Interesting and unusual things to do for a fiver or less this week.
Monday 19 August
BIRTHDAY: Join the Duke Mitchell Film Club is celebrating its sixth birthday at the Phoenix Artist Club. There will be crazy trailers, shocking shorts and a quiz. Free, just turn up, 8.30pm
Tuesday 20 August
DISCOVER THE ORCHESTRA: Children aged between 5-11 can learn about the world of classical music and orchestral instruments at this Discover Workshop at the Royal Albert Hall. £3.50, prebook, 10am and 1pm (takes place again on Thursday)
Wednesday 21 August
RECITAL: Bulgarian pianist Veneta Neynska performs a lunchtime recital of Schubert at Saint James's Piccadilly. £3.50 suggested donation, just turn up, 1.10pm
LONDON MUSIC: Lloyd Bradley, one of the UK’s leading black music experts, charts a century of black music in London, at Housmans Bookshop in King's Cross. £3, just turn up, 7pm
POOR/VULNERABLE: Patricia Rogers, vice chair of the British Humanist Association, is at Conway Hall to discuss the work of international NGOs and whether they are praying for the poor, or just preying on the vulnerable. Free (donations welcome), just turn up, 7pm
FILM: Film Night at the Bohemia is a monthly film night based around a theme at ... The Bohemia in North Finchley. Tonight's theme is heroes and heroines, and features a screening of the Cohen Brother's classic, Fargo. Free, just turn up, 8pm *PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED*
Thursday 22 August
OPEN THEATRE: Get behind the scenes at meet the team at Camberwell's Blue Elephant Theatre, at their Open Day today. Free, just turn up, 3-8pm
Friday 23 August
DARKROOM: The Truman Brewery transforms into a pop-up darkroom today where attendees can learn about darkroom processing, take part in an interactive workshop, and process their own photos. Free (if you bring your own camera, or you'll have to pay a deposit to rent one), just turn up, until 26 August
STORY SKILLS: Learn how narrative devices can be used to make your story sing, with Bobette Buster (real name), a Hollywood-based story consultant working with Disney, Pixar and Twentieth Century Fox. £3, prebook, 6.30pm
Saturday 24 August
SKEPTICS: We are back at Conway Hall for an informal, community-organised conference all about skepticism. £5, prebook, 9.30am
Sunday 25 August
SEA PARTY: The Book Club in Shoreditch puts on Bookstock-on-Sea today, a street party celebrating the great (or not so great) British summer and seaside. There will be live music, seaside games, Punch and Judy, a surf simulator, and of course a healthy dose of fish and chips. Free, prebook for guaranteed entry, 12-8pm
Check out our map of free things to do in London for more frugal fun.
