Arts Ahead 11-15 Feb

By Zoe Craig Last edited 181 months ago
Arts Ahead 11-15 Feb

In a week potentially dominated by Valentine's Day, we aim to bring you a balanced round-up of the cultural events in the capital. Sure there's some awkward lovey dovey stuff around; there's also some heartbreaking drama and some diary-clearing closures too.

Shows Opening

Check out a great mix of optimism and pragmatism in 20th century Russian art as Rodchenko and Popova: Defining Constructivism opens at Tate Modern tomorrow.

In theatre, Steven Berkoff stars in his own stage adaptation of multi-Oscar-winning film On The Waterfront. The play gets its West End debut at the Theatre Royal Haymarket tomorrow. Over at the Duchess from Monday, Nicholas de Jongh's Plague Over England offers an insight into the changes in social attitudes to gay life in the years following Sir John Gielgud's arrest for "mportuning for immoral purposes" in 1953. And the RSC's Taming of the Shrew, with a cast led by the brilliant Michelle "Do I look like a mug?" Gomez, star of Green Wing amongst other things, opens at the Novello on Tuesday.

We gave you some Valentine's Day hints earlier this month. If you or your date's a film lover, on Saturday you can choose from a screening of cult 80s classic Babylon, followed by Aswad in concert at Rich Mix; a Casablanca / Breakfast at Tiffany's double bill at Riverside Studios; or if you're feeling really brave, try the outdoor screening of Shakespeare in Love projected onto the National Theatre's fly tower. Even if you've got the "hots" for each other (fnarr), we recommend you wrap up warm.

Last Chance

A couple of nice arty exhibitions close on Sunday, so make your excuses and head to these this weekend; it's your last chance.

Saul Steinberg: Illuminations, the Dulwich Picture Gallery's exhibition of works by the New Yorker's cover artist finishes on Sunday. As does the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery. Finally, the brilliant War And Medicine closes on Sunday at the Wellcome Collection. If we've missed anything, or you've got particular plans to see something this week, let us know below. And have fun.

Last Updated 11 February 2009