Things To Do Today In London: Wednesday 27 March 2019

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The opening gala of the UK Asian Film Festival takes place tonight

Things to do

ASIAN FILM FEST: The UK Asian Film Festival begins today, launched with an opening gala event starring actress Zeenat Aman chatting about her career in Indian cinema. Other events throughout the festival include UK premiere screenings and industry networking events. Various locations and prices, book ahead, 27 March-7 April

MARX AT 201: Which of Marx’s ideas remain relevant and which are redundant, 201 years after his birth? Leading scholars from across the disciplines of economics, political theory, sociology and law discuss his legacy is this free panel debate. LSE (Holborn), free, just turn up, 6.30pm-8pm

WITHOUT A HOME: Film producer and director Paul Atherton has many achievements to his name, including being the first person to have screened a film on the Coca Cola screen at Piccadilly Circus, and having a video diary he made with his son added to the permanent collection of the Museum of London. He's also homeless, and has been for 10 years. Tonight, he talks about his experiences, to debunk the myth that homelessness doesn't happen to ordinary people. 17 Triton Street (Regent's Park), £3, book ahead, 6.30pm-9pm

Science Museum stays open late

MUSEUM LATES: Yep, it's that time of the month again. Science Museum stays open late, for an evening theme on UNESCO World Heritage sites. Talks and workshops cover topics as diverse as deep-sea diving to Stonehenge to time travel, and there's also a silent disco and museum highlights tours. Age 18+. Science Museum (South Kensington), free, book ahead, 6.45pm-10pm

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL: Author Nina Stibbe chats to fellow writer Cathy Rentzenbrink about Stibbe's new novel, Reasons To Be Cheerful. Her previous book Love, Nina, won Non-Fiction Book of the Year at the 2014 National Book Awards, so we're expecting great things. Lutyens Rubinstein (Notting Hill), £20 with book/£10 without, book ahead, 7pm

SH!TFACED SHOWTIME: It's Oliver, but not as you know it. The theatre company behind Sh!tfaced Shakespeare turns its attention to Charles Dickens' novel, Oliver Twist. The whole production is powered by booze (glorious booze), as the cast drink throughout the show, getting increasingly tipsy. Leicester Square Theatre, £13.25-£17.25, book ahead, 7pm (until 12 April)

Sh!tfaced Showtime comes to Leicester Square Theatre

CRICK CRACK CLUB: Acclaimed storyteller Jan Blake and drummer John Predare pair up for tonight's Crick Crack Club. They tell the story of The Birth of Sundiata Keita, legendary founder of the great Malian Empire of West Africa. Kings Place (King's Cross), £14.50, book ahead, 7.30pm

SMOKE COMEDY: Upcoming sketch duo Moon showcase early preparations for this year's Edinburgh Fringe show in tonight's Smoke Comedy. Also on the line-up are Olga Koch, Michael Capozzola, and Patrick Spicer. The Sekforde (Clerkenwell), £5, book ahead, 7.30pm-10pm

EUROPE’S BORDERS: We're still hokey-cokeying over the EU, but in the week that we were due to leave, Dash Cafe focuses on Europe's borders. Berlin based author Fabian Saul talks about his Traces of Resistance project on the borders of Europe, plus there are performances by visual artist Mariana Gordan, economist Martin Sandbu, singer Lori Secanska and guitarist Iakovos Loukas. Rich Mix (Shoreditch), £5, book ahead, 7.30pm-11pm

Catch a screening of Shoplifters in south London

SHOPLIFTERS: Acclaimed 2018 Japanese drama film Shoplifters, depicts a poor Tokyo family living off petty crime and low-paying jobs take in five year old Yuri, a young girl who's suffering physical abuse at the hands of her own family. Local film and media writer David Dent introduces this screening of the film. Harris Academy South Norwood, £8.50/£7/£5, book ahead, 7.45pm-10pm

BOOK SLAM: Enjoy an evening of words, music and comedy to celebrate ten years of the Wellcome Book Prize. Salena Godden hosts the evening, with appearances by singer Sam Lee, novelist and activist Elif Shafak and writer and performer Rob Auton. Wellcome Collection (Euston), £8, book ahead, 8pm

Tube ponderings with Barry Heck

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

A tube carriage with power sockets? How can that be? There is a rational explanation, and all will be revealed in tomorrow’s Tube Ponderings. Follow Barry Heck on Twitter @HeckTube.

Good cause of the day

Book ahead for Podfest for Mental Health, taking place this Saturday to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation. Five podcast recordings take place in front of a live audience, including I am. I have with special guests and co hosts of You, Me and The Big C, Lauren Mahon and Deborah James. Find out more and book tickets.

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