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ART & CULTURE COMEDY FILM FOOD & DRINK MUSIC SHOPPING SMALL SCREEN THEATRE

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FREE EVERY MONDAY DECEMBER 17 2012 > JANUARY 01 2013

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WIN a 32in samsung tv | the hobbit | New year's eve guide

Brighten up your Christmas day Exclusive gifts and souvenirs at London Transport Museum shop, Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2 Shop opens daily or buy online

ltmuseumshop.co.uk

Background poster image: Brightest London is best reached by Underground

By Horace Taylor, 1924

Regulars

4 Scouted Secret Cash Machines, Last Chance London and much more

8 Talent Scout Comedian and presenter Mel Giedroyc takes us through her favourite London hotspots

Sections 19 22 29 30 35 38 42 44 54 62

London Food & Drink Shopping Art & Culture Comedy Film Small Screen Music Theatre Competitions

Cover Story

THE BIG PICTURE: Jonathan Brady, PA Wire

10 The best of 2012 It’s been a momentous year for London, but which cultural events will define it for years to come?

The Big Picture

Oh Christmas Tree The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree, brightening the capital since 1947

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Old ads get a new lease of life See the old adverts clinging to the walls of abandoned Tube tunnel

A

bandoned Tube stations punctuate the network of tunnels that run beneath our city. Some have been left almost exactly as they were when the final passengers stepped off and climbed the escalators for the last time, several decades ago.

Photographer Andrew Stanney was granted access to a section of Euston station that closed in the 1960s, for a photographic project on the faded and peeling advertising posters that still cling to the walls.

Epitomising the worn beauty of the station itself, the posters often tear and overlap with one another, creating collages of bygone consumerism that add to the nostalgic allure of the time capsule station.

A selection of Stanney’s images, taken using a Hasselblad camera, are on display now, giving Londoners chance to see the forgotten world beneath their feet.

To February 28, Bird & Ballard gallery café, 84-86 Great Eastern Street, redgallerylondon.com

//Secret Cash/////////////////// Machines of London///////// OXFORD STREET /////////////////

Underground photography The closed section of Euston station, in which the old ads were photographed

Oxford Street is a nightmare at the best of times, but the festive season makes it even worse. If you find yourself needing cash, dash into Marks & Spencer – the Pantheon location – and head straight to the back of the shop.

Best of all, this ATM is also accessible via Great Marlborough Street.

Do you know a secret cash machine? Let us know on Twitter @ScoutLondon #secretcashmachines

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last chance

Merry Christmas from Scout!

Welcome to our bumper edition, packed full of events that will take you all the way into the new year. We’ll be back on January 7 with a magazine loaded with cool ideas to keep you busy in

London through the dark winter months. You’ll be having a great time quicker than you can say “the January blues”.

Until then, it just remains to say thanks to all of our

readers and advertisers who have supported us through our inaugural year.

Have a great Christmas break. See you in 2013.

The Scout London team

LONDON The Changeling Young Vic Closes Sat Dec 22 Forever Crazy Southbank Centre Closes Mon Dec 24 Jim Marshall: Rolling Stones 1972 Snap Galleries Closes Mon Dec 31 Mydidae Soho Theatre Closes Sat Dec 22 Straight Bush Theatre Closes Sat Dec 22 Su Blackwell: Stories from the Enchanted Forest Long & Ryle Closes Sat Dec 22

GUY SCHMIDT

Ever find yourself watching with envy as children enjoy all the seasonal fun and games? Forget carol services and markets, you want to be playing in snow ball pits and sitting on Santa’s knee. Well

Festive tunes Better than a carol concert, anyday

sulk no more, because the Book Club in Shoreditch is hosting an event that is right up your street.

Be Ready’s Nativity Playpen on December 21 is designed for big kids who don’t want to grow up. There’ll be numerous party games, including a mince pie eating contest, Christmas tree decorating, a massive snow ball pit and the chance to visit Santa in his ghetto (for the naughty as well as the nice).

There’ll also be mistletoe speed dating (whatever that is), and elf-frightening bass sounds from a crammed roster of DJs – because, as much as you might enjoy being a kid, Away In A Manger just ain’t got a decent drop.

Be Ready’s Nativity Playpen, The Book Club, December 21, £5, wearetbc.com

The Trojan Women Gate Theatre Closes Wed Dec 19

better start preparing Christmas dinner

dumb.me.uk

You’re never too old to sit on Santa’s knee

Sweet Smell of Success Arcola Theatre Closes Sat Dec 22

don’t underestimate my boredom scoutlondon.com Scout London

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JULIEN COTTEREAU

Southbank Centre presents

Imagine Toi

Until Monday 24 December A world of pure imagination and wonder with this former star clown from Cirque du Soleil, who will have the whole family in stitches.

For ages 4+

‘Subtle, poetic, extremely funny... a delightful family show’.  (The Sunday Telegraph, Sydney)

Until 7 january

©

SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW

‘The next Chaplin, even the next Mr Bean' (The Sunday Times)

V. V ial &A . Lo pez

Until Monday 7 January

CLOUD MAN

After its sell-out season last year, the global theatrical hit returns to the Royal Festival Hall.

Saturday 22 December – Sunday 6 January

This Christmas, you have another chance to experience this joyous dream-like world which will touch both your heart and funnybone, culminating in a breathtaking blizzard leaving you literally knee-deep in snow!

Come on a magical puppet adventure to Cloud Mountain for a rare glimpse of the elusive Cloud Man. You are bound to see something very special indeed.

For ages 8+

‘A magical work of wonder.’  (London Evening Standard)

For ages 4 – 7

A vintage new year’s Monday 31 December eve party This year’s party sees Royal Festival Hall transformed into pop-up nightclubs and bars. While DJs and live bands will be playing music from every decade of the 20th century, you can learn the Jive, the Foxtrot or the Stroll. Give one final hurrah for 2012 and enjoy London’s iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks away from the crowds. And don’t forget to dress glamorous!

‘A joy to behold.’ (Glasgow Herald)

MARKETS

Southbank Centre Christmas Market

Until 24 December

Wooden chalets filled with festive food, drinks, gifts and treats run along the twinkling riverside. Enjoy mulled wine, bratwurst and gingerbread whilst taking in the sights and sounds of London at Christmas time.

Real Food Christmas Market

20 – 23 December

Try and buy mince pies, mulled wine, cheeses, chutneys, charcuterie and all manner of festive bites, ingredients and gifts.

nd er e st emb u M ec D 0 3

Little Match Girl The award-winning sizzling new show!

‘Simply electric’ ★★★★★

(Time Out, Sydney)

‘Witness the birth of a new star’ ★★★★★(The Times) Dress by Harvey B-Brown © Magnus Hastings

tickets 0844 847 9910 Southbankcentre.co.uk/winter

Mel Giedroyc Comedian

Let’s go for a drink – Scout’s buying. Where shall we go?

The Uxbridge Arms in Notting Hill.

It has an old-school feel to it. I can imagine Christine Keeler and John Profumo popping in there for an illicit gin and tonic in the 60s.

Scout London Cover Stars 0021

Holly Wren, 29 Portrait Photographer, Clapham

the Serpentine, and just the central London-ness of it. It always restores my faith in the city.

Any favourite cultural spots?

The British Museum. I will never tire of those mummified cats. I find the whole place enthralling and calming in equal measure.

Tell us about a great cultural experience you’ve had recently?

I love a good old-fashioned West End theatre with tippy-up red velvet seats and gorgeous stucco ceilings. I saw Top Hat at the Novello recently. It made me glad to be alive.

Sounds lovely. Now, how about a bite to eat?

Sakoni’s, Ealing Road, Wembley.

The best curry in the world. Strip lighting, plastic cups, £8 for an allyou-can-eat buffet. An Indian friend introduced me to it. It’s the real deal.

What’s your secret London tip for Londoners?

The Polish Hearth Club (Ognisko) on Exhibition Road, South Kensington. Dine beneath an oil painting of Rula Lenska, with high ceilings and faded grandeur a-go-go. I’ve had some of the most memorable nights of my life here.

Where do you go to relax?

Hyde Park. The kids love the Diana Memorial playground. We all love

Cinderella, The Lyric, Hammersmith, until January 5, lyric.co.uk

What in London inspires you?

The people! The people are what make London what it is. That has become especially apparent this year with the Jubilee and Olympics.

Favourite part of London?

The South Bank. It’s such an everchanging environment and they have events and street performers – it’s a photographer’s dream.

Any London secrets to share?

I couldn’t tell you… OK, go on then.

My Favourite Thai is The Pepper Tree next to Clapham Common tube – great authentic food and very affordable.

How important is London in your work?

It’s the most important thing!

Where else in the world would I find such a variety of people and faces to photograph?

What’s next for you?

I will be busy working with some amazing entrepreneurs, businesses and performers, creating portraits that help support and sell their brand. Plus I am challenging myself with a year-long photo blog called 52 Weeks in Ink, so check out my Facebook page to keep up to date with the latest!

See more at: hollywren.com

Hey there, are you a talented creative? Fancy decorating the Scout London logo that appears on our cover each week?

We welcome London-based artists, designers, illustrators, photographers. Get in touch: talent@scoutlondon.com 8

Scout London scoutlondon.com

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You might not recognise her in the panto get-up, but this is Great British Bake Off presenter Mel Giedroyc, who’s currently playing the ‘boo, hiss’ part in the Lyric’s production of Cinderella. As well as her comedy partnership with Sue Perkins, the 44-year-old has appeared in a variety of TV shows including Gimme Gimme Gimme and The Vicar of Dibley.

E ST AR AN LY DA BI RD R D £2 £1 0 6

proudly presents

FANFARE CIOCARLIA The Titans of Gypsy Brass

20 JANUARY 2013 Balkan After Party with XFM’s John Kennedy + special guest DJs

Kick-start 2013 with a raucous live show from the world’s best Gypsy brass band returning for their first solo show since 2008.

‘An exhilarating wall of sound’ The Guardian

‘A Gypsy music phenomenon’ The Independent

‘Fanfare must be the best live band in the world’ Evening Standard

asphalt-tango.de fanfare-ciocarlia.coM junction2music.com

Early bird £16 | Standard £20 • Buy your ticket online ticketweb.co.uk 08444 771 000 (booking fee may apply) or Scala box office between 10am and 6pm Mon-Fri • Scala, 275 Pentonville Road, Kings Cross, London N1 9NL • Over 16s only Doors open 7pm • Fanfare Ciocarlia on stage 8pm • After party 10pm

2012 was a big one – an annus eximius for London, packed with incredible artistic highlights and landmark occasions. But what cultural trends and events will the year be most remembered for? Here’s our pick of what will define 2012 in the capital for decades to come

10 Scout London scoutlondon.com

restaurant monomania

the silencing of springsteen & mcCartney (and a difficult summer for live music in hyde park)

Chicken lickin’ good Poultry delights from Wishbone

What on earth is ‘restaurant monomania’? you ask. Well, that’s what we’re calling London’s burgeoning obsession with restaurants that specialise in cooking just one dish, and (hopefully) doing it well. The burger craze that has been sweeping through London for a couple of years could be seen as the start of it, and the huge growth in high-profile street food vendors over the past year or so has also played its part. One way or another, in 2012 small menus

have been big news.

Of course, you want examples.

How about Highgate’s Chicken Shop? Or Brixton’s own fancy chicken emporium, Wishbone?

Or Bubbledogs in Fitzrovia, which serves only hot dogs and Champagne? And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. With the rapid expansion of Burger & Lobster and the success of Mark Hix’s Tramshed, which gives diners the option of either steak or chicken, maybe duomania is on the cards for 2013.

WPA POOL, GETTY / thomas bowles / Giovanni Canitano, Rex Features

the opening of tate modern’s tanks

Tank you very much The new spaces at Tate Modern

In other countries it might have caused a riot: two of the world’s greatest rock legends, performing together for the first time ever, suddenly silenced mid-song for breaking their curfew. Hyde Park concert organisers Live Nation have long had to endure tough restrictions imposed on them because of the complaints of local residents. And this time, those restrictions got the better of two of rock’s greatest living legends.

It was an embarrassing event that saw the UK mocked around the world and seemed to epitomise the triumph of bureaucracy over fun in British society.

Unfortunately, the park’s negative press didn’t end there – how many times did you hear someone grumbling about the barely-audible volume at the Blur concert? Enough to be glad

you didn’t fork out the £60 to be there, probably.

Alongside weather that turned the place into a mud bath for many events, the various council restrictions conspired to make it one of the most disappointing summers in Hyde Park’s live music history. On the back of it, Live Nation withdrew as promoters of the space (you can hardly blame them), and AEG Live stepped in, promising to “reinvigorate the venue”, albeit with a raft of new restrictions from the council – fewer concerts per year, to smaller crowds.

It could prove to be a watershed year for live music in the park. And however AEG navigates its way through the bureaucracy, one thing is for sure: it’s unlikely either McCartney or Springsteen will be back soon.

Now shake it up... Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen were cut-off mid-song

In any other summer, the opening of these new exhibition spaces would have received considerably more column inches. But, coming in July, in the midst of Olympic preparation and anticipation, the significance of Tate Modern’s Tanks ended up getting rather lost in the furore.

Not only are the subterranean spaces the first stage in a huge development for the gallery complex – the second mostvisited tourist attraction in the UK; they are also the world’s first permanent exhibition spaces for

both performance and film art.

Designed by internationallyacclaimed architects Herzog & de Meuron (famous for their Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing), the Tanks are housed in the cavernous former oil drums that once stored fuel for the old Bankside Power Station – which closed in 1981 and was converted into Tate Modern in 2000.

Regardless of the attention they have thus far drawn, the Tanks’ presence will be having a major impact on global art for many years to come. scoutlondon.com Scout London 11

It is not, by any stretch of the imagination, the year’s best new piece of theatre. However, we’re prepared to stick our necks on the line and say that this new musical, based around the songs of The Spice Girls, could prove to be one of the most significant openings of the year.

It’s the work of Mamma Mia! producer Judy Craymer, whose reimagining of the Abba back catalogue has been seen by 42m people worldwide and brought in serious money, money, money.

The question is: can she repeat

the success with the music of the Spice Girls? Scout was at an early performance, where, if the whooping and aisle-dancing of various groups of 30-something girls was anything to go by, there was definite potential for another hit – it has already taken £4m in advance bookings.

The critics might have hated it (and, truth be told, we can see why), but that’s unlikely to deter Spice Girls fans from turning Viva Forever! into one of the biggest shows in the West End, and potentially the world.

Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Wannabe Hannah John-Kamen in Viva Forever, based on the music of The Spice Girls

bbc radio 1 hackney weekend

the rise of ceviche

Peru-sing the menu South American ceviche is one of 2012’s biggest food trends

Arriving on London’s restaurant scene in early 2012, Martin Morale’s Soho venture, Ceviche – named after the citrusy raw fish dish that is the staple of its menu – was our city’s first highprofile Peruvian restaurant. And it certainly won’t be the last.

Morale’s venture has been so successful that a second branch is about to open in Shoreditch.

More significantly, it has sparked one of the year’s biggest food trends: an explosion in the popularity of South American

food. Peruvian-inspired popups and restaurants are now appearing all over the city, with Lima in Fitzrovia and Snr. Ceviche near Ladbroke Grove being fine examples. What’s more, even gastropubs are getting in on the action, with many hurriedly adding the fish, potato and corn dish to their menus.

Like Thai curries or sushi yonks ago, ceviche is breaking out of the ‘exotic’ mould and edging its way into our city’s everyday food culture.

Talk about a line-up! The BBC team that booked all the acts at this free two-day event deserves some kind of medal – a gold one, in fact. It’s hard to know where to begin, such was the star power on a bill that read like a roll call of the world’s biggest-selling artists: Jay-Z (who brought on Kanye West and MIA as a surprise), Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Florence + the Machine, Jack White and soooo many more.

But the significance wasn’t just in the A-list arsenal of its line-up; it was that this incredible gathering was in Hackney – one of the most deprived areas of the city, where less than a year

earlier there had been rioting in the streets. Yet here was a convergence of some of the most successful entertainers in the world, lending the borough a touch of glitz and glamour that would have seemed very unlikely a mere 10 months earlier.

And more still, it was that the event was totally free, with the majority of tickets reserved for local residents. Like many other wonderful aspects of 2012, the Hackney Weekend was for the people – an egalitarian celebration of music and culture on the eve of a sporting event that many feared would be anything but.

Pop of the world Rihanna headlining the second day of the Hackney Weekend in June

12 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Neil Lupin, getty / Paul Winch-Furness / Geraint Lewis, Alex Segre, c.Col Pics/Everett, Rex Features

viva forever!

mark rylance’s return to the globe

The performance of the year Mark Rylance on stage as Richard III

the battle of the blockbuster exhibitions

There were many great theatrical events of 2012; many deeply affecting performances and many wonderful new plays. But perhaps the biggest must-see of all was Mark Rylance on stage at the Globe – back for the first time since the end of his tenure as artistic director in 2005.

Many single the 52-year-old out as the greatest stage actor of his generation, and we’re sure many others would happily go the whole hog and call him the world’s greatest living actor.

Either way, seeing him on stage is an unforgettable experience, and never more so than in a venue that he helped to define from its

skyfall

Art with bite Damien Hirst’s was one of the blockbuster exhibitions in 2012

A very British Bond Daniel Craig in Skyfall

The spring of 2012 won’t be remembered just for one major exhibition, but for five that all happened at once. Being the Olympic year, many institutions quite understandably wanted to pull out the big guns. But even taking that on board, there’s something quite remarkable about major exhibitions of Hockney, Hirst, Picasso, Turner and Freud all going head-to-head in one season.

More than 150 of David Hockney’s works were on display at the Royal Academy; Tate Modern was hosting Damien Hirst’s first UK retrospective, featuring some of his most famous works, including his formaldehyde-preserved shark

Most people who have seen Skyfall (and, let’s face it, that’s nearly all of you) will know what we mean when we say that it wasn’t just any Bond film.

Coinciding with the franchise’s 50th anniversary, it was the pitch-perfect film that the series so desperately needed, and at precisely the right time. After a couple of so-so attempts at Bourne-esque grittiness and, before that, years of camp pageantry and gadgetry that grew more irritatingly preposterous with every episode, Sam Mendes’s welcome overhaul was the first Bond in decades to find precisely the right balance between old and new.

But, more than that, it was

and diamond-encrusted skull; Tate Britain was exhibiting 60 pieces by Picasso; one of Britain’s greatest ever painters, JMW Turner, was the subject of an exhibition at the National Gallery; and more than 100 of Lucian Freud’s paintings were hanging at the National Portrait Gallery.

Any one of those exhibitions could have featured in a ‘cultural highlights of 2012’ list. But all of them coming at once was one of those rare convergences that could only happen in a handful of cities around the globe (if that), creating the kind of wonderful weekend dilemmas that remind you why you choose to live in one of the world’s leading capitals of culture.

inception, doing what he does best: Shakespeare.

As well as reprising his role as Olivia in the acclaimed all-male production of Twelfth Night that played during his time as artistic director, Rylance also took on Richard III, one of the Bard’s most devilish villains. And it’s for this part that he has attracted most praise, bringing uncharacteristic vulnerability to the role, which he is still playing in the West End. As with his turn as Johnny ‘Rooster’ Byron in Jerusalem (2009-2011), Rylance’s Richard is a performance that people will be talking about for many years to come.

also the film that brought Bond back to London – hence its inclusion in this list. Sure, most Bonds charm their way through the capital at some point or another. But this was the first chapter in many years to really place London front-and-centre.

No doubt this was appropriate in the franchise’s 50th year; but even more so in London’s Olympic year. Just as the world’s attention turned to the capital, so too did that of its most famous fictional protector.

With its singularly British tone and firm domestic anchoring, Skyfall became one of the major players in the rousing patriotic romance that played out through London (and the UK) in 2012. scoutlondon.com Scout London 13

Image: Wellcome Library, London

Open until 14 April 2013 Book tickets at www.museumoflondon.org.uk/dissection or on 020 7001 9844 An online booking fee and timed entry apply. Due to its subject matter, Doctors, Dissection and Resurrection Men is not recommended for children under 12.

Media partner

Barbican, St Paul’s, Moorgate

the diamond jubilee

No messing-a-boat The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant

In any other year, the Diamond Jubilee might have been number one on this list. But 2012 was no ordinary year, and there can be no denying that celebrations around the Queen’s 60th year on the throne ended up being overshadowed by what came later in the summer. For many, the weekend also proved somewhat underwhelming. The river pageant was, typically, a right royal washout; the BBC’s coverage was similarly damp; and it was left to a troupe of predictable pop stars to provide the gloss.

But let’s not write it off completely. For one thing, it lit the patriotic fuse for what was to explode during the Olympics. And with it came multiple displays of endearingly British resolve and fortitude. It’s hardly the ‘Blitz spirit’, but there was plenty of keeping calm and carrying

on among the drenched 1.5m spectators who lined the banks of the river for the flotilla, cheering and waving Union Jacks from beneath brollies and hoods. What could be more British?

And what of the people actually on the boats – rowing on through the downpour? Six of them had to be taken to hospital with symptoms of hypothermia.

And who can forget that footage of the choir, all soaked to the bone as their boat passed through Tower Bridge, yet still able to summon smiles and a defiant rendition of Land of Hope and Glory that made you want to run out into the rain in solidarity?

Sure, the Jubilee wasn’t the event of the year. But it was certainly memorable, not least as a tribute to British endurance, and a tangible display of a vague idea: the ‘national spirit’.

The London 2012 Festival was the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad and became pretty much an umbrella banner for nearly every cultural event in the UK over the summer. And what a spread it was.

Like the entire Cultural Olympiad, it was about using the summer Games as an opportunity to celebrate and advance our arts and culture, alongside our sport.

And, as is always the challenge in the arts, to broaden their appeal.

In that regard, it appears to have been a major triumph.

Around 20m people attended one of the 13,000 performances or events in the festival. And, off the back of it all, around 10m people have been “inspired to take part in more cultural activities in the future”. If even a fraction of those follow-through, it will be a remarkable legacy for the festival.

From a purely London point of view, the festival was an intoxicating experience; one which showered the city with an implacable impulse to engage culturally. There was so much happening – not just in the galleries and concert halls, but in the parks and streets – that you felt obliged to get involved.

There was free music all over the city, as well as a dizzying array of dance, theatre, art and so much more. Piccadilly Circus became a real circus for a day in September.

And a team of daredevil dancers spent a day in July performing stomach-clenching routines while dangling from high London landmarks.

Anyone who witnessed these and many of the other events will likely remember them for the rest of their days. But, more potently, they might also be inspired by them.

Chris Jackson, GETTY / Dominic Lipinski, PA Wire, Press Association Images

london 2012 festival

City fall Daredevil dancers abseil down City Hall as part of London 2012 Festival

scoutlondon.com Scout London 15

the olympics opening ceremony

Isles of Wonder One of many explosive moments in Danny Boyle’s Opening Ceremony

16 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Cameron Spencer, GETTY / AP, Press Association Images / Canadian Press, Rex Features

Taking flight Winged cyclists at the Olympics Opening Ceremony

And so we come to the number one slot: Danny Boyle’s sublime Opening Ceremony. It might be a predictable choice, but there’s no getting away from the fact that it was one of the most ambitious, immaculatelyrealised and memorable cultural events in recent British history.

It is, without question, the most significant cultural occasion of the year, and may well prove to hold a similar title across the entire decade.

First off, it represented both an important beginning and end. It was the beginning of the Games that will, in a broader sense, define 2012 in London forever more; of six heady weeks of cheers, tears and truly unfamiliar levels of patriotism; of Mo, Jess, Bradley, Chris and all the other stars who had us screaming at our televisions like never before. And it was an end to the cynicism. Few nations are as adept at expecting the worst as the British, and many of us truly excelled at this in the build-up to the Olympics. But despite all the hand-wringing and last minute panics, it was a triumphant success – and realisation of this began with Boyle, whose vast survey of Britishness had even the hardest cynics chowing down

on their previous misgivings with gusto.

There were so many wonderful moments – Bond and the Queen leaping from a helicopter, Mr Bean sending up Chariots of Fire, a giant Voldemort billowing out of the ground only to be seen off by a fleet of Mary Poppinses, the industrial revolution, the NHS, the lighting of the rings. And yet, it was far more than the sum of its parts. As marvellous as all the individual moments were, they were inextricable elements of a far more powerful collective spectacle; one that was intrinsically about unity and inclusivity – about all of us in the UK, who we are and how we got here.

It was a truly original Opening Ceremony, which dared to weave an enormous narrative through itself, taking viewers on a journey through fact, fiction, culture and politics, and reminding us at every turn of the collective identity that we so often allow to drift and dull: that we are all Brits, and that these remarkable achievements belong to all of us.

Moments where you feel emboldened enough to say you are “truly proud to be British” don’t come around too often. But they did this summer, and on this night in particular. scoutlondon.com Scout London 17

SENBLA PRESENTS

THE NORDOFF ROBBINS

Ultimate Christmas Cracker F E A T U R I N G

CUTTING CREW I T’PAU NIK KERSHAW I LINDA LEWIS OWEN PAUL I MARK SHAW & SCOTT TAYLOR of THEN JERICO CHERYL BAKER , MIKE NOLAN & JAY ASTON formerly of BUCKS FIZZ

PLUS SUPPORT JOHN YOUNG BAND

WEDNESDAY 30TH JANUARY ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL

NAIL ON THE HEAD tour 2013

PERFORMING ALL THEIR HITS AND CLASSIC CHRISTMAS SONGS ALL NIGHT! HOSTED

BY

GRAHAM

+ VIRGIL

DENE

AND THE ACCELERATORS

TUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY

TUE 18 DEC THE CLAPHAM GRAND D O O R S 7 P M . 2 1 - 2 5 S T J O H N ' S H I L L . L O N D O N . S W 11 1 T T

R O C K

NORWICH THE WATERFRONT

Proceeds from this show go to Nordoff Robbins Charity

WEDNESDAY 27 FEBRUARY

LONDON ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL

ANTHONY DAVID

S U P E R G R O U P

SNAKECHARMER FEATURING

MICKY MOODY

NEIL MURRAY (Whitesnake)

(Wishbone Ash, Tina Turner)

HARRY JAMES

CHRIS OUSEY

ADAM WAKEMAN

(Whitesnake)

(Thunder, Magnum)

(Heartland)

LAURIE WISEFIELD

FEATU RING NEW ALBUM

Love Out Loud

(Ozzy Osbourne)

THURSDAY 14 MARCH

S AT 23 RD FEB

ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL

N11 N,, N ON DO ND ON D UPPPPEERR SSTTRREEEETT,, LLO M,, U ORRSS 77PPM OO DO

Plus support support MOTHERLODE MOTHERLODE Plus

ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL DOORS 7PM, 7PM, UPPER UPPER STREET, STREET, LONDON, LONDON, N1 N1 DOORS

F R I DAY 1 5 T H F E B R U A R Y

ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL

THE

LEGENDARY REGGAE GROUP

MICHAEL NYMAN BAND

CULTURE

featuring the great composers most renowned works live in concert

+ DJ SNOWBOY ( MEET ME AT THE GO-GO) + DJ CHRIS PHILIPS ( JAZZ FM )

FRI 15 & SAT 16 MARCH 2013

ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL

TUESDAY 26th MARCH ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL DOORS 7PM, UPPER ST, LONDON, N1

‘LOVE OUT LOUD’ AVAILA BLE NOW

FRIDAY 22 MARCH ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL DOORS 7PM, UPPER ST, LONDON, N1

WED 27 MARCH ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL

BELVEDERE RD. LONDON. SE1. SOUTHBANKCENTRE.CO.UK

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New year 2013: The night before Want to end 2012 with a bang at the fireworks? Or see-in 2013 at the new year’s parade? Here’s what you need to know about the big events When you watch the news footage of New Year’s Eve fireworks displays around the world, London’s is always one of the most impressive. Seeing it in the flesh is far more exciting than on a flatscreen TV, but such an experience comes at a cost.

More than 250,000 people are expected to line the Thames, making it a very crowded experience. The best spots – by the London Eye, Westminster Bridge and Waterloo Bridge – fill up three hours before it starts, so getting in early, with plenty of warm clothing is a must. There’s also little point in arriving after 10.30pm, as all areas will likely be full.

This year there will be DJ sets from 10pm until the display, and then after the display until 12.45am, meaning there’s the chance to have a dance about if you need to get warm.

Some Tube stations may be closed for safety reasons, so check tfl.gov.uk before heading out to make sure you can get to where you want to be.

Dan Kitwood, getty

The morning after If you thought the crowds at the fireworks display were impressive, consider the half a million expected to be at the New Year’s Day Parade.

Running from Picadilly at 11.45am through Pall Mall to Parliament Street, more than 10,000 performers representing 20 countries will take part.

Expect clowns acrobats, floats, Chinese dragons and much more. It’s a great way to blow away the cobwebs from the previous night’s excesses.

