What's On
WHODUNNIT [UNREHEARSED] 3
If you want to see some of this country’s biggest names of stage and screen take on a leading theatre role completely unrehearsed, then you’ll want to nab a ticket to Whoddunit [Unrehearsed] 3 at The Park Theatre in Finsbury Park. Co-written and directed by the theatre’s Artistic Director Jez Bond, the play is the third instalment in this Agatha Christie-style murder mystery spoof series and it features a different actor taking on the lead role of the Inspector for every performance – without having ever seen the script before or having any time to rehearse. Across the play’s run, the role of the Inspector will be played by Benedict Cumberbatch, Gillian Anderson, Daisy Ridley, Adrian Lester, Jodie Whittaker, Amanda Abbington, Clive Anderson, David Baddiel, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Christopher Biggins, Marcus Brigstocke, Simon Callow, Michelle Collins, Nina Conti, Victoria Coren Mitchell, Brian Cox, Les Dennis, Adrian Dunbar, Mark Gatiss, Tamsin Greig, David Haig, Harry Hill, Adam Hills, Ronan Keating, Ross Kemp, Beverley Knight, Maureen Lipman, Gareth Malone, Jason Manford, Stephen Mangan, Tim McInnerny, David Mitchell, Neil Morrissey, Eddie Nestor, Sue Perkins, Clarke Peters, Rob Rinder, Tony Robinson, Meera Syal, Catherine Tate, Sandi Toksvig, Johnny Vegas, Tim Vine, and Greg Wise.
AIRE ANCIENT BATHS
AIRE Ancient Baths, inspired by Greek, Roman and Ottoman traditions of bathing, creates modern versions of thermal baths in restored historical buildings in various locations around the world – the London AIRE lives inside an 18th-century building in Charing Cross that was once the home of Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie. AIRE has worked with the building’s original architecture to transform the space into a sanctuary. The arched ceilings and exposed brick in the main bath area coupled with flickering candles and soothing music really does create a tranquil atmosphere (helped immensely by the no phones rule). The main space features a series of pools and baths at different temperatures; there’s the warm Tepidarium (36º), the hot Caldarium (40º), and the cold Frigidarium (one at 14º and one at 10º) as well as the Vaporium steam room, the Balneum jet bath, and the Floatarium salt bath, where you can also have a little salt scrub. You can move around the different ones however you like and there’s also a relaxation area with herbal tea if you want to take a break from the water.
OTHELLO
Following her production of Romeo and Juliet at the Globe Theatre in 2021, Ola Ince is directing another Shakespearian tragedy, this time at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse as part of the theatre’s 10th anniversary season. For her debut in the theatre, she’s taking on Othello and putting her spin on the tale of jealousy, racism and misogyny.
UNRAVEL | THE POWER AND POLITICS OF TEXTILES IN ART
Stitching, weaving, braiding, beading; who doesn’t love the magical world of textiles? That’s why we can’t wait to see the Barbican’s next landmark exhibition, Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art, that looks at the transformative and subversive potential of textiles. Bringing together over 100 works by 50 international, intergenerational artists, the exhibition explores the various ways in which artists have used textiles to tell stories that challenge power structures, transgress boundaries and reimagine the world around them. Expect to see works from textile art powerhouse Sheila Hicks, a leader of the fibre art movement in the 1960s; Igshaan Adams, who explores themes such as race, religion and sexuality in his intensely crafted work; and Feliciano Centurión, who embroidered poetic reflections onto found fabrics to process his HIV diagnosis in 1993. Yinka Shonibare CBE RA’s figurative sculpture ‘Boy On A Globe’, Cecilia Vicuña’s spatial installation ‘Quipu Austral’ and Harmony Hammond’s large-scale work ‘Bandaged Grid #9’ are on show, alongside eye-catching pieces by Tracey Emin, Tschabalala Self, Jeffrey Gibson, Mounira Al Solh and the late Mrinalini Mukherjee.
