Theatre is a hot ticket in May with the opening of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Simon Russell Beale in The Hothouse and the new season launch of the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Major tournaments in football, rugby and cricket and the Investec Derby racing festival also make it a busy month for sport.
The Tate Modern presents an exhibition of the North American artist Ellen Gallagher and her diverse body of work from the past 20 years. Her eclectic style is inspired by literature, myth, science fiction and advertising and she works in a vast quantity of materials ranging from plasticine to watercolours.
British cartoonist Ralph Steadman, best known for his work with 'Fear and Loathing...' author Hunter S. Thompson has illustrated such classics as 'Alice in Wonderland', 'Treasure Island' and 'Animal Farm'. The illustrator, who starred in For No Good Reason, a documentary made about his laudable life and career which premiered at the 2012 London Film Festival, is the subject of a retrospective exhibition, Steadman at 77, at the London Cartoon Museum in 2013.
With two albums released within 18 months, The Vaccines haven't paused for a breath since they first stepped onto the music scene in 2010. Described by The Independent as "the Shoreditch Strokes", they have received mixed reviews on their indie rock music. However, their latest studio album 'Coming of Age' was praised by the BBC: "Their writing and delivery is more creative and the four-piece sound more invigorated and inspired than ever." They have now added an extra date to their tour to perform at the O2 this May and support The Rolling Stones at their Hyde Park gig on Saturday 6th July.
Kate Prince directs 'Some Like It Hip Hop', a dance-theatre fusion of the Billy Wilder film 'Some Like It Hot' and Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night'. One of the West End's biggest success stories of last year, the show has received widespread critical acclaim for its "wit, heart and energy" (The Independent). Uniting a riveting storyline with some show stopping dance routines, Prince, also the co-writer, presents a comical tale of romance, mistaken identity, cross-dressing and revolution - all set to original music from Josh Cohen and DJ Walde. If you're a fan of hip hop, comedy and physical theatre, then this is most definitely the one for you.
So lowly are the teams involved in this knock-out competition that the winners do not receive a cup or a trophy - just a meagre vase. Open to amateur teams in the eighth and lower tiers of the Football League system (including outfits from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), the FA Vase was won last year by Dunston UTS, who beat West Auckland Town 2-0 in front of a crowd of 5,126. But what a day out for everyone involved!
Breakin' Convention
World class dance performances to celebrate the event's 10th anniversary.
This annual three day international festival of hip hop and dance theatre, curated by Sadler's Wells associate artist Jonzi D, celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2013. 'Breakin' Convention' features performances from some of the world's greatest poppers, lockers, B-boys and B-girls, and includes a whole evening dedicated to world premieres from UK companies. It's a frenzy of cutting edge moves with one head-spinning act after another taking to the stage to wow audiences. Alongside world class performances the weekend is packed with live aerosol jams, workshop programmes, DJ demos, freestyle circles and a world record attempt for the longest continuous popping wave.
Back at the Southbank Centre for its sixth year, 'Chorus' is a celebration of the voice and the power of singing. The festival embraces all genres of music and welcomes gospel, indie, world music, a capella and classical to the line-up. Many of the events are free and audiences are encouraged to join in for the sing along events. Further highlights of the programme include the chance to become part of a mass improvised choir, special guest performances and a number of workshops.
Based on the hugely popular Channel 4 TV series, in which the general public aim to build their dream homes, the multi award-winning 'Grand Designs Live' returns to the ExCeL Centre this spring. Presented by design guru Kevin McCloud, the show is the perfect place to come for ideas and inspiration for the home with over 500 exhibitors, top TV celebrities, shopping and fabulous show features. Whether you're building a conservatory, renovating a new home or just trying to sort out your hideous living room, there will be something for you at this ultimate exhibition for people passionate about home and garden design.
Young American pianist Jonathan Biss produces this series of concerts at Wigmore Hall that will pay homage to the legacy of Robert Schumann and his music. Regarded by some as a happy accident of history, Schumann's music is seen as uniquely original and yet a crucial link in a chain of composers across centuries. This series will look into that progression and will feature the work of four composers who could not have existed without the influence of Schumann.
This grand opera was cut and re-cut for over 20 years after its Paris debut in 1867 but 'Don Carlo' - returning to the Royal Opera House in Nicholas Hytner's production - remains Verdi's longest work. It gives new meaning to the word 'epic', taking in a broad sweep of 16th century history and playing out the usual collection of operatic storylines involving lost love, jealous revenge and political ambition. The main action focuses on Don Carlo falling for Elisabetta di Valois, who despite loving him in return has to marry Don Carlo's father King Philip II as part of the peace treaty between Spain and France. Nicholas Hytner's wealth of experience across all three genres of theatre, opera and film promises a dramatic frisson not usually associated with this monumental work.
Another Henrik Ibsen revival to take to the Young Vic stage this year, 'Public Enemy' – originally titled 'Enemy of the People' - is a story of corruption, pollution and courage. When he discovers that the waters of a new public spa are toxic, Dr Stockmann expects gratitude and glory. Instead, he becomes the most hated man in town. With the townspeople desperate to keep the dirty secret of their most lucrative tourist attraction, how far will one man go to stand up for the truth? Ibsen wrote the play to address the irrational tendencies of the masses and point out the hypocrisy in the political system of the time.
Festival organisers All Tomorrow's Parties present I'll Be Your Mirror London, a worldwide festival series in which they replace their usual rural holiday camp location with a city centre venue. In London, Alexandra Palace is the place to see New York's Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who not only play their first London headline show in four years, on Saturday 4th May, but also choose the line-up for the day. They've asked Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Atlanta rockers Black Lips, and the excellent Anika to join them. On Sunday 5th May, Grizzly Bear curate and play their largest UK show to date. They are joined by legendary Beach Boys collaborator Van Dyke Parks, cult indie rock group The Walkmen, post-rock pioneers Tortoise, New Jersey's Real Estate, and Sweden's I Break Horses.