Brass monkeys Defy the cold to watch the parade

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ONGOING

World Wars, 1905-1947 at National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, SW3 4HT Sloane Square Mon-Sun 10am-5.30pm, closed Dec 24-26, Jan 1, ongoing, FREE. Interactive installations and archive film footage.

Monday December 17

Walking With Dinosaurs – The Arena Spactacular Starts Dec 26, ends Jan 6 2013, The 02, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX North Greenwich £29-£49, Dec 2629, Jan 2-5, 7pm, mats Dec 28 & 29, Jan 5 & 6, 11am, Dec 28-30, Jan 4-6, 3pm.

Stage production of the award-winning BBC TV series.

The Mary Katrantzou Christmas Tree at Design Museum, Shad Thames, SE1 2YD London Bridge Mon-Sun 10am-5.45pm, closed Dec 25 & 26, £8, NUS £5.50, concs £7. The fashion designer’s festive contribution to the Design Museum. Until Jan 9.

Alfies Antique Market at Alfies Antique Market, Church Street, NW8 8DT Marylebone Tue-Sat 10am-6pm, closed Dec 25, FREE. Indoor market for antiques and other collectibles.

Carol Singing In Trafalgar Square at Trafalgar Square, WC2 5DS Charing Cross Mon-Sun 5pm-9pm, ends Dec 23, FREE, donations welcome.

Groups perform festive songs to raise funds for voluntary or charitable organisations.

Until Dec 23.

The Christmas Pop-Up at Artisan80, 80 Harlesden Road, NW10 2BE Dollis Hill Tue-Sat 11am-5pm, FREE. Festive stalls and gift ideas. Until Dec 22. 23, 10.30am1.30pm, 2.30pm-4.30pm, 5.30pm8.30pm, £59, family £188, under 18 months FREE. Boys and girls enjoy fun activities like decorating a gingerbread man before meeting Santa in his grotto. Until Dec 24.

The Living Nativity at ZSL London Zoo, Regent’s Park Outer Circle, NW1 4RY Camden Town (15min walk) MonWed phone for times, £12.75, child £7, adv booking required, phone for times. Meet the Wise Men and their camels, see Mary in the stable and talk to the Shepherds. Until Dec 19.

Meet Santa In His Reindeer Lodge at ZSL London Zoo, Regent’s Park Outer Circle, NW1 4RY Camden Town (15min walk) From Nov 17, Mon-Sun, phone for times, ends Dec 24, child £7, under 3s £5 plus admission prices. Visit the grotto in the reindeer herd’s home and receive a gift.

Until Dec 24.

Natural History Museum Ice Rink at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington Mon-Wed, Sun 10am-10pm, Thu-Sat 10am-11pm, Dec 24, 9am-10pm, Dec

Leyshon Brothers Bonded Warehouse at Secret Location London Bridge £10 book at leyshonbrothers.com, 6.30pm. A rowdy 19th century-style knees-up in a meticulously designed Victorian pub and music hall in the dark and dank tunnels beneath London Bridge station. Dec 1922, Dec 31.

26, 11am-10pm, Dec 31, 9am-1pm, Jan 1, 10am-10pm, closed Dec 25, £11.50 & £13.50, child £8 & £9, family £31 & £36.

Young and old take to 950-square metres of ice against the dramatic backdrop of the world renowned museum. Until Jan 6.

Real Food Christmas Market at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Waterloo Dec 20-22, 12noon8pm, Dec 23, 12noon-6pm, FREE. Fresh festive fare including mince pies, mulled wine, cheeses, chutneys and charcuterie.

Until Dec 23.

Skate At Somerset House at Somerset House, The Strand, WC2R 1LA Temple Mon-Sun 10am-10.15pm, closed Dec 25 , £8.50-£15, Jan 3 & 4 NUS £8.50. Ice rink in the atmospheric central courtyard.

Theatre Quiz at National Theatre: Olivier, South Bank, SE1 9PX Waterloo £4, concs £3, 6pm.

Emma Freud (pictured) hosts the annual battle of trivia and wit between two NT companies.

Transport for London travel update No London Underground, DLR, London Overground or Tramlink services will operate on Christmas Day Central line No service Hainault to Woodford and North Acton to Ealing Broadway Wed Dec 26.

Circle line Service suspended Thurs Dec 27-Sun Dec 30.

District line No service Earl’s Court to Kensington (Olympia) Wed Dec 26-Tue Jan 1.

No service Edgware Road to Wimbledon Thurs Dec 27-Sun Dec 30.

No service Hammersmith to South Kensington Thurs Dec 27-Sun Dec 30.

No service West Kensington to Acton Town and Richmond Sat Jan 5-Sun Jan 6.

Jubilee line No service West Hampstead to Stanmore Sat Jan 5-Sun Jan 6.

Metropolitain line No service Aldgate to Harrow-on-the-Hill Sat Jan 5-Sun Jan 6.

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Northern line No service Charing Cross to East Finchley and Edgware; Kennington (City branch) to East Finchley and Edgware; and Finchley Central to Mill Hill East Wed Dec 26.

No service Kennington to Edgware via Bank Thurs Dec 27-Sun Dec 30.

Picadilly line No service Hammersmith to Acton Town and Ealing Common; Rayners Lane to Uxbridge Sat Jan 5-Sun Jan 6.

Ealing Common to Rayners Lane: Trains will operate every 20 minutes Sat Jan 5-Sun Jan 6.

Waterloo & City line Service suspended Wed Dec 26 and Tues Jan 1.

Docklands Light Railway No service Bank to Shadwell on Sat Dec 22. No service Bank to Shadwell and Canning Town to Beckton on Sun Dec 23 & Mon Dec 24.

No service Bank to Shadwell and Canning Town to Beckton Wed Dec 26-Tue Dec 1.

London Overground Service suspended Wed Dec 26.

For the latest information visit tfl.gov.uk

Coffee House Poetry: Lost! at The Troubadour, 263-267 Old Brompton Road, SW5 9JA Earl’s Court £7, concs £6, 8pm-12midnight. Poetry readings on the theme of Lost, music and a quiz.

Conservation In Action: Ship Of War Gallery at National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, SE10 9NF Cutty Sark FREE, 10am-4pm. View the conservation team at work.

Good Day Today Book Launch: Daniel Neofetou On David Lynch, Luke Dean & Th11d: Talk at Cafe Oto, 18-22 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL Dalston Kingsland £4, 8pm, doors. Author Neofetou discusses his book with a question and answer session and performances by members of music collective Ostrich Box. Historical Tours at Wilton’s Music Hall, 1 Graces Alley, off Ensign Street, E1 8JB Aldgate East £6, 6pm. A look at the history and previous uses of the building.

The Enchanted Christmas House (Under 8s) at The Enchanted Christmas House, Britannia Row, N1 8PA Essex Road Dec 19-21, 24, 10.30am-1.30pm & 2.30pm-5.30pm, Dec 17 & 18, 10.30am1.30pm & 4.30pm-7.30pm, Dec 22 & 23, 10.30am-1.30pm, 2.30pm-4.30pm, 5.30pm-8.30pm, £59, family £188, under 18 months FREE. Boys and girls enjoy fun activities like decorating a gingerbread man before meeting Santa in his grotto. Until Dec 24.

The Voice Of The BBC: 90 Years Of Public Broadcasting at Science Museum, Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD South Kensington Mon-Sun 10am6pm, closed Dec 24-26, ends May 14, FREE. A look at early radio broadcasts. Until May 14.

Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park, W2 2UH Hyde Park Corner Mon-Sun 10am-10pm, closed Dec 25, FREE, ride prices vary. A yuletide market, Santa’s factory and various rides including a double-decker carousel, star flyer and three rollercoasters. Until Jan 6.

Jean Francois Leleu, Riesener’s Rival: Talk at Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, W1U 3BN Bond Street FREE, 1pm-2pm. With Christylle Phillips.

Lessons From The BBC Crisis: Creativity And Editorial Control In Global News Organisations: Panel Discussion at The Frontline Club, 13 Norfolk Place, W2 1QJ Paddington phone for prices, adv booking required, 7pm. This panel discussion will examine a new report by John Lloyd drawing on the implications from the BBC crisis.

Meet The Neighbours (Over 5s) at Royal Observatory Greenwich, Greenwich Park, Blackheath Avenue, SE10 8XJ Cutty Sark£6.50, child/concs £4.50, family £17.50, mems FREE, 12.45pm, 1.45pm, children must be accompanied. A live show about the Solar System.

Plenty More Fish: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington FREE, 2.30pm3pm. A staff member discusses the animals found in Lake Tanganyika.

Pongathon at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Aldgate East FREE, 5pm-11pm. Ping pong games with visual art and music.

President’s Lecture at London Jewish Cultural Centre, Ivy House, 94-96 North End Road, NW11 7SX Golders Green £15, adv £12, 8pm. Learn about this and the other important World War II events.

Rock ‘N Roll Politics With Steve Richards: Christmas Special: Talk at Kings Place, 90 York Way, N1 9AG King’s Cross St Pancras £9.50, 7pm.

With award-winning BBC broadcaster and columnist, Steve Richards.

Tuesday December 18 Alexander Bogdanov: Lenin’s Friend And Rival: Talk at Pushkin House, 5A Bloomsbury Square, WC1A 2TA Holborn £7, concs £5, 7.30pm. Novelist Simon Ings discusses the physician and philosopher’s work.

Chocolate: A Natural History: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington FREE, 2.30pm-3pm. A member of staff discusses the cacao plant.

Conservation In Action: Ship Of War Gallery at National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, SE10 9NF Cutty Sark FREE, 10am-4pm. View the conservation team at work at this museum that celebrates Britain’s naval history.

Demystifying The Chinese Economy: Lecture at London School Of Economics, Houghton Street, WC2A 2AE Temple FREE, ticketed, 6.45pm-8.15pm. Professors Justin Lin and Danny Quah discuss the emerging superpower’s status in the global economy.

Film Quiz at Upstairs At The Ritzy, Coldharbour Lane, SW2 1JG Brixton £3.50, 7.30pm. Test your knowledge at one of London’s foremost movie quiz nights, with prizes available.

Space Safari (Under 7s) at Royal Observatory Greenwich, Greenwich Park, Blackheath Avenue, SE10 8XJ Cutty Sark £6.50, child/concs £4.50, family £17.50, mems FREE, 12.45pm, 1.45pm, term-time only, children must be accompanied. A live, interactive show at London’s state of the art planetarium.

Wednesday December 19 The Christmas Shopping Fair at Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0EB Tottenham Court Road FREE, 6pm8pm. A seasonal market offering festive food and gifts at one of the city’s most historic book shops.

Hebrew Mamita: Author Event at Woolfson & Tay, 12 Bermondsey Square, SE1 3UN London Bridge phone for prices, 7pm-8pm. Author Vanessa Hidary reads her poetry and short stories.

The Ivy House Book Circle at London Jewish Cultural Centre, Ivy House, 94-96 North End Road, NW11 7SX Golders Green £5, 2pm-3.30pm.

A debate will be held on classic and contemporary fiction.

The Last Kaiser Roll In The Bodega at Woolfson & Tay, 12 Bermondsey Square, SE1 3UN London Bridge FREE, 7pm.

Vanessa Hidary, The Hebrew Mamita, will perform poetry and short stories from her book, The Last Kaiser Roll In The Bodega.

Meet The Parasites: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington FREE, 2.30pm-3pm. A staff member discusses the creatures.

Thursday December 20 After Henry: Lecture at National Portrait Gallery, 2 St Martin’s Place, WC2H 0HE Embankment FREE, 1.15pm. Art historian Simon Watney explores the legacy of the Lost Prince’s cultural world.

The Battle Of Cambrai, 1917: Lecture at National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, SW3 4HT Sloane Square FREE, 12.30pm. Military Historian John Sadler discusses the first world war battle.

The Christmas Shopping Fair at Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0EB Tottenham Court Road FREE, 6pm8pm. A seasonal market offering festive food and gifts.

Eerie Evening Tours at Kensington Palace State Apartments, Kensington Gardens, W8 4PX High Street Kensington £25, adv booking essential, 6.45pm8.15pm. A tour of the State Apartments.

The Natural History Of Reindeer: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington FREE, 2.30pm-3pm. A staff member discusses the animal’s biology and evolution.

Friday December 21 Bonobos: The Forgotten Apes: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington FREE, 2.30pm-3pm. A researcher discusses the primates’ lives.

Knees Up Cecil Sharp! at Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regents Park Road, NW1 7AY Camden Town £8, concs £6, 8pm10.30pm. A chance to try out a variety of dances, whatever the level of experience.

The Midnight Feasts at Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN Clapham Junction FREE, 10pm.

Christmas meal with live music.

In The Mirror, A Monster at Woolfson & Tay, 12 Bermondsey Square, SE1 3UN London Bridge FREE, 7pm. With author Marten Weber Pop-up Circus at The Rhythm Factory, 1618 Whitechapel Road, E1 1EW Whitechapel £8 & £10, 6pm-late.

Exhibition closing and Christmas party.

Marten Weber: Book Launch at Woolfson & Tay, 12 Bermondsey Square, SE1 3UN London Bridge phone for prices, 7pm9pm. The author discusses and reads from his book In The Mirror, A Monster.

Winding Of The Clocks: Talk at Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, W1U 3BN Bond Street FREE, 1pm-2pm. A discussion on the winding of the clocks.

Saturday December 22 Alternative Santa’s Grotto (Under 8s) at Stratford Circus, Theatre Square, E15 1BX Stratford £7, concs £5, 11am2pm. Santa’s here to help you discover your hidden talents.

Christmas With A Twist at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum London, 1 Piccadilly, W1J 0DA Piccadilly Circus £26.95, child £21.95, family £87.95, 12noon-4pm. A bizarre alternative Christmas attraction featuring a mini Santa and a giant snow globe.

Family Carols at St Paul’s Cathedral, St Paul’s Churchyard, EC4M 8AD St Paul’s FREE, 1pm. Carols and festive songs.

Friends Of Cafe De Paris Christmas Party at Cafe De Paris, 3-4 Coventry Street, W1D 6BL Piccadilly Circus £20, £15 guestlist before 11pm, 10pm-3am.

Mingle with celebrity friends at Christmas.

Illustrations Of A Curious Nature: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington FREE, 12.30pm-1pm, 2.30pm-3pm. A staff member talks about the museum’s drawings.

Jennens And Gopsall: Talk at Handel House Museum, 25 Brook Street, W1K 4HB Bond Street £6, child FREE, concs £5, 3pm. Volunteer Louisa Wood discusses the composer’s links to Gopsall Hall and his friendship with Charles Jennens the hall’s owner.

Sunday December 23 Liza Garza, David J Pugilist at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Aldgate East £10, 6pm-8pm. Poetry performance.

Haunted Magic Show at LOST Theatre, 208 Wandsworth Road, SW8 2JU Stockwell £12, concs £10, 7.30pm.

Spooky magic show.

Juke Box & Open Fire Day at The Boogaloo, 312 Archway Road, N6 5AT Highgate phone for prices, 2pm12midnight, doors. A social event with food, drink and music.

Christmas Carol Service at St Paul’s Cathedral, St Paul’s Churchyard, EC4M 8AD St Paul’s FREE, 4pm.

Carols and festive songs.

Monday December 24 Christmas Eve Carol Service at St Paul’s Cathedral, St Paul’s Churchyard, EC4M 8AD St Paul’s FREE, 4pm.

Carols and festive songs.

Thursday December 27 Christmas Ghost Stories at The Questors Theatre, 12 Mattock Lane, W5 5BQ Ealing Broadway phone for prices, 8pm.

Festive tales.

Dance And Music In 17th And 18thCentury Works Of Art: Talk at Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, W1U 3BN Bond Street FREE, 1pm-2pm. Lecturer Rebecca Drew talks about the art forms’ portrayal.

Mini Maestro Musical Tales at St MartinIn-The-Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ Charing Cross £6.50, under 16s £4.50, 11.30am. Poulenc’s Babar The Little Elephant, Saint-Saens’s Carnival Of The Animals and Christmas carols.

Stromboli: Lighthouse Of The Mediterranean: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington FREE, 12.30pm1pm, 2.30pm-3pm. A staff member discusses the volcano’s behaviour.

Saturday December 29 The George Friederic Handel Experience: Talk at Handel House Museum, 25 Brook Street, W1K 4HB Bond Street £6, child FREE, concs £5, 3pm. Volunteer Guilherme Feistauer discusses the composer’s work and influences.

Meteorites: Treasures From Space: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington FREE, 12.30pm-1pm, 2.30pm-3pm. A museum scientist discusses what the rocks can show about the birth and evolution of the solar system.

Winter Wonderland at Cafe De Paris, 3-4 Coventry Street, W1D 6BL Piccadilly Circus £20, £15 guestlist before 11pm, 10pm-3am. The rooms have been transformed into a festive landscape.

Sunday December 30 Last Tuesday Society at The Coronet, 28 New Kent Road, SE1 6TJ Elephant & Castle phone for prices, 10pm-late. A Halloween ball and author Suzette Field signing copies of her book A Curious Invitation.

Monday December 31 Chicago Themed Night at Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, SE3 9RQ Blackheath £30, until 6pm £25, until 7 Dec £22, 8pm-2am. A live jazz band performs at the themed event.

Incite Poetry at The Alley Cat, 4 Denmark Street, WC2H 8LP Tottenham Court Road FREE, 7.30pm10.30pm. A poetry reading, followed by an open-mic.

New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball at Cafe De Paris, 3-4 Coventry Street, W1D 6BL Piccadilly Circus £50, £40 early bird, 9pm-4am. See in the New Year in style.

Saying Goodbye: Talk at Museum Of London, 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN Barbican phone for prices, 12noon12.20pm, 1pm-1.20pm, 2pm-2.20pm.

An exploration of how to say farewell to deceased loved ones.

Tuesday January 1 Bengali Book Group: Idea-Pathok at Idea Store Whitechapel, 321 Whitechapel Road, E1 1BU Whitechapel phone for prices, 10.30am-11.15am. A talk about a book.

Treasure Of The Month: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington FREE, 12.30pm-1pm, 2.30pm-3pm. A museum scientist discusses an item from the collection.

Friday December 28 Illustrations Of A Curious Nature: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington FREE, 12.30pm-1pm, 2.30pm-3pm. A talk about the museum’s drawings.

Saying Goodbye: Talk at Museum Of London, 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN Barbican phone for prices, 11.30am11.50am, 12.30pm-12.50pm, 2pm2.20pm. An exploration of how to say farewell to deceased loved ones.

New Year’s Day Parade at Outside The Ritz Hotel To Parliament Street, 150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR Green Park FREE, 11.45am-3pm. More than 10,000 performers representing 20 countries entertain the crowds.

scoutlondon.com Scout London 21

With festive food fatigue at risk of setting in before we’ve even reached the last doors of our advent calendar, Ben Norum takes a look at London’s Christmas menus with a difference

E

ven the most ardent traditionalist can go clucking mad at the thought of another turkey roast at this time of year.

Thankfully, plenty of London’s top restaurants are thinking outside of the festively wrapped box when it comes to set menus, proving that à la carte isn’t the only escape.

At Soho’s Ceviche, there’s a Peruvian-inspired Christmas menu to try, which pairs creative

Christmas Thai Mango Tree’s offer

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seasonally-influenced dishes with special pisco cocktails. Try slowcooked pork belly with a beetroot and raisin salad and a tangy salsa, matched with a cranberry and sparkling wine pisco cocktail.

Head to Belgravia’s Mango Tree restaurant for a Thai menu with subtle nods to the time of year in dishes such as a festive-spiced red snapper.

Indian restaurant Roti Chai near Marble Arch goes for it full-throttle,

with a cinnamony Christmas butter chicken and cardamom chocolate tart on its special menu.

In the City, Sushisamba has a matcha pear millefeuille with satsuma among its offerings, while sister venue Duck & Waffle will remain open 24 hours throughout the Christmas period, serving celebratory dishes such as baked eggs with shaved winter truffles and Champagne cream, alongside more traditional options.

Pizza the action The seasonal pizza at Bunga Bunga

Jill Chen

Alternative season’s eatings

Many restaurants are dreaming of white truffles this season.

Aurelia has a rack of lamb in a hazelnut crust with truffles on its menu, and over at L’anima, Francesco Mazzei has a Christmas starter of beef carpaccio with honey dressing and white truffle.

Mayfair’s Italian Banca is going a step further with an entire white truffle Christmas menu that spans zabaglione, risotto and decadent cremoso dessert.

It’s only appropriate that The Old Brewery in Greenwich would wish you a beery Christmas, with it being the home of Meantime’s experimental brewery. The special menu, available on Christmas Day as well as throughout the festive period, includes stout-marinated oysters, beer cured salmon and chocolate beer sorbet. Cheeses even come with a beer chutney.

And it goes without saying that there’s an equally exciting selection of beers to match.

The Perkin Reveller by Tower Bridge keeps all the trimmings but switches turkey for roasted sea bass. And Battersea’s eccentric Italian Bunga Bunga takes the whole traditional lot and bungs it on top of a pizza.

Whether 1 Lombard Street’s offering is more or less extreme than that is a matter of opinion.

On a mission to recreate the ultimate Tudor feast, chef Juri Ravagli has created a feathered and festive monster in the form of a 14 “bird-in-a-bird” roast that includes quail, squab pigeon, teal, wood pigeon, French partridge, mallard, woodcock, guinea fowl, pheasant, Barbary duck, Aylesbury duck, peacock and a wild American turkey all stuffed into a goose. The beast and all the trimmings will set you back close to £1,000 so may be something for the wishlist, but it’s guaranteed to easily feed 25. If you’re looking for some funding, The Factory House in Leadenhall Market is replacing the typical tacky charm hidden within a Christmas Pudding with a real 22ct gold sovereign worth £290.

If you find that, you really would be beating the banker.

Top Ten christmas day

Luxurious with extra emphasis on seafood 1 Outlaw’s SW3 1AT Knightsbridge

A nine-course feasting 2 Orrery menu W1U 5RB Bond Street

Cinnamon Club Clove roasted goose breast; 3 The Bombay veg SW1P 3BU Westminster

4

Paradise Homely as it comes – with Paxo stuffing W10 4AE Kensal Green

Old Brewery All things beery, and drinks to match 5 The SE10 9LW Cutty Sark

6

Blueprint Café Six courses, turkey and the Thames SE1 2YD London Bridge

Choose from roast turkey, beef or salmon 7 Maze W1K 6JP Bond Street Intricate dishes where trad meets Asian 8 L’Etranger SW7 4QT Gloucester Road

Jiang A Chinese Christmas featuring steamed 9 Min lobster W8 4PT High Street Kensinton

For an un-Christmassy Punjabi 10 Tayyabs feast E1 1JU Whitechapel

Del Mercato London Bridge ££ It’s as if Vinopolis didn’t already contribute enough to London’s food and drink scene. As if someone decided that its three acre space containing the city’s premier wine-tasting experience, England’s largest selection of whisky, Brew Wharf’s on-site brewery, a gin room and a couple of restaurants in the shadow of Borough Market wasn’t anywhere near adequate. So they opened Del Marcato to boost things further.

An impressive-sounding complex in itself, this Italian newcomer includes a restaurant, trattoria, bar and bakery. It’s headed up by chef Stefano Motta who has made quite a name for himself in New York at restaurants such as Briciole and Latium, and is based in newly-converted railway arches on the line into London Bridge station.

The first trick to getting to your restaurant table is to find the right entrance, as it’s not quite as clear as we expected.

But at least all the to-ing and fro-ing will ensure you work up an appetite by the time you find the right door. And when we do get in there’s as warm a welcome as we’d hope for after our extended time in the cold.

Our waiters are friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about the food and wine they’re serving. The olives come with an explanation of the region they’re from and why they’ve been chosen, and we get an impressive break-down of what wines are what on the menu, as well as what will go with the dishes we’re choosing.

A round of still-warm bread stuffed with

sundried tomatoes comes out of the bakery, and the olive oil is rich and peppery. A sage fritter is an interesting way to get things started, and rewards with a pleasingly crisp outer that conceals a juicy, tender middle that’s full of the herb’s flavour but not in the slightest bit overpowering. It’s most certainly impressive.

Unfortunately the dishes that follow aren’t nearly so heady, with a well-executed seafood pasta adorned with clams and prawns being decidedly ‘pretty’ rather than ‘punchy’.

A grilled tuna steak suffers the same fate, and for all that the staff like to tell us about everything we’re eating, it’s a shame they don’t stop to ask how we’d like it cooked.

As it is, it arrives completely cooked through; it’s not dry or tough enough to criticise, but the fish used has nowhere near enough oomph to retain its flavour when not served in the slightest bit rare.

If we were in one of the Italian chain restaurants, we’d enjoy our meal, consider it well-priced and most probably even admit to it being a little bit better than we expected. As it is, despite good service, we leave feeling somewhat underwhelmed and hoping that the latest addition to the impressive Vinopolis empire can pull its socks up and realise its potential in order to compete with its peers.

Ben Norum Vinopolis Yard, Park Street, SE1 9AD London Bridge scoutlondon.com Scout London 23

La Patagonia Camden ££

The Thatched House Hammersmith ££

Described as ‘rustic Argentine cuisine’, you could think of La Patagonia as ‘the anti-Gaucho’. By which we mean there’s no sleek black interiors, fancy cocktails or dressed-up-to-the-nines waitresses. Instead there’s terracotta, bloody good beef at a decent price, a strong Argentine-led wine list and a small selection of authentic empanadas and pastas to accompany the steak options.

The Argentine rib-eye, cooked on the parrilla (open charcoal grill), is hard to beat for its tender, flavour-packed flesh and crisp, smoky, fat-speckled surface. Alternatively, try the lamb churassco marinated in a mint and coriander chimichurri sauce for a vibrant and light alternative. A layered dessert of dulce de leche and melted chocolate is the only reason for any restraint during the meat course. BN

There’s no thatched roof on this pub, but other than that it’s about as quaint as could be. It’s been a Young’s establishment for yonks, but recently refurbished to become a highlight of the company’s foodie venues. A starter of Sipsmith sloe gin-cured salmon is impressive not only for its soft, sweet taste, but also for its loyalty to the nearby distillery. A Scotch egg with crunchy coating and soft yolk, and a medium-rare burger in a toasted brioche bun are good examples of simple pub grub for our times. More inventive dishes such as salt beef served warm with a creamy mash, tart sauerkraut and gherkins raise the bar higher. It’s about unfussy food in a fun atmosphere, and it does what it aims to very well indeed, without losing its pub roots.

BN

31 Camden High Street, NW1 7JE

Mornington Crescent

115 Dalling Road, W6 0ET

Ravenscourt Park

Almeida £££

KaoSarn Battersea £

A classic French restaurant nestled off Upper Street, Almeida is a perfect encapsulation of what ex-Terence Conran restaurant group D&D is all about. If you order a classic cocktail at the bar, the barman will have the know-how and ingredients to make a very good one, though we’re not convinced about their bung-a-bit-of-fruit-in-it approach to the house specials. It’s pretty much the same story where the food is concerned. Order smoked salmon, cured meats or well-sourced steaks and you’ll be rewarded; go off-piste and you may find – like we did – that your venison is a tad overcooked and your risotto soft and claggy. If you’re not dining on an expense account, as it appears many of the customers here are, then you’ll find it is decent brasserie food for the price of something much more special. BN

The original KaoSarn in Brixton Village has proved so popular that no more punters could be squeezed through its doors. By the looks of the full tables on an early mid-week evening, this second branch close to Clapham Junction isn’t going to have any trouble replicating that success. What it can’t quite replicate is the bustling, slightly edgy market vibe, though the compact tables and bare industrial walls are clearly trying. Grilled half-chicken with sticky rice and a spicy papaya salad is one of the favourites from Brixton, and works equally well: smoky, sweet, spicy and sour. Though vibrantly spiced, a lamb red curry is let down by the meat. When a rice side dish comes overcooked, we can’t help but wonder if the kitchen is overwhelmed.

Or maybe it’s just not up to Brixton’s standard? BN

30 Almeida Street, N1 1AD 24 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Highbury & Islington

110 St John’s Hill, SW11 1SJ

Clapham Junction

The award-winning surreal stand-up comedian returns!

‘He is quite brilliant at what he does… you will enjoy yourself in ways you never thought possible.’

««««« Scotsman ‘A fantastically funny hour of lunacy… little short of perfect.’

«««« Telegraph ‘Relentlessly silly and hysterically funny.’

Time Out

SAM SIMMONS: ABOUT THE WEATHER Until Sat 5 Jan

TICKETS FROM £10 020 7478 0100 SOHOTHEATRE.COM

CENTRAL

69 Colebrooke Row 69 Colebrooke Row, N1 8AA Angel Cocktail bar ££ If you’ve tried cocktail maestro Tony Conigliaro’s award-winning cocktails here, you’ll imagine he needs a bit of time to dream them up. Let’s hope that’s what he’ll be doing while the bar is shut from December 23-26 and then again from January 14-16. Don’t turn up and be disappointed!

