder of the role of the Royal Navy ships during the Second World War. During the weekend of 16th and 17th March, there will be a series of special events and activities (free with admission) to mark this monumental occasion.

In the spring, the Royal Academy of Arts stages the first ever UK retrospective for American Realist painter George Bellows, who would probably be regarded as one of the greatest of all American artists, had he not died in 1925, aged 42. He left behind a remarkable body of work for so short a career and this exhibition includes approximately 50 paintings, 20 drawings, and 20 lithographs out of the hundreds he left behind. Visitors to the exhibition are invited to explore the principle themes of Bellows's work - urban life in New York among them, evident in his better-known boxing paintings and his images of the excavation and construction of Pennsylvania Station.

Having taken Broadway by storm, winning eight awards at the 2012 Tony Awards including Best New Musical and Best Actor, the musical 'Once' comes to London's Phoenix. Based on the 2006 Irish musical film of the same name, it has been brilliantly adapted by Enda Walsh and retains much of the film's original Grammy nominated soundtrack written by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. It tells the story of an Irish busker and a young Czech mother who connect over their shared love of music and develop an unexpected friendship which then becomes a complicated romance.

The Bedford Music Hall in Camden Town, famous as a haunt for the Camden Town Group of artists headed by Walter Sickert, comes under the spotlights in 'Music Hall: Sickert and the Three Graces'. This free exhibition within the Victoria & Albert Museum's Theatre and Performance Galleries explores the vibrant world of the Edwardian Music Hall through paintings by W.R. Sickert, a new play by award-winning playwright Tanika Gupta as well as playbills, programmes and music sheets from the V & A's collection.

London's Irish community have always celebrated St Patrick's Day in the traditional manner, with church services, music, dancing and plenty of Guinness and whisky. In London, there's a big parade with floats representing all 32 Irish counties as the procession makes its way from Green Park, close to Hyde Park Corner, around Piccadilly Circus, along Haymarket via Trafalgar Square to end at Whitehall. Look out for the puca, a giant 36 metre long inflatable dragon, which is being brought over by award winning artists Bui Bolg. In Trafalgar Square there's free entertainment with live shows, music and a huge outdoor ceili as well as comedy and a food market, from 12 noon. Of course, the best places to celebrate are the pubs and Catholic churches throughout London, with their mix of religion, music and good cheer. Keep an eye on where the real London Irish go after the parade and you could be in for a memorable evening.

Theatre company Look Left Look Right presents a site specific theatrical performance at Corinthia Hotel London where the audience has a one-to-one experience with the cast. Above and Beyond introduces characters based on the people that work or stay at the luxurious hotel and is set in different eras to reflect the building's history. The audience becomes part of the play as they are guided through different encounters and experiences. The multi-award winning theatre company is renowned for its innovative and immersive productions, picking up two awards at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival for 'You Once Said Yes' and beat off stiff competition to become the Corinthia Artist in Residence so this latest piece is an intriguing prospect.

Portraying an Edwardian family on the brink of collapse, 'Rutherford and Son' is a gripping drama set to take the stage at the Rose Theatre. Dictatorial patriarch John Rutherford is oblivious to any hopes or feelings that his family members have and will sacrifice happiness for his one focus: the success of the family firm. The family members are enduring a control freak of a father, an unreachable milestone with the business and a home that resembles a prison, yet they still have dreams. With Northern Broadside's Artistic Director, Barrie Rutter, taking the role of John Rutherford, this drama lives up to the company's trademark gritty style.

Kicking off the week-long bonanza at the Royal Albert Hall is American singer-songwriter Ryan Adams with special guest Beth Orton, followed by a night of stand-up with Russell Brand and Noel Fielding. Fans of Britpop will enjoy a special Saturday night Oasis-verses-Blur-style concert that sees series curator Noel Gallagher perform on the same stage as special guests Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon, as well as Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys. For many, the combination of Primal Scream and Echo & The Bunnymen will be the stand-out gig of the week, while other performances come from Kasabian and Dark Horses, and Rizzle Kicks and Labrinth. Paul Weller, the legendary 'Modfather', will headline the seventh and final night with support from London indie rockers Palma Violets.