Simon Russell Beale and John Simm (currently appearing in BBC TV series The Village) star Harold Pinter's tragicomedy The Hothouse, Jamie Lloyd's second production at Trafalgar Studios following the hugely successful debut of his Trafalgar Transformed season which opened with James McAvoy starring in Macbeth. Set during a Christmas day in a state-run mental institution, the play reveals the cruelty handed out by its leader whose power goes unchecked. Get tickets for The Hothouse now, previews from Saturday 4th May and continues until 3rd August with opening night set for Thursday 9th May 2013.
Vaisakhi on the Square
A colourful celebration to welcome in the Sikh New Year.
Every May sees Trafalgar Square transformed into a colourful celebration to welcome in the Sikh New Year. The Vaisakhi festival is truly a sight to behold with traditional and modern Asian music and dancing and an array of exotic culinary delights on offer. Commemorating 300 years of the consecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru, the Vaisakhi festival includes performances of music such as Shabad Kirtin (religious hymns), as well as modern dance music and DJs. In previous years crowds of 30,000 have attended the celebrations, which end with a final prayer for the good and well-being of the whole of humanity. Vegetarian food prepared by the Sikh community is usually on sale during the afternoon.
Having made its first appearance last year, bringing Coney Island-style attractions and cabaret performed in a Spiegeltent in the shadow of the Southbank Centre, the 'London Wonderground' makes a welcome return in May. Transforming the riverside site into an amusement ground, it entices visitors in with fairground rides, circus shows and a programme of international cabaret, music and fringe theatre. In its inaugural year the festival drew over 800,000 visitors (including Madonna and 15 members of her entourage), and presented 277 different performances from 46 different acts, including the Australian circus hit Cantina, Hercules & Love Affair, British comedy trio Fascinating Aida, and Gary Stretch, the man with the stretchiest skin in the world. Expect similar freaks and misfits to form this year's line-up.
Plucked from obscurity on her way to winning series three of the 'X Factor' in 2006, the shy, unassuming but unquestionably stunning girl from Hackney went on to become a multi-platinum selling artist and three-time Grammy Award nominee, conquer America and prove to be one of Simon Cowell's biggest successes to date. Leona embarked on her debut tour 'The Labyrinth' in 2010 to promote her first two albums. Now, on the back of her third album 'Glassheart', Leona Lewis will perform at the Royal Albert Hall for two nights as part of a 16 date UK tour.
After winning the Design Museum's Design of the Year award in 2012 for their London 2012 Olympic Torch, designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby return to the museum for a show which presents their unique view on the production of everyday objects. The pair were chosen to design the torch from submissions made by over 600 design agencies. In this Design Museum exhibition, visitors can explore the designers' multidisciplinary practice - they design everything from furniture and lighting to watering cans - and the way in which it challenges the boundaries of industrial design, architecture and art. Their work with manufacturers, engineers and factories is also examined as an integral part of their studio's award-winning projects.
This is the fifth year this major commercial art fair, specialising in art from the 20th and 21st centuries, comes to the Royal College of Art in Kensington Gore. The '20/21 International Art Fair' - run by the same organisers as the '20/21 British Art Fair', held here in September - offers a similar focus on affordable art by big names but on an international scale. Modern and contemporary art comes from China, Japan, Russia, Australia, the Ukraine, Poland, France and Ireland as well as Britain. Pieces are on sale from artists including Modigliani, Matisse, Chagall, David Hockney, Bridget Riley, and Damien Hirst.
The country's leading portrait exhibition displays painted and drawn portrait submissions by both national and international artists, including high profile commissions and works by artists never before seen. This year the exhibition will be drawn from three sources: work by members, the best work chosen from open submission and a gallery of shortlisted works for the new SELF portrait prize, worth 20,000 pounds. Further prizes include the Prince of Wales's Award for Portrait Drawing, the Changing Faces Commission Prize, the de Lazlo Prize for the most outstanding portrait by an artist aged 35 years or under, and the £10,000 Ondaatje Prize for the most distinguished painting, one of the most prestigious prizes in the world of portraiture, which also earns the winner the Society's Gold Medal.
In May the Barbican hosts 'A Scream and an Outrage', a marathon weekend of new music curated by composer Nico Muhly, featuring premieres and specially commissioned work from Muhly's mentor Philip Glass. It's %u201Call about composers writing for their friends, and creating environments for great performances%u201D, says Muhly. This translates into a piece created by David Lang and played by the innovative Brooklyn-based quartet So Percussion, Paola Prestini's multimedia extravaganza, and music from the 16th century composer Thomas Tallis, among others.
Launched by the British Crafts Council in 2004, the 'Collect' craft show returns to the Saatchi Gallery this May for its 10th anniversary. 'Collect' is the one of the largest art fairs for contemporary craft in Europe with over 300 artists representing 36 galleries from Britain and around the world. Desirable design objects include ceramics, glass, jewellery, textiles, wood, furniture and work in precious metals. With galleries from across the world coming together - from the UK, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands - it's an impressive collection of talent.
Prudes avert your eyes, for the London Burlesque Festival returns for the seventh year at a number of venues across the capital. Brought to you by the infamous King of Burlesque, Chaz Royal, the man behind 'Pavabotti - The Naked Tenor', this year's event is bigger and more glamorous than ever. What was initially a weekend of glitz, vaudeville and sizzling striptease is now a whole ten nights of raucous exotic entertainment showcasing the very best in British burlesque and beyond. Venues across London take part and the festival typically concludes with a glittering Saturday night finale, in which burlesque beauties battle insatiably for the British and World Female Crown.
