Things To Do Today In London: Friday 16 August 2019

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Mark the 50th anniversary of Woodstock

Things to do

WOMEN IN KHAKI: Author Tracey Ann Knight gives a free talk about the contribution of the women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service during the second world war. Find out about the roles which were available to these women, the dangers they faced, and the skills they learnt. National Army Museum (Chelsea), free, book ahead, 11.30am

STASI RECORDS: Delve into the fascinating Stasi Records Archive with its Head of Press, Dagmar Hovestädts. He gives an intriguing talk about the East German Stasi, one of the most effective and repressive intelligence and secret police agencies in the world. Find out how the Stasi Records Archive manages to keep its top secret files behind closed doors. National Archives (Kew), £4-£5, book ahead, 2pm-3.30pm

DUCKIE: Lip-syncing, breakdancing, vogueing, and a set from Readers Wifes (DJs-in-residence at Royal Vauxhall Tavern) are all on the line-up at Duckie's variety show, an outdoor show designed to stretch your ideas of gender. Southbank Centre, free, just turn up, 5.30pm

Watch a screening of In Search

IN SEARCH: Catch a screening of 2018 documentary In Search. The first-person film follows Beryl Magoko who, as a young girl growing up in Kenya, underwent female genital mutilation, believing it to be normal. Many years later, she learns about a new reconstructive surgery, and chats to other women who went through the same thing, to help her decide whether to undergo the surgery. Bertha DocHouse (Bloomsbury), £9/£7/£5, book ahead, 6.30pm

RUM TASTING: Mark National Rum Day on board a pirate ship. The Golden Hinde hosts a rum tasting, with experts and ambassadors from different brands on hand to talk you through the tipples (at least 15 different varieties, so pace yourself). Golden Hinde (Borough), £20, book ahead, 6.30pm-9pm

See A Midsummer Night's Dream performed outside

WOODSTOCK: It's been 50 years since Woodstock festival. Mark the occasion at a screening of a documentary about the event, which was first released in 1970, and follows the whole show from preparation to clean-up. After the screening, hear from Loraine Burgon from band Ten Years After on what it was like to be there. Rich Mix (Shoreditch), £10.95, book ahead,7pm

SPECIAL GUEST: YouTuber Jim Chapman hosts this edition of Special Guest, a show where the audience are the speakers, and anyone's invited up on stage for 60 seconds. Share a thought, feeling, story, party trick, anything you fancy, or sit back and watch others until you pluck up the courage to have a go yourself. Kindred (Hammersmith), £10, book ahead, 7pm-10pm

DRAG BALL: This weekend's DragWorld convention kicks off with a Drag Ball, featuring stars of Ru Paul's Drag Race. See the likes of Shea Couleé, Jinkx Monsoon and Meth performing on stage.  The Grand (Clapham), £30, book ahead, 7pm-11pm

Get your singing voice ready

OUTDOOR THEATRE: More tickets have been released for this open-air production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. True to Shakespeare's day, it's performed by an all-male cast with Elizabethan costumes, music and dance. Morden Hall Park, £18.50/£9, book ahead, 7.30pm-10pm

GREASE SING ALONG: Warm up your vocal chords for this outdoor, sing along screening of 1978 musical film Grease. Chairs are provided for your encounter with Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, but bring a blanket as it's likely to get chilly. Drinks and snacks available to buy from the bar. Watermans (Brentford), £10/£9, book ahead, 9pm

BAT WALK: Kids and adults are invited on a dusk walk through a Royal Park in search of bats. Use bat detectors to locate the flying mammals — the park is home to common pipistrelles, soprano pipistrelles and noctules. You might encounter the occasional owl or fox too. Kensington Gardens, £10, book ahead, 8pm-9.30pm

Tube ponderings with Barry Heck

Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.

What are Londoners going to call their new underground line, when it eventually opens? The official name is the Elizabeth line, but that feels a bit clunky or deferential to some. Others swear they'll stick to calling it Crossrail. Well, I'd favour another moniker. Have you noticed how the line diagram looks a little like a gecko?

It really does. Hence, we're leading calls for Crossrail to be known as the Lizard line — which isn't so far from the official name, and will give David Icke conspiracy theorists something new to chew over. Follow Barry on Twitter @HeckTube.

Good cause of the day

There are still tickets left for SummerChime, taking place at Chiswick House tonight and raising money for Children With Cancer UK. Former One Direction member Liam Payne, girl band All Saints and X-Factor winner Louisa headline the intimate fundraising gig. Find out more and book tickets.

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