Things To Do This Week In London: 13 August-19 August 2018

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All week

Film4's Summer Screen is back at Somerset House.

FILM4 SUMMER SCREEN: Film4's state-of-the-art outdoor screen returns to Somerset House's magnificent courtyard for another fortnight of silver screen magic. This week's highlights include Blue Velvet, Bride of Frankenstein and Being John Malkovich, in an exploration of dreams, fantasies, nocturnes and reveries. Somerset House (Temple), £20, from 6.30pm, 9-22 August

LOVE LAB: What do you do when Tinder fails to throw up your true love? Turn to reality TV, of course! Two singletons in search of The One sign up to a new dating show that claims to have the answer. But how will they fare under the gaze of an international audience? Find out at this one-act original. Tristan Bates Theatre (Covent Garden), £10, book ahead, 9.15pm-10.15pm, 13-18 August

ONE LAST LOOK: Having achieved word-of-mouth success after opening in a tiny St Leonards theatre earlier in the year, this thriller from National Westminster Playwright's Award Winner Maria McAteer leaves you in the edge of your seat. A man and woman wait for a colleague's phone call in a Camden flat — but who are they? And what shocking secrets will they uncover? London Irish Centre (Camden), £2, book ahead, 7pm, 13 August-18 August

I OCCUR HERE: Four young migrants who have found their way to a modern metropolis explore notions of home, adaptability, and triumph over adversity in this Lukas Award-winning piece of physical theatre from Oh Dear! Theatre Company. The Space Arts Centre (Isle of Dogs), £14, book ahead, 7.30pm, 14-18 August

Monday 13 August

A meaty feast to celebrate Flesh & Buns fifth birthday.

FLESH AND BUNS BIRTHDAY PARTY: Flesh & Buns are celebrating half a decade in Covent Garden with a one-off, five course celebratory menu featuring their greatest culinary hits. Treats include Korean fried wings, their signature homemade bao buns, and passion fruit s'mores. Flesh & Buns (Covent Garden), £25, book ahead, 6pm-8pm

THE HISTORY OF GIN: The rise, fall, and reemergence of this decade's trendiest spirit is charted in an evening of sipping and song in partnership with Fords Gin. Their ambassador plies you with a selection of historically influential gin cocktails while jazz musician Tim Penn serenades you on the piano. Oriole Bar (Smithfield Market), £15, book ahead, 6.30pm-11pm

CHICO TRUJILLO: Chilean legends Chico Trujillo bring their raucous live show to the Jazz Cafe. Experience the band's potent cocktail of pre-Pinochet cumbria and Chilean pop culture sounds in a uniquely intimate setting. Jazz Cafe (Camden), £15, book ahead, 7pm-11pm, until 14 August

Tuesday 14 August

Awe-inspiring acrobatics from Gravity and Other Myths. Photo: Carnival Cinema

LOST BOX OF STORIES: Discover how hippos came to Britain, died out, and were ultimately rediscovered in a kid-friendly show that combines music, storytelling and theatre. Fantastic for budding zoologists. St Pancras Room, Kings Place (King's Cross), £7.50, book ahead, 12pm/2pm

CLUB YOGA: Not a fan of whale noises? Swap your usual yoga class for one with nightclub vibes. The lights are low, the house music is loud, and it's all for charity. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), £5 charity donation, 6.30pm-7.30pm

WITH CHILD: Allow Claire Pointing to present you with six very different women with one thing in common — based on the title of her new solo show you can probably guess what. Will the audience judge these mums-to-be differently because they're pregnant? Soho Theatre (Dean Street), £13, book ahead, 7pm

BACKBONE: Human strength and agility are pushed to their absolute limits in this vertigo-inducing circus show from Aussie acrobatic sensations Gravity and Other Myths. You won't want to be trying this at home. Royal Festival Hall (Southbank Centre), £15-£30, book ahead, 7.30pm, until 19 August

Wednesday 15 August

Shappi Khorsandi headlines The Four Thieves' latest comedy night.

KIDS' CREATIVE WRITING: With its treasure trove of antiquities, sculptures and paintings, Sir John Soane's Museum is just bursting with inspiration. Poet and novelist Claire Collison invites 11-16 year-olds with a passion for the written word to delve into the museum's collections and get scribbling with her expert guidance. Sir John Soane's Museum (Covent Garden), £15, book ahead, 11am-3pm

CHOCOLATE COCKTAIL CLUB: This pop-up bar combines two of your favourite vices into one menu of mouth-watering treats. That's right, we're talking chocolate-spiked cocktails. As well as getting you through the door, your ticket includes a classic choccy martini. No Such Place (Covent Garden), £10, book ahead, 3pm-12am

SHAPPI KHORSANDI: She's braved the Australian bush, and now I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here alumna Shappi Khorsandi is catching the Laugh Train Home to tickle your funny bone. She's joined by Lateef Lovejoy, Greg Faulkner and MC Carly Smallman. The Four Thieves (Battersea), £7, book ahead, 8.30pm-10.30pm

Thursday 16 August

Back in black: the Espresso Martini Festival returns

MAN OF SCIENCE CURATOR TOUR: If you haven't yet caught Charles Dickens: Man of Science at the Dickens Museum, tonight is the night. Curator Dr Arelene Buckland will be leading a guided tour of the exhibition, revealing the impact the beloved author had on science in the Victorian age. Charles Dickens Museum (Bloomsbury), free with general admission (£9.50), book ahead, 6pm-7.15pm