Fifteen Restaurant 15 Westland Place, N1 7LP Old Street British ££ The special Christmas lunch and dinner menus at Jamie Oliver’s flagship restaurant include slow roast pork with fennel, plus Mr Oliver’s special Beer Bucket Chicken which is cooked exactly as you might imagine from the name.

EAST

Hibiscus 29 Maddox Street, W1S 2PA Oxford Circus British £££ Claude Bosi’s Michelin-starred restaurant takes British classics and gives them a cheffy edge. While pricey at dinner time, the holiday season is a good time to take advantage of its good-value lunch menu, with dishes such as salad of Devonshire crab, rosehip and crabapple sorbet and fresh walnuts.

Clockjack Oven 14 Denman Street, W1D 7HJ Tottenham Court Road Chicken ££ This new opening is the latest in a line of chicken shops and rotisserie restaurants. Here the chicken is served with either salad or chips, and there’s also a (very) small selection of chickenfree starters and desserts.

OKKU 16 St James’s Street, SW1A 1ER Green Park Japanese £££ The team behind Dubai’s “most glamorous restaurant” have brought their glitz-gilded style of Japanese cuisine to Mayfair. Expect a smattering of celebrity action to complement the plush surroundings and flashy cocktails.

34 34 Grosvenor Square, W1K 2HD Bond Street Steakhouse £££ Another in the line-up of new steak openings to hit London over the past month or so sees Caprice Holdings arrive on the corner of Grosvenor Square.

Steaks including prime dry-aged Scottish, Australian Wagyu & Creekstone Farm USDA will be cooked over a bespoke Argentinian grill. Seasonal game, salt-marsh lamb and seafood will also feature.

Thai Metro 38 Charlotte Street, W1T 2NN Goodge Street Thai £ Cheap, cheerful and serving up some very vibrant flavours, it’s no surprise that this Fitzrovia stalwart is popular with locals. Unusually for a Thai restaurant, the puddings are pretty good too – try the coconut crèpes.

North

Borough Market Southwark Street, SE1 1TL London Bridge Market Tourist-riddled though it may be, a Christmas shop at Borough Market is something of a London tradition. From now, the market will be open every day until Christmas Eve, and then again from December 27-31. Seasonal specials include a lineup of guest chefs at the Demonstration Kitchen to give Christmas entertaining inspiration.

WEST

Chez Gérard 64 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AJ Liverpool Street French ££ One of the original Chez Gérard restaurants has re-opened in the city, harking back to 1975 when the iconic brand – most famous for its steak frites – was born. With all the other Chez Gérard sites now having been taken over and turned into Brasserie Blancs, it’s far from a success story, but a new menu and downstairs bar, mean hopes are no doubt high for this last outlet standing.

Fez Mangal 104 Ladbroke Grove, W11 1PY Ladbroke Grove Turkish £ No-frills is the best description of this Ladbroke Grove restaurant, but who needs frills when you have a blistering charcoal grill adorned with chunky meat skewers. BYO adds to the appeal.

Claude’s Kitchen at Amuse Bouche 51 Parsons Green Lane, SW6 4JA Parson’s Green French / British £££ The offering at this new addition to the Parson’s Green favourite is less French than its name might suggest, with dishes such as English girolles with Parmesan and pickled pear chutney on sourdough flying our nation’s flag.

The Longroom 18-20 St John Street, EC1M 4AY Farringdon Gastropub ££ This latest addition to the thriving foodie scene of St John Street sees the arrival of a pub specialising in salt beef and grilled cheese sandwiches, as well as an extensive craft beer list.

The Empress 130 Lauriston Road, Victoria Park, London Fields British ££ This Scout favourite E9 7LH restaurant with Elliot Lidstone at the helm has just been announced as winner of a Bib Gourmand in the 2013 Michelin guide, awarding fantastic cooking at an affordable price. At the moment, menu highlights include a special Christmas pudding ice cream with cranberries and toasted oats alongside its signature British food with modern flair and a penchant for offal.

SOUTH

Camden Blues Kitchen 111-113 Camden High Street, NW1 7JN Camden Town American ££ If you need an excuse to head to the Blues Kitchen for some good ol’ American feeding, bourbon cocktails and jazz, then this might be it. Every Monday is now Rib Night. That means that a stack of St Louis Pork Ribs for two is just £10.

26 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Salon First Floor, 18 Market Row, SW9 8LD Brixton British ££ After much hype, Salon is now open above Cannon & Cannon deli on Market Row. The focus is on using quality British produce to create fresh, seasonal and inventive food. Salon is open Tuesday-Sunday for lunch, and Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening for dinner. Every Thursday evening, there is a supper club-style set menu which showcases produce from Cannon & Cannon below.

The Big Burrito Company 200 Blackfriars Road, SE1 8DA Southwark Mexican £ Another burrito offering for London, and another much-needed lunch option for the Southwark area. It’s not just the name that’s big either, the portion sizes seem made to match.

L’Italiano Park Plaza County Hall, 1 Addington Street, SE1 7RY Waterloo Italian ££ A revamp of this hotel restaurant sees the menu pay particular attention to younger guests, with activity-led options and smaller dishes.

Whatever your age, take advantage of the newly-installed wood-fired oven.

Brompton Asian Brasserie 223-225 Brompton Road, SW3 2EJ South Kensington PanAsian £££ It’s been announced that Russian restaurateur Arkady Novikov, whose eponymous first London restaurant in Mayfair is still dividing opinion, will launch his second London venture in early 2013.

Replicating the dual-dining approach of Novikov, this restaurant will bizarrely offer a European menu at breakfast and a pan-Asian menu at lunch and dinner.

Watch this space.

Scout London Price Guide ££££ Over £19 per main £££ £14-18 ££ £9-13 £ Under £9

COOK IN

TAKE OUT

Spelt QOOQ, but pronounced “cook”, this ambitious device is the first touch tablet made to be spill-proof, non-slip, and able to survive the wear and tear of the kitchen. More than just a recipe source, this French-designed culinary beast, which is now launching in the UK, combines interactive technology with exclusive foodie content to act as a tutor and coach.

At the jab of a touch-screen, users can learn directly from Europe’s leading chefs and take inspiration from more than 1,200 interactive recipes. Guess there’s no excuse not to get qooqing then.

The gourmet take-away service which pairs customers up with chefs living locally has introduced a new service. If getting together the ingredients for a date with a loved one is just too much like hard work, you can now order from a selection of romantic meals for two that come with date night treats such as a candle, some chocolates, or even a personalised card.

Dating doesn’t get easier than this.

£289, for stockists see qooq.com

Visit housebites.com for options in your postcode

QOOQ Tablet

Housebites Ready-Made Dates

FESTIVE ENTERTAINMENT WITH D & D LONDON TWENTY-FOUR STUNNING & VERSATILE RESTAURANTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. Whether you are looking for a sensational setting for your annual party, or the perfect table to host a family dinner, D&D London holds the key. With 24 venues, a dedicated events team, and exquisitely prepared menus we look forward to helping you plan the celebration of the season.

For groups of 12 to 1,000 guests can call our events team for instant availability, inspiration, and to discuss requirements;

020 7716 7887 | events@danddlondon.com

Creature comfort Christmas shouldn’t just be for kids - our four-legged friends can now get in on the act with these gifts that will have them wagging and purring into 2013

FELINE FASHIONABLE

DRINKS ON THE HOUSE

Simple, classy and complete with a bell to warn potential prey of an advancing feline.

Green Gingham Cat Collar, £30 from

Your best pal will always have a fresh supply of water with this gizmo.

Original Pet Fountain, £24.90 from drinkwell.co.uk

Mungo & Maud

Sarah HUND The latest in canine knitware. Keep your dog warm, while also dressing it up like a certain Danish detective.

Burgundy Moose Jumper, £39.99 from petspyjamas.com

SAnta claws

The WOOF IS IN THE PUDDING

EAU DE (DOG) TOILETTE

Show your cat that Santa cares too with this little bag of treats.

Cat stocking, £4 from Pets at Home

A christmas pudding just for Fido? Yes please - just hold the brandy butter.

Dog’s Xmas Pudding, £1 from

It was bound to happen: perfume for pooches. This fragrance promises a medley of bergamot and neroli, with a touch of lavender and musk.

Big Dawg Perfume, £52.95 from

Poundland

Harrods

scoutlondon.com Scout London 29

New Zagreb (People Behind the Windows) 1979 photomontage digital print mounted on aluminium

Political imagery

Stills from video work, Instructions No1 (1976)

The UK’s first retrospective of influential Croatian photographer Sanja Ivekovic’s work demonstrates that, even after a four-decade career, she still has the power to challenge

30 Scout London scoutlondon.com

female identity is appropriated by the media, as well as more general issues of consumerism.

For example, Double Life (1975) pairs photographs of women cut out from glossy magazines with those of the artist taken at different stages of her life. The alignment of images highlights the discrepancy between the realities of everyday life and the highly stylised version promoted in the media.

In a similar vein, Tragedy of a Venus (1975) places pictures of Marilyn Monroe alongside those depicting scenes from Ivekovic’s own life, again questioning the constructed status of women.

Meanwhile, Calvert 22 – the Shoreditch gallery dedicated to culture from Russia and Eastern Europe – will focus on Ivekovic’s questions of historical amnesia.

For example, GEN XX, 1997-

2001, uses magazine adverts of glamorous women that, upon closer inspection, reveal names of partisan heroines from socialist times. The banal advertising copy is replaced with the charges and execution dates of young, female anti-fascist militants of the second

world war, documenting the erasure of these unknown heroines from the official history.

Sanja Ivekovi: Unknown Heroine, until February 24, South London Gallery and Calvert 22, Free, southlondongallery.org calvert22.org

A still from Make Up Make Down (1978)

Courtesy of the artist

P

ioneering Croatian artist Sanja Ivekovic has been tackling issues such as female identity, consumerism and historical amnesia through photography, film, sculpture and collage since starting her career in the Croatian Spring of the early 1970s.

With work spanning four decades, she provokes us to reconsider accepted ‘norms’, holding up a mirror to injustices and inequalities in a powerful way.

Following major exhibitions at MoMA in New York and Luxembourg’s Mudam, the South London Gallery and Calvert 22 have now come together to present the first UK retrospective of this influential artist.

The South London Gallery will exhibit Ivekovi’s works from the mid-1970s, which explore the way

The UK premiere of Peter Schaufuss’s acclaimed production of Midnight Express Based on Billy Hayes’s best selling 1977 book

‘Stupefyingly beautiful’ Dance Europe

‘Highly dramatic Another great success’ Dancing Times

9 - 14 April 2013 • London Coliseum 020 7845 9300* • eno.org* midnightexpresstheballet.com

*bkg fee applies

Midnight Express is performed to a specially conceived and mastered sound track Photograph: Svetlana Postoenko

S chaufus s

P E T E R BALLET APS

• PRODUCTION

Central

John Bartlett: London Sublime at Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard, EC2P 2EJ Bank £5, concs £3, under 16s/mems FREE, Until Jan 20. Contemporary paintings inspired by protests and city riots.

Breakthrough: Albert Adams at Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ Lambeth North FREE, Until Dec 31.

Paintings, prints and drawings inspired by themes of the Holocaust and the pursuit of justice.

Andrew Holmes: Last Exit at Plus One Gallery, 89-91 Pimlico Road, SW1W 8PH Sloane Square FREE, Until Jan 5. Hyperreal works representing the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Authenticity - Want It, Got It, Lost It at Ellwood Atfield Gallery, 34 Smith Square, SW1P 3HL Westminster FREE, Until Dec 21. Photographs of commercial and public communicators.

Cecil Beaton: Theatre Of War at Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ Lambeth North £8, concs £6, under 16s FREE, Until Jan 1. Historic photographs, drawings and books documenting Beaton’s work for the Ministry of Information during the second world war.

Katrin Bellinger: Christmas Exhibition at Colnaghi Gallery, 15 Old Bond Street, W1S 4AX Bond Street FREE, Until Dec 21. Still-life studies.

Best Art Vinyl 2012 at St Martins Lane Hotel, 45 St. Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4HX Embankment FREE, Until Jan 13. The shortlisted 50 album sleeves for the annual award.

A Bigger Splash: Painting After Performance at Tate Modern, Bankside, Holland Street, SE1 9TG Southwark £10, concs £8.50, Art Fund mems £5, concs £4.25, Until Apr 1. Works that examine the relationship between performance and painting.

Sir Peter Blake RA at Madison Contemporary Art, 5 New Cavendish Street, W1G 8UT Bond Street FREE, Until Dec 24. Contemporary prints by the Pop-Art pioneer.

Quentin Blake: New Etchings, Lithographs And Drawings at Marlborough Fine Art, 6 Albemarle Street, W1S 4BY Green Park FREE, Until Jan 11. Contemporary works by the established artist and children’s book illustrator.

Black Xmas at Signal Gallery, 32 Paul Street, Zetland House, EC2A 4LB Old Street FREE, Until Dec 21. A group exhibition exploring the darker, non-festive side of the season.

Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2012 at ICA, 12 Carlton House Terrace, The Mall, SW1Y 5AH Charing Cross FREE, Until Jan 13. Works in various media by emerging artists including Jennifer Bailey, Jack Brindley and Jamie Buckley.

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Slater Bradley: Nudes at Max Wigram Gallery, 106 New Bond Street, W1S 1DN Bond Street FREE, Until Jan 12. Photographs of young, naked women, exploring themes of desire and identity.

William Burroughs: All Out Of Time And Into Space at October Gallery, 24 Old Gloucester Street, WC1N 3AL Holborn FREE, Until Feb 16. Paintings, drawings and a selection of ‘talismanic’ art objects.

Cartier-Bresson: A Question Of Colour at Somerset House, The Strand, WC2R 1LA Temple FREE, Until Jan 27. Photographs

by Henri Cartier-Bresson, together with works by 14 modern-day photographers.

Billy Chainsaw: X: More Than A Journey Into The Unknown at The Horse Hospital, 30 Colonnade, WC1N 1JD Russell Square FREE, Until Dec 22.

Paintings and drawings in a variety of media, exploring magic, mystery and the unknown.

Christmas Exhibition 2012 at Belgravia Gallery, 45 Albemarle Street, W1S 4JL Green Park FREE, Until Jan 1. Works in various media by gallery artists including Nelson Mandela and Andy Warhol.

Death: A Self-Portrait: The Richard Harris Collection at The Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, NW1 2BE Euston FREE, Until Feb 28. Around 300 items providing an overview of the iconography of death.

Rod Dickinson & Tom McCarthy: Greenwich Degree Zero at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Waterloo FREE, Until Jan 6.

Photographs and a film reimagining events surrounding the death of Martial Bourdin.

Doctors, Dissection And Resurrection Men at Museum Of London, 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN Barbican £9, child/concs £7, Until Apr 14. A major installation charting the 2006 finding by archaeologists, of a burial ground at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.

Everything Was Moving: Photography From The 60s And 70s at Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS Barbican £12, adv £10, concs £8, adv concs/ages 13-17 £7, adv ages 13-17 £6, under 13s FREE, Until Jan 13. A major survey of the photographic medium during a period of rapid social change.

David Farrer: Island Life at Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery, 28 Charlotte Street, W1T 2NF Goodge Street FREE, Until Dec 22. An exhibition of paper mache animal heads.

Alekos Fassianos: Everyday Myths at Grosvenor Gallery, 21 Ryder Street, SW1Y 6PX Green Park FREE, Until Dec 20. Paintings inspired by Greek myths, Fayum portraits, Byzantine icons and shadow theatre.

Su Blackwell: Stories From The Enchanted Forest at Long & Ryle, 4 John Islip Street, SW1P 4PX Pimlico FREE, Until Dec 22. Sculptures made by cutting into books, inspired by fairy-tales.

A Pageant Of Paintings In Oil at Llewellyn Alexander, 124-126 The Cut, SE1 8LN Waterloo FREE, Until Jan 8. Contemporary works by artists including Edna Bizon, Ken Bizon and Holly Brodie.

Karl Ferris: The Karl Ferris Psychedelic Experience at Proud Camden, The Horse Hospital, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AH Camden Town FREE, Until Feb 3. An exhibition of album covers and images by the English photographer and designer.

Oskar Fischinger at Tate Modern, Bankside, Holland Street, SE1 9TG Southwark FREE, Until May 12.

Restored film footage of the artist’s 1926 performances.

Fourth Plinth: Contemporary Monument at ICA, 12 Carlton House Terrace, The Mall, SW1Y 5AH Charing Cross FREE, Until Jan 20. Works appearing on the ‘empty’ Northwest plinth in Trafalgar Square.

Futureproof at Bernard Jacobson At 6 Cork Street, 6 Cork Street, W1S 3NX Piccadilly Circus FREE, Until Dec 21. A group show which combines technological space with contemporary art not determined by hype or fashion.

Chris Gollon: Mainly Still Life & Other New Work at IAP Fine Art, 23a St James’s Street, SW1A 1HA Green Park FREE, Until Dec 21. Paintings exploring the identities, emotions and personalities of inanimate objects.

Antony Gormley: Model at White Cube Bermondsey, 144-152 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TQ London Bridge FREE, Until Feb 10. Large-scale sculpture and sitespecific installations.

Richard Hamilton: The Late Works at The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN Leicester Square FREE, Until Jan 13. Major paintings and digital images by the artist, some of which were specially commissioned for the show and were not completed before the artist’s death in 2011.

Roger Hooper: Art In The Wild at The Gallery @ Oxo, Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, SE1 9PH Waterloo FREE, Until Jan 6. Photographs of wildlife and the environment.

Donna Huddleston: Witch Dance at Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN Angel FREE, Until Apr 29.

An wall installation inspired by the dances of Mary Wigman.

Duan Jianyu: The Path Of Beauty at Annely Juda Fine Art, 23 Dering Street, W1S 1AW Bond Street FREE, Until Dec 21. Paintings exploring the tension between the urban and the rural in a rapidly industrialising China.

John Madejski Fine Rooms Gallery Tour at Royal Academy Of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD Green Park FREE, Until Dec 29. A tour of the permanent collection.

Journeys East: A Discovery Of Hidden Treasures at Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, W1U 3BN Bond Street FREE, Until Jan 13. An intergenerational group show featuring works inspired by and celebrating the Dutch art in the Wallace Collection’s East Galleries.

Peter Lely at The Courtauld Institute Of Art, Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 0RN Temple £6, concs £4.50, NUS/unwaged/disabled carer/Friends Of The Courtauld/under 18s FREE, Mon 10am-2pm excl Bank Hols FREE, Until Jan 13. Paintings by the leading 17th-century artist.

Neil Libbert: Photojournalist at National Portrait Gallery, 2 St Martin’s Place, WC2H 0HE Embankment FREE, Until Apr 21. Significant pictures selected from the photographer’s 55-year-long career.

Jim Marshall : Rolling Stones 1972 at Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, SW1Y 6NH Green Park FREE, Until Dec 31. Photographs capturing the Rolling Stones onstage and in the quiet camaraderie behind the scenes.

Greg Miller: Four Corners at Scream, 27-28 Eastcastle Street, W1J 6QX Oxford Circus FREE, Until Jan 20.

Paintings and films by the American artist.

Marilyn Monroe: A British Love Affair at National Portrait Gallery, 2 St Martin’s Place, WC2H 0HE Charing Cross FREE, Until Mar 24.

Photographs documenting the iconic actress’s connections with Britain.

Heather & Ivan Morison: Skirt Of The Black Mouth at Tate Modern, Bankside, Holland Street, SE1 9TG Southwark FREE, Until Sep 30. A site-specific sculptural installation created as part of the Tate Modern Project.

Bruno Munari: My Futurist Past at Estorick Collection Of Modern Italian Art, 39a Canonbury Square, N1 2AN Highbury & Islington £5, concs £3.50, NUS/under 16s FREE, Until Dec 23. Kinetic sculpture, abstract paintings and light projections.

Adi Nes: The Village at Jewish Museum, Camden Town, 129-131 Albert Street, NW1 7NB Camden Town FREE, plus admission £7.50, child £3.50, concs £6.50, family £18, under 5s FREE, Until Feb 3. Photographs of meticulously staged pastoral scenes Project Space: Objects In Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear at Tate Modern, Bankside, Holland Street, SE1 9TG Southwark FREE, Until Feb 17. An exhibition featuring works by seven international artists, looking at the relationship between the moving image and narrative and perception.

Chris Ofili: To Take And To Give at Victoria Miro, 16 Wharf Road, N1 7RW Angel FREE, Until Dec 21. Paintings and works on paper inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

Pre-Raphaelites: Victorian Avant-Garde at Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1P 4RG Pimlico £14, concs £12.20, National Art Pass/Art Fund mems £7, concs £6.10, Until Jan 13. Over 150 works in different media exposing the Pre-Raphaelites as ahead of their time.

Renaissance To Goya: Prints And Drawings From Spain at British Museum, Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG Russell Square FREE, Until Jan 6.

Pieces by artists working in Spain from the mid-16th to the mid-19th century.

Ritual And Revelry: The Art Of Drinking In Asia at British Museum, Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG Russell Square FREE, Until Jan 6. Artefacts and artworks highlighting the importance of water, tea and alcohol in Asian cultures from the past 2,500 years.

Hannah Sawtell: Vendor at Bloomberg SPACE, 50 Finsbury Square, EC2A 1HD Moorgate FREE, Until Jan 12. Sitespecific installations of digital material gathered during a residency at Bloomberg.

Seduced By Art: Photography Past And Present at The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN Leicester Square £12, OAP/concs £11, NUS/unwaged/ages 12-16/Art Fund mems/Tue 2.30pm-6pm OAP/concs £6, family £24, accompanied under 12s FREE, Until Jan 20. Early and contemporary photographs.

Turner Prize 2012 at Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1P 4RG Pimlico £10, concs £8.50, Until Jan 6. Contemporary works entered for the prestigious prize.

No Imitation at Imitate Modern, 27A Devonshire Street, W1G 6PN Baker Street FREE, Until Jan 31. A display of works by several acclaimed graffiti artists.

Valentino: Master Of Couture at Somerset House, The Strand, WC2R 1LA Temple £12.50, concs £9, Until Mar 3. A major exhibition on the career of the acclaimed Italian designer.

The Howard De Walden Prize: A View Of Marylebone at Thompson’s Marylebone, 15 New Cavendish Street, W1G 9UB Baker Street FREE, Until Dec 23. A group show featuring paintings depicting the Parish of Marylebone.

Tim Walker: Story Teller at Somerset House, The Strand, WC2R 1LA Temple FREE, Until Jan 27. Striking fashion photographs.

Wesley’s Chapel, House And Museum Of Methodism at Wesley’s Chapel and House, 49 City Road, EC1Y 1AU Old Street donations welcome FREE, Until Dec 31. John Wesley’s home containing many of his belongings and a museum tracing the development of Methodism.

White Light/White Heat: Contemporary Artists & Glass at Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, W1U 3BN Bond Street FREE, Until Jan 26. A collaborative show featuring works by artists and designers, some using glass for the first time, as a medium.

Lucy Williams: Pavilion at Timothy Taylor Gallery, Carlos Place, 15 Carlos Place, W1K 2EY Bond Street FREE, Until Jan 11. Recent works by the British-born artist.

A Winter Collective 2012 at Gallery Different, 14 Percy Street, W1T 1DR Goodge Street FREE, Until Jan 19. A display of paintings, sculpture, photography and mixed media, by 28 artists.

The Winter Garden at James Freeman Gallery, 354 Upper Street, N1 0PD Angel FREE, Until Dec 22. Works in various media, including paintings by James Mortimer.

North Brown Sugar On Main Street at Zebra One Art Gallery, 1 Perrins Court, NW3 1QX Hampstead FREE, Until Jan 26. A display of unseen and rare images of The Rolling Stones, by Peter Webb and Dominique Tarle.

Judy Chicago And Louise Bourgeois, Helen Chadwick, Tracey Emin at Ben Uri Gallery, 108a Boundary Road, NW8 0RH Kilburn Park £5, child FREE, concs £4, Until Mar 10. A survey of the American artist and activist, contextualised with work by three other foremost European female artists.

Christmas Print Extravaganza at Jealous Gallery, 27 Park Road, N8 8TE Highgate FREE, Until Jan 3. A selling exhibition.

Creative Routes: Exhibition at Artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, N12 0GA Finchley Central FREE, Until Jan 13.

An exhibition of art by local primary school children.

Film In Space at Camden Arts Centre, Arkwright Road, NW3 6DG Finchley Road FREE, Until Feb 24. Guy Sherwin’s selection of experimental films by emerging British artists and film-makers.

Beatrice Gibson: The Tiger’s Mind at The Showroom, 63 Penfold Street, NW8 8PQ Bethnal Green FREE, Until Jan 19. A film inspired by an experimental score by composer Cornelius Cardew.

Linda Nissen Samuels at London Jewish Cultural Centre, Ivy House, 94-96 North End Road, NW11 7SX Golders Green FREE, Until Dec 20. Work by the popular painting instructor.

The Stephen’s Collection at The Stephen’s Collection, Avenue House, 17 East End Road, N3 3QE Finchley Central FREE, Until Dec 31. Featuring collections about Dr Henry Stephen’s, the inventor of writing ink in 1832. The museum is set in the house owned by Henry, and features the laboratory where he experimented with inks.

Mel Bochner: If The Colour Changes at Whitechapel Gallery, 80-82 Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX Aldgate East FREE, Until Dec 30. Installations, wall drawings and paintings from the last 50 years.

Building A Wilton’s Christmas at Wilton’s Music Hall, 1 Graces Alley, off Ensign Street, E1 8JB Aldgate East FREE, Until Dec 21. A series of interactive objects and films which capture the craziness in the preparation for Christmas.

Despite: An Exhibition By Palestinian Artists at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Aldgate East FREE, Until Dec 28. Works in various media by artists including Nidal Abu Oun, Mohamed Abusal and Jawad Al Malhi.

Sadie Hennessy: Lady Garden at WW Patio Projects, 30 Queensdown Road, Hackney Downs FREE, E5 8NN Until Jan 6. Artworks in various media challenging taboos, both sexual and profane.

Jock McFadyen: Filth at Eleven Spitalfields, 11 Princelet Street, E1 6QH Aldgate East FREE, Until Dec 21.

Paintings by the Paisley-born artist.

Take Another Look at Museum Of London Docklands, West India Quay, Hertsmere Road, E14 4AL Canary Wharf FREE, Until Aug 4. An exploration of the people from the African Diaspora who lived and worked in Britain during the 18th and 19th centuries.

South Pauline Boudry And Renate Lorenz: Toxic Play In Two Acts at South London Gallery, 65-67 Peckham Road, SE5 8UH Elephant & Castle FREE, Until Feb 24. The Berlin-based duo showcases film installations Toxic and Salomania.

Yankel Feather at GXgallery, 43 Denmark Denmark Hill FREE, Hill, SE5 8RS Until Jan 10. Contemporary paintings including still-lifes, bleak landscapes and lively dance halls.

Clive Head & Nicolas Poussin: From Victoria To Arcadia at Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, SE21 7AD West Dulwich £5, OAP £4, concs FREE, Until Jan 13. Contemporary installation and Old Master paintings.

Adelita Husni: Playing Truant at Gasworks, 155 Vauxhall Street, The Oval, SE11 5RH Vauxhall FREE, Until Feb 3. Drawings, video works, sound art and installations.

Sanja Ivekovic: Unknown Heroine at South London Gallery, 65-67 Peckham Road, SE5 8UH Elephant & Castle FREE, Until Feb 24.

Collage, film, performance and installation.

East Angela Flowers At 80 at Flowers, Kingsland Road, 82 Kingsland Road, E2 8DP Hoxton FREE, Until Jan 9.

Mixed works celebrating the birthday of the founder of the gallery.

Keith Arnatt at Maureen Paley, 21 Herald Street, E2 6JT Bethnal Green FREE, Until Jan 23. Portrait photography.

SOUTH Prints For Presents at Greenwich Printmakers Gallery, 1a Greenwich Market, SE10 9HZ Greenwich FREE, Until Dec 30.

Contemporary prints by gallery artists.

Jim Marshall: Rip This Joint: The Rolling Stones 1972 at O2 Bubble, Millennium Way, SE10 0PH North Greenwich £12, child £6, concs £8, Until Feb 3. A series of portraits of the British rock band, taken during their 1972 tour.

West Robert Clatworthy at Keith Chapman Gallery, Hurlingham Studio Ranelagh Gardens, SW6 3PA Putney Bridge FREE, Until Dec 18. Sculpture, drawings, paintings and etchings.

Codebreaker: Alan Turing’s Life And Legacy at Science Museum, Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD South Kensington FREE, Until Jul 31. Photographs and objects celebrating the centenary of the British computing pioneer.

