What’s On this Week: November 13th – 17th
The Cat and the Canary
Bill Kenwright’s Classic Thriller Theatre Company continues with its latest chilling whodunit, the creepy comedy thriller The Cat and the Canary.
Twenty years after the death of Mr West, his descendants gather to learn who will inherit his vast wealth and the hidden family jewels. Within moments, the heritage hunters turn into prey. Walls crack open, shadows loom, and dark secrets are revealed.
Who is The Cat? His movements soundless, unnoticeable, and his vengeance swift. Who will feel his horrible grasp next?
Until November 13
Churchill Theatre
Journey into the Unknown
A group exhibition of the work of 23 emerging visual artists – many of them recent MA graduates from the University of the Arts London.
The work selected for exhibition represents a vibrant sample of contemporary production in the UK.
Among works displayed will be three large-format paintings from artist Miguel Sopena’s ongoing Dénia series.
The paintings are based on physical and emotional memory of the town in Spain where the artist spent many summer months as a child and teenager.
These works are not inspired by any imagery or physical mementos, but solely by the persistence of early life emotional and sensory impressions.
Until November 14
Copeland Gallery
Straight White Men
They are feared, envied, occasionally attacked and derided. But pitied?
When personal identity is essential and privilege is a problem, what is a straight white man to do?
Straight White Men takes place over the Christmas holidays, when three brothers assemble at the family home, to celebrate the season with their widowed father Ed.
Games are played. Chinese food is ordered. Brotherly pranks and trash talk distract them from the issue that threatens to ruin the testosterone-fuelled, boys-will-be-boys celebration.
In this raucous, surprising and fearless work, Lee takes an outside look at the traditional father/son narrative, shedding new light on that theatrical storyline we have come to know all too well.
But, and here is the twist, the people in charge of proceedings are neither straight, nor white, nor male.
Until December 4
Southwark Playhouse
London Grads Now. 21
Initially conceived in 2020 as a response to the unprecedented cancellation of degree shows around the capital, the second edition aims to support and highlight emerging artists of today and features fresh work from more than 200 MA graduates of seven leading London art schools, all under one roof.
All the proceeds from sales of artworks are retained by the artists.
The major exhibition presents a survey of London’s new emerging art scene, with new works selected, spanning moving image, assemblage, installation, performance, painting, sculpture, photography, and drawing.
It presents a survey of London’s new emerging art scene and addresses meaningful dialogues of today.
Curators have selected artworks focusing on themes including environmentalism, gender identity, post-pandemic reflections, UK racial politics as well as explorations of the human psyche.
Until January 16
Saatchi Gallery
Daniel Casimir
The bassist’s debut full-length album is a celebration of black British culture, taking a step outside of prescribed ideas.
Daniel Casimir spent 2020 recording the album, which incorporates a critique of the genres, labels and stereotypes which have traditionally been placed upon black musicians.
The Serious Take Five album has become a regular fixture across the UK jazz scene, providing his heavyweight upright sound for the likes of Nubya Garcia, Ashley Henry, Camilla George and Binker Golding.
November 12
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Kids in Museums Takeover
Experience a family day out on Cutty Sark developed and run by children from schools and community groups.
November 12
Cutty Sark
Laufey
A fresh voice in the scene, singer-songwriter Laufey blends sophisticated jazz melodies and slow-burning R&B grooves. Inspired by a musical family, she took up piano and cello early on. Her muses were Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.
She was captivated by the lush arrangements and dreamy vocals, and by her teenage years, she was already turning heads with a mesmerising style that belied her young age.
November 13
Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall
Balimaya Project
Bridging between the diaspora and West Africa, Balimaya Project fuses the sound of the Mande people with London’s jazz scene, and brings it to African ManiFest.
Balimaya Project uses the repertoire of the Mande peoples of Senegal and Mali as the bridge to bring the folkloric West African music together with jazz and the sounds of Black London, to create something unique and exciting.
Balimaya Project was formed in 2019 by percussionist Yahael Camara Onono, a second generation Londoner whose rich West African musical heritage, coupled with his musical experiences in the UK, inspired him to find a way to bring the diaspora and West Africa closer together.
November 14
Royal Festival Hall
Manor
Diana is struggling to keep the roof on her run-down manor house. As a violent storm sweeps the coast, a group of strangers unexpectedly arrive in search of shelter.
Enter Ted, the charismatic leader of a far-right organisation. He could be Diana’s saviour – or he could pull the fragile household to pieces.
Stranded together, the explosive mix of people must survive the weather and each other.
November 16 to January 1
National Theatre
Woodkid + Alban Claudin
S16, the long-awaited second album by Yoann Lemoine aka Woodkid, lands in the UK with a truly epic production of a show.
As a film director, Lemoine made his name with acclaimed videos for artists including Lana Del Rey, Katy Perry and Taylor Swift, before turning the camera on himself and recording an album under the name Woodkid.
He’s become known for his spectacular live shows, including a dramatic live broadcast from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
This EFG London Jazz Festival show is his only British concert based around S16.
An opening set comes from Alban Claudin; a master in classical music, as well as an expert in electronic keyboards and a prolific drummer, with new album It’s a Long Way to Happiness out this year.
November 17
Royal Festival Hall