What’s On This Weekend: May Bank Holiday Edition

After that sun-drenched start, the April weather seems to have turned and the Met Office is predicting thundersnow. Which is a shame, because…

Outside Events

Morden Hall Country Fair returns over the May Day Bank Holiday Weekend, with its much-loved attractions of Devilstick Peat the jester, the sheep show, medieval combat, falconry, petting animals, Monday dog show, crafts and food tents, fairground rides, food and booze stalls. In the meadow behind Morden Hall Park, Saturday April 29 – Monday May 1, 10am – 5pm. Discounts on tickets booked online.

Wisley is holding its Spring Craft Fair from today, April 27, to Bank Holiday Monday, 9am-6pm (5pm Monday). More than 170 traditional and contemporary craft stalls, including a festival of silversmithing in the Glasshouse. Normal garden admission prices apply.

And while you’re at Wisley, join Iggle Piggle for a magical adventure on a free In The Night Garden Trail for pre-school children; opens on Monday, May 1, until June 30.

Acrobats, wall of death riders, clowns and the performing domestic cats of Zippos Circus will be entertaining at Figges Marsh, Mitcham, from today, April 27, to May 2.

Film

The wait is over: the cult space opera sequel Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 opens at cinemas tomorrow, April 28. Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Rocket the raccoon (Bradley Cooper), green lady Gamora, mighty Drax and baby Groot reunite to find Peter’s father. If you’re fanatical, the Odeon Wimbledon is showing a double bill, with Vol 1 screened in 2D at 9.15pm tonight, April 27, before the first, one minute past midnight showing of Vol 2 in 2D, 3D and 3D IMAX.

Art

Don’t miss the wonderful exhibition of Australian Aboriginal Art on show at Wimbledon Fine Art, 41 Church Road. The paintings and sculptures are subtle, vibrant and colourful. Free entry, until May 6. Read my review here.

On Saturday, April 29, local artists are holding the Worple Group Art Exhibition for one day only in St Mark’s Church, Wimbledon, beside Wimbledon library, from 10am – 5.30pm. Refreshments, free.

If you’re in the centre of town, treat yourself to the excellent America After The Fall, art from the period of great upheaval after the 1929 economic crash. Artists as celebrated as Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock and Edward Hopper are on show, and it’s the first time Grant Wood’s iconic painting American Gothic has ever left America. Daily, tickets £12, at the Royal Academy in Piccadilly.

Video trailer for America After The Fall:

Comedy

Have a laugh over the Bank Holiday weekend: the Laughing Boy Comedy Club comes to New Wimbledon Studio Theatre at 8pm on Friday. Full line up still to be confirmed – a couple of weeks ago it was Phill Jupitus. Tickets £10.

Stand ups Maff Brown, Tim Vine and Ian Stone will be performing at the Fighting Cocks pub in Kingston from 1.45pm on Saturday, an Outside the Box comedy show.

Theatre

No need to head for the West End when there’s a cornucopia of great drama on in local theatres. James Fritz’s heartbreaking, mind bending story of a couple Ross & Rachel comes to Battersea Arts Centre, after its sold-out premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015 and its 2016 transfer to New York.

Don’t miss new musical Junkyard, the story of a gang of misfit teenagers in 1979 who build a junk playground and then have to face tragedy and the hostile forces of bureaucracy. Rose Theatre, Kingston. Read my five star review here.

In Wimbledon, plunge into nostalgia with Grease at the New Wimbledon Theatre until Saturday; join Phillip Schofield in his return to the stage after a 17 year absence for his all-singing Knights of Music at 7.30pm on Sunday, April 30 – and for this you can claim 15% off your tickets with the code MUMSNETMERTON.

Or check out Pinot! the Musical, a musical comedy about a young Russian cyclist who wants to win the Tour de France, at the New Wimbledon Studio Theatre from Tuesday, May 2 until May 17.

Coming Up

Sam Mendes’s production of The Ferryman, the latest play from Jez Butterworth who wrote sell-out, critically acclaimed Jerusalem, is transferring from the Royal Court to the West End in June. Some tickets are still available: book quick!