Finders Keepers: A Survey Of Collecting at Michael Hoppen Gallery, 3 Jubilee Place, SW3 3TD Sloane Square FREE, Until Jan 30. Photographs from Michael Hoppen’s private collection.

Auriol Innes: A Vision Of The Natural: Paintings Of India at Piers Feetham Gallery, 475 Fulham Road, SW6 1HL Fulham Broadway FREE, Until Dec 22. Paintings of Indian scapes.

Hollywood Costume at Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL South Kensington £14, OAP £11, NUS/ ages 12-17/unwaged/disabled £9, family of 3 £23, family of 4 £37, under 12s/mems/ disabled carer FREE, Until Jan 27. Over 100 costumes covering 100 years of Hollywood.

James Ostrer: The Romance Of Perfection at Merchant Archive, 19 Kensington Park Road, W11 2EU Ladbroke Grove FREE, Until Jan 2.

Photographs of San Francisco Ballet principal dancer Maria Kochetkova.

The Perfect Place To Grow: 175 Years Of The Royal College Of Art at Royal College Of Art, Kensington Gore, SW7 2EU South Kensington FREE, Until Jan 3.

Mixed works by former students including Henry Moore, Tracey Emin and Ian Dury.

Victoria Revealed at Kensington Palace State Apartments, Kensington Gardens, W8 4PX High Street Kensington £14.50, child FREE, concs £12, Until Feb 28. Mixed works and historical artefacts exploring the life of Queen Victoria, inspired by extracts from her journals.

Bob Willoughby: The Silver Age Of Hollywood at Proud Chelsea, 161 Kings Road, SW3 5XP Sloane Square FREE, Until Jan 13. Photojournalistic motion picture stills.

Julian Yewdall: A Permanent Record at Subway Gallery, Kiosk 1 Joe Strummer Subway, Edgware Road, W2 1DX Edgware Road FREE, Until Dec 22.

Photographs of the frontman of The Clash, Joe Strummer.

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PRESENTS

FOCALPOINT OPTICS / ED MOORE

A very happy new year The Boy with Tape on his Face, Duchess Theatre, West End You don’t have to speak to be funny – as The Boy With Tape on his Face proves with this brilliant show, which wowed audiences in Edinburgh and is now on a West End run. You might even get some ideas for how to shut up your drunk friend when they start the ‘let’s make 2013 count’ speech. £22.50, duchesstheatre.co.uk

Late Night Gimp Fight – New Year’s Eve Bash, Soho Theatre If you fancy seeing in the New Year in seriously bad taste (and we’re not talking Christmas jumpers), join sketch group Late Night Gimp Fight for sick jokes, twisted humour and Mexican wrestling masks. £20, £100 for a table of four with pitcher of beer or bottle of wine, sohotheatre.com

Amused Moose New Year Eve, Moonlighting, Soho The award-winning club welcomes populist Hal Cruttenden, Rob Beckett (pictured) Gordon Southern and Ian Stone. And after all that laughter, you can bust out those New Year dance moves at the Moonlighting club’s New Year’s Eve party from 10pm. £22.50-£35, amusedmoose.com

Comedy Carnival, The Clapham Grand Comedy Carnival alumni include Russell Brand, Michael McIntyre and Micky Flanagan. This New Year special features Canadian comic Glenn Wool, Live at The Apollo star Sara Pascoe (pictured) and British Comedy Award nominee John Moloney. £25 (show only), £40 (show and club night), comedycarnival.co.uk

Banana Cabaret, The Bedford, Balham Renowned for high-quality acts, The Bedford pulls out all the stops this New Year’s Eve with veteran John Moloney (who’s also at the Clapham Grand) and the hilarious star of Pot Noodle adverts, Jarred Christmas (pictured). After the jokes, the DJ takes over until 4am. £25, £45 including meal, thebedford.co.uk

Comedy Store New Year’s Eve Stand-up Show, Comedy Store, West End The Comedy Store’s annual bash has a well-deserved reputation for excellence.

This year MC Mick Ferry is joined by fast and furious satirist Imran Yousef, Canadian funnyman Pete Johansson, Paul Tonkinson and Curtis Walker. £55, thecomedystore.co.uk

Don’t fancy battling the New Year’s Eve bar queues? Lighten up and see in 2013 with some of the country’s top comedians instead

Angel Comedy, Camden Head, Islington If the cost of other shows is causing you to consider a night at home in front of Jools Holland, consider the totally free Angel Comedy night at the Camden Head.

Comedians include Barry Ferns, Sunil Patel and Richard Todd, plus there’s a disco after the show.

FREE, angelcomedy.co.uk scoutlondon.com Scout London 35

ONGOING

The Boy With Tape On His Face: More Tape at Duchess Theatre, 3-5 Catherine Street, WC2B 5LA Covent Garden From Dec 17, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Fri & Sat 4pm, no perfs Dec 24-26, Jan 1, extra mats Dec 27, 31 (press night Dec 18), £20 & £25, Premium Seats £35, days seats £10 available in person at the box office from 10am on the day of the performance.

Silent comedy show involving oodles of audience participation and an explosive finale. Until Jan 5.

Late Night Gimp Fight at Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE Tottenham Court Road Thu-Sat 10.30pm, £15, concs £12.50. Sketches, songs and character comedy. Until Jan 5.

Josie Long: Romance And Adventure at Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, Clapham Junction SW11 5TN Wed-Fri 7pm, £12, concs £10. Whimsical and intelligent storytelling and political commentary from the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee. Until Dec 27.

Newsrevue at Canal Cafe Theatre, Bridge House Pub, Delamere Terrace, W2 6ND Warwick Avenue Thu-Sat 9.30pm, Sun 9pm, £10, concs £8.50. Topical sketches and songs. Until Dec 23.

Trevor Noah: The Racist at Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE Tottenham Court Road Mon-Sat 7.30pm, no perfs Dec 24-26, 31, Jan 1, Mon-Wed £15, concs £12.50, Thu-Sat £20, concs £17.50, phone for availability. The South African makes his London debut with a four-week run of wit and commentary.

Until Jan 12.

Jerry Sadowitz: Return Of The Bawbag at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX Leicester Square Dec 20-22, 27-29, Jan 3-5, 7.30pm, £19.50. Controversial and aggressive humour and offbeat magic. Until Jan 5.

Sam Simmons: About The Weather at Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE Tottenham Court Road Mon-Sat 9pm, no perfs Dec 24-26, 31, Jan 1, Mon-Wed £15, concs £12.50, Thu-Sat £20, concs £17.50. Surreal humour and tomfoolery from the expressive Australian stand-up.

Until Jan 5.

Monday December 17 Beasts at Old Red Lion, 418 St John Street, EC1V 4NJ Angel 7.30pm, £8.50. Sketch comedy trio.

Comedy Bin at The Rhythm Factory, 16-18 Whitechapel Road, E1 1EW Whitechapel 8pm-late, FREE. With Pip Jones, Bobby Scott Freeman, Peter Callaghan, Sidney-SIDNEY!, James Mullins, Rhodders, Sophie Johnson, Ross Barden, Stuart Loveridge and Ben Adams.

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The Cutting Edge Review Of The Year Show at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 8pm, £17, concs £12. With Paul Thorne, Stephen Grant, Imran Yusuf, Sean Meo, Alistair Barrie and Steve Gribbin.

The Good Ship Comedy Club at The Good Ship, 289 Kilburn High Road, NW6 7JR Kilburn 7.30pm, £5. With Abandoman, Dan And Dan, Simon Feilder and Jay Foreman.

Wit Happens at The Camden Head, 100 Camden High Street, NW1 0LU Camden Town 8pm, £3. With Jonny Lennard, Emerald Paston, Adam Hess and MC Phil Wang.

Bill Bailey: Qualmpeddler at Hammersmith Apollo, Queen Caroline Street, W6 9QH Hammersmith 8pm, £25. Surreal songs and off-the-wall humour.

Sheeps Festive Bash at Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, N1 2UN Highbury & Islington 7.30pm-10.15pm, £16.50, concs £15.

Sketch comedy from the troupe, plus special guests David O’Doherty, Tim Key, Mark Watson, Jeremy Lion, Oyster Eyes, Jamie Demetriou as Michael Eggwater, Kieran And Joe and The Horne Section Players.

Hungry Miller’s Comedy Laughbag at The Miller, 96 Snowfields, SE1 3SS London Bridge 8pm, £6, adv £4. With Andy Zaltzman, Tobias Persson, Don Biswas and Manos The Greek.

WitTank Presents... at The Courtyard, Bowling Green Walk, 40 Pitfield Street, N1 6EU Old Street 8pm, £5. The sketch comedy trio performs new material, plus special guests.

The Cutting Edge Review Of The Year Show at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 8pm, £17, concs £12. With Sean Meo, Paul Thorne, Martin Coyote, Ian Stone, Roger Monkhouse and Steve Gribbin.

Jongleurs Comedy Show at Sway, 61-65 Great Queen Street, WC2B 5BZ Holborn 9pm, £25, £60 inc three course Christmas meal. With Paul Sinha, Jeff Innocent, Will-E Robo and Rich Wilson.

Wednesday December 19 99 Club Leicester Square at Storm, 28a Leicester Square, WC2H 7LE Leicester Square 8.30pm, £20, £30 inc meal. With Patrick Monahan, Mark Maier, Brett Goldstein and MC Holly Walsh.

Jongleurs Comedy Show at Sway, 61-65 Great Queen Street, WC2B 5BZ Holborn 9pm, £25, £60 inc three course Christmas meal. With Jeff Innocent, Will-E Robo, Paul Sinha and Rich Wilson.

James Mullinger: The Man With No Shame at Etcetera Theatre, 265 Camden High Street, NW1 7BU Camden Town 9.30pm, £6.50, concs £5. Storytelling and anecdotal humour.

Sara Pascoe Doing A New Thing at The Camden Head, 100 Camden High Street, NW1 0LU Camden Town 8pm, £3. The stand-up gives her new material a trial run.

Thursday December 20

Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Show at Hammersmith Apollo, Queen Caroline Street, W6 9QH Hammersmith 8pm, £40-£50, phone for availability. With John Bishop (pictured), Russell Howard, Sarah Millican, Jack Dee, Jack Whitehall and Omid Djalili.

Tuesday December 18 The Camden Comedy Sessions at The Camden Head, 100 Camden High Street, NW1 0LU Camden Town 7.30pm, FREE. With MCs Joe Hunter and Robin Cousins.

Comedy Carnival at The Clapham Grand, 21-25 St John’s Hill, SW11 1TT Clapham Common 8pm-10pm, £16.

With Hal Cruttenden, Paul Tonkinson, John Moloney and MC Bryan Lacey.

Max Dickins: Work In Progress at Etcetera Theatre, 265 Camden High Street, NW1 7BU Camden Town 9.30pm, £4.50. One-liners and observations.

Joel Dommett: Yesssssssssssss. Yes. at Etcetera Theatre, 265 Camden High Street, NW1 7BU Camden Town 7.30pm, £6.50. Amiable stories and anecdotes.

Jongleurs Comedy Show at Sway, 61-65 Great Queen Street, WC2B 5BZ Holborn 9pm, £25, £60 inc three course Christmas meal. With Paul Sinha, Andy Askins, Cole Parker and Rich Wilson.

Peacock & Gamble: Overkill at Kings Place, 90 York Way, N1 9AG King’s Cross St Pancras 8pm, £12.50, adv £9.50. The cheeky duo offer excerpts from their show Don’t Even Want To Be On Telly Anyway, followed by a podcast recording.

The Humble Quest For Universal Genius at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX Leicester Square 9.30pm, £8, concs £6. With Simon Munnery (pictured), Tony Law and MCs Mark Allen and Eli Silverman.

Friday December 21 99 Club Leicester Square at Storm, 28a Leicester Square, WC2H 7LE Leicester Square 8.30pm, £25, £35 inc meal. With Patrick Monahan, Mark Maier, Josh Howie and MC Mowten.

99 Club Clerkenwell at Clerkenwell Theatre, Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE Angel 8pm, £20, £30 inc meal. With Brett Goldstein, Spencer Brown, Matt Green and MC Toby Hadoke.

Banana Cabaret at The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, SW12 9HD Balham 9pm, £14, concs £11. With Paul Sinha, Tony Law, Andrew Bird and Johnny Candon.

The Best In Stand-Up at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 7.30pm-11pm, 7.30pm £23 & £30.50, 11pm £15 & £22.50, NUS/concs £9 & £17.50. With Ben Norris, Simon Evans, Mike Gunn, Otiz Cannelloni and MC Rob Rouse.

The Boat Show at Tattershall Castle, Victoria Embankment, SW1A 2HR Charing Cross 8pm, £16, concs £14.

With Nathan Caton, Dave Fulton, Chris McCausland and John Robins.

Comedy Carnival at The Clapham Grand, 21-25 St John’s Hill, SW11 1TT Clapham Common 8pm-10pm, £16.

With Paul Tonkinson, John Moloney, Hal Cruttenden and MC Pete Jonas.

Crack Comedy Club at The Watershed, 267 The Broadway, SW19 1SD Wimbledon 8pm, £10, adv £9, NUS £6.

With Loretta Maine and Dan Evans.

Jongleurs Comedy Show at The Sports Cafe, 80 Haymarket, SW1Y 4TE Piccadilly Circus 8.30pm, doors 6.30pm, last adm 7.30pm, Thu £20, Fri & Sat £25. With Nathan Caton, Chris McCausland, Jeff Innocent and Mandy Knight.

Tony Law’s Christmas For WellMannered Freaks at Bush Hall, 310 Uxbridge Road, W12 7LJ Shepherd’s Bush 7.30pm, £10. Surreal and energetic humour from the inventive Canadian stand-up. Also featuring Nick Helm and Behemoth.

Piccadilly Comedy Club at The Comedy Pub, 7 Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Leicester Square 8.30pm, £12.50, adv £10. With Hal Cruttenden, Barnaby Slater, Chris Norton Walker and Mike Manera.

The Rat Pack Stand-Up Comedy at Etcetera Theatre, 265 Camden High Street, NW1 7BU Camden Town 9.30pm, £5. Sarah Callaghan, Nathan Cassidy, Alex Holland, Andy Mac, Josiah Norris and Alex Perry, plus host Malcolm Hardee.

Brian Cox And Robin Ince’s End Of The World Show at Hammersmith Apollo, Queen Caroline Street, W6 9QH Hammersmith 7pm, £25-£40, phone for availability. A blend of science and stand-up as special guests mark the Mayan prophecy.

Soho Comedy Club at The Casino At The Empire, 5-6 Leicester Square, WC2H 7NA Leicester Square 8pm, £15, adv £10.

With Tony Law, Josh Howie, Andrew Watts and MC David Mulholland.

Streatham Comedy Club at The Hideaway, Stanthorpe Road, SW16 2ED Streatham 8.30pm, £12, NUS/concs £6, adv £10. With Marcel Lucont, Dan Evans and Diane Spencer.

Top Secret Comedy Club at The Africa Centre, 38 King Street, WC2E 8JT Covent Garden 8.15pm-10.45pm, £8, NUS £5. With Robert White and Tony Cowards.

Up The Creek at Up The Creek, 302 Creek Cutty Sark 8.45pm, Road, SE10 9SW £20. With Ian Stone, Eric Lampaert, Damian Clark and MC Joey Page.

Saturday December 22 The Best In Stand-Up at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 7.30pm, 11pm, 7.30pm £26 & £33.50, 11pm £20 & £27.50, NUS/concs £15 & £22.50. With Ben Norris, Simon Evans, Mike Gunn, Otiz Cannelloni and MC Rob Rouse.

Comedy Cabaret Xmas Special at Downstairs At The King’s Head, 2 Crouch End Hill, N8 8AA Finsbury Park 8.30pm, £10, concs £7. With Gareth Richards, Ninia Benjamin and MC Dominic Frisby.

The Funny Side...Of Covent Garden: Special Christmas Show at The George, 213 Strand, WC2R 1AP Temple 8pm, £14. With Nick Doody, Rob Heeney, Barry Castagnola and MC Jonny Freeman.

Monkey Business Comedy Club: Christmas Show at Sir Richard Steele, 97 Haverstock Hill, NW3 4RL Chalk Farm 8.45pm, £12.50, concs £10. With Lucy Porter, Carey Marx, Kate Lucas, Jon Levene and MC Martin Besserman.

Piccadilly Comedy Club at The Comedy Pub, 7 Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Leicester Square 8.30pm, £12.50, adv £10. With Hal Cruttenden, Barnaby Slater, Chris Norton Walker and Mike Manera.

Soho Comedy Club at The Casino At The Empire, 5-6 Leicester Square, WC2H 7NA Leicester Square 8pm, £15, adv £10. With Pete Johansson, Nik Coppin, Iszi Lawrence and MC David Mulholland.

Stand-Up Comedy at The Hob, 7 Devonshire Road, SE23 3HE Forest Hill 9pm, £9, concs £6. With Andrew Bird, Paul Sinha, Mary Bourke and MC Jessica Fostekew.

Top Secret Comedy Club at The Africa Centre, 38 King Street, WC2E 8JT Covent Garden 8.15pm-10.45pm, £10, NUS £5. With Marcel Lucont and Nabil Abdulrashid.

Up The Creek at Up The Creek, 302 Creek Road, SE10 9SW Cutty Sark 8.30pm, £20. With Dana Alexander, Damian Clark, Jon Newton and MC Joey Page.

Sunday December 23 99 Club Leicester Square at Storm, 28a Leicester Square, WC2H 7LE Leicester Square 8pm, £20, £30 inc meal. With Marlon Davies, Prince Abdi, Yianni Agisilaou and MC Mowten.

Comedy Variety Cabaret Xmas Special at Downstairs At The King’s Head, 2 Crouch End Hill, N8 8AA Finsbury Park 8.30pm, £10, concs £7. With Jen Brister, Toby Adams, Earl Okin, Nick Revell and MC Rich Wilson.

Jewish Xmas Matzo Ball Special at Sir Richard Steele, 97 Haverstock Hill, NW3 4RL Chalk Farm 8.30pm, £12.50. With Bennett Arron, Daniel Cainer, Josh Howie and MC Martin Besserman.

Monday December 24 Jewish Xmas Eve Matzo Ball Special at Sir Richard Steele, 97 Haverstock Hill, NW3 4RL Chalk Farm 8.30pm, £12.50. With Josh Howie, Bennett Arron, Daniel Cainer, Elliot Mason, Candy Gigi and MC Martin Besserman.

Wednesday December 26 Boxing Day Special at Sir Richard Steele, 97 Haverstock Hill, NW3 4RL Chalk Farm 8.45pm, £12, concs £10.

With David Mills, Wayne Deakin, Tobias Persson, Amir Khoshokhan, Don Biswas, Barry Ferns, Jo Romeo, Candy Gigi and MC Martin Besserman.

New Comedian Of The Year Competition Final at The Comedy Pub, 7 Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Leicester Square 8.30pm, £12.50, adv £10. With Lindsay Sharman, Sunil Patel, Sofie Hagen, Nick Saunders, Elena Procopiu, Sean Brightman, Larry Dean and Fern Brady.

Top Secret Comedy Club at The Africa Centre, 38 King Street, WC2E 8JT Covent Garden 8.15pm-10.45pm, £8, NUS £5. With Dane Baptiste and Andrew Doyle.

Saturday December 29 Banana Cabaret at The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, SW12 9HD Balham 9pm, £16, concs £13. With John Moloney, Ian Stone and Scott Capurro.

The Best In Stand-Up at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 7.30pm, 11pm, 7.30pm £22.50, 11pm £18, NUS/concs £13. With Pete Johansson, Dave Johns, Addy Van Der Borgh, Ian Stone and MC Mick Ferry.

Big Night Out at Rumba, 36 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EP Piccadilly Circus 8pm-10pm, £10-£16. With Stefano Paolini, Jeremy O’Donnell, Ben Norris and MC Chris Gilbert.

Central London Comedy Club at Theodore Bullfrog, 28 John Adam Street, WC2N 6AS Charing Cross 8.30pm10.30pm, £5. With Darius Davies, Ben Adams, Tony Marrese, Joanne Lau, Don Biswas, Nick Sun, Leo Kearse.

Jongleurs Comedy Show at Sway, 61-65 Great Queen Street, WC2B 5BZ Holborn 8.45pm, doors 7pm, last adm 7.45pm, last adm 7.45pm, £15. With Kane Brown, Slim and two competition slot contenders.

Monkey Business Comedy Club: Christmas Show at Sir Richard Steele, 97 Haverstock Hill, NW3 4RL Chalk Farm 8.45pm, £12.50, concs £10. With Simon Munnery, Sol Bernstein, Joel Dommett, Phil O’Shea and MC Martin Besserman.

Shaggers Christmas Special at The Comedy Pub, 7 Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Leicester Square 8.30pm, £12.50, adv £10. With Joel Dommett, Christian Schulte-Loh, Jason Paterson, Sameena Zehra and MC Nik Coppin.

Stand-Up Comedy at The Hob, 7 Devonshire Road, SE23 3HE Forest Hill 9pm, £9, concs £6. With Chris Martin, Cole Parker and MC Rob Collins.

Thursday December 27 99 Club Leicester Square at Storm, 28a Leicester Square, WC2H 7LE Leicester Square 8.30pm, £20, £30 inc meal. With Patrick Monahan, Nick Doody, Mark Maier and MC Brett Goldstein.

Friday December 28 The Best In Stand-Up at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 7.30pm-11pm, £20 & £27.50. With Pete Johansson, Dave Johns, Addy Van Der Borgh, Ian Stone and MC Mick Ferry.

Big Night Out at Rumba, 36 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EP Piccadilly Circus 8pm-10pm, £10-£16. With Stefano Paolini, Jeremy O’Donnell, Ben Norris and MC Chris Gilbert.

Banana Cabaret at The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, SW12 9HD Balham 9pm, £16, concs £13.

With John Moloney (pictured), Ian Stone and Scott Capurro.

Up The Creek at Up The Creek, 302 Creek Road, SE10 9SW Cutty Sark 8.30pm, £12, adv £10. With Imran Yusuf, Inel Tomlinson, Ben Norris and MC Joey Page.

Sunday December 30 99 Club Leicester Square at Storm, 28a Leicester Square, WC2H 7LE Leicester Square 8pm, £20, £30 inc meal. With Matt Green, Spencer Brown, Brett Goldstein and MC Mowten.

Comedy Store Players at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 7.30pm, £17, concs £12. Improvisational humour.

Monday December 31

The Covent Garden Comedy Club @ Heaven: New Year’s Eve Show 2012 at The Covent Garden Comedy Club @ Heaven, Under The Arches Villiers Street, WC2N 6NG Charing Cross 7pm-9.15pm, £30, £45 inc Opal Nightclub entry. With Paul Tonkinson (pictured), Ian Stone, John Fothergill and MC Dave Ward.

Amused Moose Soho: New Year’s Eve at Moonlighting, 16-17 Greek Street, W1D 4DR Tottenham Court Road 8pm, £35, adv £22.50-£32.50. With Hal Cruttenden, Rob Beckett, Gordon Southern and Ian Stone.

Big Night Out at Rumba, 36 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EP Piccadilly Circus 8pm-10pm, phone for prices. Polished stand-up from Paul Thorne, Sean Meo, Hal Cruttenden and Chris Gilbert.

Jongleurs Comedy Show at Sway, 61-65 Great Queen Street, WC2B 5BZ Holborn 9pm, doors 7pm, last adm 8pm, last adm 8pm, £65 inc three course meal.

With Adam Crow, Rudi Lickwood, Cole Parker, The Noise Next Door.

New Year’s Eve 2012: Banana Cabaret at The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, SW12 9HD Balham 6.30pm-4am, £25, £49 inc meal. With John Moloney, Jarred Christmas, Paul Tonkinson and Paul Thorne.

New Year’s Eve at The Clapham Grand, 2125 St John’s Hill, SW11 1TT Clapham Common 8pm-10pm, £25.

With John Moloney and MC Pete Jonas.

New Year’s Eve Stand Up Show at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 8pm, £55, adv £49. With Pete Johansson, Imran Yusuf, Paul Tonkinson and more.

New Year’s Eve Party Spectacular at Sir Richard Steele, 97 Haverstock Hill, NW3 4RL Chalk Farm 9pm, £25.

With Patrick Monahan, Julian Deane, Elliot Mason and Jonny Awsum.

New Year’s Eve at Up The Creek, 302 Creek Road, SE10 9SW Cutty Sark 9pm, £30, £65 all inc. With Ben Norris, Man With A Beard, Phil Butler and more.

scoutlondon.com Scout London 37

From Sherlock to the Shire

M

artin Freeman is on the cusp of major league movie stardom, so you’d have thought he would be at least a little excited. But not a bit of it.

“People have been annoying me in restaurants for a long time,” he grumbles lightheartedly. “Now it’ll just be all over the world. Yippee.”

Freeman has been in the public eye in Britain for more than 10 years, having shot to prominence as Tim in The Office. While he might not be keen to embrace

38 Scout London scoutlondon.com

the fame game, he’s certainly going to have to endure it, as he’s currently playing the leading role in the biggest film around – Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Based on the 1937 fantasy novel by JRR Tolkien, it’s been painstakingly brought to life by visionary director Peter Jackson, who was also behind the multi award-winning adaptations of Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings trilogy.

“I’m getting a glimpse of that external reaction now,” says Freeman, a youthful-looking

41-year-old. “That level of fame is obviously very different to what most people will ever experience, but my life doesn’t feel much different yet.”

Freeman comes across as friendly and thoughtful, if a little prickly at times. That could simply be his sense of humour or perhaps a protective reflex, given that he describes himself as “a very, very private person”.

So private that he doesn’t want to confirm how many children he has (a Google search reveals he has a son and daughter with his long-

term partner, Amanda Abbington).

What he will say is that he doesn’t want his kids to see him as anything other than their dad.

“I want to keep my children absolutely out of it until they’re of an age where they can decide,” he says. “Sometimes when I’m stopped in the street and I’m with my children, I always try and get them out of the picture and they’ll go, ‘Why don’t you want us?’ and I’m like, ‘No, I’m protecting you!’”

You can understand he may be a little defensive, given that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Playing Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit is the biggest role of Martin Freeman’s career.

Unfortunately, it also comes with worldwide fame, which, as he tells Susan Griffin, he’s definitely not looking forward to

BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE HOBBIT It took a team of 350 people to design and create a layered, multifaceted and palpably real Middle-earth.

Look out for Barry Humphries, best known for his comedic alter ego Dame Edna, as the hulking Goblin king.

For the first time, Peter Jackson used state-ofthe-art digital cameras to record the action in 3D, at an unprecedented 48 frames per second.

Ian West, PA Photos

In addition to playing Gollum, Andy Serkis served as Jackson’s second unit director throughout the shoot.

is just the first of three films in yet another Middle-earth trilogy.

The following movies, The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug and The Hobbit: There And Back Again, will be released in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

The tale begins 60 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings, and sees a young Bilbo Baggins swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug (voiced by Freeman’s Sherlock co-star Benedict Cumberbatch).

New and old faces pop up along the way. Andy Serkis returns as Gollum, while Sir Ian McKellen reprises his role as wizard Gandalf the Grey, who tasks Bilbo with his audacious plan. They’re soon joined by a band of 13 Dwarves, led by the legendary Thorin Oakenshield (Spooks star Richard Armitage).

And together they embark on a journey into treacherous lands, swarming with Goblins and Orcs.

It’s one of the world’s most seminal fantasy novels, but Freeman admits to only reading it two years ago.

“I just didn’t grow up with it.

I’m a fan now, but it just wasn’t in my universe then,” says the Hampshire-born actor.

Since The Office, Freeman has appeared in a host of British films such as Love Actually, Nativity!, Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz.

He also recently earned Emmy and Bafta TV nominations for his role as Dr John Watson in Sherlock, but he was far from a global ‘name’ when Jackson cast him in The Hobbit.

That didn’t deter the director, who was so determined to hire Freeman that he rearranged the

shooting schedule to allow the actor to leave the film set in New Zealand to film Sherlock in the UK. “I was truly shocked and pleased because I really wanted to play Bilbo, and that’s not the kind of offer that comes back,” says Freeman. “It showed they had such faith in me. They must have seen something in me that could play worry but with humour.”

In his own life, the actor says he’s not particularly adventurous.

“Well, it depends on the adventure. I wouldn’t go into life or death [situations], but nor would anyone unless you’re a moron.

“But I’m an actor and I chose a path where there’s no security, few wages, no pension. So for a start that’s braver than those who go to work at the bank in my opinion.”

Freeman says the role of Bilbo was physically demanding from the start, partly because of the flipperlike Hobbit feet he had to wear.

“I won’t miss them,” he smiles.

“I had to shave my legs, talcum powder them, then they’d put an inner sole on and put this latex leg and foot over it. It took about a week to get used to.”