Described by the L.A. Times as "the world's least-heralded great orchestra", the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra performs three concerts celebrating the key works of Tchaikovsky this May. The first concert features the 'March Slave', 'Piano Concerto No.1', and 'Fourth Symphony'; the second concert includes the Russian composer's 'Francesca da Rimini', 'Rococo Variations' and dramatic 'Fifth Symphony'; the final concert of the cycle features Tchaikovsky's 'Violin Concerto' and 'Sixth Symphony', the 'Pathétique', and the 'Polonaise' and 'Waltz' from 'Eugene Onegin'. Voted one of the 10 greatest conductors of the 20th century, Pavel Kogan conducts a line-up of virtuoso young soloists for this tantalising treat.
In Fine Style: The Art of Tudor and Stuart Fashion
The extravagant fashion pieces of the 16th and 17th century royals are showcased.
The fascination with royal fashion began long before Kate Middleton stepped onto the scene. Back in the 16th and 17th centuries social status was highly dependent on dressing in the best possible taste. Satin gowns, fur trims, sumptuous velvet and bejeweled necks were the epitome of style in daily court life, and that was just for men. The Tudor and Stuart fashions were captured in all their intricate detail by many great artists including Van Dyck and Nicholas Hilliard. The Queen’s Gallery presents a collection of more than 60 paintings alongside jewellery, garments, armour and other artefacts from the period.
After months of knock-out matches, the last two teams standing come head to head at Wembley Stadium for the final of the FA Cup - the world's oldest domestic football cup competition. Last year, Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 to claim their fourth FA Cup title in six years: a second half Andy Carroll goal was not enough after Chelsea went two-up either side of the break thanks to Brazilian midfielder Ramirez and talismanic striker Didier Drogba. Spanish schemer Juan Mata was man of the match - but Drogba took the accolades by becoming the first player in history to score in four different FA Cup finals. Time will tell which teams will line up for this clash - but with Drogba now gone, perhaps Chelsea's aura of invincibility will be lifted.
Not content with running seven weeks of back to back marathons (thankfully in trainers, not stilettos), Eddie Izzard embarks on his most extensive comedy tour ever - visiting 25 countries throughout Europe, the USA, Africa, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, India, Nepal and the Far East. 'Force Majeure' is Izzard's first tour since 2009's 'Stripped', which ran for two years and saw the inimitable comic take on a three month residency in Paris performing entirely in French. No one does rambling, whimsical, intelligent, surreal and seemingly unscripted stream of consciousness quite as well as Izzard, a veritable master of self-referential pantomime Izzard will also take to the stage at the O2 Arena on the 8th June.
The world's only Power Walking Marathon returns for its 16th birthday. 'The 'MoonWalk' attracts 15,000 participants and raises money for Walk the Walk, a breast cancer charity that makes grants available to support medical research and also funds emotional and physical care for those who already have cancer. This year's theme has yet to be announced but you can expect the walkers to stride out in some outrageous outfits; wearing a colourful decorated bra has become de rigueur on the walk, so look out for the most flamboyant.
With Rugby Sevens being drafted in for the Rio 2016 Olympics, there should be extra interest in the Marriott London Sevens tournament this year. Held at Twickenham over one weekend, the event is the last of 10 rounds in the HSBC Sevens World Series, which features the 16 best international teams in this high octane, fast moving format of the game. There are four competitions in total, with the top two teams of each group advancing to the Cup and Plate competitions, and the two losers battling it out for the Bowl and Shield categories. Last year, Fiji took the main Cup competition after brushing aside New Zealand in the semis before thrashing Samoa 38-15 in the final. Hosts England narrowly lost 14-12 to great rivals Australia in the Plate final, Wales beat Scotland in the Bowl and France prevailed over the USA in the Shield.
If there's one place in London that merits an Art Deco Fair, it's Eltham Palace, one of London's secret wonders, a captivating blend of 1930s art deco decadence and classic medievalism. The much loved weekend fair is held twice over the summer and gives visitors the chance to buy original 1930s objects - from furniture and collectables to hats, handbags and jewellery.
The latest offering from promising Young Vic director Carrie Cracknell is a vivid retelling of the Berg operatic masterpiece, 'Wozzeck', based on the tragic tale of a troubled soldier who murders his unfaithful wife, before accidentally drowning and leaving behind an orphaned child. The production will be conducted by award-winning ENO Music Director Edward Gardner.
Welsh treble singer and 'Songs of Praise' presenter Aled Jones concludes his tour of British cathedrals with this rescheduled show at Union Chapel. Initially known for his 1982 cover of 'Walking in the Air' from 'The Snowman', Jones has gone on to release 29 albums and sell more than six million records. He now presents 'Daybreak' on ITV.
The annual Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival celebrates the red nosed, stick wielding puppet, bringing together dozens of puppeteers in a colourful and highly entertaining afternoon. In 2013 it's Mr Punch's 351st birthday and celebrations in Covent Garden draw puppeteers from all over the country as well as folk musicians, dancers, clowns, jugglers and stalls. The location is appropriately close to the spot where Samuel Pepys first sighted Mr Punch on 9th May 1662 and recorded the fact in his diary - which is why the birthday celebrations fall on or near 9th May. The day's events start with a toast to Mr Punch and a brass band-led Grand Procession starting at St Paul's Church garden. There follows a special service with a sermon administered by Rev Mark Oakley and Mr Punch himself.
A fun, family day out at Chiswick House garden, the May Fayre offers lots of entertainment and activities from gardening to a circus workshop given by professionals. You can pick up skills like balloon modelling, plate spinning, stilt walking and balancing skills on a low wire. Other activities include a 9 hole crazy golf course, a toddlers' area where young children can try to hook the duck, throw a beanbag and take part in garden games including giant dominoes, quoits and noughts and crosses. See behind the scenes in the Chiswick House Kitchen Garden and get ideas for your own garden. There will also be stalls selling homegrown vegetable plants, food and refreshments.
