Arts Ahead: What's On In London 20-26 May

There's so much going on in London's art scene this week, we're sorry we can't tell you it all. Here are our tips on what's hot. But beware all those shows closing this weekend: we wouldn't want you to miss out.

What's New: London Shows Opening

Theatreland welcomes a few new shows this week. Catch Anna Chancellor (that's Duckface to you and me, Four Weddings Fans) at the National from today, fighting it out over West African politics, democracy and oppression in The Observer by Matt Charman.

When The Rain Stops Falling opens at the Almeida Theatre from Thursday, bringing four generations together across 1950s London and the Australian desert. April De Angelis' new satire Amongst Friends opens at the Hampstead Theatre on Tuesday. Its got Helen "Cold Feet" Baxendale, Emma "The Lakes" Cunniffe and James "Gimme Gimme Gimme" Dreyfus in it.

Into dance? Check out Balé De Rua: hip-hop, African dance, samba and capoeira at the Barbican from Thursday. Into more classical dance? The Northern Ballet Theatre's Romeo and Juliet pirouettes into Sadler's Wells from Thursday. Into dance and got kids in tow? Try taking them to Brilliant at the Lilian Baylis Studio on Friday, Saturday or Sunday this week. They'll thank you for it: the review's in the title.

Mums, Aunties, Americans and gaudy pottery fans should check out French Porcelain for English Palaces: Sèvres from the Royal Collection at The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace from this Saturday.

Everyone else should head over to Tate Modern this weekend for The Long Weekend, an art extravaganza we can hardly begin to describe. Giant balls of newspaper, Arte Povera, sound installations, Robert Morris' Bodyspacemotionthings, cello solos, performance work in the Turbine Hall, and live films produced using ink and skateboards. See you there.

Last Chance: London Shows Closing

Havana Rakatan's Cuban beats come to a closing crescendo at the Peacock this Saturday. Camden Town Tube meets Shakespeare's Globe in The Frontline for the last time this Saturday: we thought it was interesting. Saturday is also your last chance to see Judi Dench talk orgies in Madame De Sade at Wyndham's Theatre, and that Bollywood Wuthering Heights at the Lyric Hammersmith.

The "next generation Cirque du Soleil" Le Grand Cirque finish their run at the New Wimbledon Theatre on Sunday. "Circus" divides us here at londonist, but if you like that sort of thing, don't miss this.

Minimalist photography, sculpture and drawing show Roni Horn aka Roni Horn is over on Saturday at Tate Modern. The celebrated Le Corbusier exhibition, The Art of Architecture closes at the Barbican this Sunday. See it while you can.

Finally, if you haven't seen Annette Messager's crazy knitted / photography / soft toy / silk exhibition The Messengers at the Hayward Gallery, you've only got until Monday to catch it...