The three movies were shot back-to-back over an epic 18 months, during which Freeman only had two chances to return to his London home.

“After that experience, coming home is like decompression,” he says. “You’ve been gone for so long in a completely different world – figuratively and literally – so it takes you a while to really get back to normal.”

Ever grounded, he remains pragmatic about the future. “I try not to expect anything because there is no guarantee of anything.

“I’ve been told before, ‘Your life’s going to change after this comes out’. No it didn’t, it really didn’t change.

“Obviously this is a huge film but any premature expectation or patting on the back is a very dangerous thing to do because it can only come with disappointment.”

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is in cinemas now scoutlondon.com Scout London 39

AT CINEMAS THIS FESTIVE SEASON

The Big Sleep (PG) Lightning does strike twice. Howard Hawks’s serpentine 1946 adaptation of Raymond Chandler re-teamed Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall after their smouldering pairing in To Have and Have Not. Their electrifying on-screen chemistry threatens to melt the celluloid here too, with Bogart cast as private detective Philip Marlowe, who agrees to help General’s daughter Carmen (Martha Vickers) extricate herself from a pornography blackmail plot. Carmen’s older sister (Bacall) receives the incriminating pictures and entreats Marlowe to acquire the negatives and avoid a scandal. The knot of tension in our stomach tightens as Marlowe’s investigation widens to include the suspicious death of the General’s chauffeur and the possible involvement of casino owner Eddie Mars (John Ridgely). DS Dec 20, 8.30pm, £10, concs £8, mems free.

Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH Charing Cross.

Life of Pi (PG) Oscar-winning director Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain) embraces 3D for the first time with this handsome adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Yann Martel about a circus owner’s son (Suraj Sharma), who is shipwrecked with a zebra, orangutan, hyena and tiger during a storm. Life Of Pi is the first film since Avatar to fully exploit the eyepopping format, immersing us in the central character’s water-logged odyssey, including a terrifying sequence in churning water reminiscent of Titanic. Sharma, who has never acted before, is mesmerising, plucking our heartstrings in close-up while Claudio Miranda’s breathtaking cinematography ravishes the senses, enhanced by slick digital effects, which bring the stricken animals to life. Damon Smith At cinemas from Dec 20

Pitch Perfect (12A)

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Glee meets Bring It On with the sassy swagger of Clueless in Jason Moore’s unabashedly feel-great musical comedy about an all-girl a cappella group hoping to pitch slap their rivals at a national singing competition. Anna Kendrick plays wannabe music producer Beca, who signs up with The Bellas alongside Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) and suggests a bold new repertoire of musical mash-ups to dazzle the judges. Pitch Perfect lives up to its title, delivering aca-mazing musical performances with gorgeous harmonies as The Bellas prove they are “Dixie Chick serious” about winning. Kay Cannon’s script boasts some deliciously tart one-liners and a menagerie of loveable characters determined to chart a course through life with lyrical guidance from Madonna, Kelly Clarkson and Jessie J. DS At cinemas from Dec 21

40 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Chinatown (15)

Repulsion (15)

Roman Polanski’s final film made on US soil before he fled to Europe to escape arrest for unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl was this slow-burning crime thriller. Jack Nicholson lights up the screen as private detective Jake Gittes, who is hired by Evelyn Mulwray (Diane Ladd) to catch her philandering husband (Darrell Zwerling). When the adulterous spouse turns up dead, Gittes meets the real Mrs Mulwray (Faye Dunaway), who clearly has something to hide. DS

Polanki’s 1965 character study masterfully captures the deteriorating mental state of a manicurist, Carole (Catherine Deneuve), who is left alone in her sister’s claustrophobic London flat with only paranoia and insecurities for company. Unwanted advances from two men – her boyfriend (Ian Hendry) and lecherous landlord (Patrick Wymark) – lead to shocking acts of violence as the emotionally damaged heroine hallucinates grubby hands reaching out of the wall to molest her. DS

From Jan 4, £5-£10, concs/mems £5-£8.50 BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XT Waterloo

From Jan 4, £5-£10, concs/mems £5-£8.50, BFI Southbank and selected cinemas, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XT Waterloo

West Of Memphis (15)

The Impossible (12A)

Fend off the January blues with a season of the finest screwball comedies from the Golden Age of Hollywood, beginning on New Year’s Day with Howard Hawks’s 1934 rapid-fire romance, Twentieth Century, pairing John Barrymore and Carole Lombard. BFI Southbank screens 21 classics of the genre across the month, including Frank Capra’s Mr Deeds Goes To Town (Jan 2 & 10), Bringing Up Baby starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, (Jan 6 & 14) and the sublime Philadelphia Story, which introduces James Stewart as a rival for Hepburn’s affections (Jan 21 & 27).

The Impossible recounts the harrowing true story of holidaying couple Henry (Ewan McGregor) and Marie (Naomi Watts), who were caught up in the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami with their three young sons, Lucas (Tom Holland), Thomas (Samuel Joslin) and Simon (Oaklee Pendergast). Director Juan Antonio Bayona recreates the fury of Mother Nature with stomach-churning digital effects that give a sense of the confusion and terror of that day. Watts wrings out copious tears as a critically ill mother, but it’s newcomer Holland who impresses most, handling the emotionallywrought scenes like he was born to act.

At cinemas from Jan 1

Jan 1-31, times vary, £5-£10, concs/mems £5-£8.50, BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XT Waterloo

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In June 1993, teenagers Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr and Jason Baldwin were arrested for the murders of three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. The accused asserted their innocence but were found guilty and sentenced to death row or lifetime imprisonment. Friends, family and celebrities are convinced that they are victims of a miscarriage of justice. Amy J Berg’s riveting documentary chronicles efforts to re-examine the evidence with the benefit of modern forensic science.

At selected cinemas from Dec 21

Screwball!

scoutlondon.com Scout London 41

Who’s that girl?

T

here’s nothing like being on the set of the Doctor Who Christmas special to get you in a Yuletide mood.

It’s August when I visit the Cardiff studio, but a blanket of snow covers the narrow streets of Victorian London and, round a corner, I glimpse the Tardis surrounded by pine trees.

The show’s festive episode is always one of the biggest events of the TV calendar, but there’s an extra reason to watch this year. It’s the first time fans will see JennaLouise Coleman as the Doctor’s new sidekick, Clara.

The actress made a surprise appearance in September in the role of Oswin, who was in fact a Dalek, but she insists Clara is another entity.

“I’m not Oswin. I’m a different person,” says Coleman, fresh from wardrobe in a corseted burgundy gown. “The connection is that it’s me playing them both, but this is the mystery. This is where the series goes...”

She tails off, at pains not to reveal too much. As usual, the episode, titled The Snowmen, is shrouded in secrecy.

42 Scout London scoutlondon.com

What we do know is that it features the villainous Dr Simeon, played by Richard E Grant, who controls an army of snowmen with sharp icicles for teeth.

Downhearted and reclusive after the departure of previous sidekicks Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill), the Doctor (Matt Smith) is reluctant to engage with the problems of the universe, but Clara wants his help and won’t back down until she gets it.

Coleman says: “She’s feisty and curious. She’s up for adventure and knows what she wants and is very witty. She’s not intimidated by the Doctor – she finds him amazing and ridiculous in equal measure.”

Faced with the inevitable question of a possible romance, she says: “There’s definitely a flirtation between them both and they’re drawn to each other.”

For any actress, taking on the coveted role of the Doctor’s sidekick is a huge deal. As well as the media interest and the legions of devoted fans, there’s the need to keep lots of details under wraps.

“I wasn’t allowed to say what I was auditioning for. I had to call it Men On Waves,” says the actress, who is best known for playing Emmerdale’s Jasmine Thomas.

The 26-year-old, who’s been on a self-imposed “Google ban” since her casting was announced, admits

Christmas magic Look, Doctor! A floating umbrella!

the past few months have “been kind of crazy”.

“For the last two years I’ve mainly been doing period dramas and now I’ve been thrown into this where there’s CGI and it’s very technical but also very fun and adventurous and it’s OK to run down a corridor shouting.”

The hardest part, she says, is coping with the action scenes.

“I get so carried away with the adventure that I end up being really clumsy and headbutting the camera in every single episode!”

For his part, Smith says meeting a new “hot chick” will have an interesting effect on his alter ego.

“He’s presented with this young beautiful woman and that does strange things to the Doctor – again! That’s what’s so brilliant about the show. It allows itself to reinvent all the time.”

Smith, who has played the role for three years, refuses to be drawn on when he will eventually hang up his sonic screwdriver, but says he hopes to be around for next year’s Christmas special.

Doctor Who is on BBC One on Christmas Day

PA Features ArchivE, PA Images

The Time Lord’s feeling lonely this Christmas – but at least there’s a new girl on the scene to perk him up.

Diana Pilkington takes a tour of the famous Doctor Who set and meets new sidekick Jenna-Louise Coleman

COMEDY

N ANIMATIO

Twenty Twelve Series 2 (15) DVD and Blu-ray

Gifts worth watching DVDs, Blu-rays and box-sets make great last-minute stocking fillers. Damon Smith compiles our pick of the best

T

E BUDGE

BLOW TH

Bond 50 (15)

DVD and Blu-ray box set With James Bond’s 23rd mission, Skyfall, now the highest-grossing film of all time at the UK box office, relive five decades of Ian Fleming’s elite secret agent with a hefty box set that includes the previous 22 action-packed films. As well as the feature films, the set includes more than 122 hours of bonus features, including an additional disc laden with featurettes, trivia and behindthe-scenes content.

David Tennant narrates another seven hilarious episodes of the BBC mockumentary following head of deliverance Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville) and his team as they attempt to stage the Olympic Games. PR operative Siobhan Sharpe (Jessica Hynes) has the idea of the ‘Jubilympics’ to harness public support for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and channel it into the games.

Marley

Pixar Short Films Collection 2 (PG) The Oscar-winning animation studio demonstrates its artistry, invention and split-second comic timing in 12 short films, some of which have screened theatrically before Pixar feature films. This compilation comprises Your Friend The Rat, Presto, BURN-E, Partly Cloudy, Dug’s Special Mission, George And AJ, Day And Night, Hawaiian Vacation, Air Mater, Small Fry, Time Travel Mater and La Luna.

CHRISTM

(15)

DVD and Blu-ray Made with the consent and co-operation of Bob Marley’s family, Kevin Macdonald’s affectionate documentary traces the history of the musical icon from his childhood, when he became insecure about his mixed-race heritage, to his later years, when he spread his love liberally between his wife, mistresses, children and millions of fans. Concert footage is intercut with more familiar archive material and interviews, set to a rousing soundtrack.

Breaking Bad Season Four (15)

DVD and Blu-ray

IC AS CLASS

NTARY

DOCUME

DRAMA

ET: The ExtraTerrestrial (U) Limited edition Blu-ray

Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece touches down on Blu-ray for the first time, following Elliot (Henry Thomas) and his siblings as they conceal a stranded alien visitor from government scientists and their own mother (Dee Wallace Stone). This limited edition box set includes a spaceship model which lights up and plays John Williams’ unforgettable theme tune as the door in the base opens.

DVD box set

This four-disc set comprises 13 episodes of the Emmy awardwinning drama, which follows high school chemistry teacher Walt (Bryan Cranston) and ex-student Jesse (Aaron Paul) as their crystal meth business grows, and their involvement with the murky underworld deepens. This series, a murder has dramatic repercussions for the business partners.

THRILLER

The Killing Trilogy (15) DVD and Blu-ray

box set

We were entranced by the first series (all 20 episdoes) of this gripping Danish crime thriller, with its outstanding characters, constant twists and surprises.

And Sarah Lund. Most of us fell a little bit in love with her. Probably because of her jumpers. The second series was shorter and more politically-themed, but just as thrilling. And the third is still on TV. This box set is perfect for those “just one more episode” moments on wintery nights.

Don’t miss your chance to win with Scout London has teamed-up with Netflix, the world’s leading Internet subscription service for enjoying films and TV shows, to give one lucky reader the chance to win a one year subscription and a 32in Samsung Full HD LED TV with Freeview and built in Netflix so you can instantly watch hours of great entertainment.

Simply answer the following question: Eli Roth directed the Netflix Original Series House of Cards due for release in 2013. Which other titles has he previously directed?

A) Hostel B) Motel C) Tavern

To enter text SCOUT FLIX and your answer to 88010 Texts cost £1*, also enter at scoutlondon.com/netflix * see Terms & Conditions on p55

scoutlondon.com Scout London 43

NEW YEAR’S EVE CLUB NIGHTS It’s the biggest night of the year for clubbing, and London’s spoiled for choice. Whether you’re into bass, techno, house, or just want some cheese, here’s our pick of the best Best for…

ELECTRONIC HEAVYWEIGHTs UKF Bass Culture: New Year’s Eve 2012 Bass for your face, London. Chase and Status, Shy FX, Foreign Beggars and more line-up at the O2 Academy Brixton to bring in the new year with bowel-wobbling bass. £40, 9.30pm-6am, o2academybrixton.co.uk Slide & Get Diverted NYE Disco legend Greg Wilson will play an extended three-hour midnight set at Brixton Clubhouse, flanked by Alexis Raphael, Elijah Collins, Rob Aldritt and more. Plus, there’s a silent disco on the rooftop terrace. Which is almost as entertaining to watch without wearing the headphones. £10-£20, 8pm-6am, getdiverted.com New Year’s Eve at Fabric One of the biggest nights this New Year’s Eve sees DJ sets from tech-house supremos Craig Richards and Terry Francis as well as Domino Records’ electronic experimentalist Four Tet. Plus, there’s live performances from Grammynominated US producer Martin Buttrich, one of the founders of minimal techno, Robert Hood, and rising Brit star Tom Demac. £35-£45, £20 after 4am, 9pm-9am, fabriclondon.com

BEST OF THE REST ««««««««««

44 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Bass status Chase and Status will rock the O2 Academy Brixton

Pioneer Four Tet will perform at Fabric

NYE Party XOYO Head to Old Street for a DJ set from Simian Mobile Disco, plus a performance from nu-disco supremos, Hercules and the Love Affair. £20, 9pm-5am, EC2A 4AP xoyo.co.uk

Urban Nerds NYE 2012 The Sidings Three rooms of top quality house and dubstep courtesy of Redlight, Bondax, Marcus Nasty, Leon Bynehall, Laszlo Dancehall, Rattus Rattus and friends. £30, 9pm-6am, SE1 1RU facebook.com/sidingslondon

Legend Greg Wilson will play a three-hour set

Trevor Nelson NYE Party Area Join Trevor Nelson, Dodge, Hanif and Martin and 2Smoove to welcome in 2013 with R&B and hip hop across two rooms of this large Vauxhall club. £25, 9pm-4am, SE1 7HD ticketweb.co.uk

BEST OF THE REST ««««««««««

Session NYE The Queen Of Hoxton Alternative, pop, rock and electro DJ sets courtesy of Mat Horne, Does It Offend You Yeah!, O Children, Babyshambles, Push Music, Badloader, States Of Emotion, Sianne and Ryan Paul, plus live performances from The Milk, Maddox, Vox Empire and Wildlife. £15, 8pm-4am, EC2A 3JX queenofhoxton.com Supa Dupa Fly Plan B DJs CJ Beatz, Big Ted and Emily Rawson drop R&B, garage, hip hop and rap from the 1990s. £15, concs £10, 9pm-4am, SW9 7AY, planb-london.com This Feeling NYE 2012 Vibe Bar Who needs electronic music?

Get into 2013 with a swathe of rock’n’roll and indie courtesy of Steve Harris, Soul Boy, She Bangs Drums, Dean Mumford, The Last Party, Maggot GLC, Cool Britannia and 90s Mike, plus a DJ set from Miles Kane and live performances from The Rifles, 12 Dirty Bullets, Dexters and Swanton Bombs.

8pm-4am, £30, adv £25, early bird £20, E1 6QL, vibe-bar.co.uk Garage Nation New Year’s Eve Hidden Dig out your Reebok classics for a night of old skool garage from Norris Da Boss Windross, Mike Ruff Cutt Lloyd, Ray Hurley, Scott Garcia, Jason Kaye and Martin Liberty Larner, plus MCs CKP, DT, PSG, KIE, Teller, Ranking and Wicked. BIG! £15.95, 9pm-9am, SE11 5EQ hiddenclub.co.uk Bodymove New Year’s Eve Egg Running all the way to 2pm on January 1, this is one of the longest parties of the night (and day).

There’ll be sets from house legends Derrick Carter and DJ Karizma, as well as a live samba in a Brazillian big top in the club garden.

Early bird £25, £35, 8pm-2pm, SE11 5EQ egglondon.net

I Love The 80s Vs I Love The 90s NYE Party The Garage Indulge your inner cheese desires with a night of dance, pop, indie and retro anthems from the 1980s and 90s. £7, 9pm-late, N5 1RD thegarage.co.uk

Best for… Classic cLUBbing Toolroom Knights at The Ministry Of Sound Toolroom Records founder Mark Knight headlines this night of house at the legendary club in Elephant & Castle.

10pm-5am, £40, ministryofsound.com Dollop NYE 2012 Head out to east London’s Troxy for the always excellent Dollop new year’s celebration. House music producer Julio Bashmore (pictured right) is joined by Jackmaster, Oneman, Krystal Klear and more for a night of thumping party bangers.

9.30pm-5.30am, £40, dollopdollop.com Eastern Electrics NYE Following its summer festival, Eastern Electrics returns to its club roots at The Coronet in Elephant and Castle, where dubstep boundarypusher Joy Orbison is joined by Miguel Campbell (pictured) and others.

9pm-7am, £20 & £40, bit.ly/RAEENYE12

Best for…

SOMETHING DIFFERENT Soundtracks: Who Framed Roger Rabbit New Year’s Eve Blowout Dress as your favourite cartoon character and head on over to Camden pub The Monarch for a night of classic movie soundtrack tunes.

Probably the only place you’ll see Snow White snuggling up with Daffy Duck.

8pm-late, £10, monarchbar.com

Best for… retro A Vintage New Year’s Eve Party Born out of the Vintage festival, founded by Wayne Hemingway, this event will see the entire Royal Festival Hall complex shake to music from throughout the 20th century, from dance tunes of the 20s to rockabilly from the 50s and soul, funk, disco and house of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Don finery from your favourite era and party like its not 2012.

7pm, £80, £139.50 with three-course meal, southbankcentre.co.uk

Best for…RAVE VIBE Onemore NYE Tech-house heavyweights Radio Slave (pictured) and Tiefschwarz team up for a night of serious fun at Shoreditch’s Hearn Street Car Park. Onemore’s parties at the space have been growing fast and this one will be the cream of the crop. Getting underway just an hour before Big Ben strikes, it’ll keep raving well into 2013. £20-£30, 11pm-6.30am, onemorelondon.com Reggae Roast & Nice Up! The Big Chill House A reggae dub and dancehall party with sets from Terror Danjah, Serial Killaz, DJ Shepdog and Adam Prescott, plus a live performance from General Levy. £15, 9pm-5am, N1 9NL bigchill.net/house

Secretsundaze NYE 2012 Long-standing London club promoters Secretsundaze are bringing in two of their favourite artists to top the bill at this show at Peckham’s coolest venue, the Bussey Building.

Dance into the new year with the classic, slick and funky disco house sounds of Andrés, and the eclectic bass, techno, house vibes of seminal DJ and producer Martyn (pictured). £14.50, 9pm-6am, secretsundaze.net

The Vegas Hotel: New Year’s Eve Pacha DJ and producer Stellar plays an electro, house and dance set, plus there’s a chance to try your hand at the casino and be entertained by show girls. £45, 9pm-6am, SW1V 1JR pachalondon.com

United As One New Year’s Eve Fire Subzero, Grooverider, Phantasy, Taxman, Majistrate, Ruffstuff, Heist, Nicky Blackmarket and a host of other huge drum’n’bass names across three arenas.

VIP £40, £20, 8pm-6am, SW8 1RT firelondon.net

scoutlondon.com Scout London 45

THIS WEE K

The Prodigy

December 18-20, O2 Brixton Academy, £45

It feels like an age since the summer, when The Prodigy pummelled Download festival’s Saturday night masses. Happily, they’re back from a global tour and bringing their monstrous back catalogue to Brixton for three nights.

Give yourself a pre-Christmas treat in the shape of Firestarter, Smack My Bitch Up, Poison and the inimitable Out of Space, courtesy of the outfit’s hardcore founding trio: Liam Howlett, Keith Flint and Maxim Reality.

Their live shows are something

Dappy

December 20, Hammersmith Apollo, £18.50

While his cousin Tulisa has been judging on The X Factor, the former brains behind N-Dubz has been prepping for this Bad Intentions tour. Music snobs might have turned their noses up at the north Londoner, but he’s got some decent tunes and knows how to put on a great gig. As N-Dubz goes, it could be he was the one with the real x-factor.

Queen Caroline Street, W6 9QH 46 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Hammersmith

Scout Stereo

1

John Holmes Main Title from Home Alone Sparkly and seasonal, with a hint of malice – a top theme for a top Christmas film

2

Frank Sinatra Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas If this doesn’t warm you up, it’s time to check that pulse.

3

At once both optimistic and heartbreaking. A classic.

The Pogues to behold, and it’s easy to see why this outstanding bunch of Essex rave punks have become one of electronic music’s most revered veterans.

Stockwell Road, SW9 9SL Brixton

December 20, The O2, £45 It wouldn’t be Christmas without The Pogues’ annual festive shindig. A riotous, raucous rousing affair, it’s full of great craic, even greater tunes and what could be the greatest Christmas pop song ever. Take that, Cliff Richard.

Peninsula Square SE10 0DX

Darlene Love Christmas Baby (Please Come Home)

North Greenwich

4

James Brown Santa Claus go Straight to the Ghetto A kindly Christmas message from the Godfather of soul.

5

Kurtis Blow Christmas Rappin’ Funk, old-skool rap and Christmas – what more do you want?

Listen to our playlist: j.mp/scout0021

Django Django LONDON NEWS PICTURES, REX FEATURES

Macy Gray December 20, KOKO, £30

The Grammy award-winner will be playing Stevie Wonder’s masterpiece album, Talking Book, in its entirety at this special show.

Camden High Street, NW1 7JE Mornington Crescent

December 21, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £15 This has very much been Django Django’s year. Having met at Edinburgh Art College, the four-piece released their debut album at the start of 2012, scoring a Mercury nomination and rave reviews from The Guardian and NME. And with good reason. Intelligent, catchy tunes, akin to those of the Beta Band, make this one of the best British indie bands to emerge in recent times.

Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 8TT

Shepherd’s Bush

Frank Hamilton December 20, Barfly, £6

Frank Hamilton has been on a project to write, record and release one song a week for a whole year.

As his mammoth task draws to a close, hear the highlights at this special one-off gig, which will feature some of his collaborators.

Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AN Chalk Farm scoutlondon.com Scout London 47

A L SO THIS WEE K ABC Dec 18, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, £35-£75 Autoheart, Black Gold Buffalo, Tenmen Dec 20, Bull And Gate, £6, adv/w/flyer £5 Bad Manners Dec 21, 229 The Venue, £20 Beverley Craven Dec 23, Half Moon, Putney, £12 Brandon Allen Sextet Dec 19, Ronnie Scott’s, £10, NUS £5 Charles Miller & Fenton Gray Dec 17, The Battersea Barge, £15 Christmas Cabaret Dec 17-Dec 22, Ronnie Scott’s, £55 Cities Will Fall, The Cramatics, The Vibe, Age Of Wild Dec 22, Dublin Castle, £7, concs £5

Emmy The Great And Tim Wheeler Dec 20, The Scala, £16.50

TUESDAY 12TH FEBRUARY

Citizen Fish, Zounds, 16 Guns, Louise Distras Dec 21, The Garage, £12 Clairy Browne And The Bangin’ Rackettes Dec 20, The Lexington, adv £7 Cold Specks Dec 21, The Sebright Arms, FREE, tickets available from bit.ly/ WinterSolsticeParty.

Courtney Pine Dec 23, The Hideaway, £25 Cradle Of Filth Dec 19, The Forum, £15 Danny & The Champions Of The World, The Lucky Strikes, The Dreaming Spires, Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou, Case Hardin Dec 21, The Windmill, £7 David Ford Dec 18, Bush Hall, £12 Duke Special Dec 20, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £15 Editors, The Courteeners, The Temper Trap, Lucy Rose, Theme Park Dec 17, O2 Academy Brixton, adv £25 Enter Shikari, Cancer Bats, Engine-Earz Experiment Dec 17, Roundhouse, adv £20 Fear Factory, Textures, Sacred Mother Tounge Dec 18, KOKO, £16 Frankie Cocozza Dec 19, O2 Academy Islington, £10 Freedom From Torture Presents: Bombay Bicycle Club, Dan Croll, Trophy Wife Dec 22, KOKO, adv £20 Glen Matlock And The Philistines, Spizz, Ed Tudorpole, London, Night Of Treason, The Duel, Tv Smith Dec 23, 100 Club, adv £30 Happy Mondays Dec 19 & Dec 20, Roundhouse, adv £32.50 James Taylor Quartet Dec 22, Islington Town Hall, £30

James Yorkston, Geese Dec 19, Shacklewell Arms, adv £12.50 Jazz Jamaica Dec 21, The Hideaway, £20 Kidnap Kid, Vuvuvultures, Mademoiselle, Mademoiselle, Bill & Will Dec 20, Birthdays, £6, £5 before 10pm Mumford And Sons Dec 18, The O2, £29.50-£32.50 Paul Weller, Miles Kane Dec 19, Hammersmith Apollo, £39.50-£55 Ronnie Scott’s All Stars Dec 21, Dec 22, Dec 28, Dec 29, Ronnie Scott’s, £10, NUS £5 Stereophonics, Gaz Coombes Dec 20, Troxy, £35, phone for availability Steve Cradock Band Dec 20, Half Moon, Putney, £15 Stooshe Dec 18, The Scala, £13.50 Sugar T And The Swells Dec 17, Dover Street Restaurant And Bar, £7, FREE before 10pm The Sassys, Verge Eagles Dec 19, Power Lunches Arts Cafe, £4 The Ten O Sevens, The Lone Groover, Billy Prince Brown, White Ape Dec 22, The Windmill, £5 The Wildhearts Dec 17, The Forum, £20 The Wonder Stuff, Pop Will Eat Itself, Jesus Jones Dec 19, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £20 Thin Lizzy Dec 17, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £27.50 & £29 This Is The Kit, Rozi Plain, Sweet Baboo Dec 23, The Lexington, adv £7 Tommy Blaize Band Dec 19, 606 Club, £12 Tomoyasu Hotei Dec 18, Roundhouse, £28.50 Wednesday Jazz Jam Dec 19 & Dec 26, Ronnie Scott’s, £5 & £8

Hit Factory Live Christmas Cracker Dec 21, The O2, £49.50 Will Tun And The Wasters, Joyradio, Tim Ot, Under The Covers Dec 18, The Good Ship, £5 Woven Entity With Pete Marsh And Chris Williams Dec 19, Servant Jazz Quarters, phone for prices Zuby, Good Gracious, Sir Apollo, Elliot Welch, MCX Dec 23, Camden Rock, £5

BOO K ING AHEAD Aimee Mann Jan 28, Southbank Centre, £15-£25, concs £7.50-£12.50 Albert Lee & Hogans Heroes Mar 2, Half Moon, Putney, £19 Alicia Keys May 30 & May 31, The O2, £39.50 & £45 Alt-J Jan 18 & Jan 19, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £14 Amon Tobin Mar 8, Hammersmith Apollo, £35 Amy MacDonald Mar 3, London Palladium, phone for prices Angel Haze Feb 21, The Scala, adv £12.50 Archive Apr 19, KOKO, £16 Athlete May 10, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, adv £21.50

Imagine Dragons Apr 11, KOKO, £13 Bastille Mar 28 & Mar 29, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, adv £13 Beach House Mar 25 & Mar 26, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £18 Biffy Clyro Apr 3, The O2, £26.50 & £29.50 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Mar 27, O2 Academy Brixton, £22.50 Bleech Feb 15, KOKO, £5 Bloc Party, The Joy Formidable, Old Men Feb 22, Earls Court, adv £29.50 Blood Red Shoes, Rolo Tomassi, Wet Nuns Jan 22, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £13.50 Brian May And Kerry Ellis May 1, Royal Albert Hall, phone for prices Bryan Ferry Nov 4, Royal Albert Hall, £35-£95 Bullet For My Valentine, Halestorm Mar 17, Roundhouse, £20 Chris De Burgh Apr 24, Royal Albert Hall, £35-£50 Clannad Mar 20, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £32.50 Cleo Laine Mar 6, Millfield Arts Centre, £26, adv £25 Clutch Jan 22, KOKO, £15 Crystal Fighters May 23, KOKO, £14 Cult Of Luna Jan 22, The Garage, £15 D-A-D Mar 2, O2 Academy Islington, adv £15 Deftones, Letlive, Three Trapped Tigers Feb 20, O2 Academy Brixton, £28.50 Depeche Mode May 28 & May 29, The O2, £40 & £50 Disclosure Mar 7, Heaven, £12.50 Dog Is Dead Mar 6, KOKO, adv £11.50 Don Broco Feb 21, The Underworld, adv £9 Dropkick Murphys, Crowns Jan 18 & Jan 19, The Forum, £21 Edwyn Collins Apr 24, Union Chapel, £25 Egyptian Hip Hop Mar 4, XOYO, £10

