Arts Ahead 21-27 January

By Zoe Craig Last edited 182 months ago
Arts Ahead 21-27 January

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Nebamun hunting in the marshes, Nebamun's tomb-chapel. Part of the new Ancient Egyptian Gallery at the British Museum
Ancient and modern collide in London this week as both the British Museum and the Design Museum reveal new exhibits, and a new musical opens while an old opera returns.

First, a new Ancient Egyptian Gallery opens at the British Museum today, with amazing restored tomb paintings from around 1350BC, a whole generation before Tutankhamun. Over at the Design Museum from Thursday, Hussein Chalayan's sparkling LED dresses, "portable architecture" and "furniture as clothing" is on show until May.

In Theatreland, the Michael Jackson jukebox musical you've all been waiting for (haven't you?) Thriller Live opens at the Lyric today. It's got one of 5 Star in and everything. A triplet of straight plays with significant stage stars all open on Thursday. Take your pick from

Entertaining Mr Sloane by Joe Orton with Imelda Staunton and Gavin & Stacey's Mathew Horne at the Trafalgar Studios

Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge, starring the brooding Ken Stott opens at the Duke of York

Be Near Me, by and starring Star Wars Emperor, Ian McDiarmid opens at the Donmar

Then Nicholas Hynter's production of Mozart's The Magic Flute is back by popular demand at the London Coliseum from Saturday.

Sadler's Wells Sampled takes place on Saturday-Sunday this week. Don't come crying to us if you missed out on those £5 tickets: we did warn you they go fast.

Last Chance To See:

Saturday sees the end of Bill Bailey's Tinselworm run at the Gielgud, Amazonia at the Young Vic, (which had pretty poor reviews, to be honest) and the wonderful Piaf, a great Donmar show that transferred to the Vaudeville Theatre. Catch them while you can.

In the art world, the gorgeous Turner Watercolours at the Courtauld Gallery closes on Sunday, as does the British Museum's Statuephilia. Stuck for something to do this weekend? We recommend a wander around the BM, playing hide and seek with the five funky, weird, witty statues in this exhibition. It'll take you about an hour, and will make you look at the British Museum in a completely different way. Have fun!

Last Updated 21 January 2009