Arts Ahead 3-10 Dec

By Zoe Craig Last edited 183 months ago
Arts Ahead 3-10 Dec
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Temperatures drop, shopping stress rises, and London rolls into festive season good and proper this week. Here's our guide to the saner side of London's arts scene; it's not all about carols and pantos, you know.

That Hamlet starts at the Novello today, without the skull, but most definitely with Doctor Who. Tickets are pretty hard to come by. If you get your hands on one, let us know how. Londonist is wondering about selling its granny in return for a seat – any takers?

The less-hyped, but still exciting A Little Night Music also opens today, at the Menier Chocolate Factory. It a "sophisticated musical in waltz time" and has got the ever-fabulous Maureen Lipman and one of those Nancys in it. You'll recognise that "send in the clowns" number. More kid-friendly is the Potted Potter: The Unauthorised Harry Experience from Dan and Jeff at the Trafalgar Studios, which also kicks off today.

London goes dance-crazy this week, as the Christmas ballets and alternative dance shows sashay onto the scene. The Sleeping Beauty is brought back to life by the English National Ballet at the London Coliseum from today and The Snowman opens at the Peacock Theatre. Also opening today is Miss High Leg Kick and Boogaloo Stu's School of Dance at the Barbican. A flirty celebration of Latin American dancing, you say? Where do we sign?!

Then, Matthew Bourne's Edward Scissorhands (currently in previews) snips open at Sadler's Wells on Tuesday.

Last Chance To See

Friday is your last chance to see Natassia Page's funky installation in The Merchant Centre. It's a blurring of art and office life, apparently. Sunday sees your last opportunity to catch Robin Rhode: Who Saw Who at The Hayward.

The fantastic-but-flawed The Tragedy of Thomas Hobbes at Wilton's Music Hall closes on Saturday.

Finally, if you were worried that time was running out for you to catch Damon Albarn's Monkey: Journey to the West at The O2, you're in luck. They announced this morning that they're extending the run until 4 January.

Image shows the dreamy David Tennant (Hamlet) after Casper David Friedrich's The Wanderer Above The Sea Of Fog. Photographer: Jillian Edelstein.

Last Updated 03 December 2008