Theatre
I’m glad that Broadchurch and its grumpy cop hero David Tennant are back on form, and even more glad to spot a poster in Angel tube yesterday for Tennant’s starring turn in Paddy Marber’s “savagely funny and disgracefully sexy” Don Juan In Soho. Opens Friday, at Wyndham’s Theatre. Runs from Monday – Saturday, March 17 – June 10. Not recommended for children under 16, which is promising. An alternative Mother’s Day treat perhaps? Please note that the cheaper seats have now sold out, and remaining tickets start at £47.
Staying on the subject of sexual magnetism, from April 19 Jude Law stars in the stage adaptation of Obsession at the Barbican Theatre, based on the film about passion and murder. Some tickets remain; book for the live stage show, or the live screening in cinemas on Thursday 11 May.
Art
Michelangelo, the genius draughtsman who “couldn’t draw a boring figure if he tried”, was bored by colour: so he called in master colourist Sebastiano and together they created masterpieces. The National Gallery’s sumptuous Michelangelo & Sebastiano exhibition sponsored by Credit Suisse is a must see, but first, watch this video – a brilliant 20 mins tour by curator Matthias Wivel, it’ll make you appreciate the art so much more. It’s open from March 15 – June 25, 10.00am – 6.00pm, tickets £9 – 18 online or on the door.
Meet the artist: Mike Bernard RI (Royal Institute of Painters and Watercolourists) will attend the private view of a major new exhibition of his mixed media paintings at Wimbledon Fine Art in Church Road, Wimbledon Village on Sunday afternoon. Exhibition continues until April 2, and it’s free.
St Patrick’s Day
London will be turning green this weekend for Ireland’s national saint’s day. Channel your inner Mrs Doyle (or, indeed, Father Jack) at the Father Ted-a-thon at The Clapham Grand, Clapham Junction, on Friday 17 March. Brace yourself: there will be a Lovely Girls Competition, and prizes for the best nun or priest costume. From 7.00pm, tickets £5. Gwan, gwaaan.
Closer to home The Crooked Billet pub next to Wimbledon Common is promising a night of “Irish treats”; the Kilkenny Tavern in South Wimbledon, Ganley’s Irish Bar in Morden, and the area’s many other Irish bars will be in full song; while O’Neill’s in Wimbledon is thoughtfully offering a Sunday hangover breakfast for £4.99.
The main St Patrick’s Day Party is on Sunday, with a parade of musicians, ceilidh dancers, leprechauns and loopy floats leaving Piccadilly at midday for Trafalgar Square, where there will be a main stage with live comedy and music, a street food market, storytellers, and – naturally – a tea tent. Until 6.00pm.
TV Audience
Hattrick Productions’s new season of Have I Got News For You is soon to begin. Huge numbers apply to be in the live audience, so maximise your chances in the random ticket ballot by applying for every show. You queue for ages, but it’s worth it – Merton, Hislop etc are razor sharp and very funny. Turn up early to get a good place in the queue.
Venue: The London Studios, Upper Ground, London, SE1 9LT. Gate opens at 5.00pm, recording 7.15pm.
If you’re staying at home, Thursday night TV is sorted with the return of Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred in the second series of The Last Kingdom on BBC2 at 9.00pm, starting tonight, March 16.
Families
Polka Theatre’s new production To Dream Again is inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Sophie’s world is changing, so she reaches out to her parents, Demetrius and Helena. Can they go back to the beginning and let the enchanted forest cast its spell again? For ages 7 – 12 years.
Lambs have been born at Deen City Farm. Doesn’t matter what age you are, go and have a look, and go AAAAAAAH.
Coming Up
Buy original works direct from emerging artists at The Other Art Fair, March 30 – April 2, Victoria House in Bloomsbury.
Wimbledon Choral Society is performing Monteverdi Vespers on Saturday 25 March, Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ.
Book tickets for Monteverdi Vespers here.
Sorry…
Apologies for jumping the gun last week, and claiming that Beauty & The Beast was already on general release when in fact it opens tomorrow, March 17. I have slapped my own wrist and sent myself to bed early.
As an antidote to Disney’s sugariness, if you’re feeling robust why not go and see Isabelle Huppert’s brilliant, baffling and appalling turn in Elle. Critics love it (90% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes) but it has divided audiences, probably because it portrays rape in a way that is acutely French. On general release, I promise.
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By ‘Culture Vulture’ Jenny Booth
Follow: @culturevult
Visit: mediastarsite.wordpress.com
About The Author
Jenny Booth
Jenny was a news journalist for The Times. An ex-teacher, mum, gardener and art lover, there’s nothing she doesn’t know about the local culture scene…