Things To Do This Week In London: 13-19 May 2019

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All week

Photo London comes to Somerset House

TAKING FLIGHT: Week-long theatre festival Taking Flight showcases original work from emerging theatre companies. Tough Yolk, Riddled Image and Zero Hour offer a repertoire of double bill solo and ensemble performances, comprising provocative drama and amusing comedies. Pleasance Theatre (Islington), £7/£5, book ahead, 13-18 May

LONDON WINE WEEK: Good news vino lovers — it's London Wine Week. Register for a free digital pass to take advantage of the special offers running all week at venues all over the capital, including £6 flights of tastings of three wines, and food and wine pairings in certain restaurants. See all venues taking part. Digital pass is free, book ahead, 13-19 May

Dead Ringers Live at Barbican. Photo: Andy Cotterill

GLOBAL DICKENS: Charles Dickens is most often associated with London, but new exhibition Global Dickens looks at his writings about — and for — other countries around the world. Items including his own travel bag, holiday souvenirs, and a copy of David Copperfield that went to the Antarctic on the 1910 Scott expedition are all on display. Dickens Museum (Bloomsbury), included in admission (£9.50), just turn up, 14 May-3 November

DEAD RINGERS LIVE: Radio show Dead Ringers specialises in impressions, and now it comes to the stage for four days of live performances. Jon Culshaw, Lewis MacLeod, Jan Ravens and Duncan Wisbey offer up their expertise in sharp political humour — the likes of Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Donald Trump feature. Barbican, £25-£49.50, book ahead, 15-18 May

PHOTO LONDON: Interested in photography? Photo London is the place to be. The world-class event brings together photographers, curators, exhibitors and dealers to celebrate all aspects of the art form — and it's very much open to the public too, whether you enjoy taking photos yourself, or just want to admire other people's work. Somerset House, £13-£32, book ahead, 16-19 May

Monday 13 May

Neon Naked Life Drawing in east London

DABBERS BINGO: With games, a glowing ball machine, and prizes galore, Dabbers Social Bingo Club is here to make your Monday marvellous. Up for grabs tonight? Two tickets to Kendal Calling music festival and 50% off your Dabbers Social Bingo Club bill for life. We'll dab to that. Dabbers Social Bingo Club (Houndsditch), from £8, book ahead, doors 6.30pm/show 7.30pm (sponsor)

THE RED SHOES:  Watch a screening of 1948 film The Red Shoes, a dramatic tale of a ballerina who's forced to choose between dancing and love, knowing whichever choice she makes will have repercussions. Dulwich Picture Gallery, £10/£8, book ahead, 7pm

NEON LIFE DRAWING: Begin this life drawing workshop with some quick exercises to warm up your creative muscles, before using neon pastels in UV light to recreate the models — who are covered in glow paint. All materials and guidance are provided, and creativity is absolutely encouraged. Queen of Hoxton, £14, book ahead, 7.30pm-9.30pm

Tuesday 14 May

Learn about bee keeping at Fulham Palace

BEE KEEPING: Fulham Palace's volunteer bee keepers offer an insight into what they do to manage the hives in the palace's garden. Learn about the bees' habits, life cycles, and how to keep them happy, in an interactive demonstration. Fulham Palace, £12/£8, book ahead, 12pm-1pm

VIETNAM ADVENTURE: Even the most avid London lover can get itchy feet sometimes, and National Geographic Traveller's Travel Geeks get togethers are here to help you satisfy your wanderlust. This time, the spotlight's on the Southeast Asian idyll of Vietnam. Get travel tips and technical know-how over a drink or two and start planning the adventure of a lifetime. Wallacespace Clerkenwell, £8 with Londonist discount, use code LDN20, book ahead, 6pm-7pm (sponsor)

ALL MY SONS: The National Theatre's production of All My Sons is broadcast live into cinemas around the country, including Rich Mix. Watch all the action direct from the Old Vic's stage, starring Sally Field and Bill Pullman in Arthur Miller's play. Rich Mix (Shoreditch), £18, book ahead, 7pm

FUNNY WOMEN: A host of new female comedy acts go head to head in the third heat of the Funny Women Awards. It's a chance to see up-and-coming talent at a bargain price and support women in a traditionally male-dominated industry. The Betsey Trotwood (Clerkenwell), £10/£8, book ahead, 7pm

Wednesday 15 May

Sir Ian Botham appears in Smithfield

CLIMATE MAJORITY: Babble Talks are interesting lectures aimed at parents with babies who crave grown up talks — but the lectures aren't about parenting. Today, climate change policy expert Leo Barasi discusses why climate change matters, why so little is being done about it, and what we can do to make governments take the issue more seriously. The Bedford (Balham), £10, book ahead, 11.30am-12.30pm

ROYAL OPERATIONS: Renowned surgeon Professor Harold Ellis gives an illustrated talk about royal operations — surgeries carried out on royals throughout history, some of which changed the path of history. It takes place in Europe's oldest surviving operation theatre, for extra ambience. Old Operating Theatre (London Bridge), £12, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm

