Things To Do In London This Weekend: 8-9 March 2014

Find a treasure (or oddity) at Hackney Flea Market

All weekend

WOWZERS: It's International Women's Day on Saturday. A few events here mark the occasion but an all-weekend affair is Wowzers Festival at the LSE Student Union. There'll be workshops, talks, musical performances, comedy and late-night DJs to celebrate the creativity of women and girls around the globe. Free, prebook

ITALIAN CINEMA: Catch the final two days of Cinema Made in Italy at South Kensington's Ciné Lumière are this weekend - offering screenings of Italian films that have not yet had exposure in the UK. £8-£10+bf, prebook, see website for full details

FLEA MARKET: Expect a little bit of everything at Hackney Flea Market — including food and music — taking place in Stoke Newington. Free, just turn up, 11am-6pm both days

BEYOND EARTH: Space fans should head to the Science Museum this weekend for a programme of shows, talks and workshops, led by scientists and engineers who are researching all aspects of space. Free, just turn up (early arrival recommended)

THEATRE: We've taken a look at what’s opening on stage throughout March, from opera to alternative.

ART: We've also rounded-up what’s opening on the art scene this month. Architecture, painting, design, photography, you choose.

SHOP: Lastly, here’s our list of market and shopping events taking place throughout the month, from vintage car boot sales to a monthly record fair.

Saturday 8 March

BOOKSHOP BIRTHDAY: The Big Green Bookshop in Wood Green turns six years old today. Happy Birthday! To celebrate, they are offering a 3 for 2 deal on most items, a big second hand book sale, and from the evening onwards there will be a birthday party with cakes, biscuits, wine and beer. Free, just turn up, all day

WOMEN: The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama hosts a dedicated festival in aid of Women's Day consisting of talks, a panel discussion, performances and workshops. Free, prebook, 9.45am-5pm

GET STAKED: You know what's missing in your life? A vampire symposium, that's what (possibly). Luckily, there's one today at Goldsmiths. Handy. £25, prebook, from 10am

JAZZ: The National Jazz Archive's new exhibition at Barbican Music Library explores the social and cultural impact of jazz in Britain, as well as its relationship with the Second World War. Free, just turn up, until 29 April (closed on Sundays)

INSPIRING SEA: A day of talks and informal group discussions at the National Maritime Museum explore the sea as a source of creative inspiration for authors, artists and storytellers. Speakers include Curator of Turner & the Sea, Christine Riding. £30/£27, prebook, 11.30am-5.30pm

WOMEN'S RIGHTS: Keats House celebrates International Women's Day by hosting a creative workshop exploring how we can use poetry as a campaign tool to highlight gender equality (£10/£8), followed by a performance of poetry readings on the same theme from the University of London’s Human Rights Poetry Anthology (free). See website for full details

STAND UP WALK: Part comedy show, part walking tour, Stand-up and Walk features Australian comic John Robertson leading a walk from Trafalgar Square to Covent Garden. In their words, they're interested to see "what happens when you wind up a hyperactive, Australian comic and set him loose into central London on a packed Saturday lunchtime". £8.95, prebook, 1pm

ACTION HERO: Promising to inject a bit of "badass" into your afternoon, Hackney Attic is the scene for "an hour of SUPER BADASS action hero training" including battle reenactment, one-liners, and a cardboard car chase. Or have a nap and a cup of tea. Up to you. £5, prebook, 3pm

WONDER WOMEN: Birds Eye View Film Festival presents a screening of Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines, a counterpoint to the male-dominated superhero genre, at BFI Southbank. £8.50-£12.10, prebook, 6.30pm

STREISAND: KiwiFruits Productions returns to St James Studio with West End stars Louise Dearman, Annalene Beechey, Rebecca Lock and Laura Pitt-Pulford in a one-night-only tribute concert dedicated to the one and only ... Barbra Streisand. £30/£25, prebook, 7pm

FOLK BALL: As well as Women's Day, it's also International Bagpipe Day. Who knew? SOAS did, and tonight they host their Spring Folk Ball in Senate House with live bagpipe performances and dance workshops. £11, prebook, 7.30pm-midnight

COMEDY: Comedy, on a boat, at The Boat Show Comedy Club. Held on a paddle steamer moored opposite the London Eye, tonight's line-up features Funmbi Omotayo, Keith Farnan and Katherine Ryan. £15/£12.50+bf, prebook, 8pm

FLAMENCO: Dance, song and guitar music come together at artsdepot's Juan Martín Flamenco Dance Ensemble show. £14/£12, prebook, 8pm

Sunday 9 March

ILLUSTRATION: A one-day event at The Courtauld Institute of Art aims to provide artists with all the essential information needed for working in the field of children’s book illustration via presentations and talks given by a wide range of experts. £60/£50, prebook, 10am-5.30pm

PHOTOGRAPH FAIR: Collectors of all types of photography are welcome at The London Photograph Fair at Holiday Inn Bloomsbury, which takes place four times a year with dealers, visitors and an emphasis on late 19th and early 20th century photography. £3, just turn up, 11am-4pm

SPANISH FILM: The Arcola Theatre is currently presenting Spanish film screenings every Sunday. Today it's the turn of 1973 film The Spirit of the Beehive, about a little girl’s fascination with the 1931 film of Frankenstein. £5, prebook, 4pm

COMOOEDY: Yes, we're still making this terrible pun. Amused Moose continue their Laugh Off competition today with heats 6 and 7, where you can vote for your favourites alongside the industry pros. At The Albany’s comedy cellar. There’s food too. £5 per session, just turn up, 6pm (heat 6) or 8pm (heat 7)

RUSSIAN BALLET: London Coliseum hosts The Russian Ballet Icons Gala 2014 – a tribute and special retrospective performance that tells the 'Story of Russian Ballet' and combines performances from masters of ballet with a complete history of the genre. £75-£85, prebook, 7pm

JW3: Israeli-Ethiopian singer Ester Rada performs a one-off gig at JW3 centre, in order to celebrate Women’s Day. Expect a combination of ethio-jazz, funk, soul and R&B. £15/£7.50, prebook, 8.30pm

WEBBER: If you're not a Barbra Streisand fan (see Saturday, above), then er, maybe a night of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs is more to your fancy? If so, head to Leicester Square Theatre where 10 West End performers and a choir will guide you through an evening of Webber classics. £12.50, prebook, 9pm

Other good stuff

Catch up on all latest features, see what we like in theatre and arts and browse more things to do in London.

What have we missed? Let us know what’s going on this weekend, leave a comment or email [email protected].

For daily ideas of things to do in London subscribe to our emails.

Report a problem with this article