Things To Do In London This Week: 29 May-4 June 2017

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All week

El Bandito at Victory Mansion

HALF TERM: Wondering how to keep the kids busy for a week? Take a look at our guide to family-friendly events going on in London over May half term.

SPOKEN WORD FESTIVAL: The Last Word festival is where spoken word, theatre and gigs collide. No subject is out of bounds as brave talents tell incredible stories in a variety of shows throughout the festival. The Roundhouse (Camden), various prices, book ahead, until 10 June

TUBE THEATRE: The tube connects us all so why does it feel like the loneliest place on earth? That's the central question at the new comedy/drama play Contactless. The Hen & Chickens Theatre (Highbury), £12, book ahead, 30 May-3 June

FREE MINIGOLF: Get swinging at Columbus Courtyard in Canary Wharf, where a free-to-use 9-hole mini golf course has popped up. All equipment is provided, and it's open to everyone, regardless of age or golfing ability — a win-win situation really. Columbus Courtyard, free, just turn up, ongoing

POP-UP: The team behind the El Bandito pop-up in Shoreditch is heading north to Stoke Newington to introduce even more people to the wonders of mezcal and tequila. Victory Mansion, just turn up, until 31 July

Bank Holiday Monday 29 May

David Helfgott at The Barbican Centre

As it's Bank Holiday Monday lots of places are shut today, so if you're stuck for ideas, take a look at our list of things to do in London over a Bank Holiday Weekend.

OUT OF THIS WORLD: Travel all the way to the moon this morning in this family-friendly virtual reality exploration of earth's closest neighbour. Royal Observatory Greenwich, £6/£5, book ahead, 29-30 May

STREET PARTY: There's one heck of a street party on Bethnal Green Road today. It's family-friendly with a bouncy castle and face painting to entertain the little ones, and there's the chance to get groovy to some delightful funk and soul tunes. Star of Bethnal Green, £5, book ahead, noon-2am

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Acclaimed classical pianist David Helfgott makes his first UK appearance in over 20 years performing the works of Chopin, Liszt and Rachmaninov. The Barbican Centre, £25-£45, book ahead, 7.30pm

Art review: making America great again

Photo: Tom Carter

Artist Awol Erizku is hot on the anti-Trump bandwagon, mixing American symbolism with images from the Black Power movement and Communism. Much like Trump himself, it's not very subtle and often fails to make a clear point. But some of the works are a very effective output of someone who feels marginalised by the new President. Awol Erizku: Make America Great Again at Ben Brown Fine Arts, 12 Brook's Mews, W1K 4DG, until 2 June, free ★★★☆☆ (Monday-Saturday) Tabish Khan

Tuesday 30 May

DICKENS TALK: Charles Dickens' life was intertwined with that of medicine. His writing saw him describe many conditions in great depth. He also supported many medical causes, and he suffered from numerous ailments himself. Find out more at this talk. Museum of London, free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm

Wednesday 31 May

Transitions Dance Company: Triple Bill at Laban Theatre

DANCE SHOW: Three choreographers, 12 dancers, one fantastic triple bill of cutting edge dance performance. Laban Theatre (Deptford), £12/£8, book ahead, 31 May-2 June

LONDON HISTORY DAY: It's the first ever London History Day today. Find out all about what that actually means and check out the exciting events taking place across in museums across the city.

ANIMAL ANATOMY: There's a surprising amount to be learnt from studying the body of an animal: its environment, its movement and its evolution. After this talk, get hands-on with some amazing specimens courtesy of the Royal Veterinary College's collection. The Royal Institution, £14/£10/£7, book ahead, 2pm-5pm

MUSEUM LATES: The Science Museum is taken over by robots for tonight's museum late. Find out all about the automated revolution with talks and demonstrations, plus the usual silent disco, food, drink and more. Science Museum, free, just turn up (some events may need to be booked), 6.45pm-10pm