Elvis Costello & The Imposters Jun 4 & Jun 5, Royal Albert Hall, £45 Emeli Sande Apr 8, Hammersmith Apollo, £25-£29.50 Eric Clapton May 17, May 18, May 20, May 21, May 23, Royal Albert Hall, £70 & £85 Esben And The Witch Feb 26, The Scala, adv £10 Example Feb 23, Earls Court, £28.50 Exit Ten Feb 27, The Underworld, £9 Ezio Jan 24, Half Moon, Putney, £12 FM Mar 23, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £18.50 Family Feb 2, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £35 & £38.50 Fenech Soler Feb 25, Birthdays, £10 Finley Quaye, The Mercenaries Feb 28, The Scala, £19.50, adv £12.50 & £15.50 Foals, Efterklang Mar 28, Royal Albert Hall, £10-£25 Four Tet Feb 28, Heaven, £15.50 Fun Apr 12, Hammersmith Apollo, £18.50 Funeral For A Friend Feb 18, The Garage, £16 Gabby Young And Other Animals Mar 16, The Garage, £12 Gallops Feb 21, The Lexington, adv £7 Gary Barlow Dec 27 & Jan 16, Hammersmith Apollo, £35 & £65, phone for availability General Fiasco Feb 11, The Barfly, Camden, adv £8.50 Georgie Fame And The Blue Flames, Ray Gelato Giants Dec 31, Ronnie Scott’s, £225-£275 Girls Aloud Mar 1-Mar 3, The O2, £42.50£49.50 Gwyneth Herbert Jan 27, 606 Club, £10 Haddo Feb 18, The Green Note Cafe, £12, adv £10 Helloween Apr 16, The Forum, adv £25 Henrik Freischlader Jan 29, 100 Club, adv £10 High On Fire Feb 8, O2 Academy Islington, £11 I Am Kloot Feb 19, Barbican Centre, £25 Inspiral Carpets Mar 22, KOKO, phone for prices JLS Dec 21 & Dec 22, The O2, £25 & £33.50 Jaguar Skills Mar 23, KOKO, £15 Jake Bugg Feb 27 & Feb 28, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, phone for prices James Last: One More Time Apr 26 & Apr 27, Royal Albert Hall, £35-£60 James, Echo And The Bunnymen Apr 19 & Apr 20, O2 Academy Brixton, £38.50

Kings Of Leon Jun 12 & Jun 13, The O2, £57.50

Classical

Mediaeval Babes Dec 21, St Sepulchre Without Newgate, £17.50 Kasabian Mar 22, Royal Albert Hall, £25-£75 Jamie Lidell Mar 8, Heaven, adv £16 Jessie J Mar 9 & Mar 10, The O2, £25 & £33.50 Jessie Ware Mar 13 & Mar 14, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £16.50 Johnny Marr Mar 15, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £22.50 Julian Costello Quartet Feb 7, MAP Studio Cafe, adv £10 Jungle Doctors, The Carnabys, Dorey The Wise Jan 11, Bush Hall, £5 Justin Bieber Mar 4, Mar 5, Mar 7, Mar 8, The O2, £50 & £60 Kaiser Chiefs Mar 1, O2 Academy Brixton, adv £27.50 Kaizers Orchestra Apr 25, KOKO, phone for prices Lana Del Rey May 19 & May 20, Hammersmith Apollo, £28.50 Lawson Mar 1, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £15.50 Lee Scratch Perry Feb 9 & Feb 10, The Jazz Cafe, £22.50 Leona Lewis May 8 & May 9, Royal Albert Hall, £35-£65 Letka, Ebe Oke Jan 17, The Green Note Cafe, £8 Lianne La Havas, Rae Morris, George Ezra Mar 11 & Mar 12, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £15 Little Feat Feb 8, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £30-£32.50 Little Mix Feb 13, Hammersmith Apollo, £19.50-£32.50 Mamas Gun Feb 23, The Jazz Cafe, £12 Mark Knopfler May 27-Jun 1, Royal Albert Hall, £37.50-£52.50 Marlena Shaw Mar 26-Mar 30, Ronnie Scott’s, £30-£50 Maroon 5 Jun 23 & Jun 24, The O2, £40 & £45 Martin Carthy Jan 20, Ye Olde Rose And Crown Theatre Pub, £10, concs £9 Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick Sep 27, DHFC, £12, concs £8 Matchbox Twenty Apr 16, Hammersmith Apollo, £29.50 McFly May 18, Wembley Arena, £31.50 Mica Paris, Nathan Watson Dec 31, The Jazz Cafe, £45 Michael Ball: Both Sides Now Tour May 4, Hammersmith Apollo, £37.50 & £42.50 Mick Hucknall Apr 28, Hammersmith Apollo, £40 & £50

Aled Jones May 12, Union Chapel, adv £35 Alfie Boe: Storyteller Apr 8 & Apr 9, Royal Albert Hall, £25-£45 Clarince Rarity Jan 15, Southwark Cathedral, FREE Dominika Rosiek Feb 15, St Barnabas Millennium Hall, FREE, donations welcome Guy Johnston And Tom Poster Feb 10, Blackheath Halls, £14 inc coffee, concs £12 inc coffee Il Divo And Katherine Jenkins Apr 19, The O2, £35-£95 Ilona Domnich And Simon Callaghan Jan 16, Conway Hall, £9, NUS £4, under 16s FREE Kimiko Ishizaka Jan 30, 1901 Arts Club, £30 inc drink London Concertante Dec 28, St Martin-In-The-Fields, £8-£26, concs available London Haydn Quartet Feb 10, Conway Hall, £9, NUS £4, under 16s FREE New Year’s Eve Operetta Dec 31, St Martin-In-The-Fields, £8-£22, concs available Only Boys Aloud Apr 6, Cadogan Hall, £19.50-£27.50 Raymond Gubbay’s Christmas Festival 2012: Mozart Festival Chorus/Mozart Festival Orchestra Dec 22 & Dec 23, Dec 24, Royal Albert Hall, 7.30pm £16-£50, 8pm £12.50-£50, 2.30pm £12.50-£44 Steinberg Duo Mar 5, 1901 Arts Club, £18, concs £15 Warren Mailley-Smith Dec 28, St Martin-In-The-Fields, £16, concs available

Kristian Bezuidenhout fortepiano Dec 17, Wigmore Hall, £12

scoutlondon.com Scout London 49

BOO K ING AHEAD

Eels Mar 21, O2 Academy Brixton, £30 Miguel, Daley Jan 17, The Forum, £22.50, phone for availability Modestep Feb 14, KOKO, £14 Molotov Jukebox, Duncan Disorderly & The Scallywags Dec 31, Passing Clouds, £25, adv £22, early bird £20 Mumiy Troll May 25, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £20 Muse May 25 & May 26, Emirates Stadium, phone for prices My Bloody Valentine Mar 12, Hammersmith Apollo, adv £25 Nas Mar 19, The O2, £34-£39, w/CD £44.99-£49.99 Nazareth Mar 22, Islington Town Hall, £27.50 Netsky Mar 1, The Forum, £15 Noel Gallagher With Damon Albarn & Graham Coxon Mar 23, Royal Albert Hall, £25-£100 Ocean Colour Scene Feb 25 & Feb 26, Electric Ballroom, £28.50 Of Monsters And Men Mar 5-Mar 7, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, phone for prices Olly Murs Mar 10, Wembley Arena, £34, and Mar 29 & Mar 30, The O2, £34 One Direction Feb 23-24, & Apr 1-5, The O2, £25 & £33.50 Oyama, Bleech Feb 13, KOKO, £5 P!nk Apr 24, Apr 25, Apr 27, Apr 28, The O2, £42.50-£55 Paloma Faith Jun 7, The O2, £22.50 & £28.50 Patrick Wolf Apr 6, Southbank Centre, £17.50-£22.50 Peter Gabriel Oct 21 & Oct 22, The O2, £40 & £50 Peter Hook And The Light Jan 17, KOKO, £20 Plan B, Labrinth, Rudimental Feb 9, The O2, £30 Planes Mar 6, Birthdays, phone for prices Polica Mar 21, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, adv £13.50 Primal Scream Mar 21, Royal Albert Hall, £25-£75 Richard Hawley Feb 23, Troxy, £22.50 Rita Ora Feb 5, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, phone for prices Rizzle Kicks, Labrinth Mar 24, Royal Albert Hall, £25-£50

50 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Rod Stewart: Live The Life Tour Jun 4 & Jun 6, The O2, £60-£70 Roddy Woomble Mar 13, The Jazz Cafe, £15 Rolf Harris Feb 8, Southbank Centre, £25£55, concs £12.50-£22.50 Ron Pope Jan 4, KOKO, £15 Ron Sexsmith Mar 7, Royal Albert Hall, £22.50-£32.50 Ronan Keating: Fires Tour Jan 26, The O2, £35 Roundhouse Rising: Moshi Moshi Feb 18, Roundhouse, £10 Roundhouse Rising: Roundhouse Records 30/30 Album Launch Feb 14, Roundhouse, £6 Roy Ayers Jan 8-Jan 10, The Jazz Cafe, £22.50 Ruby Turner Feb 4-Feb 7, Ronnie Scott’s, £30-£45 Rush May 24, The O2, £60 & £75 Ryan Adams, Beth Orton Mar 19, Royal Albert Hall, £25-£75 Salif Keita Feb 13, Southbank Centre, £10£30, concs £5-£15 Saxon Apr 27, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £20 Shlomo And The Lip Factory Feb 21 & Feb 22, The Jazz Cafe, £12.50 Shockwaves NME Awards Show: Django Django, Miles Kane, Palma Violets, Peace Feb 23, O2 Academy Brixton, £20 Show Of Hands With Miranda Sykes, Fisherman’s Friends Feb 3, Southbank Centre, £15 & £25 Shreya Ghoshal May 6, Royal Albert Hall, £35-£75 Shuggie Otis May 11, The Forum, £20 & £25 Sigur Ros Mar 7-Mar 9, O2 Academy Brixton, £30 Skid Row, I Am I, Buffalo Summer Apr 13, O2 Academy Islington, £16 Sly Dogs Jan 11, The Water Rats, £6 Solange Jan 17, XOYO, adv £12 Solange Jan 16, XOYO, adv £12 Some Velvet Morning Mar 1, Roundhouse, £8-£10 Sons And Lovers Jan 4, Jan 11, Jan 18, Jan 25, KOKO, £5 Space, Dollface Mar 7, O2 Academy Islington, £17.50 Spin Doctors Jan 30, O2 Academy Islington, £17.50 Squarepusher Mar 30, Roundhouse, £25 Stan Tracey Trio Dec 29, Bull’s Head, phone for prices Steve Hackett May 10, Hammersmith Apollo, £27.50 Stornoway Mar 27, The Forum, £15 Sur-Eal Jan 11, Rich Mix, £7, adv £5 Swim Deep Feb 26, XOYO, £8.50 Sylosis Jan 24, O2 Academy Islington, £12 The Airborne Toxic Event Feb 28, KOKO, £16 The Alarm Mar 15, O2 Academy Islington, phone for prices The Blackout Jan 25, Electric Ballroom, £15 The Blind Dead McJones Band, Dogdaze Jan 15, Dublin Castle, £6, adv £4.50 The Bootleg Beatles: The Beatles Tribute Mar 5, Royal Albert Hall, £23.50£35

The Boy Least Likely To Feb 5, The Lexington, £12 The Chapman Family Feb 20, Surya, phone for prices The Colours, Lucas Freeman Jan 8, Nambucca, £5 The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown Mar 29, The Borderline, £19.50 The Darkness Mar 7, Hammersmith Apollo, £27.50 The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster Apr 12, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £15 The Feeling Apr 26, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £22.50 The Flaming Lips May 20 & May 21, Roundhouse, £32 The Fratellis Apr 11, Electric Ballroom, £20 The Gaslight Anthem Mar 29 & Mar 30, Troxy, £23.50 The Ghost Inside, Bury Tomorrow Feb 23, O2 Academy Islington, £12.50 The Heavy Mar 21, KOKO, £12.50 The Jacksons: Unity Tour Mar 3, Hammersmith Apollo, £42.50-£60 The Jezabels Mar 22, The Barfly, Camden, adv £12 The Joy Formidable Mar 8, Roundhouse, £15 The Leo Green Experience Night Feb 2, 100 Club, £15, adv £12.50 The Lumineers Mar 11, O2 Academy Brixton, £18.50 The Nolans Mar 8, Wembley Arena, £40 The Once Jan 23, The Green Note Cafe, adv £10 The Pictish Trail, Eagleowl Feb 16, The Victoria, £11.50 The Polecats Mar 29, The Water Rats, £13 The Pretty Things Dec 29, The Borderline, £19.50 The Script Mar 22 & Mar 23, The O2, £29.50 The Skints Dec 29, Nambucca, £10 The Soft Pack Jan 24, Cargo, £9.50 The Stone Roses Jun 7 & Jun 8, Finsbury Park, £55 The Stranglers, The Godfathers Mar 15, Roundhouse, £26 The Trans-Siberian March Band Feb 2, Rich Mix, £10 The Vaccines May 2, The O2, £27 The X Factor Live Tour 2013 Feb 7, The O2, & Feb 22, Feb 23, Wembley Arena, £32.50

The Specials May 28, O2 Academy Brixton, adv £37.50

Suede Mar 30, Alexandra Palace, £32.50 The Zombies Jun 1, IndigO2, £15-£25 Theme Park Mar 14, Heaven, adv £10 Three Things, Trans-Siberian March Band, Tsak, Hardwire Jan 18, Bull And Gate, £5 Tom Robinson, Hamell On Trial, Orlando Tommy Emmanuel, Martin Taylor Mar 16, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £22.50 Toploader Feb 20, The Jazz Cafe, £17 Train Feb 22, Hammersmith Apollo, £26.50 Trey Songz Jan 30 & Jan 31, Hammersmith Apollo, £30 & £35 Two Door Cinema Club Feb 8, O2 Academy Brixton, £16.50, phone for availability UFO Mar 5, The Forum, £21.50 Uriah Heep Feb 27, Islington Town Hall, phone for prices Wave Machines Feb 6, The Scala, adv £9 Waylayers, Hot Soles, The Switch, Marsicans Jan 22, The Barfly, Camden, adv £5 Wayne Hernandez Dec 31, Boisdales Of Canary Wharf, £105-£145 We Are The Ocean Feb 1, KOKO, adv £14 Wednesday 13 Mar 13, O2 Academy Islington, £15 Wiley, Skepta, JME Apr 20, The Forum, £14.50 Will And The People Jan 24, Power’s, £6.50 Willy Mason Mar 7, KOKO, phone for prices Willy Moon Feb 12, XOYO, £10 Woodkid May 14, Roundhouse, £20 Wu Block, Ghostface Killa, Sheel Louch Jan 15, The Garage, £22.50 Yellowjackets Mar 18 & Mar 19, Ronnie Scott’s, £30-£42.50 Yo La Tengo Mar 20, Barbican Centre, £15 Yolanda Brown Mar 14, Millfield Arts Centre, £20, adv £19, concs £17, adv concs £16 Yolanda Brown, Empirical Jan 5, The Jazz Cafe, £27.50 Young Marble Giants Feb 10, Dingwalls, adv £15 Your Demise Feb 23, The Garage, £12

C L UBBING Monday December 17 It’s Britney Bitch! at The Shadow Lounge, 5-7 Brewer Street, W1F 0RF Leicester Square £5, 10pm-3am. DJ Tuomo Fox and special guests spin pop, R&B and chart hits under the watchful eye of MC Patrick Lilley.

Popcorn at Heaven, Charing Cross Arches, Villiers Street, WC2N 6NG Charing Cross £8, £4 before 12midnight, 11pm-5.30am. Resident DJs play dance, electro, R’n’B, pop and hip hop.

The Qcumber Christmas Banana Party at The Bedroom Bar, 62 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY Old Street £10, adv £5, 9pm-12midnight. DJs Ollie Blayney and DJ Valesko spin house and techno.

Tuesday December 18 Glamorous Afterparty at Covert, 65 Albert Embankment, SE1 7TP Vauxhall £7, w/ flyer £6, 5am-11am. Deep house and electro courtesy of DJs Kaos Kid, Marlon K and Francko Harris.

An Indie Pop Christmas Party at The Hideaway, 114 Junction Road, N19 5LB Archway £3, 7.30pm-11.45pm. Pop, indie and soul courtesy of Victoria And Jacob, Hoshal Patrick, Librarians Wanted and Playhouse DJs. Two Sisters Records Christmas Party at The Lexington, 96-98 Pentonville Road, N1 9JB Angel adv £3, 7.30pm-late.

Wichita Records DJs spin alternative, pop, psychedelic and rock, with live performances from Young Husband, The Red Lapels and The New Union.

Wednesday December 19 DJ Mag Best Of British 2012 Awards Party at Cable, 33A Bermondsey Street, SE1 2EG London Bridge £10, adv £7, earlybird £5, 8pm-2am. Richy Ahmed, Darius Syrossian and Shadow Child spin house, techno and disco alongside the winner of the Best Of British DJ category, a very special guest and the DJ Mag Allstars.

Lovesick Presents Disco On Ice at Somerset House, The Strand, WC2R 1LA Temple £17, 8pm-9pm, 9.15pm-10.15pm, 10.30pm-11.30pm.

Blonde Ambition and Shamu spin disco classics beneath glitterballs and colourful bunting as partygoers take to the ice.

Trannyshack at Madame Jojo’s, 8-10 Brewer Street, W1F 0SE Piccadilly Circus £5, w/flyer £3, FREE in drag or suitable attire before 12midnight, 10pm-3am. Miss Dusty O, Tasty Tim and Lady Lloyd spin commercial dance and pop.

Thursday December 20 Basslaced: Digital Soundboy Xmas Party at The Basing House, 25 Kingsland Road, E2 8AA Liverpool Street phone for prices, 9pm-2am. Shy FX, Breakage, Dismantle, B Traits and Lazune spin drum’n’bass, dubstep and jungle, plus MCs GQ, Dynamite, Youngman and ID. Brownswood Christmas Party at Village Underground, 54 Holywell Lane, EC2A 3PQ Old Street £11, 9pm-late.

Gilles Peterson, Lefto and Alex Patchwork spin electro, dance, drum’n’bass, jazz, funk and soul.

I Love FWD at Plastic People, 147-149 Curtain Road, EC2A 3QE Liverpool Street £7, 9.30pm-2am.

Xxxy, Foamo, Scratcha DVA and Mele spin dubstep, house, techno, electro and garage.

Room Service at Miabella, 12-13 Greek Street, W1D 4DL Tottenham Court Road £8, £5 before 12midnight, 10pm-3am. Weekly gay dance party in the company of special guest hosts and residents including Kris Di Angelis, Severino, Fat Tony, Steve Pitron, Matt Bogard and Ariel.

Vinyl at Eagle, 349 Kennington Lane, SE11 5QY Vauxhall £3, FREE before 10pm, mems £2, 6pm-2am. DJ Screwpulous spins pop hits from the last three decades.

Friday December 21 Alan Vs Jungle Syndicate! at Jamm, 261 Brixton Road, SW9 6LH Brixton adv £12.50 & £15, 10pm-6am. Switch, More Like Trees, Beatbox Collective and Equinox & Andy Skopes spin house.

Balkankan at Ginglik, Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 8PH Shepherd’s Bush £8, £6 guestlist before 10pm, mems FREE, 7pm-3am. DJ Shefitza plays electro balkan folk, gypsy and balkan beats.

Bangface 87- 9th Birthday Xmash-Up at Electrowerkz, 7 Torrens Street, EC1V 1NQ Angel £12, 10pm-6am.

With sets from Krome And Time, Jumping Jack Frost, Cooh, Kanji Kinetic, Bass Clef, DMX Krew, Bassbin Terrorizer and more.

Basing House Xmas Party at The Basing House, 25 Kingsland Road, E2 8AA Old Street £7, adv £5, 10pm-4am.

Deep’art, Magnier, Dave Maslen and Normski spin electro, dance and disco.

Crack Magazine Xmas Takeover at The Nest, 36 Stoke Newington Road, N16 7XJ Dalston Kingsland £7, FREE before 10pm, 9pm-4am. Horse Meat Disco and Pardon My French play house, disco and electro, plus live performances from Parakeet and Portillo Moment.

Real Nice & E.T.A Presents: End Of The World Party at Secret Location, E1 adv £20, 10pm-5am. Aeroplane, Andre Crom, Waze And Odyssey, Nhan Solo and Real Nice spin disco, house and electronica.

Fabriclive at Fabric, 77A Charterhouse Street, EC1M 6HJ Farringdon £17, adv £16, mems £12, £12 before 12midnight, £8 after 3am, adv £21 inc CD, 10pm-6am.

DJs Caspa, Breakage, The Others, Trolley Snatcha, Dismantle, Subscape, Ed Rush And Optical, Dillinja, Jubei, Youngsta, Lenzman, Ulterior Motive, Ant TC1, Mikal, Mr Thing, CJ Beatz, Spin Doctor, Chris P Cuts, Mo Fingaz and Bobafatt spin drum’n’bass, jungle, hip hop and bass music across three rooms.

G-A-Y Camp Attack at Heaven, Charing Cross Arches, Villiers Street, WC2N 6NG Charing Cross w/flyer FREE, 11pm4am. Pop and retro classics from the 1970s to the 1990s, plus songs from musicals in the Departure Lounge with a chance to perform at 1am.

I Love Pacha at Pacha, Terminus Place, SW1V 1JR Victoria £12, 11pm-late.

DJs Jay Deep, DirtybyDesign, Franzo Kolms, Steve Murrell, Electum Goldensum, Miss Dix and Electric Plums spin house, dance and electro.

Jungle Bells at Bussey Warehouse, 133 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST Peckham Rye £5, 10pm-6am. DJs Slipmatt, Nicky Blackmarket, Billy Bunter, ShyGuy, Iration UK, Smiley, Ginjaman, Bate, Dreadslum, Peter Proppa and Bluesy spin jungle, dub, hardcore and old skool.

Loud Noise End Of The World Party at Cable, 33A Bermondsey Street, SE1 2EG London Bridge adv £8 & £10, 10pm-6am. DJs Coki, Kryptic Minds, Jakes, Mensah, Swindle, Barely Legal and Jack Swift spin dubstep and electronica.

Playmoon at Crucifix, 7-9 Crucifix Lane, SE1 3JW London Bridge £15, concs £12, adv £8 & £10, 11pm-late. House courtesy of Cabanne, Nice Guy Eddie, Josef, Mateo and Federico Sandi.

Propaganda at O2 Academy Islington, N1 Centre, 16 Parkfield Street, N1 0PS Angel £5, 10.30pm-3.30am. DJ Dan and guests spin an eclectic mix of indie, electro, pop, dance and drum’n’bass.

Release & Illusions Of House at Relay, 33 Bermondsey Street Tunnel, SE1 3JW London Bridge £17.50, adv £13.50 & £15, earlybird £10, 10pm-6am. Hoxton Whores, Soul Purpose, Jesse James, Carlos & Ryan, Jason Lee Ward, Lewis James, Calcule Matanza and Shane Who spin house and tech to recapture the energy and excitement of Ibiza.

Smirnoff Be There at The Ministry Of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, SE1 6DP Elephant & Castle £15, 10.30pm-6am.

R3hab, Sidney Samson, Michael Woods, Bassjackers, Shane Patrick, Ben Gold, Ali Wilson, Lee Osbourne, Karma Club Nights, DeeAfro, Roxmaker, Ben Wood, Synan, Alan Kirby, Alexander J and Jason Smythe spin house and electro.

Soulwaxmas at O2 Academy Brixton, 211 Stockwell Road, SW9 9SL Brixton £27.50, 8pm-3am. Alternative rock, acidhouse, dance-punk and electro courtesy of Soulwax, 2manydjs, Ego Troopers, Mike Simonetti, Kindness, Erol Alkan and Mixhell.

The Upfront Project: Obscure Presents at The LightBox, 6a South Lambeth Place, SW8 1SP Vauxhall adv £8 & £10, early bird £5, 11pm-6am. With sets from DJs Double 99, Sticky, Benny Ill and Scratcha DVA.

Saturday December 22

Born Electric at Electric Brixton, 1 Town Hall Parade, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RJ Brixton adv £15, 10pm-6am. Southampton-born DJ and producer James Zabiela plays house and techno, plus support from DJ T, Pangaea and Glimpse.

Alchemy at Relay, 33 Bermondsey Street Tunnel, SE1 3JW London Bridge £12, adv £8, NUS £6, 10pm-6am. DJs Will Atkinson, Steve Vernon, James Blackmore, Rob LoCo, Annalisa, Lee And Slater, Andres Sanchez, Omar Sherif, Charlie Bradley, Wynand Delport, Trevor McLachlan and Scotty Hedges play trance.

Circus Ldn at Egg, 200 York Way, N7 9AX King’s Cross St Pancras £20, mems/ adv £15, NUS £13, 11pm-late. Yousef and Lee Foss spin house and techno, with a live performance from Matador.

Club 27/11 at The Lexington, 96-98 Pentonville Road, N1 9JB Angel £5, £3 before 11pm, 10pm-4am. Indie and Britpop courtesy of Woolfie, Mega Rowlett, Jason Dunkin’ Donuts and Nineties Mike.

DJ Pioneer’s Birthday & House Warming’s 6th Anniversary at Stratford Rex, 361 High Street, E15 4QZ Stratford £15, adv £12.50, earlybird £10, 10pm-6am. Lazaro Casanova, Cera Alba, Rui Da Silva, Neev and Mark Radford spin deep house alongside DJ Pioneer in the main room, while Carlos Aries, Majesty, Dave Pressure, Roch Mix Hard b2b Casper, Naughty, Truce and GGB hold court in Room 2.

Duckie at Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY Vauxhall £6, 9pm. Resident DJs spin pop and indie hosted by the inimitable Amy Lame, plus cabaret performances.

Fabric at Fabric, 77A Charterhouse Street, EC1M 6HJ Farringdon £20, adv £19, NUS/mems £14, £10 after 4am, adv £24 inc CD, 11pm-8am. DJs John Digweed, Edu Imbernon, Terry Francis, Karotte, Steve Rachmad, Craig Richards and Jozif mix house and techno records.

Fedde’s London Takeover at The Ministry Of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, SE1 6DP Elephant & Castle £18, 11pm-7am.

Dutch DJ and producer Fedde Le Grand spins house and dance, with Nimo, Dean Oakley, Ozzy Giovessa, Ray Gallea and Steve OD. Hat-Club London at Cargo, 83 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY Old Street £15, FREE before 9pm, 8pm-3am. Electronic Youth, Damien Stone, Justin Pywell, Katie Cooper and Tony Hayes supply the deep and tech house.

Hed Kandi Christmas 2012 at McQueen, 59-61 Tabernacle Street, EC2A 4AA Old Street £15, 8pm-4am. Glamorous house party featuring Phil Faversham and DJ Eibhlin with support from Shane Macauley, Mike Kirkland, Miss Mavrik and Max Bloom, plus live sax from Aimee Jay. I Love Acid Xmas Rave at Corsica Studios, 4-5 Elephant Road, SE17 1LB Elephant & Castle £12, adv £10, 10pm-6am. DJs Mark Archer, Radioactive Man, Kirk Degiorgio, Paul Mac, Posthuman, Transparent Sound, Affie Yusuf, Global Goon, AGT Rave Cru, Echaskech, Placid and Alex Strangius spin house, techno and acid.

Jungle Splash Presents at Jamm, 261 Brixton Road, SW9 6LH Brixton £10, adv £7, 10pm-6am. Digital Niya Binghi, Nicky Blackmarket, Uncle Dugs, Ragga Twins and Jnr Buzz spin Jungle, jungle dub, drum’n’bass and reggae.

Lifted Music Christmas Party at Cable, 33A Bermondsey Street, SE1 2EG London Bridge Queue Jump £22, adv £10 & £12, mems £12, 10pm-6am. DJs Xkore, Aeph, Culprate, Neonlight, Document One, Xilent, Mefjus and Memtrix spin electronic dance music.

