Things To Do Today In London: Friday 24 March 2017

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Things to do today is sponsored by the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Djanan Turan at The Library Club

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Things to do today

POP-UP MUSEUM: The National Maritime Museum is in Lewisham shopping centre; explore the museum's collections and come up with your own sailor's ditty box. Lewisham Shopping Centre, free, just turn up, 10am-5pm (closed Mondays)

FLORIMANIA: This Mother's Day weekend, Hampton Court Palace brings you Florimania, a festival of flowers that remembers royal women throughout history. Hampton Court Palace, price of admission to entire Palace £20.90/£17.10/£10.45, just turn up, 10am-6pm

TIME TRUCK: It's Shakespeare Week, so why not hop aboard the Time Truck outside Hackney Town Hall, and learn about the Curtain Road theatre where Shakespeare put on plays. You'll get to see what archaeologists discovered when uncovering the theatre, as well as talking to the people who did it. Hackney Town Hall, free, just turn up, noon-6pm

WHOSE AMERICAN DREAM?: Tying into the current American Dream exhibition at The British Museum, this talk explores how the American Dream differs to varying groups across the nation. The British Museum, £5/£3, book ahead, 6.30pm-7.30pm

BEING ARCHIVED: Award winning novelist Will Self's archives have been acquired by the British Library. He talks to Hanif Kureishi — also archived — on this strange sensation. British Library, £12/£8, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

Will Self on Being Archived at The British Library

POETRY LAUNCH: The Emma Press launches its latest poetry pamphlets, by Andrew Wynn Owen, Emma Simon and Jack Nicholls. Head to the launch party to hear readings by the writers. The Betsey Trotwood, free, book ahead, 7pm-10pm

FREE MUSIC: Jazz pianist Will Bartlett is the latest musician on the Friday night music line-up at Verdi Italian Kitchen. Royal Albert Hall, free entry, book ahead, 7.30pm

BIRTHDAY LECTURE: Today is William Morris's birthday. Celebrate with a lecture on Morris's determination to save historic architecture, at the Walthamstow gallery named after him. William Morris Gallery, £10/£5, book ahead, 7.30pm

PSYCHEDELIC FOLK: Vivacious singer songwriter, Djanan Turan, and her eponymous psychedelic folk night take over The Library in Covent Garden. The Library Club, free, book ahead, 7.30pm

MUSICAL MASH-UP: Two highly skilled musicians — one Iranian, the other Kurdish — join forces to combine their music and make something unique and creative. Rich Mix, £12/£15, book ahead, 8pm


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Comedy review: Munnery saves the best till last

With 30-odd years' experience in the bag, Simon Munnery knows how to end a gig in style. The last 15 minutes of Standing Still is a riot — an elderly date couple fawning over skiing holidays, and anecdotes of Munnery's own gigs that went awry ("you'll never play the Buxton Fringe again!"). The rest of the show's concocted of gentle songs, skits and readings including a segment on the Poor Law, and what happens when the comedian takes his dog to Bedford market. Munnery never found superstar status, but spending an hour in his oddball company is like sipping a lovely comedy-flavoured Cup-a-Soup. Simon Munnery: Standing Still, Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE, £9-£14, until 25 March ★★★★☆ Will Noble

Art review: create your own Star Wars character

©2017 Lucasfilm Ltd, LLC & TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorisation.

Stormtrooper outfits, models of the spacecraft from Star Wars, Yoda, Chewbacca and Darth Maul. This is a treasure trove of props from the world-renowned films. The additional part is the opportunity to create your own character by answering questions along the way. Strangely enough this mix of Lucasfilm meets Myers-Briggs works out well, with us enjoying our final creation as a mix of Darth Maul and Bobba Fett.

The information around how family and environment shaped each character in this universe is often laid on a bit thick but Star Wars fans and children will love this show. Star Wars: Identities at The O2, until 3 September, £20 ★★★★☆ (Open every day) Tabish Khan

Theatre review: mixing pop and politics

Protest songs from the time of Rosa Parks to Standing Rock are brought to life by students and graduates of Chickenshed's inclusive theatre programme. The show is packed with singing, dance, acrobatics, archive footage and a glimmering bus ferrying riders on the long road to freedom. It's a timely celebration of those willing to raise their voices to make the world better. Blowin' in The Wind, Chickenshed Theatre, Chase Side, N14 4PE, £10-£20, 17 March- 2 April ★★★★☆ [Tuesday-Friday] Alice Grahame

Good cause for the day

TEENAGE CANCER TRUST: Teenage Cancer Trust is taking over the Royal Albert Hall at the end of the month, putting on some top drawer music and comedy. Ed Sheeran, The Who, Olly Murs, Paul Weller, Romesh Ranganathan are among those appearing at the fundraising events. A great time to be had, in aid of an important cause. Royal Albert Hall, various prices, book ahead, 27 March-2 April