Things to do today is sponsored by The Mardi Gras Frittarty.
What we're reading
- The Natural History Museum discovered a 1930s time capsule in an 130-year-old whale skeleton.
- An unexploded second world war bomb was found in Shoreditch.
- Creepy photos of Essex Road station.
- When you mean to type in Brixton and actually type in Bristol.
- Massive crowds in a Camden park on Friday, when Stormzy played the first of his free shows to promote his new album:
Things to do today
PANCAKES: Flipping heck, it's Pancake Day. Check out our list of where to celebrate in London.
SHAKESPEARE'S STORMS: "The storm is up and all is on the hazard." Explore the world of Shakespeare's storms as Gwilym Jones discusses how they were staged at the Globe theatre. University of Westminster, free, book ahead, 1pm-2pm
HAUNTED DOCKS: Muster up some courage and head to the Museum of London Docklands after dark. Travel through a 200-year-old-warehouse and discover its chilling secrets. Museum of London Docklands, £25, book ahead, 6.30pm
TEMPLAR POETRY: Ellen Cranitch releases her first collection of meditative poetry, The Immortalist, alongside a performance from David Coldwell. Keats House, free, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm
LIBRARY ON LIBRARIES: What's the role of libraries in today's society? British Library chief executive, Roly Keating, discusses. British Library, £5, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm
GAYW3: Sorry God, I'm Gay explores a priest, an imam and a poet negotiating their identities. JW3, £10, book ahead, 7.30pm
COMEDY: Oh Boy, Comedy! host their 1st birthday with a bumper line-up. It's headlined by Beth Vyse, described as "the biggest idiot on the fringe... with a wicked imagination." The Rose & Crown, pay what you want, just turn up, 7.30pm
HERSELVES: Character comedian Maddy Anholt, brings herself and her many outlandish alter-egos to this night of laughs. Hen & Chicken, £6, book ahead, 7.30pm
PIANO CONCERT: Acclaimed Russian pianist, Boris Berezovsky, performs the work of Beethoven, Chopin and Prokofiev. Royal Festival Hall, £55-£10, book ahead, 7.30pm
SMILEY CULTURE: Join MC Asher Senator, who launches his new book Smiley and Me. It looks at the birth of the British MC. Senator reads anecdotes from his book and gives a little live performance to boot. Rye Wax, free, just turn up, 7.30pm-9pm
Sponsor message
Love, laughs and pancakes with the Mardi Gras Frittarty
Unconvinced about your tossing ability? Give the pancake making a miss and head to Shoreditch Town Hall for a Shrove Tuesday with a difference.
The Mardi Gras Frittarty — an all-new part-cabaret, part-committee meeting and part-party — is coming to east London on 28 February. This is the brainchild of Gideon Reeling, whose regular night The Starty has been keeping London laughing since 2010. His pancake-day special, The Mardi Gras Frittarty, will have Shoreditch Town Hall in hysterics — expect topical humour, interactivity, music, games and even prizes.
If you are one for tradition, you'll be pleased to hear that there will definitely be pancakes. Doors open at 7pm for The Mardi Gras Frittarty for 7.30pm start at Shoreditch's Assembly Hall — book tickets here.
Art review: Colourful Warhols
Those who love Warhol's bright and colourful series should get down to this show, which includes celebrity portraits, the Endangered Species series and multiple variants of his famous chairman Mao portraits. Andy Warhol: Talking Pop, Halcyon Gallery, 144-146 New Bond Street, W1S 2PF. Until 4 March, free. ★★★★☆ (Monday-Sunday)
Theatre review: Slim pickings in this orchard
It has taken 40 years for Trevor Griffiths's version of The Cherry Orchard to make its London debut and we're not sure the wait was worth it. As the pivotal student/tutor Tofimov, Abhin Galeya does a grand job of exposing the decadence and hypocrisy around him, not least in the form of Sian Thomas's Ranesky. Jade Williams as Varya is the real star here, the dutiful daughter who, while her family revel in expensive Parisian restaurants, waits at home for a marriage proposal that never comes. Her moving portrayal of a woman whose fate is destroyed by the callousness of those around her, carries this play through some rough patches where the acting is often uneven and occasionally dips into the hammy. The Cherry Orchard, Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin St, E8 3DL, £19/£14/£10, until 25 March ★★★☆☆ (Monday-Saturday) Franco Milazzo
Good cause for the day
WORLD OF RHINOS: Here's an evening of illuminating discussions on the Wild World of Rhinos. Hear first hand from the people trying to save them in Africa. All funds go towards making sure more of these wonderful animals survive. The Royal Institution, £95/£30/£25, book ahead, March 23, 6pm-10pm