Makin’ Moves Xmas Party at 5 Reliance Square, 29 New Inn Yard, EC2A 3EY Shoreditch High Street £20, adv £12.50, 10pm-4am. Glenn Underground plays his first UK gig for more than five years, spinning deep and soulful house alongside Eddie Boi, Jamesey and Matt L-S.

scoutlondon.com Scout London 51

C L UBBING Friday December 28

Soulwaxmas at O2 Academy Brixton, 211 Stockwell Road, SW9 9SL Brixton £27.50, 8pm-3am. Alternative rock, acidhouse, dance-punk and electro courtesy of Soulwax, 2manydjs, Ego Troopers, Mike Simonetti, Kindness, Erol Alkan and Mixhell.

Vinyl Impact Christmas Special at Hidden, 100 Tinworth Street, SE11 5EQ Vauxhall £10, adv £8, 10pm-late. Hard dance and trance courtesy of DJs Ben Stevens, Tony Price, Jon Hanley, Stewart T, Gaz James, Matt Rush, Owen B and Daniel Batts.

XXL London Christmas at Pulse, 1-4 Invicta Plaza, SE1 9UF Blackfriars £15, mems £8, 9pm-6am. DJs Christian M, Alex Logan, Joe Egg and Mark Ames get in the festive spirit with nine hours of funky house, techno and retro beneath the arches.

Sunday December 23 Horse Meat Disco at Eagle, 349 Kennington Lane, SE11 5QY Vauxhall £6, 8pm-3am. Residents Jim Stanton, Luke Howard, James Hillard and Severino spin disco and house on rotation.

Jaded at Cable, 33A Bermondsey Street, SE1 2EG London Bridge £12, concs £8, 5am-1pm. House and techno courtesy of Layo and Raymundo Rodriguez.

Jamais Vu Christmas Special at Horse And Groom, 28 Curtain Road, EC2A 3NZ Shoreditch High Street £5, FREE before 11pm, 8pm-2am. Special guests Fabio and Grooverider spin drum’n’bass with support from Al, Bailey, 279, Betoko, Jumpin Jack Frost, Randall and Tendai.

S.L.A.G.S / CHILL-OUT Sundays at Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY Vauxhall £8, £5 before 7.30pm, 2pm-12noon. Simon Le Vans, Andy Almighty and Sean Sirrs spin disco, electro and house, plus The D E Experience performs live.

Monday December 24 Between The Buttons at The Barfly, Camden, 49 Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AN Chalk Farm FREE, 7.30pm-late. DJ Magnetic Paul provides soul and 1950s to 1970s rock’n’roll.

Wotever Xmas Party at Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY Vauxhall £5, 7pm-late. Resident DJs spin Christmas themed dance and pop, with a seasonal film sing-a-long.

Creche Boxing Day Rave at Secret Location, E1 adv £25, 3pm-3am. DJs Dyed Soundorom, Dan Ghenacia, Subb-an, Bloody Mary, Alexis Raphael and Cozzy D spin house and techno records.

Scratcha DVA, Oneman, Kumfy, Newham Generals, Lighter, Spyro and more.

Faded Boxing Day Battle at The Rhythm Factory, 16-18 Whitechapel Road, E1 1EW Whitechapel £15, guestlist £10, 10pm4am. DJ Rory, Siobhan Bell, Melody Kane, Snips and Motive spin house, dance, R&B and hip hop, with host MC Fontz.

Halcyon & LWE Present at The Ministry Of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, SE1 6DP Elephant & Castle adv £20, 10pm6am. Infected Mushroom (DJ set), Dejavoo, Libra 9, Neutrino, Nikki S, Rob Loco Vs Annalisa, Monk3ylogic, Eastmann, Ben Coda, Liquid Ross, Psycandy, Neill Moore and Craig Gunn spin psychedelic trance.

Heads & Hands Boxing Day Party at Cargo, 83 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY Old Street adv £5, 5pm-5am. DJs Urulu, Washerman, Stefan Molinaro, Cashley, Kev Broad, Rod Hicks, Ellis And King, Kiz And Joe Breslinand play deep house music.

Solo Danza 1st Birthday Party at Crucifix, 7-9 Crucifix Lane, SE1 3JW London Bridge £10-£20, 10pm6.30am. Davide Squillace, Barem, Brett Jacobs, Dennis Christopher and Nicolas Son spin electro, house and techno.

Wednesday December 26

Thursday December 27

Bass Heaven at Jamm, 261 Brixton Road, SW9 6LH Brixton £8-£12, 10pm6am. Congo Natty, Tenor Fly, Reggae Roast, DJ Spoony, Nicky Blackmarket and Congo Dubz spin jungle, reggae, dub, bass, garage and drum’n’bass.

Boxing Day Special Resonance Records Showcase at Club Warehouse, Unit H9, Hastingwood Trading Estate, 35 Harbet Road, N18 3HT Angel Road £12, adv £10, 11pm-7am. Resident DJs spin house, techno and electro.

Boxing Day Special at Egg, 200 York Way, N7 9AX King’s Cross St Pancras £20, adv £15, mems £13, NUS £10, 10pm-10am.

DJs Mirko Loko and Alex Picone spin house and techno records.

Fabriclive at Fabric, 77A Charterhouse Street, EC1M 6HJ Farringdon £17, NUS £14 before 12midnight, mems/adv £14, £10 after 3am, £21 inc CD, 9pm-7am.

Grime, bashment, garage, house, dubstep and bass music courtesy of Marcus Nasty,

Fabriclive at Fabric, 77A Charterhouse Street, EC1M 6HJ Farringdon £19, adv £18, mems £14, NUS £14 before 12midnight, adv £23 inc CD, 10pm-6am.

DJ Hype, Pascal, Marky, Hazard, Sigma, Original Sin, Sub Zero, Taxman, Jaydan, DJ EZ, Hatcha and more play drum’n’bass, jungle and bass music across three rooms.

QueerlyOut at Escape Bar, 10A Brewer Street, W1F 0SU Piccadilly Circus £5, mems £3, 9pm-3am. DJ Robby D spins commercial dance, pop and R&B. Secret Thursdays at Orleans, 259-261 Seven Sisters Road, N4 2HZ Finsbury Park £5, FREE before 11pm, phone for times. DJs Radlett, Hitman and Jay Shaw play bashment, club classics, hip hop, house, R&B and Afrobeat.

Vinyl at Eagle, 349 Kennington Lane, SE11 5QY Vauxhall £3, FREE before 10pm, mems £2, 6pm-2am. DJ Screwpulous spins pop hits from the last three decades.

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Dubheadz 1st Birthday at Cable, 33A Bermondsey Street, SE1 2EG London Bridge Queue Jump £20, adv £8 & £10, mems £10, 10pm-6am. With sets from Lost, Shiverz, Compa, Eddie K, Vodex, Family Tree, Widowmaker, Genetix, Enigma Dubz, I Killed Kenny, Skit, Hassassin, CSide, Bigman, Pronto, Stinkalot, Triptic, Dreadz, Efflex, Some Old Boy, Claude Van Jamme, Ivan Dubsky, Drime, Barran and Umpah.

Nightowl at The Ministry Of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, SE1 6DP Elephant & Castle £20, adv £15, 10.30pm-6am. Norman Doray, Kim Fai, D Ramirez, Mike Vale and the Nightowl residents spin house across all four rooms.

Paradox Special Edition at Egg, 200 York Way, N7 9AX King’s Cross St Pancras £15, adv £12.50, earlybird £10, 10pm10am. Mark Broom, Neverdogs, Antonio De Angelis, JB, Outart and Aleksandr spin house and techno at a special festive edition of the popular midweek gathering Shake & Pop at Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BJ Tottenham Court Road £5, mems £3, FREE before 10pm, 9.30pm-late. DJ Bam Bo Tang spins urban anthems, chart, retro hits and pop classics.

Take It Back With Shola at Paradise By Way Of Kensal Green, 19 Kilburn Lane, W10 4AE Kensal Green £4 after 9.30pm, 8pm-2am. UK funk, soul and hip hop courtesy of the Brit and MOBO award winner Shola Ama. XOYO Christmas Party at XOYO, 32-37 Cowper Street, EC2A 4AP Old Street adv £12.50, 9pm-3am. House and electro courtesy of Digitalism and Jacques Lu Cont.

Saturday December 29 Duckie at Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY Vauxhall £6, 9pm. Resident DJs spin pop and indie hosted by the inimitable Amy Lame, plus cabaret performances.

La Bomba: Latin Explosion at The Ministry Of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, SE1 6DP Elephant & Castle £15, 10.30pm-late. Latin, house, urban, salsa, merengue and bachata courtesy of DJs Kazzanova, NIkko Calor, Jim Enez, Jose Luis, Urbano Diego RMX, Javier La Rosa, The Latin Brotherz, Dani Son, Fadi K, Fonsi, DJ Marito, Fadi K, El Moreno and Saul Maya.

Layo & Bushwacka! at Egg, 200 York Way, N7 9AX King’s Cross St Pancras £20, mems/adv £15, 11pm-late. Dubfire, Layo And Bushwacka, Uner, Leading Astray, Agent, Lo, Elek-Fun, Jan and Kudaku, Sunday West, Rufus, Chloe Fontaine, Tony Stephenson, Nick James and Wesley Pitter spin house, electro and techno across three rooms.

Sounds Of House at Dukes House, 32-38 Dukes Place, EC3A 7LP Aldgate adv £10, 10pm-6am. Hannah Holland, Daren Nunes, David Frank and Detrimental spin house in its many incarnations.

Tasty 11th Birthday & Christmas Cracker at Jamm, 261 Brixton Road, SW9 6LH Brixton £15, adv £10, 10pm-6am. Ian M, Billy Daniel Bunter, Slipmatt, Vibes and Whizz Kid spin hardcore dance, old skool and drum’n’bass.

XXL London Retrospective at Pulse, 1-4 Invicta Plaza, SE1 9UF Blackfriars £15, mems £8, 9pm-6am. DJs Christian M, Alex Logan, Joe and Mark Ames invite bears, cubs and their admirers to looks back over the past 12 months with two rooms of funky house, techno and retro sounds.

Sunday December 30 ‘45’ With Bob Jones & Friends at East Village, 89 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HX Old Street £6, adv £4, 4pm-2am. Dr Bob Jones, Eddie Piller, Mark Webster, Bob Masters, Martin Lodge, Abi Clarke, Ed Stokes, Eddie Stenner, CJ and Stevie Cee spin soul, jazz, funk and boogie.

Buttoned Down Disco F*** NYE Party at KOKO, 1a Camden High Street, NW1 7JE Mornington Crescent FREE by application only, 9pm-3.30am. DJs Christian Laing, Pete Wheeler and Richard Titchener spin indie, dance, pop and electro.

House Entertainment UK Winter Party at Cargo, 83 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY Old Street FREE, 4pm-12midnight. DJs Lance Morgan, Anticx, Theo Stretch Lewis, Jay Forbez, B3 and Dudley play deep house and minimal.

Monday December 31 The 6th Annual NYE Black & White Party 2013 at Euphoriom, 1-3 High Street, Acton Central adv £10 & W3 6NG £15, phone for times. Ambas’sadas, Twinzz, Duece Bros, T Boss, T Smallz, Voo C, Bex & Deany, and Generall spin Deep, soulful and tribal house in room one and in room two Sam Supreme, Xavier, Drima, Boiz, Lyrical Vee, Sniper, Lloyd and Jibe play Afrobeat, hip hop, R&B, bashment and party classics.

Age Of Panic New Year’s Eve at The Borderline, Orange Yard, Manette Street, W1D 4JB Tottenham Court Road £13, adv £11, 10pm-5am. Resident DJs and guests play old skool rock, metal, indie, grunge and punk records.

The Ambassador’s New Year’s Eve Ball at The Barfly, Camden, 49 Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AN Chalk Farm adv £10, 8pm-late. AntzInTheJam, DJ Black Knight, DJ Steve Harris, Jeff Automatic, DJ El Conchitas and Megaphone Sista spin hip hop, techno, electro and indie, plus live performances.

Basing House Presents Air London at The Basing House, 25 Kingsland Road, E2 8AA Liverpool Street adv £15 & £25, 9pm-5am. DJs Simon Baker, Jordan Peak and Sam Russo mix house and techno.

Beat Dimension NYE at Secret Location, E1 adv £12.50-£20, 10pm-6am. DJs Blawan, Mike Dehnert, Cosmin TRG and Untold spin techno, dubstep, electronica and bass music.

Birthdays X Getime! NYE Party at Birthdays, 33-35 Stoke Newington Road, N16 8BJ Dalston Junction £10-£20, 9pm-12midnight. Electronica, dubstep and grime from Kode 9, Scratcha DVA, Lixo, Jet Letts and DDF.

Bodymove Pres NYE White & Gold RIO Revellion at Egg, 200 York Way, N7 9AX King’s Cross St Pancras £35-£45, 8pm-2am. House and techno courtesy of Derrick Carter, Karizma, Audio Whores, Femi B, Darren Gregory, Tomasuchy, Justin Time, Boletz, Zero C, Stefan, Brodin, Elliott Bolton and Daniel Mielowski.

Cadenza NYE at Westbourne Studios, 242 Acklam Road, W10 5JJ Westbourne Park £30, adv £20, earlybird £10, 9pm-6am. Argy, Andrea Oliva and Tomoki Tamura spin deep house at a masquerade party to usher in 2013.

Club De Fromage & Old School Indie New Year’s Eve Fancy Dress Extravaganza! at O2 Academy Islington, N1 Centre, 16 Parkfield Street, N1 0PS Angel Queue Jump £28.12, adv £22.50, 9pm-4am. DJs Slow Alfie, Tricky Dicky and guests spin pop classics, cheese, rock’n’roll, indie, soul, disco and Motown across two rooms.

NYE Ball at KOKO, 1a Camden High Street, NW1 7JE Mornington Crescent adv £15, 9pm, last adm 11pm. Resident DJs spin indie, rock and techno with a live performance from Birmingham-based band Peace.

Connected NYE at Cable, 33A Bermondsey Street, SE1 2EG London Bridge adv £35, 9pm-6am.

House courtesy of DJs Marc Kinchen, Amine Edge, Waifs And Strays, No Artificial Colours, Matt Fear, Jesse James, Johnny Bloomfield, Matt Rich, Ricky Torres, Mark Derry, Kolo And Dyze, Neil Catlin, Scott Rozario, Habit To Others, Multiplayerz, Danny Lawson, Luke Jeffery, Sam Pope and Richie La Rue. Critical Sound New Year’s Eve at Secret Location, E1 adv £20, 9pm-6am. Kasra, Rockwell, Cyantific, Jubei, Vicious Circle, Loxy, Foreign Concept, Mefjus, Xtrah and Emperor spin drum’n’bass, jungle and electro, plus MCs GQ, AD, LX One and Mantmast.

Deadly Rhythm New Year’s Eve at Amersham Arms, 388 New Cross Road, SE14 6TY New Cross adv £10, 9pm4am. Aleksi, James Deadly, Patrick CA and special guests spin house.

Deep Into Soul Present Friends at Nomad, 58 Old Street, EC1V 9AJ Barbican £20, 10pm-6am. Neil Pierce, Sy Sez, Matthew Bandy, Ziggy Funk, Stephen Adams, Bones And Raw, Kristelle Morin, Ted Lawrence and Nick Fernandez play soul.

Defected In The House NYE at Electric Brixton, 1 Town Hall Parade, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RJ Brixton £50, saver tickets £40, early bird £30, 9pm-7am. Dennis Ferrer, Deetron, Noir, Simon Dunmore and Sam Divine spin house, techno and dance.

Electric Dreams New Year’s Eve Party at The London Stone, 109 Cannon Street, EC4N 5AD Cannon Street £12, adv £10, 9pm-4am. DJs Valeriun, Stix, Baron and special guests Telekon and ABW-1 spin electronic music from the past and present.

From Dusk Till Dawn NYE Party at The Hoxton Pony, 104-108 Curtain Road, EC2A 3AH Old Street £30, adv £25, earlybird £20, 9pm-9am. Tough Love, Loud Minority, Jedd Barry, Roy Rovelli, Jason Taylor and a special guest spin house and disco.

G-A-Y 20 New Year’s Eve at Heaven, Charing Cross Arches, Villiers Street, WC2N 6NG Charing Cross £12, 9pm3am, no adm after 12midnight. Pop and

retro classics from the 1970s to the 1990s to usher in the new year, plus special guests Jason Donovan and Stooshe perform live.

Goodbye To Another Year at The Garage, 20-26 Highbury Corner, N5 1RD Highbury & Islington £15, 9pm-4am.

DJ Scrathy spins eclectic indie and rock, with live performances from The Dalston Devil Trio and Lalla Morte, across two floors.

Guilty Pleasures Vs Ultimate Power New Year’s Eve 2012 at The Forum, 9-17 Highgate Road, NW5 1JY Kentish Town £20, 9pm-late. Resident DJs and guests spin rock, indie, metal, pop, party and dance.

Heavy Load New Year’s Eve Party at The Phoenix, 37 Cavendish Square, W1G 0PP Oxford Circus £15, adv £10, 9pm-4am.

Resident DJs Rob and Karen spin vintage rock.

The Hydra: Border Community NYE at Secret Location, E1 adv £17.50, 9pm6am. James Holden, Wesley Matsell, Ivan Smagghe, Mark E, Fort Romeau, Warm DJs, Dauwd, Bobby Champs and South DJs spin techno, house and electronica across three rooms, with live performances from Nathan Fake, Luke Abbott, Redshape and Koreless.

InSpiral NYE Celebration 2012-2013 at The InSpiral Lounge, 250 Camden High Street, NW1 8QS Camden Town £15, £12 before 12midnight, adv £10, 10pm6am. DJs Aliji, Slack Baba, Bahar and Hopi spin progressive techno, groove, psychtrance and 1990s house.

Jaded at Cable, 33A Bermondsey Street, SE1 2EG London Bridge £15, mems £8, 5am-1pm. House and techno courtesy of Raymundo Rodriguez, Elek-Fun, Agent!, Canary Fontaine, Zippy and Lo. Luv Beat New Year’s Eve Special at Grand Union Farringdon, 55 Charterhouse Street, EC1M 6HA Farringdon £20, early bird £15, 9pm-5am. Soulful house, funk and soul courtesy of DJ Bazza, Mr.RoachRider, DJ Vybz, DJ Woody, DJ Andy B, T Smooth, Stevie Marshall, DJ Spider and DJ Scotty across two floors, plus live percussion from Ray L. New Year’s Eve After Party at The Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, NW1 7PG Camden Town £10, 11.59pm-late.

Jazzie B, the founding member of Soul II Soul spins R&B, soul and new jack swing.

Moondance NYE at The Scala, 275 Pentonville Road, N1 9NL King’s Cross St Pancras VIP £40, adv £25 & £30, 8pm-6am. DJs Twista And Sense, Billy Daniel Bunter, Uncle Dugs, Inter, Bryan G, Matt Emulsion And Stuart J, Hard Beats Collective, Fabio, Micky Finn, Randall and Slipmat spin jungle, hardcore and old skool.

New Year’s Eve at Funkymojoe, 159-161 High Road, E18 2PA South Woodford adv £20, 8.30pm-late. Funky house, R&B and garage courtesy of Pete Nicholls, Wade Kadir and Mark Wright.

New Year’s Eve at Loft Studios, 77-81 Scrubs Lane, NW10 6QW Willesden Junction adv £20, 10pm6am. Paradise 45, Crazy P, Pete Herbert, Guy Williams, DRW, Real Nice, Adrian Forster, Luke Brancaccio and Silvio Pacini spin house and disco.

New Year’s Eve at Warehouse at Club Warehouse, Unit H9, Hastingwood Trading Estate, 35 Harbet Road, N18 3HT Angel Road adv £15, 9pm-7am. DJ and producer Marc MK Kinchen spins house

music, with resident support from Rob Charles, Ollie Gibson, Danny Bayley and Tom Hurley and guests Damien Stone, Ian Robinson, Dave Lee and Nathan Williams.

A Nutty New Year at 229 The Venue, 229 Great Portland Street, W1W 5PW Great Portland Street £20, adv £15, 9pm-6am. DJs Dr Robert, Sebas, Miss Danger, Dishie And Carolina, Chris Dale, Lee Miller, Rob Bailey, Bill Kealy and Alan Handscombe spin Northern soul and rock’n’roll, plus a live performance from Arthur Brown.

New Year’s Eve at The Nest, 36 Stoke Newington Road, N16 7XJ Dalston Kingsland £15-£17.50, 9pm5am. DJs Crazy P, Psychemagik, The Idiots Are Winning, Kiwi and Capita spin disco, electro, pop and dance.

NYE: Rockaoke VS Rockit Science Club at The Star Of Kings, 126 York Way, N1 0AX King’s Cross St Pancras £12, 9pm-4am. Rockaoke in room one and in room two Ryu, Collings 303, The101connection, Big Nick D, Country Cockney, Dellamorte, Sick Rick and Steve Truckers spin house, techno, dance and electro.

S.L.A.G.S / CHILL-OUT NYE 2012 - The Glitter Ball at Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY Vauxhall £20, adv £15, 8pm-5am. DJs Simon Le Vans, Andy Almighty and Sean Sirrs spin dance classics and commercial house plus a special performance from The D.E Experience at 10pm.

Spunk NYE at Buffalo Bar, 259 Upper Street, N1 1RU Highbury & Islington adv £15, 9pm-late. DJs Spider Webb, Tom Furse and Telegram Sam spin punk, glam rock and goth, plus live performances from Charlie Boyer And The Voyeurs and Heavy Bunny.

Swamp 81 New Year’s Eve Party at The LightBox, 6a South Lambeth Place, SW8 1SP Vauxhall adv £20, 9pm6.30am. Loefah, Boddika, Zed Bias, Pinch, Mickey Pearce, Paleman, Klose One, Chunky and Illaman spin house, techno, garage, dubstep and bass music.

Trouble Vision & Tief NYE at Corsica Studios, 4-5 Elephant Road, SE17 1LB Elephant & Castle adv £20 & £25, 10pm-7am. DJs John Talabot, Move D, Bicep, KRL, Ben Sun, Mr Solid Gold, Hesseltime and Park Ranger mix house, garage, disco and techno.

Vintage House Foundation Meets Lasermagnetic NYE at East Village, 89 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HX Old Street adv £15, 9pm-5am. DJs Terry Farley, Pete Heller, Simon Lee, Ray Mang, Stuart Patterson, Neil Thornton, Johnny Hiller and Dom Moir spin house and disco records across two rooms.

XXL London NYE at Pulse, 1-4 Invicta Plaza, SE1 9UF Blackfriars £23, mems/earlybird £15, earlybird mems £8, 8pm-6am. Bears, cubs and their admirers can see in the new year beneath the arches with residents Christian M, Alex Logan, Joe and Mark Ames playing funky house, techno and retro sounds.

Tuesday January 1 Bugged Out! at XOYO, 32-37 Cowper Street, EC2A 4AP Old Street £12, 3pm-3am. DJs Todd Terje, Daniel Avery, Tayo, Frank Tope, Dan Beaumont, Ben Pistor, Kiwi and Johnno spin house, dance and disco records.

Circo Loco London New Year’s Day Party at O2 Academy Brixton, 211 Stockwell Road, SW9 9SL Brixton £37.50, 9pm5am. DJs Tania Vulcano, Seth Troxler, Maceo Plex, Davide Squillace, System of Survival, Cirillo, Clive Henry and Shaun Reeves spin house and techno.

Kerfuffle: A New Year’s All-Dayer at Jamm, 261 Brixton Road, SW9 6LH Brixton £10, 2pm-2am. Alison Marks, Daren Nunes, J Jeff and Tom Baker spin house, drum’n’bass and electronica.

Promised Land New Year’s Day 2013 at Egg, 200 York Way, N7 9AX King’s Cross St Pancras £18, adv £10, 8pm-6am. Eighties house and old skool courtesy of Terry Farley, Nicky Holloway, Trevor Fung, Eddie Richards, Philgood, Ram, Alex P, Colin Dale, Huck Finn, Mark Ruston, Steve Altman, Arkoss, Bully, Joey B, Craig james, Jon Russel, Special K, Steff Vee, Mervyn Victro, Kenny Redz, Tony Castle, Steve Stritto, Anthony, Mr Eano and Jason Edd across the Basement, Terrace and Garden.

S.L.A.G.S / CHILL-OUT NYD Special Recovery at Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY Vauxhall £8, £5 after 7.30pm, 2pm-12midnight.

Tranny Lennox performs stand-up and live vocals while DJs Simon Le Vans, Andy Almighty and Sean Sirrs spin dance classics and commercial house to mark the beginning of a new year.

We Love at The Ministry Of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, SE1 6DP Elephant & Castle adv £15, 10pm6am. Electro, disco, techno and house courtesy of Modeselektor, Tom Findlay, Paul Woolford, PBR Streetgang, Mat Playford, Jamie Fatneck, Bootleg Social and Two Faces across four rooms.

WetYourSelf: New Year’s Day Party at Fabric, 77A Charterhouse Street, EC1M 6HJ Farringdon £16, adv £13, NUS £9, £9 before 3am, 10pm-6am. DJs Miss Kitten, Peter Pixzel, Cormac, Jacob Husley, Chris Stanford & Gareth Wild, Jack & I and Colin Chiddle spin rave, house and club classics. Palisade and Marc Houle play live.

Junk Department NYD Warehouse at Factory 7, 13 Hearn Street, EC2A 3LS Shoreditch High Street adv £25, earlybird £10-£20, 8pm-4am. Steve Bug, M.A.N.D.Y., Marco Resmann, Emerson Todd, Gunnar Stiller and Luca Pilato play eights hours of techno and tech house.

scoutlondon.com Scout London 53

A force of nature

54 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Fuerzabruta, the multi-sensory, worldwide theatrical sensation returns to London at the end of this month. James Glavin talks to creator Diqui James

F

uerzabruta translates as ‘brute force’, The show is incredibly fast-paced and and those who have experienced the features constant, rapid changes, both in explosive show will testify that the name terms of the performers and of the various couldn’t be more apt. It’s part dance, structures that they dance on, run on, part theatre, part rave and a complete and total dangle from and swim in. The whole effect is assault on the senses. dizzying. Is that the point?

The show originated in Buenos Aires in Yes, we go faster than your brain! So we can 2005, before coming to London the following catch you at a more emotional level, so the year to reopen the audience isn’t overrefurbished Roundhouse thinking things. We work in Camden. Since taking in a very cinematic way.

London by storm, it has In theatre you can’t move headed off on a world tour, the position of the camera touching down everywhere like you can in cinema, so from Berlin to Bogota, we try to move the show plus a five year stint on around the audience, in Broadway. order to produce the same Now it’s returning to sort of effect.

London for a four-week run, The show has been seen again at the Roundhouse, all over the world. The from December 27. fact that this is such a Fuerzabruta is a quick visceral and visual show, succession of energetic, with no words, must high adrenaline set pieces, make it easier to bring where you’re not so much Steam work Fuerzabruta creator Diqui James it to an international observing the action as in audience? the thick of it. Performers Yes, but it’s not just language – you come up surround you, fly over you and even swim inches above your head. It’s a brilliant, breathtaking and against cultural differences as you take the show around the world. In Argentina, where we started bewildering experience. the show, there is a big difference between, for The man behind Fuerzabruta is Argentinian example, rich people and poor people. There are Diqui James. Speaking to us from his Buenos people who have never gone to the theatre. My Aires base, his passion and enthusiasm for this aim was to create a show that could touch and remarkable show are palpable. be enjoyed by anyone. I didn’t want to do a show just for people who go to the theatre all the time.

How much of this version of Fuerzabruta is We tried to break that cultural barrier between new – is it similar to the show that ran back different types of people. And as we’ve taken in 2006? it around the world, we realise our show has a Well, I don’t want to say it’s a new show, language that can cross those barriers. because it’s not completely new – the base of the show is what we performed in 2006. I There must be quite a range of different always say I envy musicians, who can produce reactions, depending on the country or city a new album, but still get to perform their old you are in? songs. I envy that freedom. We feel more like a Well, I do think that the way each culture reacts band – we’ve been mixing in new things that together in a public space is very different. we’ve been creating and working on for the last That’s what is so very important in our show, you few years. are part of a celebration, a collective experience.

It’s like a new version of the show and it’s going to be a new experience, for sure.

How will ‘reserved’ Londoners cope with How would you explain it to someone coming such a communal experience?

[Laughs] We do hear this stereotype about to the show for the first time?

It’s not easy to describe it, if you haven’t seen it. people in London being more reserved, but actually that’s not our experience of London What I say is that we do primitive theatre with audiences at all. We’ve always had a very warm 21st century technology. We don’t use words, we don’t talk. It’s more a physical and emotional reaction, with people really getting involved. And London audiences can be pretty noisy! experience. What we do is work in the whole space. The audience is part of the show, inside the show. There’s not a space for the performers Fuerzabruta, the Roundhouse, December 27January 26 2013, roundhouse.org.uk and a separate space for the audience.