The London Coliseum is transformed into a magical Arabian world as this tale of love, sorcery and triumph is brought to life through David Bintley's choreography and music by Carl Davis. When Aladdin has a run-in with the Palace guards he is suddenly caught up in a whirlwind of adventure, love at first sight, unbelievable riches and, of course, the notorious magic lamp. This adaptation of the story returns to its original narrative, with its background in 'The 1001 Arabian Nights' and links to ancient Chinese stories, but is still recognisable as Aladdin deals with all the power, and trouble, that the lamp brings him.

As daffodils and snowdrops push through the ground, spring takes charge and urges us to shake off the shackles of winter and make a change. The Country Living Magazine Spring Fair is full of ideas for sprucing up your home and wardrobe, and also encourages visitors to try their hand at something new.  There will be over 400 exhibitors, many attending for the first time, as well as free workshops with the price of entry that include hat making, wire jewellery making, appliqué and biscuit decorating. The Country Living Theatre is another source of hands-on ideas as experts give talks on flower arranging, jam making and other home crafts. Be sure to leave time to browse the many stalls packed with cushions, fabrics, clothes, bags, jewellery, housewares and more.

This biannual prize at the Whitechapel Gallery has been celebrating the aesthetic and intellectual contribution that women artists bring to contemporary art for over five years. Winning artists are presented with a unique opportunity to develop a new project during a fully funded six month residency in Italy. Here, Laure Prouvost, the fourth winner of the prize, presents a body of short films and installations developed during her residency. Referencing Roman murals and the pleasures of Italy, Prouvost connects language and understanding, playing on the historic idea of visiting the Mediterranean for inspiration. The exhibition includes presentations by a shortlist of this year's entrants who talk through their plans should they be chosen for the prize.

Winner of 2011's Bruntwood Prize for playwriting, 'Three Birds' is a dark comic tale from Janice Okoh. When Tiana, Tionne and Tanika are left home alone, the three siblings take different paths in keeping themselves entertained. Tiana holds it together with the aid of housework and homework, Tionne starts to get experimental and Tanika chooses the route of rebellion. All seems okay until the outside world starts to interfere and the three are prepared to do anything to keep their secret safe from the adults pressing in. Directed by Sarah Frankcom, it's a tale of childhood, family and fantasy.

A Room For London, Jacqueline Durran's Anna Karenina Costumes, and Renzo Piano's Shard are shortlisted for the Designs of the Year awards. These shortlisted works are among the objects displayed at the Design Museum's exhibition, the result of a search for the most innovative designs of the year. Billed as 'the Oscars of the design world', beautifully designed pieces cross a whole range of categories including architecture, fashion, furniture and transport. A high profile judging panel decides the best entries in each of the seven categories and one overall winner who is announced to the public on 17th April 2013. Contenders will be hoping to take the mantle from last year's winners, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, who were awarded the prize for their design of the London 2012 Olympic Torch.

March 2013 marks ten years since the London Symphony Orchestra turned the beautifully restored 18th-century Grade 1 listed St Luke's church into its music education centre and concert venue. To celebrate, LSO St Luke's is hosting a 12-day festival, from 21st March to 1st April, featuring 17 events from live performances to events which reveal what's behind the music as well as activities for the whole family. Chamber music concerts featuring artists including the Vienna Piano Trio and Nash Ensemble will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. And the LSO's education and community programme, LSO Discovery, will present interactive events, masterclasses and open days. Special guests include the award-winning Aurora Orchestra and middle-eastern jazz musician and oud player Dhafer Youssef. Full details and booking available at lso.co.uk/lsostlukes10.

Bruce Norris's 'The Pain and the Itch' was the first play that Dominic Cooke, Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre, directed in his inaugural season. Therefore, it is very apt that his final directing project as Artistic Director will be another of Bruce Norris's works. 'The Low Road' will take to the stage in the downstairs theatre this spring and tells the story of a young entrepreneur who sets out on a quest for wealth with priceless ambition and a purse of gold. Previous collaborations from Norris and Cooke include the multi award-winning 'Clybourne Park' which saw Norris receive a Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for Best Play, and Cooke nominated for an Olivier Award.

Based on a short story by Somerset Maugham, Rodney Ackland's 'Before The Party' finds humour in the wake of the Second World War at the expense of the socially aspirational Skinner family. Rarely staged - this production is the first one mounted in over 25 years - this is Ackland's first play at the Almeida and forms part of Michael Attenborough's final season at the Islington theatre. In post-war Britain rationing is still in place but the Skinner family won't let a little nuisance like that get in the way; they've got a party to go to. With daughter Laura returned from Africa, widowed but not alone, the unsavoury underbelly of upper middle class life is about to be exposed. Matthew Dunster directs.