The BP British Art Displays get a spring makeover with a dramatic revamp of the collection and a shift in the chronological ordering of the artworks, dating from 1540 to the present. In addition, there will be focus rooms exhibiting highlights from particular artists and periods. Henry Moore, William Blake and J.M.W Turner all receive a space dedicated to their work, and for the first time, there will be a gallery dedicated entirely to photography.
Days after the UK release of Baz Luhrmann's cinematic adaptation, Northern Ballet's interpretation of the 'Great American Novel' takes to the stage at Sadler's Wells. Set in America's roaring 1920s, 'The Great Gatsby' tells the compelling story of young Nick Carraway and his infamous neighbour Jay Gatsby - an aloof character with a secret past. As he is invited further into the world of lavish parties and extravagant glamour, Carraway starts to unravel the truth that's hidden behind the sparkling façade of his neighbour's world.
Felicity Kendal stars in Alan Ayckbourn's classic comedy 'Relatively Speaking' at the Wyndham's Theatre, its first West End revival since its original London run in 1967. Lindsay Posner directs the cast of four which also includes Kara Tointon, Max Bennett and Jonathan Coy. There are many laugh-out-loud moments in this tale of mistaken identity as Greg, who only met Ginny a month ago, decides she's the woman for him. Finding a scribbled address, Greg follows Ginny to her parents' house to ask her father's permission to marry. The only trouble is, the couple he finds in the garden are not Ginny's parents, so who are they?
Paying homage to the spectacular world of film music, the Royal Albert Hall invites the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to play some favourite pieces from both recent Hollywood blockbusters and timeless classics. Highlights of the evening include music from 'Gladiator', 'The Lord of the Rings', 'Jurassic Park', 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'Harry Potter'.
James and Eleanor's long-standing marriage is under threat when James agrees to secretly meet their recently widowed friend Kate. Multi Olivier Award winner Zoe Wanamaker (best known for the BBC's My Family and her role as Madame Hooch in the Harry Potter series) stars in the celebrated dark comedy on love and infidelity, written by Peter Nichols and directed by David Leveaux. Passion Play at the Duke of York's Theatre is a glorious meeting of humour, eroticism and duplicity, Book theatre ticket deals for Passion Play.
The world's four leading darts players descend upon the O2 Arena for the play-offs of the McCoy's Premier League Darts to mark the culmination of the event's three month tour of the UK and Ireland. The likes of reigning champion Phil "The Power" Taylor and current world champion Adrian Lewis will take part in the tournament, which is played over 14 consecutive Thursday evenings starting on 7th February in Belfast. With each of the eight players facing each other twice, the top four stars in the table will qualify for this showpiece event at the O2.
The chance to take an after hours peek at some of London's finest buildings.
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Dates: 25th - 27th October 2018
This annual campaign treats visitors to after hours fun in some of London's finest museums, galleries and heritage sights. The London Transport Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Old Operating Theatre and London's Royal Observatory have all participated in previous years along with around 70 other venues. If you think the idea of spending the night in a dusty old museum sounds a bit dull then think again: previous participants have enjoyed sunset hovercraft rides, live action 'Cluedo', toy sleepovers and tunnel tours by lantern-light. One venue hosted a 'Thunderbirds' themed night to exhibit rare models, complete with 1960s music, screenings of the TV show and an interview with a voice artist.
By the end of 2013, England's cricketers should be so familiar with all things New Zealand that they'll be filling their burgers with pickled beetroot and fried eggs. If a winter tour Down Under featuring three Tests, three ODIs and three T20s in February and March wasn't enough, New Zealand in turn travel across the world for a summer tour of England boasting two Tests, three ODIs and two T20s. The First Investec Test takes place at Lord's and you can expect it to be a rather one sided affair: at the time of writing, England are the second best ranked side in test cricket while visitors New Zealand are the second bottom outfit, tailed only by minnows Bangladesh.
This year, the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre season commences with Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. When a small town is engulfed by racial injustice, it takes the courage of one man to disregard what's expected of him and stand up for what's right. Atticus Finch is a lawyer who seeks the truth and is determined to prove the innocence of a black man wrongly accused. His daughter fights for his honour and faces terrible circumstances as a result, but the determination of the pair gives hope to other locals in the town. The story's strong themes of compassion and bravery have lent it enduring popularity and it will now be revived in the idyllic setting of the open air theatre.
Legendary guitarist Eric Clapton returns to his favourite London venue to celebrate his 50th year as a professional musician. Over the last half-century Clapton has established himself as one of the most influential guitarists of all time - and he's the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "This is like walking into my front room," old Slowhand Clapton joked ahead of a previous Royal Albert Hall residency in 2011. Supported by his impressive long-time touring partners - Doyle Bramhall II (guitar), Steve Jordan (drums), Chris Stainton (piano and keyboards), and Willie Weeks (bass) - Clapton will focus on a back catalogue from The Yard birds and Cream as well as his popular solo material, including some of his recent blues and honky tonk offerings. There's no reason to cry about this journeyman.
Twenty three years after the event, Joe, a young American photojournalist, is driven to discover the truth behind the unknown hero he captured on film in Tiananmen Square, 1989. 'Chimerica', a new co-production presented by the Almeida theatre and Rupert Goold's acclaimed Headlong theatre company, and written by Lucy Kirkwood ('NSFW', Royal Court) gets its world premiere at the Islington theatre. This provocative piece which examines the changing fortunes of the two countries is directed by Lyndsey Turner ('Posh', at the Royal Court and the West End) who makes her Almeida theatre debut. The play will be the final production at the Almeida Theatre under Michael Attenborough who steps down as its artistic director after 11 years in the role.
