As regular readers will know, we here at ThisWeek like anything that involves things that glow in the dark, and we also have an increasing awareness of all the good artsy stuff that's going on lately in Barking & Dagenham.
The latest event is 'Glow', an exhibition of light-based works to be installed at National Trust property Eastbury Manor, co-produced by Creative Barking & Dagenham and Studio 3 Arts.
To find out more about the event, I spoke to exhibitor and 'cultural connector' Melissa Lowndes. Read the interview here.
'Glow' is on at Eastbury Manor House on 25 and 26 Nov. Follow this link here for more info and to book.
JOANNA TINCEY: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
When I heard about this fresh adaptation of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice', I knew I had to investigate, not least because it's already won much praise while out on tour. Luckily for Londoners, it comes to Jermyn Street just in time to be a rather nice pre-Christmas treat.
Despite all the characters involved, the play is a two hander, performed by the show's creator Joanna Tincey alongside her husband Nick Underwood. I spoke to Joanna ahead of the London run. Read the interview here.
'Pride And Prejudice' is on at Jermyn Street Theatre from 30 Nov-21 Dec. See the venue website here for all the details.
SIMON EVANS: SCROOGE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES
We are long term fans of Sleeping Trees, here at ThisWeek, so it was great to hear that the three man troupe - aka Joshua George Smith, John Woodburn and James Dunnell-Smith - would be back at Theatre503 this winter with another cracking, mashed-up pantomime.
I spoke to Simon Evans, who is directing this year's show, to find out more about 'Scrooge And The Seven Dwarves' and how he got involved with it. Read the interview here.
'Scrooge And The Seven Dwarves' is on at Theatre503 until 7 Jan. See the venue website here for info and more specific performance times.
FRIDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2016 >>
Glow | Eastbury Manor House | 25-26 Nov
I think you know just how much we love lighty-uppy-dark-night-based entertainments here at TW Towers, so it can be no surprise to you that we are keen to recommend this magical exhibition of light installations set in the lovely location of National Trust property Eastbury Manor House. As well as the installations, there will be workshops, stalls with food and drinks, and interactive activities, see this page here for info and to book.
Hyper Japan Christmas Market | Tobacco Dock | 25-27 Nov
I expect J-fans will already be aware, but just in case you're not, here's an alternative to your standard Christmas market, which, to be honest, goes way beyond just being a Christmas market. And that's a good thing, given that you have to buy tickets to get in. In addition to the stalls selling all manner of interesting stuff, there are also workshops, various performers, meet and greets, and a cosplay parade. See the website here.
Kieran Hodgson - Maestro | Soho Theatre | 22 Nov-3 Dec (pictured)
The very excellent Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Kieran Hodgson performs his latest show 'Maestro', in which he tells a personal story about his own historical attempt to write a symphony, after hearing the music of Gustav Mahler. It's "a story about trying to find love when you're the kind of loser who writes classical music instead of playing football", see the venue site here for details.
SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2016 >>
A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings | Little Angel Theatre | 26 Nov-29 Jan
I think we will start today with something for the small people of your respective households, it being a Saturday in the run up to Christmas and all. This is from a great company - Kneehigh - and has great source material - it's based on a short story by Gabriel García Márquez - so I think you can expect something lovely and engaging. See this page here for info.
May Contain Food | ArtsDepot | 26 Nov (pictured)
You may have seen this before, because it was on at The Place back in the spring (and in fact, we did a Q&A with its creator Luca Silvestrini) but now is your chance if you missed it. The acclaimed choreographer is known for his accessible, humorous and interactive pieces, so definitely one for dance fans, but Protein shows do seem to appeal to those who don't normally identify as such. See the venue website here for details.
Free Association Improv Comedy Weekender | The Free Association Theatre | 26-27 Nov
Improv fans really, really need to make sure this date is in their diary, because The Free Association have a startlingly good line up for this weekender. I was going to name some names but I can't decide who to name, so why not click here and take a look at the line up, then you can get your tickets while you are there. And, by the way, it's a charity event. Hurrah.
SUNDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2016 >>
Angel Comedy Gala Night | The Bill Murray | 27 Nov
A cracking line up tonight over at Angel Comedy's new venue The Bill Murray is topped by the excellent Sara Pascoe and the brilliant Ian Stone, and you wouldn't want to miss that if at all possible, would you? Head this way for more info.
Sex And Puppets | Pleasance Theatre | 27 Nov
I'm not going to lie to you, this show looks, well, um... interesting. But I suppose a show called 'Sex And Puppets' was always going to be slightly, well... interesting. Plus, the creators point out that with this scratch exploration of consent, gender and sexuality they want to "make people laugh because we think laughter and good sex should go hand and hand". Fair enough. Click this link here.
Yianni Agisilaou - The Simpsons Taught Me Everything I Know | Camden Comedy Club | 27 Nov (pictured)
Fabulous TW favourite Yianni Agisilaou (I give myself an imaginary pat on the back every time I spell that surname right) gets out his latest and much praised show for a Camden airing. Great for Simpsonophiles who like comedy. Or just people who like comedy. Plus, for not much more money you can have more Yianni (I avoided it that time) as he hosts the show following, 'Comedians Against Humanity'. See the website here to book.
MONDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2016 >>
Tom Allen - Indeed | Soho Theatre | 28 Nov-3 Dec
He's been a favourite of ours for a while, and you've probably seen him on the telly, and those both count as perfectly good reasons why you should book some tickets to see Tom Allen perform this week. Our reviewer saw this show in Edinburgh this summer and was most impressed by his suave, confident and charismatic persona, impressive delivery and great material. See the venue website here for more info.
The Three Musketeers | Pleasance Theatre | 28 Nov-1 Dec
You've definitely heard of The Three Musketeers, and perhaps you've seen one of the films of it, or read the book. Whatever your relationship with this esteemed tale, I reckon you'll enjoy this offering from Cyphers, whose adaptation sees three actors taking on a somewhat breathtaking thirty roles between them. See this page here for details.
Lolly Adefope - Lolly 2 | 28 Nov-3 Dec (pictured)
You can tell how much we liked this show by going to the event page on the Soho website to see that they're quoting from our review at the top of the listing. "I never wanted this show to end", said our writer, who was delighted by the rising star's immensely creative character and sketch comedy, surreal humour and weird jokes, and her ability to make hard-hitting and serious points with it. Click this link to book.
TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2016 >>
Unknowing | Tristan Bates Theatre | 29 Nov-3 Dec
This sounds interesting. A chamber opera based on Robert Schumann's Dichterliebe and Frauenliebe und Leben song cycles, 'Unknowing' charts a couple's turbulent and violent relationship, and offers a "poetic meditation" on the power - destructive and creative - of love. See the venue website here for more info.
Scrooge & The Seven Dwarves | Theatre503 | 23 Nov-7 Jan
The very brilliant Sleeping Trees have returned to Theatre503 (this is their third year) with another very classy and excellent show. Well, okay, I haven't seen it, so I can't be absolutely one hundred percent sure that it's classy and excellent, but Sleeping Trees are very classy and excellent and I confidently predict that you will love their slightly different approach to a traditional British panto. See this page here for details.
Awful Things Can Happen At Any Time - An Uplifting Musical | Camden People's Theatre | 29 Nov-3 Dec (pictured)
"Tonight they will stand up and kick out melodramatic songs to preset rock and pound shop pop using an ipad with a cracked screen that they are always arguing over. But it's worth it for the dream of hits and stadiums". This is on as part of that previously mentioned All The Right Notes Festival over at CPT, and I'm glad they added the 'uplifting' bit of the title, not least because I don't think the contents of this show will be remotely awful. "This is a show about wanting to be in a band and then being in one." Hurrah, click this link here.
WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2016 >>
Gatsby | Leicester Square Theatre | 29 Nov-15 Jan
We spoke to the director of this show earlier in the year, when it was on at the Union theatre, so if you are keen to know more you should read our Q&A. Those of you who don't have time, take it from me that you can expect something pretty special from this intimate musical adaptation, for which audiences are invited to "dress up, sip cocktails and immerse themselves". See the venue website here for more info.
Pride And Prejudice | Jermyn Street Theatre | 30 Nov-21 Dec
And so to another literary adaptation, this time of perennial Jane Austen favourite 'Pride And Prejudice'. Joanna Tincey has already won much praise for this fresh yet faithful staging performed by just two actors (one of whom is Tincey herself, the other her real life husband Nick Underwood) in myriad different roles. Click this link here for more.
Aidan Goatley - The Joys Of Retail | Camden Comedy Club | 30 Nov (pictured)
In some ways it is perhaps a shame that I don't have yet another literary adaptation to offer you today, because you know how we love a good hat-trick here at TW HQ. But what's not a shame is that I threw it all away in favour of a better option, this show about working in retail from the charming and funny Aidan Goatley. Go on, and remember to make a donation at the end. See this page here for details.
THURSDAY 1 DECEMBER 2016 >>
Pinocchio | King's Head Theatre | 1 Dec-7 Jan
The ever excellent Charles Court Opera deliver their tenth boutique pantomime, and you'd be foolish to miss out on the chance to see this anniversary outing that promises a gut-full of musical numbers of every genre and "puns and tomfoolery galore". Oh, and we did an interview with CCO founder John Savournin ahead of last year's panto, if you want to find out more about the company. Head this way to book tickets for this year's show.
Between | Camden People's Theatre | 1 Dec (pictured)
This is another event from CPT's All The Right Notes festival, which explores "what happens when gigs and theatre collide". 'Between' sees multi award-winning musician and storyteller Daniel Marcus Clark tell his tales armed with just a couple of guitars, his voice, and a "bagful of broken ballads". Charming and unique, see the venue website here for details.
Thebes Land | Arcola Theatre | 30 Nov-23 Dec
You might already have heard all about this one, given its controversial elements: Franco-Uruguayan playwright Sergio Blanco asks the question "how could anyone kill their father?" and explores this pretty thoroughly via the on-stage participation of a man apparently convicted of patricide. But don't worry, there are cages and everything. See this page here for more info.
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