After saying a sad goodbye to its former home on Scala Street in Fitzrovia last January, Pollock’s Toy Museum is coming back to London – this time, in pop-up form. The (now, mini) museum will be moving into a space in Croydon’s Whitgift Centre in January for a six-month residency and it’ll be bringing plenty of whimsical toys, games, dolls and theatres along with it. There’ll also be a display of toys made in a local factory, A Barton, exclusive to the Croydon pop-up. They’re open on Saturdays from 10am until 4pm and entry is free (plus, there’ll be special toy theatre shows on Sat 20th January to mark the opening), but donations are welcome and will go towards saving the collection and supporting the museum’s hunt for a new permanent home.
THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA
Jez Butterworth, writer of Jerusalem and The Ferryman, is teaming up with director Sam Mendes to stage his new play The Hills of California at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Set in Blackpool, rather than the West Coast of America, the show centres around the Webb sisters who have returned to their dying mother’s run-down seaside guest house for one final time during the long, hot summer.
FORSAKEN AT OUTERNET
The climate crisis is taking centre stage at Outernet this winter with FORSAKEN playing daily on its 8k, 360-degree, floor-to-ceiling screens. The film, directed by Roland Lane, highlights both the beauty and fragility of nature through the regenerative life cycle of the Immortal Jellyfish and serves as a reminder that there is hope in the face of the mass extinction of life on Earth if we act now. Greenpeace ambassadors will be at Outernet on 13-14th January and 6-7th February, providing more info on how to support a deep sea mining ban and take action to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
LOUIS VUITTON LOVERS AT THE SELFRIDGES CORNER SHOP
After showing his debut men’s spring-summer 2024 collection for Louis Vuitton on the Pont Neuf during Paris Fashion Week in June 2023, LV’s Menswear Creative Director Pharrell Williams is bringing it to London. For five weeks this winter, LOUIS VUITTON LOVERS will take over The Corner Shop at Selfridges, so you’ll be able to experience a bit of that Parisian magic as well as shop from a curated edit of clothing and accessories from the SS24 collection, including tailoring, leather jackets, retro sportswear and pieces featuring Williams’ pixelated Damoflage print, his take on the iconic LV Damier chessboard pattern. You’ll need to make an appointment if you want to get inside, which you can book here.
Following a sell-out run at The Almeida, Sam Holcroft’s A Mirror, a satire on free speech, artistic expression, and state censorship, is transferring to the Trafalgar Theatre for a West End run. Jeremy Herrin is on directing duties and original cast members Jonny Lee Miller, Tanya Reynolds and Geoffrey Streatfeild are reprising their roles, with Samuel Adewunmi joining the production.
Brighton’s first fully dry bar is coming to London for a limited time only with a pop-up in Hoxton this January. Torstig (which means “thirsty” in Danish) has already been revolutionising the world of alcohol-free cocktails in its native city, but now the capital’s getting a taste of the action as the bar will be bringing its menu of signature serves to Kingsland Road for two weeks. Each tipple has been inspired by a classic cocktail, so you’ll know what to order based on your usual order. For example, go for the Tumbol if you like Negronis, the Orso if you like Old Fashioneds or the Agerup if you like Margaritas. There’ll also be a selection of ‘mood-altering’ serves, made with Three Spirit and Wild Eve, which use ingredients such as guayusa, schisandra, cacao, lion’s mane and terpenes for something either uplifting or to help you wind down. And, if you’re not in the mood for a mixed drink, there’ll also be Guinness 0.0 on tap, as well as a wide range of cans and bottles such as Brulo CBD IPA and LOAH’s Lime, Peach and Blood Orange 0.5% beers.
Guerrilla artist Karma Khazi is celebrating London’s toilet graffiti with his new exhibition Sh!t Show in Shoreditch. Almost 100 pieces inspired by the messages he found on a 250-pub crawl will be on show, including a single black door featuring 63 different bits of graffiti all pulled from different toilet cubicles, 63 individual canvases, fibreglass pub signs and more. A short film by double-BAFTA winning filmmaker Lee Phillips will also feature in the show and music created at Courtyard Studios will also be played during the exhibition. And in the spirit of graffiti, there’ll be space for you to add your own scribblings to then become part of the collection.