A huge interactive world map, especially suitable for families, goes on permanent display at the National Maritime Museum in March 2013, an installation which allows visitors to use a touch screen tablet to find out more about some of the most famous and exciting events in Britain's maritime history. Walk across the surface of the 'Great Map', housed in the museum's largest open space, and you'll discover seafaring stories based on the museum's collections.

The rise to success has hardly been a slow burner for Irish rock band The Script. Despite two of the three members – Danny and Mark – originally struggling to find musical recognition, they soon found themselves admirers in the form of U2 and the rollercoaster began from there. Since their chart-topping eponymous debut album in 2008, the trio have released two more successful albums, played stadium shows with the likes of U2, Take That and Paul McCartney, and sold millions of records worldwide. Now they're coming to London's largest music venue for two nights as part of their '#3' world tour.

Just in time to stock up for Easter, The Chocolate Festival returns with plenty more chocolatiers and artisan delights to tickle your taste buds. It features stands from award-winning chocolatiers such as William Curley, Damian Allsop, Paul Wayne Gregory and Co-Couture, plus the attendance of renowned and new chocolate companies. Demonstrations, tastings and talks will take place in the main marquee, where attendees can learn about the health benefits of chocolate, how to include chocolate in savoury dishes as well as tutored tastings. And, as always, there will be dozens of stalls all showcasing chocolate and chocolate products.

The colourful world of the American-born artist Kaffe Fassett is celebrated at the Fashion and Textile Museum where the work of one of the great practitioners of contemporary craft goes on display. This exhibition, 'Kaffe Fassett - A Life in Colour', is the first in London since Fassett's retrospective at the Victoria & and Albert Museum in 1988, the year he designed a gold medal-winning garden for the Chelsea Flower Show. The museum hosts a special installation featuring over 100 works, including 9-feet-wide knitted shawls, patchwork fabrics, yarns and knits as well as items especially created for this show and not seen in public before. You can also get all 'touchy-feely' with the textiles through a 'feeling' wall that uses touch to help explore the fabrics on display.

Spring is on its way and the Holi Hindu festival of Colour - a vibrant and playful celebration - will be welcoming it in style. Taking place in the grounds of Orleans House Gallery, and extending to Twickenham town centre, the colours of spring will be bursting into action with promenade performers, street theatre, music and an Indian market. With the tradition being for man and nature to throw off the gloom of winter and rejoice in the colours of spring, the customary coloured powders will be on hand ready to be thrown amongst the crowds.

Say 'Hallelujah' to Handel with this one-off springtime performance by the Pegasus Choir marking the 270th anniversary of the London premiere of the Baroque composer's great oratorio 'Messiah'. Drawn from the King James version of the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer, and with a verbal text provided by Charles Jennens, 'Messiah' is Handel's most famous creation and among the most popular works in Western choral literature, presenting Jesus' life and its significance according to Christian doctrine.

The Head of the River Race is one of the classic races on the rowing calendar, a warm up for the Oxford vs. Cambridge Boat Race that follows the same course backwards, from Mortlake to Putney Bridge along the Thames. There are 420 crews in all, rowing down the 4.25 mile course, testing their willpower and teamwork in this uniquely macho sport. It is also a particularly nice stretch of the river, so even if you are not that excited by rowing, this is a really nice spot to enjoy a walk or a pint and watch the boats glide past - hopefully the tides will dictate that the race coincides nicely with an early pub lunch, but you'll have to book early if you want a seat that faces the river.

More than sixty flamboyant stage costumes worn by pop icon David Bowie can be seen at this major retrospective of the musician and actor's career. Featuring lyrics, instruments, photographs and videos, 'David Bowie Is' showcases outlandish costumes including 1970s Ziggy Stardust bodysuits and the Union Jack coat designed by Bowie and Alexander McQueen for the 1997 'Earthling' album cover. The exhibition follows the young David Robert Jones, born in Brixton in 1947, on the artistic journey he makes in becoming David Bowie, the stage name he officially adopted in 1965. More than just a songwriter, Bowie was involved in designing the costumes, stage sets and album artwork and was truly innovative with his 1972 creation of alien alter ego Ziggy Stardust. His role in film and on stage is celebrated in the final section through an immersive audio visual space with footage of music videos, live tours and films including 'Labyrinth' and 'Basquiat'.