Influential German-Swiss artist Dieter Roth was known as a sculptor, painter and conceptualist explorer. Back in the sixties he made 'literature sausages' by mashing books to a pulp and created paintings using melted cheese and yoghurt. His final project records the last year of his life, in a slow evolving self-portrait. He was an avid diarist, and filled countless journals with pages of colourful doodles and notes. The Camden Arts Centre now hosts an exhibition of these diaries and other highlights from his bold and unedited career.
John Fulljames directs Rossini's famous love story set against the turbulent background of the 16th century Scottish Highlands. King James V falls for Elena, a beautiful and mysterious woman (the "lady of the lake") who is not only the daughter of the enemy but also desperately in love. But the object of her affection is neither the king nor her own fiancé%u2026
From the iconic depictions of Margaret Thatcher as Napoleon, to the representation of the Olympics, propaganda comes in many forms and affects us all on a daily basis. The British Library presents an exhibition exploring and uncovering the methods used to persuade and influence citizens, and reveals the powerful messages behind the cartoons, the films and the posters.
Who could forget the heart-warming tale of forlorn little Charlie Bucket and his poverty stricken family? His four grandparents huddled together for warmth in one double bed and his parents struggling to feed the family. The tale takes a dramatic turn when Charlie pulls back the wrapper of his favourite chocolate bar to reveal a life-changing golden ticket. This much loved Roald Dahl story was recently revived in a Tim Burton movie starring Johnny Depp, and now makes the bold move from screen to stage in a new production directed by Sam Mendes, with original music from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. From May 2013 Theatre Royal Drury Lane will be filled with an utterly surreal mix of giant lollipops, Oompa Loompas and human blueberries. Tickets for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are on sale now. After the successful transition Dahl's Matilda The Musical made to the West End stage, this equally joyous and bizarre tale promises to be a much anticipated addition to Theatreland.
The League One and Two play-offs - contested by the teams finishing from third to sixth in their respective leagues - come to a head with this Wembley weekend of back to back finals. First up is Saturday's League Two play-off final which last year saw Crewe Alexandria beat Cheltenham Town 2-0 to rise to League One. Sunday's League One play-off final will struggle to beat the drama of last year's game: although goalless, a nail-biting penalty shoot out saw all 22 players (including goalkeepers) take spot-kicks with Huddersfield Town emerging 8-7 winners over Sheffield United to reach the Championship.
Jon Ronson, the journalist and author of 'The Psychopath Test', will deliver a secular sermon as part of the thought provoking 'School of Life Sunday Sermon' series. His book, 'The Men Who Stare at Goats', "an inspired study of America's war on terror" (The Guardian), was made into a major motion picture in 2009 and his most recent novel, 'Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries', was published in October 2012. On reading 'The Psychopath Test' Will Self said of Ronson, "he does indeed force us to think more deeply about the subject at hand".
When her 'Video Games' single became a hit on YouTube, American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey became an overnight success and suddenly she was one of the most talked about acts of 2012. Can she actually sing? Or write songs? After a shaky start on Jay Leno's US TV show she triumphed with some spellbinding live performances at the summer festivals - "her charisma was off the scale" said The Guardian of her performance at 'Latitude' 2012. Now the award-winning singer returns to the UK in 2013 for two live shows as part of a European tour. If further proof of her popularity were needed you need only look at her album sales - over 2.5 million copies of 'Born To Die' have been bought worldwide.
Following the finalist announcements at the Jaipur Literary Festival in January, the Man Booker International Prize returns to London to announce the 2013 winner. The £60,000 prize is awarded to a fiction novelist every two years. This year the winner is being determined by a panel of five judges including Aminatta Forna and Sir Christopher Ricks.
The Southbank serves up its annual dose of world class literature with a delectable array of spoken word performances, exciting new collaborations, workshops and talks from major writers and thinkers from around the world. Now in its seventh year, the festival has jumped forward a couple of months to May. Programme highlights include a strand on Alternative Lifestyles; artistic and scientific perspectives on the world's bees; a celebration of the history, neighbourhoods and creative tensions of London; as well as a line-up of the world's best writers, poets, performers and thinkers, not to forget the ever popular Women's Prize for Fiction Readings. Notable speakers at the popular two week event include literary greats such as Barbara Kingsolver, biographer Claire Tomalin, 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' author Lionel Shriver and historian William Dalrymple, presenter Melvyn Bragg as well as actor and author Rupert Everett. The festival launches with the 2013 Man Booker Prize Readings.
A three day festival of installations, workshops, presentations, product launches and debates celebrating contemporary design. Taking place at various venues in Clerkenwell - including The Farmiloe Building, a former Victorian glassworks on St John Street - Clerkenwell Design Week celebrates the creativity, social relevance and advancements in technology behind design. It's a typical festival-type occasion, with exhibitions, street entertainment, music, food and receptions, all centred on the design theme. Last year's design week saw 30,000 people attend and this year is billed to be even bigger.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show celebrates its centenary in 2013, and it promises to be an extraordinary event with a nostalgic look back at the past 100 years. Held in the grounds of the Chelsea Royal Hospital since 1913, most of London society, including the Queen, regards the Chelsea Flower Show as a highpoint of the London summer season, so if you get bored of the blooms you can have a great time celeb-spotting. Particularly spectacular are the gardens created by eight hundred of the greatest exponents of imaginative garden design, who spend nearly a month creating a horticultural wonderland over the 11 -acre site. This beautiful and inspiring show is a real treat, even for non-gardeners.