COCKTAILS, CAMPFIRE AND FILM: Start your adventure above ground with cocktails and street food in the Brunel Museum garden, before descending into the world’s oldest railway tunnel shaft for a film screening. Is there a better way to spend a summer’s evening? Brunel Museum (Rotherhithe), £25, book ahead, 6.30pm-10pm (partner)

RUM TASTING: Celebrate National Rum Day like true boozy buccaneer with a rum tasting aboard a 17th century galleon. The Golden Hinde have twelve sumptuous rums from all across the seven seas for you to sample. The Golden Hinde (St Mary Overie Dock), £20, book ahead, 7.30pm-9pm

ESPRESSO MARTINI FESTIVAL: Last year's inaugural festival dedicated to one of the world's most deliciously indulgent cocktails (allegedly invented by Kate Moss, no less) was such a huge hit that coffee legends Mr Black are bringing it back. There are masterclasses, bottomless brunches, 1000 free espresso martinis for the early birds, and £6 serves for everyone else. Headquartered at the Old Truman Brewery (Shoreditch), £10, book ahead, 7pm-11pm, until 19 August

Friday 17 August

See Milton Jones deliver some cracking one-liners in Shepherd's Bush

MACARON MAKING: Partially naked culinary whizz and YouTube sensation Topless Baker (aka Matt Adlard) will be showing fans how to whip up the perfect pastel-coloured macarons. He's already issued the disclaimer that he will be wearing a t-shirt this time, but he'll feed you delicious treats all afternoon to make up for it. KitchenAid London Experience Store (Marylebone), £65, book ahead, 1pm-3.30pm

STORYTELLING FOR IMMERSIVE FILM: Fancy yourself as a bit of a VR visionary? Learn how to write for immersive storytelling formats with the help of industry professionals at the workshop for scriptwriters who are interested in virtual reality film. BFI Southbank, £6, book ahead, 3pm

POOLSIDE CINEMA: Revisit a timeless Hollywood classic while reclining on a floating sofa at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel's tropical sky garden. This month, the poolside cinema is screening Jerry Maguire, and they're throwing a welcome drink and popcorn in with your ticket (just don't let it get soggy). Sheraton Skyline Hotel (Heathrow), £18, book ahead, 7.30pm-11.30pm

MILTON JONES: Mock The Week regular and scruffy-haired funnyman Milton Jones headlines Bush Hall's summer comedy special. He's joined by Aisling Bea, Tom Basden, and Shappi Khorsandi. Bush Hall (Shepherd's Bush), £18, book ahead, 8pm

Saturday 18 August

Classical concerts have never been so cute.

BOTANICAL COCKTAIL MAKING: Make tinctures, syrups and infusions using freshly picked herbs and then learn how to use them to jazz up your drinks. This cocktail workshop sees you mix yourself a botanical mid-morning aperitif (hey, its gotta be 5pm somewhere) that you'll enjoy alongside a light seasonal lunch. The Culpeper (Aldgate), £25, book ahead, 9am-12pm

CLASSICAL FOR KIDS: Tired of being subject to your spawn's muzak? Get them interested in some proper tunes with the help of multi-award-winning saxophonist Huw Wiggin and Albert’s Band regular Edd Leech, at the Royal Albert Hall performing a special kiddie-friendly programme. Royal Albert Hall (Kensington), £12, book ahead, 1.30pm

BALLET SOUL: A ballet company devoted to providing opportunities from dancers of diverse backgrounds recruited young locals with a passion for dance to create their latest show. Tales of Africa, which explores captivating tales from African folklore, debuts this afternoon. TheatrePeckham (Peckham), £5, book ahead, 3pm/7.30pm

LIVE ROLLER DERBY: Cheer on London's premier roller derby squad, London Brawling, as they go skate-to-skate with Berlin's Bear City. If this is the first you've heard of the sport, let's just say that it involves uber impressive all-women teams, roller skates, and it can get pretty brutal. Tottenham Green Pools & Fitness (Tottenham), £10, book ahead, 6.30pm-9pm

Sunday 19 August

The Full English gets a Japanese twist at this roaming brunch club.

BOOKBINDING FOR BEGINNERS: They say don't judge a book by its cover, but your scribbles deserve only the best. Build and stitch your very own hardback notebook while you sip tea and nibble on cake. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), £30, book ahead, 10.30am-1pm

RIGHT TO ROAM BRUNCH CLUB: East End caff culture meets Japanese cuisine at this pop up brunch club. That means fours courses of Full English foodstuffs with a Japanese twist — think sesame-dressed sausages and egg and soldiers smothered in smoked miso butter. Albertine Wine Bar (Shepherds Bush), £30, book ahead, 10.30am/1pm

FORTY HALL'S HIDDEN TREASURES: Dating back to the 1620s, there's an awful lot of history waiting to be discovered at Jacobean manor Forty Hall. Feast your eyes on the many portraits of the people who once called the estate home while a guide reveals their fascinating life stories. Forty Hall (Enfield), £5, book ahead, 3pm-4pm