TRAFALGAR SQUARE CHRISTMAS MARKET
Trafalgar Square’s traditional German Christmas market has 34 wooden chalets stocked with high-end gifts, mulled wine, hot cider and festive food. It’s totally free to enter and while you’re there you can grab some pics with the Square’s famous Norway Spruce.
Max Mara’s iconic Teddy Bear Coat is turning ten and to celebrate, the brand has brought its Fluffy Residence to London. After previously popping up in Chengdu and Milan, the installation has now landed in Covent Garden, and as the name suggests, it’s a cocoon of softness just like the famous coat. Everything inside the residence is made out of the camel-coloured Teddy fabric, from the food on the dining table to the presents underneath the Christmas tree to the giant teddy bear headboard above the bed. Of course there are Teddy coats in the wardrobe and there’s also a magic mirror inside the house where you can generate your Teddy alter ego. So if you’re looking for a calming respite from the festive chaos, step inside the Fluffy Residence – you can just walk in or you can book a slot here for fast access.
JAY WOLMAN AT 107
In case you missed the news, P.Franco has closed, reopened and is now called 107. But, while the name is different, the ethos is still very much the same: a stellar wine selection and pop-ups from some of the world’s most exciting chefs. And for their next residency, they’re bringing Jay Wolman – of Diner, LaLou, Marlow & Sons, MIMI and Intermission – onboard. We don’t know exactly what’ll be on the menu just yet, but from the sneak peeks they’ve given us on Instagram, it looks like we can expect very good things.
RENAISSANCE X FLANNELS POP-UP
FLANNELS is rolling out the chrome horse once again as its Beyoncé-inspired pop-up is back. FLANNELS launched its first Renaissance experience back in the summer to coincide with the pop icon’s major tour. Now, with the release of Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé, they’re going for round two. Expect to see the FLANNELS flagship’s exterior and basement transformed into a multimedia showcase celebrating the tour and film with never-before-seen footage where you’ll be able to shop FLANNELS’s 16-piece Renaissance merch collection. Plus, Reneigh, Beyoncé’s now world-famous disco ball-come-horse will be greeting guests at the entrance.
BALLOON MUSEUM
Currently showing in Naples and New York, and with over two million people visiting it on its stops in Paris, Rome, Milan and Madrid, the Balloon Museum bills itself as the first inflatable art museum and only includes works where air is a distinctive element. The London edition of the Balloon Museum, with its exhibition entitled EmotionAir, will open at Old Billingsgate this December and feature pieces from 20 artists. The display will be a mix of new works and installations seen in other cities, including pink rabbits, a kaleidoscope of colour, and sound trapped in floating bubbles.
DREAMERS POP-UP MARKET
Yoga, movement and strength studio Waking Dreams is putting on a pop-up market this Christmas, filled with products from a curated selection of East London brands. As well as being plenty to browse, you’ll have the chance to print your own merch at the Print Club London stall, get some tooth gems, rent Christmas party dresses, join in on micro workshops and sip on hot drinks from DIRTEA. Plus, there’ll be live vinyl DJs and live performances from Drag King and HÄUS OF DONS founder Daisy Doris May. And, while you’re shopping for gifts, why not buy something for someone experiencing homelessness or displaced by war at the market’s own Choose Love shop?
JENNY SAVILLE | EKKYKLEMA
Gagosian Davies Street is showing new paintings and works on paper by Jenny Saville. Ekkyklema, named after the wheeled platform used to move interior scenes during old productions of Greek dramas, has been inspired by digital display screens used at major events and showcases Saville’s style that blends figuration and abstraction, the material and the screen-based. The figures in her work reference figures in Greek mythology, Cubist portraits by Picasso, and windows in computers and news broadcasts.