Arts Ahead: What's On In London 17-23 August

By Zoe Craig Last edited 163 months ago
Arts Ahead: What's On In London 17-23 August

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Deborah Turbeville is one of the artists with work on display at the Wapping Project's Group Show
Once again, as we roll on through August, there are slim pickings for new theatre, dance and opera openings in the capital, unless you're after things on the glorious Camden Fringe; this week for the rest of London, it's all about art shows. Here are our recommendations.

Be There First: London Shows Opening

Opening today is a Group Show at the Wapping Project: a review of artists who have shown, or will show, at the gallery, including Elina Brotherus, Peter Marlow and Deborah Turbeville.

From Thursday you can go behind the scenes at the National Theatre courtesy of the camera of Miriam Nabarro. The free exhibition, SE1 9PX: Hidden Corners, shows photos of secret spaces behind the scenes at the NT, taken using a 1974 Hasselblad camera.

Also free from Thursday is the next installment in the Fourth Plinth Programme. See maquettes by the six artists shortlisted for the next commission: Allora & Calzadilla, Elmgreen & Dragset, Katharina Fritsch, Brian Griffiths, Hew Locke and Mariele Neudecker.

And from Friday, you can see Unfold: A Cultural Response to Climate Change at Kings Place; work by 20 artists who took part in the Cape Farewell expeditions to the High Arctic in 2007 and 2008, including Ackroyd & Harvey, Daro Montag and Lucy & Jorge Orta.

Theatrewise, Merry Wives of Windsor re-opens at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on Thursday. It's a revival of the hit 2008 production, directed by Christopher Luscombe. If you're hunting out kid-friendly theatre this week, we recommend You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown at London's newest theatre, the New Diorama Theatre near Euston.

If you're with kids and you needed another reason to visit the ever-brilliant Museum of London Docklands, from Thursday this week, you can see their updated Mudlarks Gallery. There are new information panels, displays and interactive exhibits helping kids learn about the science, geography and history of London's Docklands while simultaneously letting off steam.

Last Chance To See: London Shows Closing

Saturday is your last chance to see Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII at Shakespeare's Globe, As You Like It and The Tempest at the Old Vic and The Beauty Queen of Leenane at the Young Vic.

And Tanguera closes at Sadler's Wells on Sunday. Let us know if we've missed anything.

Last Updated 17 August 2010