This evening celebration of Argentina's sporting and cultural heritage returns to The O2 Arena for a third year. Arena Polo is to polo what Twenty20 cricket is to cricket: smaller teams of three and a reduced-size sand pitch makes for a faster and more exciting game that is spectator friendly and far less exclusive than the traditional game. Last year, Scotland beat Ireland in a warm-up game before England took on Argentina in the night's showpiece fixture, pitching the UK's finest player Jamie Morrison against the global polo superstar that is Nacho Figueras. A thrilling encounter saw England win 1-0 on penalties after a nail-biting 15-15 draw, while extra entertainment came from Grammy award-winning 'electrotango' band, Bajofondo. There was, of course, plenty of Argentine wine consumed as well.
One man attempts the most notorious of theatrical illusions; so notorious and dangerous that even Houdini refused to attempt it, and twelve other brave illusionists, assistants and audience members have died since its 17th century conception. Bullet Catch is a solo drama written and performed by Rob Drummond in the National Theatre's new temporary theatre space, The Shed, comes direct from a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe where The Guardian reviewer Lyn Gardner described it as a "remarkable, multilayered and utterly gripping show".
Italian singing sensation Zucchero performs his greatest hits along with tracks from his latest album, 'La Sesión Cubana', which was recorded in Havana and features collaborations with some of Cuba's most important musicians. Once described by Ray Charles (no less) as "probably one of the best blues musicians I've ever worked with", Zucchero burst onto the international scene with his 1987 album 'Blue's', which became the highest-selling album in Italian history and featured the original version of his hit 'Senza Una Donna' (later to be recorded as a duet with Paul Young). Blending gospel, blues and rock, Zucchero jumps from boogie to ballads, rubbing shoulders with world famous artists such as Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sting and Pavarotti.
Sir Andrew Davis conducts a concert commemorating the exact 200th anniversary of Richard Wagner's birth with music from 'Die Meistersinger', 'Tristan und Isolde' and 'Die Walküre' with soloists Giselle Allen, Susan Bullock and James Rutherford. 'The Valkyries' is one of Wagner's finest artistic achievements - and the prelude to Act III, 'The Ride of the Valkyries', has become rooted in popular culture since the 1979 film 'Apocalypse Now', where an American air regiment bellows out Wagner's powerful piece on helicopter-mounted loudspeakers during an assault on a Vietnamese village. This Philharmonia Orchestra concert kicks off 'Wagner 200' - a wide-ranging, London-based festival celebrating the bicentenary of the German composer's birth.
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts celebrates its 80th anniversary, marking the occasion with a display of 19th century and Old Master paintings. The artworks were first displayed and stored together in the National Gallery during the early days of the Barber Institute back in the 1930s. This exhibition will reunite the collection, which includes masterpieces by Nicolas Poussin, Joseph Mallord William Turner and Claude Monet.
The 2013 Associate Artist in residence at the National Gallery, Michael Landy, is the subject of a free exhibition in the gallery's Sunley Room where seven kinetic sculptures go on display from May. In 'Saints Alive' Landy's large scale works, consisting of fragments of National Gallery paintings cast in three dimensions, represent a contemporary view of the lives of the saints. Landy scours car boot sales and flea markets to create his works, recycling rubbish to create something new. One of the YBAs (Young British Artists) of the 1990s, he is best known for his 2001 installation, 'Break Down', where he catalogued and then destroyed all of his possessions.
Olivier award winner Terry Johnson returns to Hampstead Theatre following the sell-out hit Old Money last season to direct Race, a detective story written by Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet. Two lawyers, one black and one white, must uncover the truth surrounding a rape case, in which the accused is white and the accuser is black. When David Mamet's drama premiered on Broadway in December 2009, directed by its author, the New York Times noted the 'tension of its subject' and 'corkscrew plot twists' while the LA Times described it as "one of the most anticipated productions on Broadway this year".
Cockney comic and man of the moment Micky Flanagan travels the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland for one of the most anticipated comedy tours of 2013. Following on from his sell-out 'Out Out' tour of last year, 'Back In The Game' has three major stops in London. The 49-year-old funnyman came to comedy late, his debut show telling of his rise from working class East End lad to arty-farty East Dulwich resident - and earning him a best newcomer nomination at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe. Comedy glory beckoned, with Frank Skinner claiming Flanagan was "arguably the funniest comedian in the world". He's now a regular on TV panel shows and a household name - a far cry from his first job as a fish porter at Billingsgate Fish Market. Flanagan will also take to the stage at Wembley Arena and the O2 Arena in October.
Tea and Coffee Festival
A celebration of the two beverages in a a number of intriguing forms.
Unsurprisingly, the organisers of the Tea and Coffee Festival at London's Southbank Centre are extremely keen on their tea and coffee and Londoners are invited to get out of Starbucks or Costa and head down to the festival where these drinks will be properly celebrated and showcased. The festival will be a celebration of all things tea and coffee - enjoy the drinks in their pure form, tea and coffee based cocktails, macaroons, churros with mocha sauce, coffee flavoured cheesecakes and plenty more. There'll be tastings, masterclasses, talks, demonstrations and much more and with three days to choose from, you can be sure you'll find plenty to keep you enthused.
Multi award-winning British choreographer Wayne McGregor returns to the Royal Opera House main stage with 'Raven Girl', an exciting collaboration with novelist Audrey Niffenegger, author of 'The Time Traveler's Wife'. The pairing of the choreographer in residence at the Royal Ballet and the American author, who is also a visual artist, is an exciting prospect which promises to be a highlight of the year at the Covent Garden opera house. 'Raven Girl' will be performed as a double bill with Balanchine's 'Symphony in C'.
