The cast of The Fantasticks. Photo by Dan Tsantilis
Summer's here (you can tell by the regular downpours) and that means an explosion of fantastic events and new shows on London's cultural calendar.
London Shows Opening: Be There First
First up: theatre. Terence Rattigan's masterpiece After The Dance opens at the National Theatre tonight. It's got a brilliant cast and tickets start at a tenner, so you've got no excuse.
A new London musical, The Fantasticks opens at the Duchess Theatre tomorrow. We hadn't heard of it either, but apparently it's absolutely huge in the US. We'll let you know what we think later in the week. Lilies On The Land opens at the Arts Theatre on Thursday (all about Land Girls in WW2), as does Sus, Barrie Keeffe's powerful political play about the threat of institutional racism, at the Young Vic.
Women, Power and Politics is a new season at the ever-brilliant Tricycle Theatre, exploring the role of women in British politics.
For dance aficionados: Bounce's Insane in the Brain returns to the Peacock Theatre from tonight. And Derek Deane's acclaimed production of the ever-popular Swan Lake swims into the Royal Albert Hall from tomorrow.
It's a packed week for art fans too. Rude Britannia: British Comic Art opens at Tate Britain tomorrow. The Surreal House opens at the Barbican on Thursday. As does the Wellcome Collection's latest blockbuster, Skin. From Saturday, Place Setting opens at the Orleans House Gallery: part of the national Museumaker project, which (click on the link, we haven't got space to tell you all about it here) sounds completely fantastic. And the Royal Academy's summer extravaganza the annual Summer Exhibition (the 242nd time it's been held, would you believe?) opens on Monday.
Any little londonists are sure to like the Charlie and Lola Exhibition at The Illustration Cupboard. You can buy works too, if you're looking for a special present for someone...
Finally, is it football? Carnival? Dance or theatre? Or all of the above? Whatever it is, Brazil! Brazil! kicks off at the Udderbelly on the Southbank on Friday, and sounds like it'll be more exciting than the World Cup ace.
London Shows Closing: Last Chance to See
Canary closes at Hampstead Theatre on Saturday. As does come, been and gone at the Barbican and Central Lines at Theatre Royal Stratford East.
And last but not least, Paul Sandby: Picturing Britain comes to a close at the Royal Academy of Arts on Sunday. If we've missed anything you think is new and noteworthy this week, let us know in the comments below...
