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Listings
AUSTRALIA DAY: Celebrate Australia Day in the rooftop wigwam at Queen of Hoxton. Expect food from a rooftop barbecue and live DJs all night. Free, just turn up, 4pm-12pm
SCIENCE FICTION: Head to the new Blackwell's bookshop in Holborn for an evening of science fiction with authors Ben Aaronovitch (who wrote City Read's 2015 book, Rivers of London), Den Patrick and Sarah Pinborough. All three will be signing books and chatting about their work. Free, just turn up, 5.30pm
PAKISTAN PLAY: In today's National Theatre Platform, Shahid Nadeem, writer and director of the original version of Dara, is joined by Production Consultant Anwar Akhtar to discuss the play and look at the broader cultural landscape of Pakistan, and the many links between Pakistan and Britain. £4/£3, prebook, 6pm
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL: Lili Pohlmann and Erich Reich, who both endured the Holocaust as children, recall their experiences tonight at the British Library, followed by a screening of the film Irena Sendler: In the Name of Their Mothers, which tells the story of a group of Polish women who saved the lives of thousands of Jewish children. Part of Holocaust Memorial Day (which takes place on 27 January). £8/£6/£5, prebook, 6.30pm. Also, Dame Stephanie Shirley delivers a special talk at The Wiener Library, discussing the story of her life and her experience as a child refugee from Nazism. Free, prebook, 6.30pm
CLIMATE CHANGE: Writers share work they have produced on the topic of climate change at the Free Word Centre on Farringdon Road, as the result of a year-long project. Free, prebook, 6.45pm
FILM CLUB: The Duke Mitchell Film Club is back at the Phoenix Artist Club with a screening of 1992 gangland film Street Wars, plus short films, trailers, and a quiz. Free, RSVP on Facebook, from 7pm
RUNNING CLUB: Victoria Park Harriers and Tower Hamlets Athletics Club are hosting running sessions for complete beginners. The sessions are aimed at those who have never run or who have taken an extended break from running, providing a friendly, supportive and fun environment in which to get fit. Meet at the Clubhouse at Victoria Park. Free, just turn up, 7pm
LITERARY MEMOIR: Author and literary critic David Lodge discusses his memoir, Quite A Good Time to be Born, covering the first 40 years of his life, from his birth on 28 January 1935 to the publication of his breakthrough book, Changing Places. At King's Place. £9.50, prebook, 7pm
ROGUE REPORTER: Somerset House has a screening of One Rogue Reporter, an exposé film of the unscrupulous world of tabloid journalism, filmed in the wake of the phone hacking scandal. Followed by a Q&A session with journalist Rich Peppiatt. £12/£11, prebook, 7pm
BOOKS IN THE ATTIC: Hackney Attic’s new monthly literary event kicks off with a mixture of new and established authors, talks, discussion and fun. Hackney-based Ben Byrne reads from his debut novel Fire Flowers, other authors share their work in progress, and there's an open mic slot for the audience to get up and share their own work or that of a favourite author. £5, prebook, from 7pm
THIS COMEDIAN: A stand-up comedy show about being a stand-up comedian acts as the launch event for Idil Sukan's This Comedian photography exhibition (note: the exhibition doesn't actually start until 19 February, but some of the photos will be on display tonight). Performers tonight at the Duchess Theatre include Robin Ince, Sara Pascoe and Katherine Ryan. £15-£83, prebook, 7.30pm
COMEDY: One-third of sketch group WitTank, Mark Cooper Jones is on his own at the Tabard Theatre in Chiswick with his show Geography Teacher (he really used to be one). £5, prebook, 8pm
BLOOD: Today’s opportunities to donate blood are at Freemasons Hall in Covent Garden, Brewers Hall in the City, Lewisham Shopping Area, Stratford Old Town Hall and the usual donor centres. See site for terms and conditions. Scared of donating blood? Watch our video.
Find more London events in our Free & Cheap events listings. Want to see your event in these last-minute listings? Email us at [email protected] at least 48 hours before the event, and we will consider it for inclusion. Note: due to high volumes of email, we can’t always reply.
Good Cause of the Day
Take a look at Fine Cell Work, a Victoria-based charity which trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework. Starting today until 30 January, many of their home furnishing pieces are being sold off at the showroom to raise money for the charity's future work.
From The Archive
In 2013 we took a look at the faded grandeur of London's Old Town Halls.
