Fashion v Sport kicks off this week's cultural contributions, opening today at the V&A. Don your favourite shellsuit and examine the unique relationship between fashion and sport (is the missing link money?).
Theatrically speaking, there's masses of exciting new stuff to choose from this week. Risk a dramatic shower tomorrow as Timon of Athens opens at the Globe, and the lovely Topol starts crooning his way through Gigi in Regent's Park. If you'd rather be indoors, Piaf starts previews at the Donmar from Friday, and the Guangdong Acrobatic Troupe of China debut their crazy dancing-duck Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House from tomorrow – it's only on for 5 days, so don't miss out!
Canary Wharf isn't your usual place for theatrical shenanigans, but this week you can see aerial performances on Wednesday, and physical street comedy on Thursday at 1pm and 6pm. Makes a nice break in your day; if you're lucky enough to work around there, let us know what it's like!
All this leads up to the Canary Wharf Jazz Festival, which starts on Friday. The highlight is surely the James Taylor Quartet who will be oozing cool and jazzy beats from 8pm on Saturday.
East London doesn't get all the fun. The Trafalgar Square Festival also kicks off this week. The opening theme is China Inspires: look out for shadow puppets telling the Chinese creation story, or the Flying Dragon Circus.
Shows Closing
Simon Stephens' dark picture of a godless universe Harper Regan closes this Saturday at the Cottesloe, as does High School Musical (a world where god looks like a Mickey Mouse with dollar signs for eyes) at the Hammersmith Apollo. And don't miss your chance to see Jeremy Irons' exhausting performance in Never So Good, complete with WW1 battles, and a proper fiery plane crash before it closes next week.
In the art world, Skin + Bones, or Fashion v Architecture if you'd prefer, closes at Somerset House on Sunday. And it's your last chance to see Mind Over Matter: Images of Pink Floyd at the Oxo Gallery, as it closes on Sunday too.
Celebs in Theatreland
This week, we're happy to tell you about a near-miss for London's beloved West End production of Chicago. Everyone's favourite google-search, Paris Hilton has apparently turned down the chance to tread the esteemed boards at the Cambridge Theatre as Roxie Hart. The poor lamb is just too busy:
We did some rehearsals, but then I found out it was six days a week for a couple of months. I was flattered, but with my schedule, there was no way I could fit it in.
Sounds like we had a lucky escape, theatre fans.
Image shows "Variations on Sport", Vogue Italia, April 2005. Steve Hiett. © Steve Hiett/D&V/trunkarchive.com