Two teams from the lower echelons of League football come head to head in the final of this knock-out cup competition previously reserved for semi-professional sides. The holders are York City, who beat Newport County 2-0 last year, while former Northern Ireland international Martin O'Neill, in his first managerial role, led Wycombe Wanderers to two FA Trophy wins back in the early '90s.

Doctor Brown, the star of last year's Edinburgh Festival, brings his highly rated and confusingly titled 'Befrdfgth' to London's Soho Theatre. Mime acts may have been all the rage at Edinburgh but the silent creation from American Phil Burgers trumped the lot of them, picking up the Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award and leaving behind a wake of raucously amused festival-goers. London audiences can expect plenty of absurd visual humour and hysterical clowning about from the "part mime artist, part lord of misrule" (The Guardian). If you think mime is something of a tired genre, then this is the show that will change your mind forever.

Howard Marks, the legendary Mr Nice, brings his hazy one-man show 'An Audience With Mr Nice' to the Bloomsbury to raise money for the homeless charity Crisis. Born in 1945 in a small Welsh coal-mining village, Marks cheated and crammed his way through a physics degree from Oxford University before dabbling in teaching and post-graduate philosophy. In his time, Marks has worked with the British Secret Service and been connected with the Mafia, IRA, M16 and CIA. Drug trafficking saw him banged up for seven years in the States before Marks wrote his best-selling autobiography following his release in 1995. His critically acclaimed live show sees the 67-year-old cult figure discuss his life as a marijuana smuggler and his views on drug use and legalisation.

The madcap star of the award-winning 'TV Burp' is back with a banger! Once described as "Ronnie Corbett possessed by the ghost of Salvador Dali", Harry Hill is one of comedy's most instantly recognisable (not to mention baffling) figures. The bespectacled baldy's new live show, 'Sausage Time', promises incontrovertible proof that God exists. The self-styled floppy-collared loon is joined by his band, The Harry's, and his son from his first marriage, Gary, who is gifted a debut stand-up spot following his ribald turn as Alan Sugar in 'TV Burp'. There's also a section dedicated exclusively to Tongans, a chance to catch up on Harry's Nan's latest ailments and meows from the legendary Stouffer the Cat. As sure as pork and lamb are the main two chops, there'll also be expert-whistler-of-chart-hits grandson Sam and his all-singing, all-dancing finale. Also, we presume, some sausages.

American blues rock guitarist and singer Joe Bonamassa plays four nights in different iconic London venues on the back of his 11th studio album, 'Driving Towards the Daylight', which peaked at #2 in the UK charts in spring 2012. Starting at the intimate Borderline and ending four days later at the magical Royal Albert Hall (Saturday 30th March), the internationally renowned guitarist will also drop into the Shepherd's Bush Empire (27th March) and Hammersmith Apollo (28th March) on his whistle -stop tour of the capital. The 35-year-old from upstate New York has been playing the guitar since the age of four, opened for B.B. King at the age of 12 and at 14 formed a band with Miles Davis' son. That's quite some resumé from "the new messiah for guitar music lovers" (The Sun) who has fast forged a reputation as "the pre-eminent blues-rock guitarist of his generation" (The Guardian).

English National Ballet have partnered with English National Ballet School to produce the 'My First' series: a number of special performances introducing younger audiences to ballet through the magic of fairytales. 'Cinderella', the charming tale of rags -to -riches, is narrated and accompanied by music from Prokofiev. Tormented by her evil stepsisters, Cinderella dreams of the day she can escape and attend the Prince's enchanting ball. One night, when she's been abandoned for yet more cleaning, Cinderella is visited by her Fairy Godmother and her dreams begin to come true.

West London's popular monthly magic show Conjuring at the Court returns to the Drayton Court Hotel in West Ealing for a show which boasts one of the strongest line-ups in the event's four-year history. Taking to the stage are John Lenahan, renowned for his hilarious and deceptive magic; Michael Valdini (pictured), a Polish performer of charm and great skill whose entrancing act will blow you away; the witty, clever and inventive Jon Allen; and Bharat Patal, who brings the colour and music of India together in a fast-moving, spectacular and entertaining magic display that fills the stage and will no doubt elicit a fair share of wows from the faithful audience of regulars. At just £10 a pop, these monthly magical bonanzas won't perform too much of a disappearing act from your wallet.

