Things To Do In London: Friday 16 January 2015

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See an eclectic dance performance at Rich Mix. Photo: Stephanie McMann and Jamila Johnson

Listings

MODEL ENGINEERING: The Model Engineering Exhibition begins at Alexandra Palace today. See the full spectrum of modelling from traditional steam locomotives and traction engines, through to Airfix kits, operational miniatures and modern gadgets and toys, including futuristic rockets and remote control trucks, boats, aeroplanes, helicopters and robots. £11 (£10 concessions, £4 children) on the door only, until 18 January

ROCK FORMATIONS: Frith Street Gallery opens a new exhibition of new work by Daniel Silver. Rock Formations is composed of a series of sculptural works as well as a number of smaller pieces, all of which display Silvers’s interest in the sculpture of the ancient world, particularly ancient Greece. Until 28 February

CIRQUE BERSERK: A troupe of over 30 jugglers, acrobats, aerialists, dancers, musicians and death-defying stunt men is joined by award-winning clown Tweedy (what award, we're not entirely sure...) at Cirque Berserk at Hackney Empire. £10-£25, prebook, 5pm/7.45pm

TREASURE ISLAND: At tonight's National Theatre Platform, Treasure Island director Polly Findlay and playwright Bryony Lavery discuss their new version of Robert Louis Stevenson's adventure story with Fiona Mountford. See our review of the show. £4/£3, prebook, 5.30pm

FILM CLUB: Tonight's screening at Coin Street Film Club is Babylon, the story of a working class musician, set in 1980s London, capturing the issues faced by young black youths of the time. Takes place at Coin Street neighbourhood centre, 108 Stamford Street, South Bank. £5, just turn up, 6.30pm

COMEDY: Andrew Maxwell is doing another of his London Loves shows at the Prince of Wales in Brixton. Find out what the Irishman has learned during his 20 years in the city. £10/£12, prebook, 7pm

MUSIC: Impeccable indie club night How Does It Feel To Be Loved? relocates to The Shacklewell Arms in Dalston tonight, with David Gedge from the Wedding Present on the decks. Expect tracks from the likes of The Smiths, The Shangri-Las, Hefner, Jonathan Richman and Aztec Camera. £4 members, £6 non-members (membership is free if you email [email protected] ahead of arrival), 9pm-3am

DANCE PERFORMANCE: The Lone Wolf, the Dark Horse and the Underdog at Rich Mix is the first in a series of artist-led UK-Finnish exchange performance events produced by conceptual dance outfit immigrants. Expect a night of trashy, critical, esoteric movement and music-filled, dance-led performance.£12/£10, prebook, from 7.30pm

BBC ORCHESTRA: Head to Barbican for a recital of Nielsen’s Sinfonia Espansiva by the BBC Symphony Orchestra. £10-£34, prebook, from 7.30pm

ASTRONOMY: Hampstead Observatory′s weekly open nights give the public a chance to view the heavens. NOTE: The observatory only opens if the skies are clear — keep an eye on the Facebook page for updates. Free, just turn up, 8pm-10pm

CAT FACE: Cat Face is the party where it's cheaper to get in if you let the hosts draw a nose and whiskers on your face. Takes place at Concrete on Shoreditch High Street. With a cat face: £5 before 11.30pm/£10 after. Without a cat face: £20 all night. Mee-OW. Just turn up, from 9pm

BLOOD: Today’s opportunities to donate blood are at The Hop Exchange on Southwark Street, The Ecology Pavilion in Mile End, Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford and the usual donor centres. See site for terms and conditions. Scared of donating blood? Watch our video.

Find more London events in our Free & Cheap events listings. Want to see your event in these last-minute listings? Email us at [email protected] at least 48 hours before the event, and we will consider it for inclusion. Note: due to high volumes of email, we can’t always reply.


Good Cause of the Day

Book now for tomorrow night's Ebola fundraising event at Ritzy in Brixton. Enjoy a night of Afro music to raise money for the UK Sierra Leone Ebola Response Taskforce. £6/£7, prebook, 8pm

From The Archive

There's more to Kensington Gardens than royalty and ducks. We came across the secret stones which featured in the 1906 edition of J.M Barrie's Peter Pan. Do they mark the graves of Walter Stephen Matthews and Phoebe Phelps? A bit of investigation revealed the truth.