Thursday 1 June

Twelfth Night at St Mary Aldermanbury's Garden

TWELFTH NIGHT: Witness an inventive take on Shakespeare's hilarious Twelfth Night. Expect all manner of musical instruments to get involved and if you get down early you can see Guildhall Library's copy of the play's First Folio, dating back to 1623. St Mary Aldermanbury's Garden, £14/£12.50/£10, book ahead, 6pm for the First Folio, performance starts 7pm

MEET THE BREWER: Settle in for an evening of beer with like-minded folk as The Gipsy Hill Brewing Co starts its takeover of Clapham's The King & Co, with free samples and food from Division 194. The King & Co., free, just turn up, 7pm

COMEDY: We're into that precious part of the British comedy season. Instead of watching comedians re-use material from their last set at Edinburgh Fringe, we now get to see them trial their material for their upcoming Edinburgh set. Tonight it's Tom Deacon and Harriet Braine. Clapham Comedy Club, £10/£8, book ahead, 7.30pm

Friday 2 June

Brockley Street Art Festival

POP-UP: More specifically we should add, a pop-up that you create yourself — the City Centre's pop-up involves helping to build an innovative structure, working alongside professional architects and engineers. Paternoster Square, free, drop in, from 10.30am

STREET ART FESTIVAL: It's the opening day of Brockley Street Art Festival, so the area is about to get seriously colourful. Go on a self guided street tour or see The Doodle Man obsessively doodle everything in sight. Brockley, mostly free but check ahead dependent on event, 2-10 June

NOSHVILLE: Tasty street food and Americana music dominate Granary Square's punny Noshville. We;re also promised a Brexit rodeo — maybe tackle that before you stuff your face? Granary Square (King's Cross), free, just turn up, 2-3 June

Noshville's Brexit Rodeo in Granary Square

Saturday 3 June

PASTA: Nearly every child loves pasta so as part of Dalston Children's Festival there's a one-off Dalston Pasta Festival. Dalston Square, free, just turn up, 11am-4pm

ELIZABETHEAN TOUR: Find out what Islington and Clerkenwell were like back when Good Queen Bess was on the throne. Meet outside Finsbury Library, £9, book ahead, 11.30am-1pm

SEWING MACHINES: It's the monthly opening of London's sewing machine museum. See a machine which was given to Queen Victoria's eldest daughter as a wedding present, among 600 other objects. Sewing Machine Museum (Balham High Road), free (donations welcome), just turn up, 2pm-5pm

Theatre review: heritage comedy shows its age

Image: Catherine Ashmore

Thirty years ago, the late Peter Shaffer's quirkily comic Lettice & Lovage was a big hit in the West End and on Broadway as a star vehicle for the redoubtable Maggie Smith. But Trevor Nunn's staid production of a lightweight whimsy that toys with ideas of historical accuracy versus imaginative romance, and modernism versus traditionalism, fails to make the case for reviving a play that pales in comparison with Shaffer's masterworks Amadeus and Equus. Felicity Kendal's exuberant stately home guide who embellishes the truth for dramatic effect and Maureen Lipman's equally eccentric but repressed supervisor form an unlikely emotional bond. But even their engaging performances cannot save a work that has dated so badly. Lettice & Lovage, Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark Street, SE1 1RU, £40, until 8 July ★★☆☆☆ [Tuesday‒Sunday] Neil Dowden

Sunday 4 June

CROYDON AIRPORT: See the world's oldest air traffic control tower and take a free tour around the micro museum at Croydon Airport's monthly open day. Croydon Airport, free (donations welcome), just turn up, 11am-4pm

CRAFTACULAR: Over 70 designer-makers form Bust Craftacular, with incredible creative wares on offer. It's not just about buying, as there are DIY workshops throughout the day as well. York Hall (Bethnal Green), £3, just turn up, 11am-5pm

ACOUSTIC SUNDAY: Chill out in Dalston's The Crypt for a summery Acoustic Sunday, presented by Sound Advice UK. Things will kick off with an open mic session, before whittling through a selection of east London's finest acoustic musicians. Free, just turn up, 2pm-8pm