Arts & Culture
Originally published on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
The Culturist -AUGUST
There’s a tonne of fantastic cultural distractions on this month to woo your poor party/work-addled minds. For a start, there’s Notting Hill Carnival where you can always dig yourself out a nice little after-party – but that’s a bit too obvious for this humble column. So instead, why not try some London earthquakes, rock band artists, a few big name L.E.D.s … and then there’s always the tequila.
ART
AOP Summer Exhibition
July 27-Aug 11
AOP, 81 Leonard Street, EC2A 4QS
Free
With such an amazing army of photographers on their books, when the AOP in Shoreditch puts on a show with a submission theme of evoking the very spirit of the season, you just know its going to be a wondrous, absorbing affair. So kick off your shoes and turn up those shorts (even more), for a show with everything from the elegant landscapes of Simon Norfolk to the jazz and blues work of Tim Motion. Forget summer in a bottle; this is summer in a frame.
THEATRE
Earthquakes in London
July 29-Aug 5
National Theatre, South Bank, SE1 9PX
£10-£32
Yep, that’s right: Earthquakes in London. Women and children first! Abandon all hope! Fetch me my hat! And all that… The latest offering from award-winning playwright Mike Bartlett (of Cock, Contractions and My Child fame) and director Rupert Goold (he of Enron) follows three sisters and their mad scientist of a father through a high-speed, futuristic landscape of social decimation, population explosion, paranoia and, erm, strip shows. Shakespeare, no. Theatrical rollercoaster, yes.
MUSIC
Glyndebourne at Somerset House
Aug 20-22
Somerset House, Strand, WC2 1LA
£7.50-£15
As my grandmother used to say: “All the fun of the fairground without the smell for the horse manure.” An eloquent woman she was for sure. Translated into modern London art-speak it should probably read: “All the fun of Glydenbourne without having to trek out to, well, Glydenbourne.” Hop down to Somerset House’s gorgeous 18th century courtyard instead, pack a blanket and some cushions, maybe a Fortnum & Mason hamper and soak up the opera. And only a cab-ride home. Easy.
DANCE
Carlos Acosta: Premieres
July 28-Aug 7
London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, WC2N 4ES
£10-£75
Premiering five new works, Carlos Acosta's latest season at the London Coliseum is set to be a beast of a success. Alongside a new commission from Danza Contemporanea de Cuba's George Cespedes, a duet with Zenaida Yanowsky, a new musical commission and a multimedia spectacle with a fleet of digital artists (all exciting enough as it is), Acosta will also be performing a uniquely re-choreographed Russell Maliphant's legendary piece, Two – made (in)famous by the glorious Sylvie Guillem…
ART
Faris Badwan: Drawing a Straight Number Nine
Aug 11-29
The Book Club, 100-106 Leonard Street, EC2A 4RH
Free
Damn polymaths. Not content with being the entirely charismatic frontman of The Horrors, Faris Badwan also happens to be a former St. Martins student and a talented illustrator. Damn him. And just to wrap all of that up in a neat bundle of gah-I-hate-you, The Book Club are now hosting an exhibition of his work featuring a tonne of his ‘doodles’ (read: drawings, artwork, projections).
MUSIC
LED Festival
Aug 27-28
Victoria Park, E9
£32-£85
You have to feel sorry for poor ol’ Vicky Park during the summer… Event after event, festival after festival. Sigh. It’s a tough life being such a perfect outdoor spot in East London. So it is with great respect and admiration for Vicky’s stoicism that we’re humbly jumping up and down like excited teenagers over the prospect of LED this year. Leftfield, Goldfrapp, Aphex Twin, Soulwax, David Guetta, Hed Kandi… Need we say more?
THEATRE
La Bohème
July 27-Sept 4
Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE
£15-£25
Tackling opera for the first time, the Soho Theatre (and bar, as I’m reminded) is playing host this month to Robin Norton-Hale’s contemporary English translation of Puccini’s glorious La Bohème. After a sell-out six month stint at Kilburn’s Cock Tavern, the energetic young cast are bringing the tragic, beautiful tale to the very heart of London… But then this is Soho – and could there be a more perfect spot for a night of heart-rending love and indulgent excess?
DRINK
The Tasting Sessions: Reconciliation With Tequila
Aug 17
Secret Shoreditch Location
Ah, tequila. It’s funny how, despite the manifold wonders that this delightful spirits has to offer, the most that you ever got from it is a pounding hangover and a mysterious hicky that no amount of concealer can temper. Which leaves you with two options: 1) Never learn from your mistakes and carry on in drunken bliss/ignorance, or 2) break into the world of quality tequila paired with some tasty Michelin-starred aperitifs and love a little. Plus at least this way you might start to learn the origin of those crazy hickies…
THEATRE
The Great Game: Afghanistan
Aug 3-26
Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, NW6 7JR
£15-£45
Making a brief return to the Tricycle before setting of on a major tour Stateside, if you haven’t already seen the much lauded The Great Game: Afghanistan, now’s your chance. Running in three parts with four plays to each, the cycle charts the country’s story first to the 1930s, then through the pivotal ‘80s and ‘90s, taking things up to the present day for the final part. Chilling, moving, utterly fascinating.
FILM
Film4 FrightFest
Aug 26-30
Various locations
£11-£150
Nothing brings together a group of people quite like being scared witless at the cinema. Curled up behind a cushion, hands over your eyes, stuffing popcorn into your terrified mouth. And if that is your cup of tea, then you need to be all over this year’s FrightFest with everything from gore-ridden schlock to artier fear-mongering (eyes peeled – not literally, mind – for We Are What We Are, Mexico’s answer to Let The Right One In) alongside various Hellish talks and distractions.
