Autumn’s definitely here but the Royal Academy’s keeping that glow up with their Summer Exhibition running through winter. That’s just one of the highlights of the Weekend Scoop with theatre, dance, live music for families, storytelling and Black History Month events. Don’t forget to visit your local bookshop for Bookshop Day this Saturday, details below. Have a legendary weekend.
What To Do this Weekend + Black History Month with Kids
Thu-Sat: The Windsors: Endgame, The Prince of Wales Theatre, Coventry St, W1D 6AS (Piccadilly Circus tube)
LAST CHANCE: Harry Enfield reprises his role as Prince Charles from the popular C4 Show in this lively stage version. See Wills challenge his dad for the crown, with interference from Harry and Meghan, Camilla, Beatrice and Eugenie. Sword fights and snogging are all part of this right royal send-up. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 2.30pm (Thu & Sat); from Aug 12-Oct 9 shows at 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 2.30pm (Thu & Sat) & 3pm (Sun); from £13 (until Oct 9)
Thu-Sun: Summer Exhibition at Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London (Piccadilly Circus/Green Park tube)
It’s the world’s most joyful art exhibition bringing summer moods to the autumn season. Explore more than 1,300 works selected by Yinka Shonibare, from sculpture and architecture to prints, paintings, photography, film and more. Artists include Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Michael Armitage, Jade Montserrat, Hew Locke, Rita Keegan and Alvaro Barrington, self-taught artists Frantz Lamothe, Bärbel Lange and Marie-Rose Lortet and an Architecture Room curated by David Adjaye RA. Entries are open to anyone so you’ll find plenty of brand new names too. Summer Exhibition bar open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Exhibition 10am-6pm (The-Sun); £20-£22 – concs available (until Jan 2, 2022)
Thu-Sun: BFI London Film Festival, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
The festival kicked off on Wednesday with the premiere of Black western The Harder They Fall, directed by Londoner Jeymes Samuel and starring Idris Elba and Regina King. It rounds off on Oct 17 with The Tragedy of Macbeth featuring heavyweights Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. In between, there’s a wide range of big budget, indie and short films to discover, with this year’s festival hub at BFI Southbank & Royal Festival Hall, and event across town. Can’t make it live? Catch some on BFI Player at home. Various times/dates/prices and locations; some age restrictions apply for films (Oct 6-17)
Thu-Sun: Africa Writes, at the British Library and 180 The Strand and online
The UK’s largest celebration of contemporary African and diaspora literature returns, brought to you by the Royal African Society. This year it’s a mix of online and in-person events. Hear from 20 of the most influential and upcoming voices including activist and author Mona Eltahawy and British-Jamaican poet Raymond Antrobus. Younger ones can join in with Africa Writes Young Voices online festival (Oct 5-18) for creative writing workshops, talks, as well as stories and poems from anthology Happy Here, by ten Black British authors and illustrators. Contributors Patrice Lawrence (author) and Dorcas Magbadelo (illustrator) and former CBBC and Newsround presenter Leah Boleto will be online on Monday 11 October to answer questions about writing, drawing and storytelling (suitable for 11 years+). Various times and dates; buy tickets for online events and workshops at www.africawrites.org on a Pay What You Can model. Headline events and festival day passes for the British Library can be booked at www.bl.uk/events/africa-writes-2021 (Oct 4-24)
Thu-Sun: EGX, ExCel London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL (Canning Town tube/Custom House DLR)
Gamers and geeks at the ready. Visit the UK’s largest gaming convention and have a go at everything from brand new releases to vintage gaming e.g. pinball machines and the original Playstation. There’s a chance to meet creators, play in tournaments, try out the board game zone, hear live talks and more. Kids under 10 go FREE. Open 10am-6pm (Thu & Sun), 10am-8pm (Fri-Sat), schedule from 12pm daily ; day tickets £22 (11am entry)/afternoon tickets £15 (2pm entry)/early entry £24 (from 10am)/Super Pass £75 (4 day entry + perks) – booking fees apply (Oct 7-10)
Thu-Sun: ZooNation Presents: Message In A Bottle, Peacock Theatre, (Sadler’s Wells), Portugal Street, Holborn, WC2A 2HT (Holborn tube)
