First Thursdays
As it's the start of March, it's First Thursdays this week. More than 80 galleries and museums will be open til 9pm across East London. We recommend John Squire's (yes, him from the Stone Roses) Re-engineered Garments; alternatively, pretend you're an alien at the Barbican. The Martian Museum of Terrestrial Art opens this Thursday.

East is East
East London's where it’s at this week. The East Festival also opens on Thursday, and runs til 11 March. Art, films, performance and events at museums showcase the best of this corner of our fair city. Highlights include a Ukulele Extravaganza, a musical carnival from Kinetika Bloco, and more fun at the Barbican in the form of their fab Do Something Different Weekend.

Curtain Up
It’s all change at the National Theatre this week. Major Barbara, an assessment of the impact of arms trade profits starring the brilliant Simon Russell Beal opens. The travelex £10 ticket offer makes a welcome return to the capital, giving our tired wallets a bit of a rest.

Arthur Miller’s great American fable, The Man Who Had All the Luck comes to the Donmar this Wednesday, asking: is there such a thing as too much luck? Miller was only 28 when he wrote this play – perhaps natural talent was his substitute for good fortune.

Another week, another reality TV star heads for the London stage. This time, it's Summer Strallen, from Hollyoaks, who’s going to be appearing on stage at the London Palladium in The Sound Of Music. What do you mean, Hollyoaks isn’t reality TV? Really? Ahh well, this Londonista isn't a Hollyoaks fan, but we're sure it’s big news in soapland.

Artistic Openings
From Monday, Austrian-born Noëmi Lakmaier is artist in residence at Camden Arts Centre. Noëmi will be taking part in discussions and introducing films focussing on her interest in human behaviour and absurdity during her residency. Her performance object from last year, Exercise in Losing Control, saw the artist wedged into a bright yellow weeble; the viewer, who could push and kick the object around, was then in control. Brilliant.

On Tuesday from 6.30, New York City Scholar at the Heyman Center for the Humanities, Mary Dearborn will be talking about Peggy Guggenheim in Mistress of Modernism at the British Museum. Tickets are just £6.

Looking Ahead
Finally, we can bring you details about the new Saatchi Gallery. The latest new is that it’s opening “late spring”. In the meantime, do a virtual tour here. It’s pretty.