Arts Ahead: What’s On In London 18–24 January

By Zoe Craig Last edited 158 months ago
Arts Ahead: What’s On In London 18–24 January

Our tips on what's new on London's cultural calendar this week

Be There First: London Shows Opening

It's a busy week for art fans. This week's big show is Modern British Sculpture at the Royal Academy of Arts, opening on Saturday, and showcasing British sculpture of the 20th century, as the name suggests. Look out for work by people like Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth (above), Richard Long, Phillip King and Damien Hirst.

The London Art Fair opens at the Business Design Centre tomorrow, featuring a contemporary photography showcase, talks and emerging artists' projects. It runs until Sunday. You can also see Tate Modern's new show by Mexican Gabriel Orozco from tomorrow; and Robert Mapplethorpe, curated by Scissor Sisters at the Alison Jacques gallery also from tomorrow.

Over in theatreland, Shakespeare's Twelfth Night comes to the National Theatre from tonight, with Peter Hall in the director's chair and his daughter Rebecca as Viola. Or over at Theatre503, you can see Fairground Theatre Company present a play about the infamous criminals, Bonnie and Clyde, also from tonight. Becky Shaw, a comedy of tangled love lives starring Haydn Gwynne opens at the Almeida Theatre on Thursday. And on Monday, Lyric Hammersmith continues with the new craze of producing Roald Dahl books on stage with Roald Dahl's Twisted Tales. The League of Gentlemen's Jeremy Dyson is the adaptor behind this particular production.

Inspired to go to the ballet by Golden Globe winner Black Swan? Then you can see not one, but two Swan Lakes in town this week. The Moscow City Ballet performs in Richmond Theatre on Friday to Sunday, while the Royal Ballet (right) pitches good against evil at the Royal Opera House from Saturday.

Finally, our tip for the opera lovers out there: see Il Barbiere Di Siviglia at the Royal Opera House from tonight: comic chaos plus a brilliant score equals a great night out.

Last Chance To See: London Shows Closing

Saturday is your last chance to see Black Watch at the Barbican; The Country Girl at the Apollo; George's Marvellous Medicine at the Bloomsbury Theatre; and Red Riding Hood at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. Matthew Bourne's Cinderella closes on Sunday, as does Beauty and The Beast at the Unicorn Theatre, and Fela! at the National.

Sunday is the final day for The Glasgow Boys at the Royal Academy too.

First image: Dame Barbara Hepwoth, Pelagos, 1946, London, Tate National. Photo © Tate, London 2010. © Bowness, Hepworth Estate

Second: Marianela Nunez in Swan Lake by Dee Conway

Last Updated 18 January 2011