Things To Do Today In London: Thursday 21 March 2019

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Things to do

Unleash your creativity at Pop-Up Painting

LATE NIGHT DICKENS: The Dickens Museum, located in the townhouse where Charles Dickens and his family once lived, stays open late tonight. Wander around the house when it's a bit quieter, seeing the rooms in which the family lived and learning about the author's background and inspiration for his novels. A glass of prosecco is included in your ticket. Dickens Museum (Bloomsbury), £9.50, book ahead, 5pm-8pm (last admission 7pm)

JACKIE COLLINS: The works of late author Jackie Collins are being republished, with added introductions from the likes of Barbara Taylor Bradford and Jessie Burton. To celebrate, a panel of authors and journalists including Grazia books editor Alexandra Heminsley and novelist Veronica Henry discuss their love for Collins' work. Waterstones (Gower Street), £10/£8, book ahead, 6.30pm

THE FORGOTTEN ARMY: When the Japanese invaded Burma in 1942, soldiers from across the Commonwealth fought in support of Britain's attempt to retake its former colony. Yet the experiences of these soldiers are often overlooked. Tonight, a group of historians and authors discuss why those who took part deserve to be better remembered. Hatchards (Piccadilly), £10, book ahead, 7pm

LONDON BUS: Social historians Travis Elborough and Joe Kerr celebrate all things to do with the London bus. They discuss why Londoners are so attached to the iconic mode of transport, which routes are best-loved, and why they've become such a part of the capital's culture. London Transport Museum (Covent Garden), £12/£10, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

Watch an updated production of Macbeth

MACBETH: Shakespeare's Macbeth is retold for a modern audience in this production, set in London in the 1980s and hinging on the themes of greed, betrayal and murder in the corporate City of London. Jacksons Lane (Highgate), £10-£16, book ahead, 7.30pm (repeated tomorrow)

STARRY NIGHT: No experience is necessary for this painting session, in which you're guided towards creating your own version of Van Gogh's Starry Night. All art supplies are provided, along with advice from a professional artist — and it takes place in a pub, so plenty of drinks are available to get the creative juices flowing. Horniman at Hays (London Bridge), £36.99, book ahead, 7.30pm-10pm

LIVES OF LONDONERS: Former BBC journalist and Special Correspondent for London Kurt Barling shows news and documentary footage from throughout his career, which depicts how the city is undergoing change. Specific focus is on 10 lives which reflect the city he was raised in. Dudgale Centre (Enfield), £6.50, book ahead, 7.45pm

TONGUE FU: This monthly event brings together spoken word artists, musicians, poets and other performers to showcase their work. Tonight, catch sets by poet and academic Hannah Lowe, film director and poet Caleb Femi, and writer and actor Ben Norris. Rich Mix (Shoreditch), £9, book ahead, 8pm

STREISAND UNCOVERED: Vocalist Winter is heavily inspired by Barbra Streisand and tonight she pays tribute to her idol in a free performance. The retrospective runs through Barbra Streisand's life and career, from the early New York nightclub appearances, through to her Hollywood career. Wilton's (Limehouse), free, just turn up, 9pm

Tube ponderings with Barry Heck

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

It’s World Poetry Day. In tribute, here’s our Ode to the Oyster Card:

Always touch in and always touch out,
When using your contactless card.
Except on a bus, where you only touch in,
Remember: it isn’t that hard.

Always touch in and always touch out,
When seeking a vehicle on rails.
Except on the tram, down old Croydon way,
Where touching out leads to big fails.

Always touch in and always touch out,
But don’t touch a thing in the middle.
Except if you travel through some outer zones,
Where pink readers add to the riddle.

Always touch in and always touch out,
Your card works on all transport modes.
Except for the bikes; to hire one of these,
You must dick around with pin codes.

Always touch in and always touch out,
You’ll soon reach your maximum cap.
Except on the Javelin, Dangleway and Clippers,
Who’ll all give your wallet a slap.

Always touch in and always touch out,
You’ll find you can board any train.
Except for the grouchy old Heathrow Express,
Conformity is such a pain.

Always touch in and always touch out,
For Oyster is now here to stay,
Except that we’re shifting to contactless cards,
And the hipsters all use Apple Pay.

Follow Barry Heck on Twitter @HeckTube.

Good cause of the day

Enjoy an atmospheric evening of live music at The Coal House at Woodberry Wetlands tonight, with three performers lined up to play, and the bar open all evening for drinks and snacks. Money raised goes towards conservation work by London Wildlife Trust. Find out more and book tickets.

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