Making its Broadway Debut in 1950 to critical acclaim, winning a Tony Award in the process, as well as being adapted for the screen, much loved musical Guys and Dolls returns to the Bridge Theatre stage, after a much deserved scoop of awards at this year’s WhatsOnStage Awards. Reimagining Frank Loesser’s classic, Bridge Theatre Artistic Director Nicholas Hytner and choreographers Dame Arlene Philips and James Cousins remind us as to this current revival has taken London by storm.

You could easily be deceived into thinking that you’d stepped back in time to the 50s and were out on the humming streets of New York – Bunny Christie’s bright, attention to detailed set design armoured with attention grabbing neon signs, quaint mini market stands and unrelenting traffic lights and road signs. A tale of hustle, and what it means to go beyond the chaos of the day to day to find what truly matters – connection – Guys and Dolls flitters between the chatter, competition and erratic nature of the gambling world and the grounding reality of love.

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SOMERSET HOUSE SUMMER SERIES 2024 WITH AMERICAN EXPRESS

11 JULY- PIP MILLETT
12 JULY- SPECIAL GUEST
13 JULY- DBN GOGO
14 JULY- CORINNE BAILEY RAE PRESENTS BLACK RAINBOWS
15 JULY- SMINO
16 JULY- THE AMAZONS
17 JULY- HANIA RANI
18 JULY- THE BIG MOON
19 JULY- CORY HENRY
20 JULY- HAK BAKER
21 JULY- PATTI SMITH QUARTET

Somerset House Somerset House Summer Series with American Express returns with a new edition of electrifying shows in the spectacular central London courtyard. One of summer’s essential live music festivals, since its inception in 2003, Somerset House Summer Series with American Express has become a hallmark event for music lovers, serving as a launchpad for emerging acts and spotlighting some of the most influential industry leaders today.  Global artists across a diverse array of genres come to play in the revered live music space with an intimate yet vibrant festival atmosphere in the heart of London.

This year’s programme celebrates another trailblazing line-up, with empathic and disarming R&B rising star Pip Millett opening the series on Thursday, 11th July. Returning to Summer Series after an incredible show in 2022 supporting Ghetts, Millett’s easy-going magnetism makes every gig an intimate experience; her superpower is lyrics that perfectly describe shared highs and heartbreak lows that sound like a late-night conversation with a close friend. Her debut album When Everything is Better, I’ll Let You Know has been a pick for BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, 6Music, i-D, Mixmag and CRACK. There’s no better way to start Summer Series than a headline set from this compelling artist.

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The London Book Fair had its third and final day today, bringing the largest spring book trade and publishing event in the world to a close, with over 1,000 exhibitors and 30,000 attendees over the three days.

From publishers to authors, literary agents to booksellers, translators and VIPs, the last three days have seen representatives from the global book industry do business, share expertise, network and attend sessions covering key issues across the industry.

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The second day of The London Book Fair brought thousands of returning and new visitors for an exciting, packed programme of VIPs sharing insight from their careers as well as innovative cultural conversations about AI, audiobooks, representation in the book industry and much more.

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Birmingham Hippodrome is encouraging the public to help raise £20,000 to support its work with young people who face barriers to arts engagement and help develop their creative talent. The campaign will run for one week from midday on Tuesday 19 March to midday Tuesday 26 March.

The campaign is part of the Big Give Arts for Impact initiative through which any donations made will be doubled. Birmingham Hippodrome’s involvement in this campaign will help drive forward the Hippodrome’s ambition to become the most accessible venue of its scale in the UK.

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The largest Spring gathering of the international publishing industry assembled at Olympia on Tuesday 12th March, as The London Book Fair kicked off its first day. Thousands of exhibitors and visitors from the UK and around the world gathered to do business, share expertise, network, and attend sessions covering topics including platforming marginalised voices, sustainability, tips for writers, social media, and new global trends.

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Aardman Animations, the world-renowned studio behind beloved characters Wallace & Gromit, is set to enchant audiences with a special event at Nova Cinema on April 13th and 14th. Attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to delve into the captivating world of model-making through interactive sessions run by an expert model maker, who has worked on some of Aardman’s best-loved productions, alongside a delightful double bill featuring two iconic Wallace & Gromit adventures: The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave.

You’ll be able to get creative with clay and make the devious Feathers McGraw or supportive sidekick Gromit to take home with you!

This unique event promises an immersive experience for fans of all ages, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the meticulous craftsmanship that brings Wallace & Gromit to life. Participants will learn firsthand from Aardman’s skilled model-makers, gaining insights into the wonderful world of Aardman that has captivated audiences for decades.

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VAULT Creative Arts, the charity behind VAULT Festival, have announced the closure of VAULT Festival and the cancellation of plans for their new London home, after failing to secure the funding required to continue.

The organisation had secured a new long-term home for VAULT Festival and other year-round creative activity in SE1, central London which was due to open later this year. VAULT had been in developed conversations with multiple social investors alongside a blended fundraising strategy. Last week, the organisation learned that it had failed to secure the principal funding required to deliver their new home and future VAULT Festivals. This prevents VAULT from utilising the other additional funds being raised alongside the social investment and VAULT are therefore left without the reasonable prospect of sufficient funds to continue operating, nor the time to be able to seek alternative investment.

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Hanif Kureishi’s much loved screenplay is adapted masterfully for the stage in 2019. The story takes a life of its own with characters given more development in the way only theatre allows, with asides and fanciful monologues, that humanise the stuffy Pakistani patriarchs and skinheads alike.

Set in South London during the Thatcher years, the story is told through the eyes of a young mixed-race Pakistani, Omar, who is intent of making a success out of his uncle’s run-down launderette with old school friend and part-time fascist Johnny.

My Beautiful Launderette paints a complex picture and narrative of male masculinity and relationships which explore father-son relationships, brotherly love, friendship and queer love, competition between the ideal Pakistani man and the Westernised ethnic, and finally leadership and pack mentality. Power, love and freedom are main motivators in the play and the various variations of how these dynamics play out between different characters is what makes this story so irresistible to watch. Chemistry is palpable, especially between the main two protagonists Omar and Johnny played impeccably by Lucca Chadwick-Patel and Sam Mitchell.

Speaking of impeccable performances, Gordon Warnecke plays Papa beautifully which makes total sense when you find out that he played Omar Malik in the original film in 1985. You can read the interview with Warnecke with The Belgrade Theatre here. Warnecke’s comic timing especially deserves special mention along with his ability to be lovable even whenbeing a complete twat. Speaking of lovable twats, Paddy Daly’s depiction of Genghis, the Paki-hungry racist and political anarchist, is extraordinary. It is testament to what great actors can do with nuanced writing.

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