What’s On This Week: August 3rd – August 9th 2009
So the proverb says (or something very like it), all work and no play make The City a dull place. So lucky for us there’s a hearty dose of good, clean, fun in the city’s events this week, promising wholesome entertainment for kids young and old.
If you’re feeling particularly creative there’s a chance to make your own musical instruments at Shake, Radical, Roll, a drop-in workshop at the Barbican conservatory on Thursday evening. Whilst you’re there, a new exhibition of pictures inspired by the journeys, atmospheres and people of London buses is opening in the Library – it’ll be intriguing to see what this particular element of British public transport can inspire, beyond fear for your life whilst trying to navigate the stairs in motion. It is a multimedia exhibition as well, apparently, so one for the techies.
Those of you on babysitting duty may appreciate the Museum of London’s efforts; on Sunday afternoon archaeologist John Digger (prophetic name or what?) is telling tales of the secrets that may lurk beneath our city streets. This follows the weekly Sunday morning Story Time, mildly educational but mostly fun stories about the city’s history of knights, Romans and such like.
Watch out, there’s also a Balloonatic on the loose on New Street Square on Wednesday, threatening to adorn passers by with hats, costumes and toys all made out of balloons. It’s all part of the City of London festival, which comes to a close this Friday as the young people of the renowned New London Children’s Choir get their chance to shine, performing a range of baroque and classical songs at St Bart’s on Friday Lunchtime. The Rambert Dance Company’s stars of tomorrow will also be performing this week, as their School will be resident at St Paul’s Cathedral from Wednesday to Friday.
What’s On This Week: July 27th – August 2nd 2009
Eclectic is the name of the game this week with a real mixed bag of things happening in The City.
On the educational front the Museum of London are uncovering some Thames Treasures with a whole raft (geddit?) of guided tours and workshops designed to bring the river to life. For the children there are opportunities to learn about weapons, boats and other cool stuff at the weekend drop-in sessions whilst the more grown-up kids may prefer the lunchtime guided tours that focus on the history of the river from prehistoric to medieval times.
Fans of theatre are also in for a treat, as the Old Red Lion Theatre is hosting no less than 3 productions this week. ‘Les Chaises’, from Tuesday to Saturday, is a triad of short pieces centred on the chair: I know it sounds a little odd, but it’s all in context – one focuses on her late father’s chair, another on a psychologist’s couch and so on. There’s also the fun looking ‘Darwin -The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or The Survival of [R]evolutionary Theories in The Face of Scientific and Ecclesiastical Objections: Being a Musical Comedy About Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882)” – the title says it all really. Finally there’s the debut of ‘Art House’ by a young Australian playwright, exploring themes of betrayal and sisterhood in this promising thriller. And if all that doesn’t satiate your thirst for theatre, The Bridewell Theatre is still showing their 1950s take on Much Ado About Nothing, lunchtimes until 7 August.
Music lovers, well specifically folk music lovers, will also be spoilt for choice. The Betsey Trotwood in Clerkenwell will be hosting French folk-pop songwriter Francoise on Tuesday evening; he’s a big myspace hit and is about to release his album via an indie label, with this the London leg of his UK tour. The Slaughtered Lamb is also holding a trio of gigs from Monday to Wednesday, with a mix of well-credited folk bands and a Bowie-esque electro-pop singer. Told you this week was an eclectic one!
Did we miss anything? Post other stuff happening this week in the comments below. To get future events featured in this weekly post, email whatson@thecity.co.uk