Arts Ahead: What's On In London 8-14 July

Between the weather, the plinth and the Ashes, we're wondering if you have room for any more excitement in your London lives this week. Ahh, there's always room for just a little bit more...

Be There First: London Shows Opening

Opening today is an exhibition of stunning French landscape painting called Corot to Monet: A Fresh Look at the Landscape, at the National Gallery.

Tomorrow sees the start of American artist Elizabeth Peyton's new exhibition, Live Forever at the brilliant, refurbished Whitechapel Gallery. Paintings of famous faces, from The Queen to Liam Gallagher, explore the many different people Peyton admires.

And one of the London summer highlights, the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion opens on Sunday. This year's open-plan style Pavilion is designed by Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa and their firm, SANAA. They say:

The Pavilion is floating aluminium, drifting freely between the trees like smoke. The reflective canopy undulates across the site, expanding the park and sky. Its appearance changes according to the weather, allowing it to melt into the surroundings

We say: look out for londonist photos next week.

In theatreland, hotel cleaners, residents' clothes, fantasy, desire, love and hate clash in The Box at Etcetera theatre from tonight. The darkly comic Death of Long Pig, written by Young One Nigel Planer, opens at the Finborough Theatre from tomorrow.

This week also sees the return of F***ing Men, Joe DiPietro's portrait of 10 men searching for sex and love in modern day America. A success at both the Finborough and the King's Head Theatre, the show now opens at the Arts Theatre. It's playing alongside Naked Boys Singing, ("seven good-looking and talented male actors celebrating the glories of the naked male body") from Thursday.

As if in direct contrast, certified mum-pleaser Dinnerladies opens at Richmond Theatre on Monday. It'll be in the West End in no time.

There's little new around for dance fans this week, but you should check out the first and second year students from London Studio Centre's show, Dance Overture 09 at the Peacock.

Last Chance to See: London Shows Closing

Friday is your last chance to see Anthony Minghella's production of Puccini's Madam Butterfly at the London Coliseum which was revived as a tribute to the director.

The Barbican's Ingmar Bergman Directorspective finishes on Sunday. There's a documentary about the man himself by Marie Nyreröd on the Saturday, plus a chance to see Scenes from a Marrige; followed by the multi Oscar-winning Fanny and Alexander on the Sunday.

Finally, don't miss the brilliant Been So Long, Che Walker's neon-soaked musical comedy at the Young Vic. The critics love it, and there's only a few shows left.