The award-winning Michelle Terry (Tribes) returns to Shakespeare's Globe this summer to star as Titania in the Bard's evergreen forest fantasy of knavish sprites and mismatched lovers. Hermia (Olivia Ross) loves Lysander and Helena loves Demetrius - but Demetrius is supposed to be marrying Hermia. When the Duke of Athens tries to enforce the marriage, the lovers take refuge in the woods and wander into the midst of a dispute between Oberon and Tatania, the King and Queen of the Fairies. Showing just how the course of true love rarely does run smooth, the incredibly inventive A Midsummer's Night Dream - one of Shakespeare's most popular and widely performed works - is both dramatic and hilarious in equal measures. Directed by Dominic Droomgoole, this production will employ Renaissance costumes and staging.
East London's Field Day offers a more diverse, fresh selection of acts than some of the more mainstream pop festivals in London. Think subdued electro, melancholic folk, bold dance acts and a dreamy summer vibe to match. So far on the bill is the enchanting Bat for Lashes, whose first two albums earned her two Mercury Prize nominations and an Ivor Novello. Plus experimental folktronica quartet Django Django will be on hand to liven up the crowd with their blend of tribal beats and serene harmonies. Following the main event, neighbouring clubs put on some cracking after-parties to carry those dancing feet through till dawn. Just keep your fingers crossed that the sun shines over leafy Victoria Park this year.
History is made as Wembley becomes the first stadium to host the Champions League final twice in three years - as UEFA doffs its cap in celebration of 150 years of the Football Association's existence. While Wembley may be the spiritual home of English football, it's not as if the 'home' advantage did much good back in 2011 when Barcelona coasted past Manchester United 3-1 to win the first European Cup final to be held at the stadium since its reopening in 2007. Last year, Chelsea became champions of Europe for the first time with a penalty shoot-out win over Bayern Munich in Munich's Allianz Arena. Perhaps it will be third- time lucky for the home nation, and maybe this May we'll see another London club take the spoils at Wembley.
Rugby union's biggest domestic club final sells out Twickenham Stadium and sees the two best sides in the country go head to head in a bruising winner-takes-all encounter. Nine months of fiercely contested rugby - that's 135 games between the top 12 teams, plus two play-offs between the top four - all boil down to one 80 minute match in the battle for the Premiership crown. The final takes place following play-off matches between the table toppers and the 4th ranked team, and the 2nd and 3rd ranked teams, with the highest placed team having home advantage. Last year, Harlequins, first place in the table, beat Leicester Tigers 30-23 in the final despite a late rally in front of 81,779 fans.
The legendary songwriter and vocalist Roger Hodgson - the former frontman of '80s progressive rock outfit Supertramp - performs both solo work and some classic Supertramp hits such as 'Dreamer', 'Breakfast in America', 'The Logical Song' and 'It's Raining Again'.
Musical heavyweights Muse are known for their ambitious fusion of rock, opera, classical and electronica, and their latest work has proved no exception. Released in 2012, 'Survival' was quite possibly the most ridiculous song that could have been chosen as an anthem for the London Olympic Games. Yet, with its over-dramatic chorus and corny lyrics, it blared from speakers across London to gee on the athletes. '2nd Law', the album from which the single was taken, is the band's sixth studio album and offers a "mad sci-fi mix of prog rock, cinematic strings, pop melodies and dubstep-inflected electronica" (The Telegraph). This tour will no doubt offer plenty of the trio's famed energetic and extravagant stage displays to accompany the outlandish songs.
Meet Michelin-starred chefs, see live demonstrations and sample food from London's top restaurants at the Foodies Festival. Cooking is made to look easy thanks to demos from top chefs and if the mere thought of all that makes you hungry then you can head to the restaurant tents where you can sample signature dishes from well-known restaurants. Wash it all down with posh fizz from Veuve Clicquot and you can guarantee an atmosphere of bon viveur. Around 25,000 people are expected to attend which just goes to show the popularity of London's restaurants. Much like the 'Taste of London', these 'Foodies' offer a winning combination of sampling, slurping and learning, all in the open air. A foodie's treat. The festival will also take place in Battersea Park from on 27th - 29th July.
The fourth annual summer celebration of the English Romantic poet John Keats gives literary lovers a chance to enjoy the great poet's work through readings, performances, music and creative workshops. The nine day festival is held in his restored home, and the garden in which he wrote 'Ode to a Nightingale'.
Presented by the London Marathon, the 'BUPA London 10,000' is run on the same course as the 2012 Olympic Marathons. Starting and finishing in The Mall, the route goes clockwise around the City of Westminster and the City of London, passing famous sights such as Nelson's Column, St Paul's Cathedral, the London Eye and Big Ben. Having won the race for the past four years, it's likely that Olympic champion Mo Farah will return in an attempt to defend his title and no doubt strike a pose at the finish line – no prizes for guessing which one. Aside from the serious competitors, the streets will also be flooded with thousands of charity fun runners and humorous costumes.
There is no single sporting event in the world more valuable to the winners than the Championship play-offs final, which decides the third and final team to rise to the riches of the Premier League. Last year, West Ham United (who finished third in the Championship) beat fifth place Blackpool 2-1 thanks to a late goal by Ricardo Vaz Te to ensure an immediate return to the top flight after the east London club's shock relegation in 2011. The 87th minute goal was worth an estimated £85m when TV revenue is factored in. The loser traditionally keeps all gate receipts from the final - not that this is much consolation for the fans (especially if they've travelled all the way from Blackpool). At the end of the day, there will be tears of joy or pain either way.
One of Britain's biggest exports returns to the prestigious venue for six special nights to promote his latest album 'Privateering', "a warm, authentic and durable record" (The Telegraph). The former Dire Straits frontman is hailed as one of the greatest guitarists of all time and has sold in excess of 120 million albums. At these eagerly anticipated concerts Knopfler's full eight-piece band will choose material from his eight solo albums, as well as the major Dire Straits hits including 'Money For Nothing', 'Sultans of Swing', 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Walk of Life'. Since leaving Dire Straights, Knopfler has matured into a master of low -key country blues, eclipsing even Bob Dylan with his thoughtful musicianship and genuine soul when the pair toured together in 2011. This should be quite special.