Back for its 25th anniversary, this four day festival invites more than 40 acts to perform across multiple London venues in celebration of all things ska. With a variety of guests, including a number of Jamaican legends, the festival spans all eras of the music genre. From '60s Jamaica through to the '70s and late '80s revivals, visitors can expect music from all its influences including the original American rhythm and blues, The Specials 2 Tone era and Madness - who were responsible for bringing ska into the mainstream. Embracing these influences, the line-up boasts the likes of Lynval Golding from The Specials, Rico Rodriguez, USA ska pioneers The Toasters and The Sidewalk Doctors.

This spring, the British Museum stages a major exhibition on 'Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum', an examination of two very different cities in the Bay of Naples, both buried by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 AD. Displaying over 250 objects, many of which have never before been seen outside Italy, the museum conveys what every day Roman life was like nearly 1700 years ago. Objects from Herculaneum, a small seaside town, include wooden furniture carbonized by the high temperatures of the ash and a baby's crib that still rocks on its curved runners. From Pompeii, the industrial hub of the region, we have a beautiful wall painting of the baker, Terentius Neo and his wife, who appear as equal partners, in business and in life. Other fascinating objects include sculpted marble reliefs, carved ivory panels and casts showing the Pompeii victims forever suspended in their last moments. An intriguing insight into the daily life of the Roman Empire.

"With this opera, it can truly be said that my artistic career began" were the words of Giuseppe Verdi following the success of 'Nabucco'. Having fallen into despair after the failure of his second opera, Verdi vowed never to compose another piece. However, he was convinced by Bartolomeo Merelli, manager of La Scala Milan, to work on 'Nabucco' and its resounding success led to his fame. With a romantic and political plot, 'Nabucco' is set against the background of the plight of the Jews as they are assaulted and exiled by the Babylonian King. This revival is based in the second half of the 20th century and uses large- scale video projections to accompany the action on stage. Epic scores such as the Hebrew slaves' song of exile 'Va pensiero' - the words of which are rumoured to be what inspired Verdi to write music again - add to the powerful drama of the piece.

This year's Boat Race will struggle to repeat the drama of last year's, where a rogue swimmer - later jailed for six months for causing a public nuisance - was almost decapitated by an oar belonging to the Oxford crew. Following a restart, Cambridge won the race - but to muted celebrations after the Dark Blues' bow man collapsed from exhaustion. One of London's oldest sporting events nevertheless returns in 2013 as England's two elite universities take to the water in a gruelling four mile rowing race between Putney Bridge and Chiswick Bridge in southwest London. Around a quarter of a million fans are expected to line the Thames for the 159th annual Boat Race in which Oxford (with 76 wins) will look to close in on the Light Blues of Cambridge (81 wins). The start is scheduled for 4.30pm.

The stakes are high as Oxford and Cambridge once again come head -to -head in a nail-biting and highly competitive race. No, this isn't the famous Boat Race but the equally prestigious (okay, maybe not quite) Oxford v  Cambridge Goat Race. Two feisty goats - one named Oxford, the other named Cambridge - embark on the sixth annual race, which takes place at Spitalfields City Farm on the same day as the Boat Race. Last year, Bramble the Golden Guernsey made it four in a row for Cambridge in front of 1,700 fans - although Oxford took consolation in winning the inaugural spin-off Stoat Race event. There are numerous other goat-related activities on offer as well as food and market stalls, live music, beer and cocktail bars, arts and crafts stands and a bookie and sweepstake tent. Kids (naturally) most welcome.

The well received 'A Doll's House' returns for another run at the Young Vic. The sell-out success was widely praised, "warmly recommended" (The Telegraph) and nominated for three Evening Standard Awards back in 2012. Now, the "sexy, passionate interpretation" (The Evening Standard) of Henrik Ibsen's 1879 play returns for 2013. Controversial at the time, 'A Doll's House' is acutely critical of 19th century marriage norms but, despite contrary beliefs, Ibsen insisted the play was not a fight for women's rights. This revival will see Hattie Morahan and Dominic Rowan return as the title roles Nora and Torvald.