SIR IAN BOTHAM: It's not a cheap night out, but for cricket fans, the chance to meet Sir Ian Botham is one not to be missed. Enjoy a meal at Smiths of Smithfield as Botham is interviewed about his life and career, and takes part in a Q&A session. There's a charity auction and raffle, and a chance to have a photo and autograph with the man himself. Smiths of Smithfield, from £110, book ahead, 6.30pm-10pm

Thursday 16 May

Visit Benjamin Franklin House by candlelight

MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: Visit Benjamin Franklin House — the only remaining residence of the Founding Father — by candlelight, taking an architectural tour of the Grade-I listed Georgian townhouse. Benjamin Franklin House (Charing Cross), £11.67, book ahead, 6pm-8pm (repeated tomorrow)

JEWS SCHMOOZE: Attend a live recording of the Jews Schmooze podcast, and hear a lively conversation about Jews and money. Comedy writer David Schneider, political journalist Rachel Shabi, human rights barrister Adam Wagner, and Hannah Weisfeld, director and founder of Yachad, a British Jewish organisation, all take part. Tickets include access to the current Jews, Money, Myth exhibition. Jewish Museum (Camden), £10/£8.50, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

POETRY SLAM: The first heats of Roundhouse's Poetry Slam 2019 take place today. Watch the next big names in spoken word and poetry go head to to head to compete for a place in the final. Heats continue on Friday and Saturday. Roundhouse (Camden), £5-£10, book ahead, 7.30pm

Friday 17 May

Watch new documentary The Arctic Camels

ANAESTHETIC MURDERS: The Anaesthesia Heritage Centre — real place, we've checked — stays open late for an evening looking at why the world of anaesthetics is so full of scandal. Dr. Ann Ferguson talks about the controversial topic of anaesthetic murders, before visitors take part in a 'pick your poison' workshop with Victory Gin. Create your own unique blend of gin to take home with you. Anaesthesia Heritage Centre (Portland Place), £20, book ahead, 6pm-9pm

ARCTIC CAMELS: Bor and Bestla are the only two camels in the world living inside the Arctic Circle. New documentary The Arctic Camels follows their lives with nine year old Torarin, who lives in the most northern city in the world, including his family's trip to Mongolia to learn how to train camels properly. Bertha DocHouse (Bloomsbury), £9/£7/£5, book ahead, 6.30pm

ARCHIVES AT NIGHT: Visit the National Archives outside of the usual hours for a 1980s themed evening. Don your biggest shoulder pads for gallery tours, quizzes, retro video games, themed cocktails and a disco, all celebrating the new exhibition, Protect and Survive: Britain’s Cold War Revealed. National Archives (Kew), £12-£15, book ahead, 7pm-10pm

Saturday 18 May

The Urban Tree Festival takes place this weekend

URBAN TREE FESTIVAL: A two-day celebration of London's arboreal offerings, the Urban Tree Festival features walks, talks, field trips and even an urban singing experience. Find out about the people who manage the urban forest, get to know the trees of three Bloomsbury squares, and discover King James I's mulberry garden. Various location and prices, book ahead, 18-19 May

JUBILEE LINE EXTENSION: Save Britain's Heritage celebrates the design of the Jubilee Line Extension stations with a tour led by former head of heritage at TfL, Mike Ashworth. Visit stations constructed as part of the extension, which opened in 1999, and learn more about their architecture. North Greenwich station, £22, book ahead, 11am-2.30pm

EUROVISION: Flags and glitter at the ready — it's Eurovision day. If you can't make it to Tel Aviv this year, watch the action at one of these Eurovision parties and screening events here in the capital.

Sunday 19 May

Take the kids to a family rave

CAPITAL RING: Footprints of London guide Jen Pedler leads a walk around Section 7 of the Capital Ring, a three-hour wander from Richmond to Osterley Lock. Cross Richmond Lock — the furthest downstream of the Thames locks — walk through the grounds of Syon Park, and join the River Brent and Grand Union Canal at Brentford, looking out for wildlife as you go. Richmond station, £12/£9, book ahead, 11am-2pm

FAMILY RAVE: Parenthood needn't mean giving up your former life as a raver. Big Fish Little Fish hosts a family rave, aimed at kids aged 8 and under and their carers. DJs play old skool, house, hip hop, electro, techno, UK garage and drum'n'bass tunes, with glitter cannons, confetti, balloons, face painting, craft tables and other activities to keep kids busy. Proud (Embankment), £10/£7, book ahead, 2pm-4.30pm

WOMEN OF WESTMINSTER: Labour MP and author Rachel Reeves talks about some of the 'forgotten' women of Westminster, pioneering ladies who fought for their place in Parliament, leading the way for future generations. Her book Women Of Westminster: The MPs Who Changed Politics, covers 100 years, from the election of the first female MP, Nancy Astor, in 1919, to campaigns which are still raging today. Conway Hall (Holborn), £8/£4, book ahead, 3pm-4.30pm