Expect a sea of pork pie hats and mod-style suits as the legendary ska band The Specials reform for a 10 date tour around the UK. The band, who are best known for their hits 'Too Much Too Young' and 'Ghost Town', have been stacking up hits for over 30 years and they land in London for one night at the O2 Brixton Academy.
The '80s cool-definers Depeche Mode continue a career that has seen them sell over 100 million records and become heroes to two very different generations. The name means 'Fashion Update', and it was their ability to stay on the cutting edge of both music and fashion that allowed them to make the transition from Euro-synth stars to world conquering electronic pioneers. Now, on the back of their 13th studio album, the band are back to perform their new material and much loved early work. Songs like 'Shout' and 'Enjoy the Silence' are extraordinary live, and these will be massive concerts, with an audience that ranges from teenage goths and emo kids, through the rave generation, all the way through to the fans who first loved them twenty-odd years ago.
One hundred years after its first performance took Paris by storm, Igor Stravinsky's masterpiece 'The Rite of Spring' is celebrated at Sadler's Wells with a radical reinterpretation by leading choreographer Akram Khan - one of the stars of the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Boasting an international cast of 12 dancers, 'iTMOi' ('in The Mind Of igor') explores the human condition and the way in which Russian composer Stravinsky transformed his work by evoking emotions through pattern, rooted in the concept of a woman dancing herself to death. Featuring an original score by Nitin Sawhney, Jocelyn Pook and Ben Frost, 'iTMOi' is part of the Sadler's Wells 'A String of Rites' series and blends Khan's brilliance with a talented artistic team including costume designer Kimie Nakano.
The annual event returns to the Old Truman Brewery in May, providing college students with the opportunity to showcase their work on an international level. For the public it's a (free) chance to spot the latest trends and newest talents. Shows change every Friday so if you visit every weekend you'll be rewarded with a new artistic barrage each time. What's more, as it's a stone's throw from Brick Lane and its popular markets, 'Free Range' can be part of a wider day out in one of the East End's hippest neighbourhoods. All the exhibitions and displays are free but take note that the fashion catwalk shows are by invite only, while Thursday nights are private viewings.
Nina is distraught by the death of the love of her life, killed during the First World War. Escaping her jealous father, she begins a series of tasteless sexual encounters, finally marrying a young and amiable man. Pregnant, Nina discovers a terrible secret which forces her into a life-changing decision. Eugene O'Neill's sweeping drama, Strange Interlude, features Anne-Marie Duff as Nina and is one of the great masterpieces of American theatre.
The popularity of Chekov adaptations continues as Rupert Goold's Headlong Theatre troupe takes on 'The Seagull'. The original play drew upon themes of desire and aspiration, whilst introducing subtext and realism to the stage. This new production - more than 100 years later - is reinterpreted by John Donnelly, with promising young director Blanche McIntyre taking the reigns.
The first of three NatWest Series one day internationals between England and New Zealand takes place on the last Friday of May at Lord's. The last ODI series between the two sides took place back in 2008 with New Zealand prevailing in the five game series 3-1, culminating with a 51 run win at Lord's. The hosts will hope history doesn't repeat itself. After this match at Lord's there will be games at The Ageas Bowl in Hampshire and Trent Bridge.
This famous race meeting is one of the oldest and greatest horse races in the world, established by the Earl of Derby in 1779. Today the main race - the Investec Derby - attracts prize money of over a million pounds and crowds approaching 100,000. Held at the Grade I- listed Epsom Racecourse, the Investec Derby Festival is one of the most glamorous events in the international racing calendar, with the Queen arriving by carriage followed by thousands of spectators in their best togs. The famous Investec Derby itself takes place on the Saturday, while Friday features a prestigious race called The Investec Oaks, and, more importantly, Investec Ladies' Day, which is as much a fashion show as a horse race. Last year, the Derby was won by 'Camelot', the 8/13 favourite ridden by 19-year-old Irish jockey Joseph O'Brien and trained by his father Aidan O'Brien.
The inaugural International Stadium Poker Tour comes to Wembley Stadium for a week-long tournament with a guaranteed prize fund of more than £16 million. 30,000 players are expected to compete on the opening day in an online competition using laptops in the stadium's stands. This will decide the 3,000 players who will go on to take a seat at the poker tables on the pitch for live play over the remaining six days. Of course, entry comes at a price: there's a %u20AC600 (£488) buy-in for all those wishing to take part. The ISPT aims to create the world's largest poker event each year, each time using a prestigious stadium in a different country. It remains to be seen if the event will attract enough players (or backers) to ensure the cards are in the air.
Spring Loaded, The Place's annual festival of contemporary dance, bounces back to London this May, showcasing new talent in the dance world. Laila Diallo kicks off the festival on 11th May with a piece which explores themes of migration and displacement. This modern physical theatre piece is just a taster of the exciting array of dance you'll find at the Spring Loaded festival which runs from 11th May to 22nd June. Since launching in 1987, Spring Loaded has been a spring board for many household names including Matthew Bourne, Wayne McGregor (resident choreographer of The Royal Ballet) and DV8 artistic director Lloyd Newson. This year's programme includes James Cousins' There We Have Been, a duet where the female character barely ever touches the floor, a new work by 2010 Sadler's Wells Global Dance Contest winner James Wilton, and a performance by this year's Place Prize winner Riccardo Buscarini who combines dance with a live gig in a performance about memories, motherhood, and hot pink knitwear.