Things To Do In London This Weekend: 9-10 January 2016

The Royal Albert Hall has a whole secret history of its own.

All weekend

WHOSE LONDON IS IT ANYWAY?: Camden People's Theatre presents a festival of performance, theatre and discussion on the hot topics of housing, regeneration and the privatisation of public space. This weekend catch Adventure One, an interactive performance set in the financial district of London (£11/£14.50, prebook Saturday 12noon and 3pm) and take part in a workshop which engages with public/private space to be performed on 24 January. (Free, prebook, Sunday 2pm-6pm)

LA SOIREE: It's your last chance to catch the award-winning cabaret, variety, circus, sideshow entertainment phenomenon that is La Soiree in the Spiegeltent at Southbank Centre. Ringside and Boardwalk tickets from £29.50, various times, until 10 January
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LONDON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL: This year's London Short Film Festival kicks off on Friday and runs until 17 January. This weekend you can catch New Shorts which celebrate the diversity of London's many communities, plus there are panel discussions and a chance to meet professionals in the industry. Check the website for booking details. Until 17 January

SHAKESPEARE ON SCREEN: A special programme of events begins today celebrating 50 years of Shakespeare in performance. At the Barbican cinema you can catch a screening of Macbeth (£10.50/£11.50, Saturday 3pm) and on Sunday there is a discussion about the challenges of translating stage productions to the screen (£10.50/£11.50, Sunday 2pm) plus a screening of A Midsummer Night's Dream (£10.50/£11.50, Sunday 4pm)

ICE SKATING: For some of London's Christmas ice rinks, this is their last weekend. Others rumble on until February. See the full list here. Broadgate Ice Rink near Liverpool Street station's been getting good reviews, tickets from £13, prebook, until 25 February
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BIG BANG DATA: Don't miss this exhibition at Somerset House which explores all the myriad ways data can be used and manipulated. Our critic found it a fascinating, hands-on experience. What do you think? £9.50/£12.50, prebook, until 28 February

DINNER WITH THE GODFATHER: The Exhibit in Balham is showing classic Scorsese movie, The Godfather but feeding you first with this dinner and a movie ticket at £19.95. Saturday and Sunday from 5pm
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Saturday 9 January

See a haunting performance of Sleeping Beauty at Sadler's Wells

VOGA: Combine your love for yoga with your enthusiasm for Voguing on a Friday night with a Voga morning exercise session at The Proud Archivist in Haggerston. £12, prebook, 11am
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CRAFT BEER TASTING: What better way to spend a Saturday than touring the 'Bermondsey Beer Mile' with knowledgeable guides and plenty of opportunities for tasting. Meet at Tower Bridge before drinking your way around four microbreweries. The tour ends in the Bottle Shop where you can pick up your favourite brew. £45, prebook, 1pm
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SLEEPING BEAUTY: An opportunity to see Matthew Bourne's haunting gothic love story at Sadler's Wells Theatre. The first run of Sleeping Beauty sold out before the first performance so snap up tickets quick. Suitable for all ages, the story begins in a time of magical fairies and vampires in the 1890s and ends in the modern day. £12-£32, prebook, 2.30pm/7.30pm
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FOOTBALL: See the match between Bromley and Southport at Bromley FC on the cheap with student tickets just £6. £6-£16, prebook, 3pm
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IMPROVISED JANE AUSTEN NOVEL: Enjoy a theatre performance like no other this weekend at Leicester Square Theatre where top comedians will conjure up a whole new Austen novel based on audience suggestion. Money raised goes towards the Pancreatic cancer research fund. £12.50, prebook, 7pm

FEAST FILM NIGHT: The Por­tico Gallery in West Norwood is screening Man with a Movie Camera, an experimental Soviet documentary film accompanied by a live score and post film music and visuals. £5, prebook, 7.30pm

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB: The Viva All Stars pay tribute to Buena Vista Social Club at Boisdale, Canary Wharf . Book for dinner or just the gig, from 8.30pm
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CELLAR UPSTAIRS FOLK CLUB: Head to the Lucas Arms to hear young duo Laura Smyth and Ted Kemp sing traditional English songs, some accompanied by concertina, guitar, banjo and cello. £6/£8, just turn up, 8pm

COVENT GARDEN COMEDY: Pitch up at the Saturday Late Show at the Top Secret Comedy Club for late laughs from Joel Dommett, Luke Toulson, Patrick Monahan. Tickets £10 from 8.45pm
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Sunday 10 January

Last chance to take kids to see Mr Rabbit meets Brer Santa at Puppet Theatre Barge

BRUNCH AND BOARD GAMES: Banish that Sunday morning hangover with bottomless Bloody Marys, bagels and two hours worth of board game time at Drink, Shop & Do in King's Cross. £15, prebook, for two hours.

MAKE A DRESS: Craig reckons he can teach you to make a whole dress in one six hour workshop in Holloway. Learn how to use a pattern and add fastenings then off you go to make your own clothes. Fabrics and accessories provided, £49, 10am-4pm

SECRET HISTORY TOUR: Explore Kensington Gore's incredibly beautiful Royal Albert Hall in which is full of behind-the-scenes history and has been frequented by many characters from the Kray Twins to Winston Churchill.  Just £10 in our tickets shop, prebook, 1pm
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PUPPET SHOW: It's your last chance to take kids along to see Mr Rabbit meets Brer Santa at Puppet Theatre Barge in Little Venice. The beautiful lighting and unique hand-carved marionettes will have you longing for next year's Christmas. £8.50/£10/£12, prebook, 3pm

OLD SKOOL SUNDAY: Play retro games, watch 90s TV and play board games from your childhood at Far Rockaway in Shoreditch from 6pm
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THEATRE AT RICH MIX: Spend your Sunday evening upstairs at Rich Mix in Bethnal Green for Contrasts, a mixture of theatre, dance and comedy which asks 'What do corporates have in common with comedy? Politicians with pop culture?'. £10/£12, prebook, 6.30pm

TS ELIOT PRIZE READINGS: Head to the Southbank Centre for a chance to hear some of the best contemporary poets in the English speaking world before the winner of the 2015 TS Eliot prize is announced. £12, prebook, 7pm

JAZZY DINING: Earl Okin is a London-based, prolific singer songwriter with a penchant for jazz and bossa nova and a quirky sense of humour. You can hear him play live at the 606 Club in Chelsea, while enjoying a two-course meal and glass of wine. Ticket £30, from 8.30pm
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