Kate Prince, the main woman behind dance company Zoo Nation (Some Like It Hip Hop, Into the Hoods) is back with the popular dance musical starring ZooNation dancers and the music of Sting. Don’t miss it this time around. 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 2.30pm (Sat), 2pm & 6pm (Sun), 4pm (Sun Oct 17); from £18 (Oct 7-17)
Thu-Sun: Spooktastic at Leadenhall Market, Whittington Avenue, EC3A 3DL (Monument tube)
Is it Halloween already? Leadenhall Market shows off its dark side in anticipation of the spooky season. Join a ‘Burials, Bombs and Fantastic Beasts’ walking tour (Wed evenings through October) or look out for the giant tentacles waiting to entrap you in the run-up to Halloween. There’s also a half term treasure hunt for families, courtesy of Flying Tiger. Market open daily 24 hours/walking tour 6.30pm-8pm; from £7 booked in advance (Oct 6-27)
Fri-Sat: We Three at Half Moon Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, E1 0ND (Limehouse DLR)
Once upon a time, it was just the two of them. Sunny days, flowers in bloom, birds chirping. Sometimes they had ups, sometimes they had downs, and then another one can along and there were three. Everything changed. This is a heartfelt production about friendship by award-winning theatre directors Sarah Argent and Kevin Lewis with Rosa Higgs, Lois Savill and Ellison Tan, students from Rose Bruford College’s MA Theatre for Young Audiences course. 10.30am & 1.30pm (Fri), 11am, 1pm & 3pm (Sat); £7 (Oct 8-9)
Fri-Sun: Dance Umbrella: Club Origami, London tour (multiple locations)
London’s international dance festival returns with one of the highlights being Takeshi Matsumoto’s Club Origami, a sensory show for young kids. Introduce your little one to dance, freedom of expression and visual delights. Families are encouraged to see what they can create with a single square of paper. Catch it at a number of London venues in October, starting this weekend at Stanley Arts (Oct 8), The Albany (Oct 9) and The Place (Oct 10), thenWaterman’s Arts Centre (17 October) and Arts Depot (24 October). Various times and prices, check individual venues for details. (Oct 8-24)
Sat: Bookshop Day, multiple locations nationwide
Saturday is Bookshop Day! It’s an annual nationwide celebration of all high street and independent bookshops and a wonderful way to champion booksellers and show some love to your favourite books. Shop at your local bookstore, buy a Books Are My Bag limited edition tote bag designed in collaboration with Dapo Adeola, pick up gifts, share your purchases online by tagging the bookshop and @BooksAreMyBag with hashtag #BookshopDay. Why not check out my new affiliate storefront on Bookshop.org where I’ll be curating more lists to get you in a reading mood. All day, FREE entry (Oct 9)
Sat: Adriano Adewale: Catapluf’s Musical Journey, Stonecutters Studio, The Fireworks Factory, 11 No. 1 Street, SE18 6HD (Woolwich Arsenal rail/DLR)
For Black History Month, Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Adriano Adewale presents a show packed with rhythms and tunes from everyday objects. Originally commissioned for the EFG London Jazz Festival, this toe-tapping production features samba, klezmer and roof-raising jazz aimed at families with kids ages 5+ (all ages welcome). 3pm; from £12.50/family £40 (Oct 9)
Sat: Nan Kids: Caribbean Family Tree & RRR’s Friendship Nucleus, Reel Rebel Music Studios, Stoke Newington N16 0AE (Stoke Newington overground)
Join a live studio recording with artists Alicia Graham and Piyagarn Odunukwe about their works in progress: ‘A Caribbean Family Tree’. Commissioned as public participation pieces by Nan Kids and Reel Rebels, their piece forms part of a discussion around family displacement, growing up with grandparents or other family members and how kinship care can extend beyond traditional family structures. You can participate live or via Zoom. If you are a Nan Kid or have experienced kinship care and would like to be on the panel, email: rebelmusic@reelrebelsradio.com. 3pm-5pm; live and online (you’ll receive your Zoom link after booking); FREE/suggested donation £2-£5 (Oct 9)
Sat-Sun: Classic Car Boot Sale, 1 Granary Square, off Goods Way , N1C 4AA (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Cool cats and London belles converge at the Classic Car Boot Sale. This popular mini festival for fashionistas, yummy street food, retro DJs and a vintage Routemaster bar. And of course, loads of classic cars to gaze at. Shop for prints, vinyl, collectibles, clothing and more. Excellent people watching for all ages. 10am-6pm; £5 adv, £6 day/under 12s FREE (Oct 9-10)
**NB: Please note that all event timings and prices are subject to change/cancellation at short notice, so always check ahead with the venue before making a trip!**