Flying success The show uses a range of aerial techniques

Swinging on high A scene from Fuerzabruta

Immersive thrill An audience under the bubble

scoutlondon.com Scout London 55

P REVIEWS Cirque du Soleil – Kooza Royal Albert Hall January 5-February 10, £22.50-£99 Let’s face it, the name of the company is enough to go on. Whatever theme or story they might be exploring, the world’s most celebrated circus troupe are a shoe-in for gasp-inducing, jaw-on-the-floor spectacles, regardless of the premise.

But let’s run through it anyway. Kooza is their newest show, which tells the story of a “melancholy loner in search of his place in the world”. It has already toured around much of the globe, where – surprise surprise – it was lavished with the usual rave reviews for its displays of contortionism, high-wire work, trapeze and acrobatics.

This will be the first time the show has been performed in the UK, and sees the Canadian cirque-nouveau pioneers return to their favoured London home, the Royal Albert Hall.

The Canterbury Tales Southwark Playhouse December 17-22, £16 Back after a successful run last Christmas, this raw and rowdy production stages several of Chaucer’s tales in a mocked-up tavern, complete with a mulled wine- and aleserving bar. Expect slurred sing-alongs in a brilliantly bawdy and boozy festive show.

SE1 2TF London Bridge southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

SW7 2AP South Kensignton royalalberthall.com

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Old Vic Tunnels January 4-13, £20.50-£26 Slava’s Snowshow Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre December 17-January 7, £20-£65 Get out your macs and snow boots because, regardless of what’s going on outside, you’re guaranteed a full-on blizzard in the Royal Festival Hall this Christmas.

The indoor snowstorm is one of the most

famous elements of this much-loved winter show, which is returning to Southbank Centre after a successful run last Christmas.

Led by veteran clown Slava Polunin, the acclaimed mime and clowning spectacular transports families to a dream-like world full of comedy and enchantment – then blasts them with fake snow.

SE1 8XX Waterloo southbankcentre.co.uk

One of the greatest and most dramatic poems in the history of the English language, performed by inimitable stage and screen talent Fiona Shaw, with Mamma Mia! and The Iron Lady director Phyllida Lloyd at the helm, in one of the city’s most atmospheric venues. Need we go on?

SE1 8SW

Waterloo oldvictunnels.com

59 Minutes to Save Christmas Barbican until January 6, £12 Christmas is under threat, and only the kids can save it. That’s the premise of Slung Low’s fun and frantic new children’s show, which sends kids off on an interactive journey around the Barbican. They’ll meet a variety of surprising characters along the way and have to overcome various challenges as they race against the clock to rescue the festive season from sinister forces seeking to ruin it.

EC2Y 8DS 56 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Barbican barbican.org.uk

The imals An and n

e r d l i Ch Took to the Stree ts

A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings Battersea Arts Centre, January 3-19, £15 This delightful puppetry-based production sees some phenomenal theatrical talent collaborating to create one of the must-see family shows of the new year. One of the country’s most acclaimed theatre companies, Kneehigh, has teamed-up with its leading puppetry theatre, Little Angel, to create this charming adaptation of a Gabriel García Márquez short story. Having originally opened at Little Angel’s Islington base at the end of last year, it is now transferring to the wonderful Battersea Arts Centre.

Amidst all the talent involved in creating the piece – which tells of an old man with wings whose mysterious appearance triggers revived fortunes for a small seaside village – is Joe Wright, the award-winning director of films such as Atonement and Pride and Prejudice, whose mother founded Little Angel in the early 1960s.

SW11 5TN

Clapham Junction bac.org.uk

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 Evening Standard, Financial Times, Time Out Sydney

‘This is a perfect alternative show. In fact, it is a perfect show.’

Financial Times

Seamlessly synchronizing live music, performance and storytelling with stunning film and animation, the internationally acclaimed show by award-winning company 1927 returns.

Salad Days Riverside Studios December 20-March 2, £20-£40 Suffering from the winter blues? Well suffer no more. Returning to Hammersmith for yet another Christmas is Tête à Tête’s irresistibly upbeat production of Julian Slade and Dorothy Reynolds’s spirited 1950s musical, about a magical piano that gets everyone dancing.

Yes, that really is the story (or, at least, the basic premise). But it’s also a subtle tale of youthful rebellion and the need for tuneful escapism in the post-war period. Our current woes might not be comparable with ration-stricken, bombed-out Britain, but this fizzy pop of a theatre piece might still be the sugar rush we’re craving.

W6 9RL

Hammersmith riversidestudios.co.uk

12 December – 10 January National Theatre South Bank SE1 9PX 020 7452 3000 nationaltheatre.org.uk

Co-commissioned by BAC, Malthouse Theatre & The Showroom (University of Chichester) Developed at BAC

No booking fee

Waterloo, Southwark, Embankment

Photo © ‘1927’

Sponsored by

WEST END

Twelfth Night booking until Feb 9 2013, Apollo Theatre, 31 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EZ Piccadilly Circus £25-£55, Dec 18, 21 & 22, 26-29, Jan 4 & 5, 8, 11 & 12, 15, 17-19, 22, 25 & 26, 29, Feb 1 & 2, 5, 7-9, 7.30pm, mats Dec 19, Jan 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Feb 6, 2pm, Dec 23, 30, Jan 6, 13, 27, Feb 3, 3pm. Award-winning actor Mark Rylance plays Olivia in an all-male production of the Shakespeare’s romantic comedy.

The 39 Steps booking until Mar 30 2013, Criterion Theatre, 218-223 Piccadilly, Piccadilly Circus, W1J 0TR Piccadilly Circus £15-£55, Mon-Sat 8pm, mats Wed 3pm, Sat 4pm, no perf Dec 26, Dec 24, 4pm. Comedy version of thriller.

Billy Elliot - The Musical booking until Dec 21 2013, Victoria Palace, Victoria Street, SW1E 5EA Victoria £19.50-£65, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm, except Dec 31, 2.30pm, no perfs Dec 24 & 25, extra mats Dec 28, Jan 2. Musical adaptation of the film.

The Bodyguard booking until Apr 27 2013, Adelphi Theatre, 409-412 Strand, WC2R 0NS Charing Cross £20£67.50, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 3pm, no perf Dec 24 & 25, extra mat perf Dec 27 & 28, Jan 3, 3pm. Musical adaptation of the 1992 film featuring the music of Whitney Houston Cabaret booking until Jan 19 2013, Savoy Theatre, Savoy Court, Strand, WC2R 0ET Charing Cross £35-£85, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm, no perf Dec 25. Will Young stars in re-vamped production of Kander and Ebb’s musical.

Chariots Of Fire booking until Feb 2 2013, Gielgud Theatre, 35-37 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 6AR Piccadilly Circus £26-£55, Premium Seats £85, Mon-Sat 7.45pm, mats Wed, Sat 3pm, except Dec 31, 3pm, no perfs Dec 24 & 25, no mat Dec 26, extra mats Dec 27, Jan 3. Mike Bartlett’s stage version of the race to compete in the 1924 Paris Olympic Games.

A Chorus Of Disapproval booking until Jan 5 2013, The Harold Pinter Theatre, 6 Panton Street, SW1Y 4DN Piccadilly Circus £10-£53.50, Premium Seats £85, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm, no perfs Dec 2426, 31, extra mat perf Dec 28, 2.30pm. Alan Ayckbourn’s backstage comedy starring Rob Brydon.

A Christmas Carol With Simon Callow booking until Jan 6 2013, Arts Theatre, 6-7 Great Newport Street, WC2H 7JB Covent Garden £15-£40, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Tue-Sat 3.30pm, Dec 24, 31, 3.30pm only, extra perf Jan 6, 3.30pm & 7.30pm, no perfs Dec 25 & 26, Jan 1 & 2.

One-man show, based on Charles Dickens’ own performance adaptation.

58 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Constellations booking until Jan 5 2013, The Duke Of York’s, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4BG Leicester Square £25-£75, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm, no perf Dec 24 & 25, 31, Jan 1.

Nick Payne’s drama on friendship and free will, with Rafe Spall and Sally Hawkins.

The Dance Of Death booking until Jan 5 2013, Trafalgar Studios, 14 Whitehall, SW1A 2DY Charing Cross £22, Mon-Sat 7.45pm, mats Thu, Sat 3pm (press night Dec 17, 7pm, no perf Dec 24-26, 31). Conor McPherson’s version of August Strindberg’s dark comic-drama.

Dick! booking until Jan 20 2013, Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX Leicester Square £18.50, Tue-Sat 7pm, Fri & Sat 9.30pm, Sun 5pm, mats Sat 4pm, Sun 2.30pm, no perf Dec 24-26, 31, Jan 1. The international diva Miss Dusty O stars in this strictly adult pantomime, written by Stuart Saint.

Dreamboats And Petticoats booking until Jan 19 2013, Wyndham’s Theatre, Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0DA Leicester Square £10-£75, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu 3pm, Sat 4pm, except Dec 24, 3pm only, no perfs Dec 25 & 26, Jan 1, extra mat perfs Dec 28, Jan 2, 3pm.

Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran’s classic pop-inspired musical.

English National Ballet: The Nutcracker Ends Jan 5 2013, London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4ES Charing Cross £10-£67, Tue-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat & Sun 2.30pm, no perf Dec 25, no eve perf Jan 1, extra mat perfs Dec 19-21, 26-28, Jan 1 & 2, 2.30pm.

Tchaikovsky’s popular festive ballet, performed by the world-class English National Ballet.

Ghost - The Musical booking until Apr 20 2013, Piccadilly Theatre, 16 Denman Street, W1D 7DY Piccadilly Circus Mon-Wed/Thu mats £25-£65, Thu eves/ Fri & Sat £25-£67.50, Premium Seats £85, £25 day tickets available Mon-Fri from the box office from 10am on the day of the performance, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm. A stage adaptation of the 1990 romantic film.

Goodnight Mister Tom booking until Jan 26 2013, Phoenix Theatre, 110 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0JP Leicester Square Nov 22-28, Jan 8, 15, 22 £15-£39.50, Nov 29 & 30, Dec 1-31, Jan 1-7, 9-14, 16-21, 2326 £15-£46.50, Nov 22-30, Dec 1-21, Jan 8-25 Tue-Fri child £29.62 & £34.87, Tue-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm, no perf Dec 25, extra mat perf Dec 18, 28, 31, 2.30pm, Jan 8, 15, 22, 1.30pm. Stage adaptation of Michelle Magorian’s tale of wartime friendship.

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain!

(Over 6s) booking until Jan 6 2013, Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HH Charing Cross £10-£14.50, Thu & Fri 1pm, Sat 10.30am & 12noon, Sun 2pm & 4pm. Humourous children’s show about British history.

Jersey Boys booking until Oct 20 2013, Prince Edward Theatre, 28 Old Compton Street, W1D 4HS Tottenham Court Road Tue-Thu £20-£65, Fri-Sun £20-£67.50, Premium Seats Tue-Thu £85, Fri-Sun £95, Tue-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 5pm, mats Tue, Sat 3pm, no perf Dec 25, Dec 30, 3pm, extra mat perf Dec 27, 3pm. Musical drama about Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons.

Les Miserables booking until Oct 26 2013, Queen’s Theatre, 51 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 6BA Piccadilly Circus £20-£85, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm, no perf Dec 24 & 25, extra mat perf Dec 27, Jan 3, 2.30pm. Musical based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel.

Let It Be booking until Jan 19 2013, Prince Of Wales Theatre, 31 Coventry Street, W1D 6AS Piccadilly Circus £20, £40, £60, Mon, Wed-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 5pm, mats Thu, Sat 3pm, Dec 24, 3pm, Dec 2629, Jan 2, 3pm & 7.30pm, Dec 30, 8pm.

Marking 50 years since the release of their first single, The Beatles are celebrated in this musical-narrative, created by RAIN Productions.

The Lion King booking until Jan 6 2013, Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington Street, WC2E 7RQ Covent Garden Tue-Thu £30-£60, Fri, Sun £32.50-£62.50, Sat £35-£65, Tue-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat & Sun 2.30pm, no perf Dec 25, no mat perf Dec 26, extra mat perf Dec 27, 2.30pm.

Musical based on the Disney film.

Loserville booking until Jan 5 2013, Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HH Charing Cross Mon-Thu £10-£45, Fri & Sat £10-£49.50, Tue & Wed 3pm & 7.30pm family £32.50, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 3pm, no perf Dec 24 & 25, 31, extra mat perfs Dec 27 & 28, Jan 3, 3pm. Musical about a computer geek, by Elliot Davis and Busted’s James Bourne.

Mamma Mia! booking until Apr 13 2013, Novello Theatre, 5 Aldwych, WC2B 4LD Covent Garden Mon-Fri £15-£64, Sat £15-£67.50, Mon-Sat 7.45pm, mats Thu, Sat 3pm, no perf Dec 24 & 25, extra mat perf Dec 31, 3pm. Musical comedy based at a family wedding, set to ABBA songs.

Matilda: The Musical booking until Dec 22 2013, Cambridge Theatre, Earlham Street, WC2H 9HU Covent Garden £19-£58.50, disabled £28.75, Tue-Thu under 18s £19-£48.50, Tue 7pm, Wed-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm, Sun 3pm, no perf Dec 25, no mat Dec 26, extra mats Dec 27, Jan 3, 2.30pm. Tim Minchin’s musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s tale.

Monty Python’s Spamalot booking until Apr 13 2013, Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5DE Charing Cross £15-£85, Mon-Sat 8pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm, no perf Dec 24 & 25, Dec 31, 2.30pm & 5.30pm, extra mat perfs Dec 27 & 28, Jan 1, 2.30pm. Eric Idle and John Du Prez’s musical comedy.

Singin’ In The Rain booking until Sep 1 2013, Palace Theatre, 109-113 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 5AY Leicester Square £14£84, £25 day seats available from the box office from 10am on day of the performance, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mat Wed, Sat 2.30pm, except Dec 26, 5pm, no perf Dec 24 & 25, 31, Jan 6, extra mat perf Dec 27 & 28, Jan 3, 2.30pm.

Musical based on the classic MGM film.

The Mousetrap booking until Dec 21 2013, St Martin’s Theatre, West Street, Cambridge Circus, WC2H 9NZ Leicester Square £16-£42, Premium Seats £61, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Tue 3pm, Sat 4pm, no perf Dec 24 & 25, 31, extra mat perfs Dec 27 & 28, Jan 3 & 4, 3pm. Agatha Christie’s murder mystery.

One Man, Two Guvnors booking until Aug 31 2013, Theatre Royal, Haymarket, 18 Suffolk Street, SW1Y 4HT Piccadilly Circus £15-£55, premium seats £85, concs available, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm, except Dec 24, 2.30pm, Dec 26, 7.30pm only, no perf Dec 25, extra mat perfs Dec 27, Jan 3, 2.30pm. Richard Bean’s comic tale, based on The Servant Of Two Masters.

The Phantom Of The Opera booking until Oct 26 2013, Her Majesty’s Theatre, 57 Haymarket, SW1Y 4QL Piccadilly Circus £22.45-£85, MonSat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm, no perfs Dec 24 & 25, extra mat perfs Dec 26, Jan 2. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s awardwinning Gothic musical.

Privates On Parade booking until Mar 2 2013, Noel Coward Theatre, 85-88 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4AU Leicester Square £10, £27.50, £57.50, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm, no perf Dec 24-26. Peter Nichols’s awardwinning comedy set during the Malayan Campaign of the Second World War. Richard III booking until Feb 10 2013, Apollo Theatre, 31 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EZ Piccadilly Circus £25-£55, Dec 19 & 20, Jan 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 23 & 24, 30 & 31, Feb 6, 7.30pm, mats Dec 22, 27, 29, Jan 5, 12, 19, 26, Feb 2, 9, 2pm, Jan 20, Feb 10, 3pm. All-male production of Shakespeare’s play led by Mark Rylance.

Rock Of Ages booking until Feb 17 2013, Shaftesbury Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8DP Holborn Mon-Thu £20£57.50, Fri & Sat £20-£65, Mon-Thu 7.30pm, Fri 5.30pm & 8.30pm, Sat 8pm, mats Sat 4pm, except Dec 31, 3pm & 7pm, no perf Dec 25, extra mat perf Dec 27, 3pm.

Musical celebrating LA rock culture.

Room On The Broom: Tall Stories (Ages 3-8) booking until Jan 13 2013, Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7ES Piccadilly Circus £12.50-£20, Dec 18 & 19, 27, Jan 2 & 3, 11am & 2pm, Dec 20, 22-24, 28-31, Jan 5 & 6, 12 & 13, 10am & 12noon, Jan 4, 10 & 11, 11am. An adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s tale.

The Royal Ballet: A Mixed Programme (The Firebird/In The Night/Raymonda Act III) Ends Jan 11 2013, Royal Opera House, 45 Floral Street, WC2E 9DD Covent Garden £4-£63, Dec 29, 7pm, Jan 4, 9, 11, 7.30pm, mats Dec 22, 12.30pm, Dec 29, 1.30pm. Three one-act ballets.

The Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker Ends Jan 16 2013, Royal Opera House, 45 Floral Street, WC2E 9DD Covent Garden £5-£110, Dec 27 & 28, Jan 2, 12, 7pm, Jan 8, 15 & 16, 7.30pm, mats Dec 23, 1pm, Dec 27, Jan 2, 12, 2pm. Peter Wright’s production of Lev Ivanov’s classic.

The Royal Ballet: The Wind In The Willows Ends Jan 5 2013, Linbury Studio Theatre At Royal Opera House, Bow Street, WC2E 9DD Covent Garden £11£24, Dec 17-21, 27 & 28, Jan 2-4, 7pm, Dec 22, 29, 31, Jan 5, 5pm, mats Dec 22, 29-31, Jan 5, 12.30pm, Dec 27 & 28, Jan 2-4, 2pm. Choreographer Will Tuckett’s acclaimed dance-theatre piece.

simon annand / Manuel Harlan

L ISTINGS

Scrooge The Musical booking until Jan 5 2013, London Palladium, 8 Argyll Street, W1F 7TF Oxford Circus £27-£69, child £22-£53, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 3pm, Dec 28, 3pm, no perf Dec 24-26, Jan 1. Leslie Bricusse’s musical based on Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol.

Seussical booking until Jan 6 2013, Arts Theatre, 6-7 Great Newport Street, WC2H 7JB Covent Garden £17.50, Dec 18-21, Jan 3-6, 10.30am, Jan 3-6, 1pm. A family-friendly musical based on the writings of Dr. Seuss.

The Showstoppers booking until Dec 23, Charing Cross Theatre, The Arches, Villiers Street, WC2N 6NL Embankment £17.50-£27.50, Sun 7pm. Improvised musical comedy from the acclaimed troupe.

Shrek - The Musical booking until Feb 24 2013, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Catherine Street, WC2B 5JF Covent Garden £20-£65, Wed & Thu eves family of four £99-£150, additional seats £29.50 (upper circle) & £45 (best available), Premium Seats £95, Mon, ThuSat 7.30pm, Wed 7pm, mats Thu, Sat & Sun 3pm, Dec 24, 31, 3pm. Popular musical based on the Dreamworks animated film, starring Richard Blackwood.

Stick Man: Scamp Theatre (Over 3s) booking until Jan 6 2013, Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX Leicester Square £12.50£14.50, family £45, Wed-Sun 10.30am, Sat & Sun 2pm, Dec 22 & 23, 27-30, Jan 5 & 6, 12.15pm. Children’s show based on Julia Donaldson’s book.

Top Hat - The Musical booking until Sep 28 2013, Aldwych Theatre, 49 Aldwych, WC2B 4DF Covent Garden £20-£65, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm, no perf Dec 24 & 25, 31, extra mat perf Dec 30, Jan 2, 2.30pm. Irving Berlin’s musical.

Uncle Vanya booking until Feb 16 2013, Vaudeville Theatre, 404 Strand, WC2R 0NH Embankment £25£53.50, Premium Seats £76, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm, except Dec 31, 2.30pm, extra mats Dec 18, 28, Jan 2, no perfs Dec 24 & 25, Jan 1. Chekhov’s comic tale starring Ken Stott and Anna Friel.

Viva Forever! booking until Jun 1 2013, Piccadilly Theatre, 16 Denman Street, W1D 7DY Piccadilly Circus £20£67.50, Mon-Thu, Sat 7.30pm, Fri 5pm & 8.30pm, mats Sat 3pm, except Dec 31, 3pm, no perfs Dec 24 & 25, extra mat perfs Dec 26 & 27, Jan 2, 3pm. Musical by Jennifer Saunders, featuring Spice Girls songs.

War Horse booking until Oct 26 2013, New London Theatre, 166 Drury Lane (corner of Parker Street), WC2B 5PW Covent Garden £15-£55, Premium Seats £85, Mon, Wed-Sat 7.30pm, Tue 7pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm, except Dec 2729, Jan 2 & 3, 5, 2pm & 7pm, Dec 26, Jan 4, 7pm, Dec 24, 1.30pm, Dec 31, 2pm, no perf Dec 25. Puppetry-based show about a horse caught up in the First World War. We Will Rock You booking until Mar 23 2013, Dominion Theatre, 268-9 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 7AQ Tottenham Court Road Mon-Fri

£27.50-£55, Sat £27.50-£60, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat 2.30pm, Dec 26, Jan 31, Feb 27, 2.30pm, no perf Dec 24 & 25, extra mat perf Dec 27 & 28, 31, Jan 1-4, 2.30pm.

Futuristic musical set to Queen hits.

Wicked booking until Apr 27 2013, Apollo Victoria Theatre, 17 Wilton Road, SW1V 1LG Victoria Mon-Fri eves/mats £15-£62.50, Sat eves £15-£65, 24 front row day tickets priced £27.50 each released 10am at the box office, maximum two per person, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm, except Dec 26-29, 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Dec 30, 2.30pm, extra mats Dec 27 & 28, 30, Jan 3, Feb 21 2013, 2.30pm, no perf Dec 25.

Musical charting the early years of the Wicked Witch Of The West.

The Woman In Black booking until Dec 14 2013, Fortune Theatre, Russell Street, WC2B 5HH Covent Garden £16.50-£45, Premium Seats £55, Tue-Sat 8pm, mats Tue, Thu 3pm, Sat 4pm, except Dec 29, Jan 3, 3pm & 8pm, extra mats Dec 24, 28, 31, Jan 2, 4, 3pm, no perfs Dec 25 & 26, Jan 1. Longrunning ghost story.

OFF WEST END Aladdin - A Wish Come True Ends Jan 5 2013, The O2, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX North Greenwich £19.50£49.50, Dec 18-21, 27 & 28, Jan 2-4, 7.30pm, Dec 22, 26, 29 & 30, Jan 1, 5, 5.30pm, mats Dec 19, 23, 27, Jan 2, 2pm, Dec 22, 29, Jan 5, 1.30pm. Lily Savage stars as Widow Twankey in this panto.

The Animals And Children Took To The Streets booking until Jan 10 2013, National Theatre: Lyttelton, South Bank, SE1 9PX Waterloo £12-£24, child £12, Dec 21 & 22, 26 & 27, Jan 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 7.30pm, mats Dec 22, 27, Jan 3, 10, 3pm. A twisted fairy tale incorporating storytelling, performance, animation and live music.

Boris & Sergey’s Vaudevillian Adventure Starts Wed, ends Dec 29, Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE Tottenham Court Road Dec 19-22 £10, Dec 27-29 £15, concs £12.50, Dec 19-22, 9.30pm, Dec 27-29, 7.45pm. Balkan puppeteers present a dark and twisted cabaret of improvised plays and sketches.

New Adventures: Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty Ends Jan 26 2013, Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN Angel £12-£60, Tue-Sun 7.30pm, mats Sat & Sun 2.30pm, Dec 27, 2.30pm, Jan 2, 23, 2.30pm, no perf Dec 25 (audio described mat perf Jan 12). Gothic reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s classical ballet.

L ISTINGS

The Arabian Nights Ends Jan 12 2013, Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, NW6 7JR Kilburn £15 & £20, child/NUS £10, Dec 19-22, 27-29, Jan 2-5, 7-12, 7.30pm, mats Dec 19 & 20, 24, 26, 29, Jan 2 & 3, 5, 9, 12, 2pm, Dec 23, 30, 3.30pm (audio described Dec 20, captioned Jan 8). Adaptation based on the story of Scheherazade.

Cocktail Sticks booking until Mar 30 2013, National Theatre: Lyttelton, South Bank, SE1 9PX Waterloo £12-£32, Dec 19 & 20, Jan 4, 7, 12, 15, Feb 2, 9, 12 & 13, 18, 20 & 21, 25 & 26, Mar 16, 18, 28, 30, 6pm, mats Jan 13, Feb 10, Mar 10, 17, 3.30pm. An oratorio without music by Alan Bennett, with Alex Jennings and Janet Dale.

Damned By Despair booking until Dec 17, National Theatre: Olivier, South Bank, SE1 9PX Waterloo £12-£32, OAP £22, Dec 17, 7.30pm. Frank McGuinness’s version of Spanish writer Tirso de Molina’s drama.

David Hoyle & Richard Thomas: Merrie Hell Ends Jan 5 2013, Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE Tottenham Court Road Mon-Wed £15, concs £12.50, Thu-Sat £20, concs £17.50, Mon-Sat 9.30pm, no perf Dec 24-26, 31, Jan 1. Filthy musical cabaret show.

Dick Whittington And His Cat Ends Jan 6 2013, Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ Hackney Central £9.50-£29.50, Dec 19-23, 26-30, Jan 2-4, 7pm, Jan 5 & 6, 5.30pm, mats Dec 19 & 20, 1.30pm, Dec 21-24, 26-31, Jan 2-4, 2.30pm, Jan 5 & 6, 1pm (signed Dec 22). Steve Elias plays Sarah The Cook in a traditional, family pantomime.

60 Scout London scoutlondon.com

The Effect booking until Feb 23 2013, National Theatre: Cottesloe, South Bank, SE1 9PX Waterloo £12-£32. Lucy Prebble’s drama about sanity, neurology and medicine, starring Billie Piper.

Father Christmas: Pins And Needles (Under 6s) Ends Jan 5 2013, Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King Street, W6 0QL Hammersmith £8, family £30, Dec 23, 30, 2pm, Dec 29, 31, Jan 2-5, 11am & 1pm, Dec 18-22, 26-28, 10.30am, Dec 23, 30, 12noon, Dec 1822, 26-28, 12.30pm, Dec 19-22, 26-28, 2.30pm, Dec 29, 3pm. An adaptation of the Raymond Briggs book.

Forever Crazy Ends Dec 24, South Bank, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Waterloo standing £35, silver ticket £45, gold ticket £55, platinum ticket £65, Tue & Wed 8.30pm, Thu-Sat 7pm & 9.30pm, Sun 7pm.

The Parisian cabaret Crazy Horse presents its entertaining cabaret show.

Going Dark Ends Dec 22, Young Vic, 66 The Cut, SE1 8LZ Waterloo £19.50, Mon-Sat 8pm, Dec 20, 22, 5pm, mats Dec 18, 22, 2pm. Hattie Naylor’s acclaimed solo drama about the onset of blindness.

Hansel And Gretel: National Theatre (Ages 7-10) booking until Jan 26 2013, National Theatre: Cottesloe, South Bank, SE1 9PX Waterloo £12-£24, child £12, Dec 21 & 22, 26-29, Jan 1-3, 7pm, Jan 8-10, 16-19, 24-26, 6pm, mats Dec 22, 27-29, 31, Jan 2 & 3, 3pm, Jan 10, 1.30pm.

Imaginative take on the Brothers Grimm story from director Katie Mitchell.

The Happy Journey To Trenton And Camden & The Long Christmas Dinner Ends Jan 5 2013, King’s Head, Islington, 115 Upper Street, N1 1QN Angel £19.50, concs £15 & £16.25, Dec 18-22, 24, 27-29, 31, Jan 2-5, 7.15pm, mats Dec 23, 30, 3pm. Two one-act plays by American writer Thornton Wilder.

House Of Blakewell Ends Dec 30, King’s Head, Islington, 115 Upper Street, N1 1QN Angel £10, Sun 7.15pm. Songs and comedy with special guests.

Imagine Toi Ends Dec 24, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Waterloo £15, child £7.50, Dec 17-18, 20-23, 7pm, mats Dec 22, 24, 2pm. Former Cirque de Soleil clown Julien Cottereau presents his poignant and witty solo show.

In A Pickle: Oily Cart (Ages 2-5) Ends Jan 6 2013, Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ London Bridge £16, concs £13, under 21s £10, Dec 18-21, 10.45am & 1.45pm, Dec 22 & 23, 27-30, Jan 2-6, 11.30am & 2.30pm. Show for young children based on A Winter’s Tale.

In The Republic Of Happiness booking until Jan 19 2013, Jerwood Theatre At The Royal Court, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS Sloane Square Mon £10, Tue-Sat 7.30pm £12, £20, £28, under 25s £8, Thu, Sat 2.30pm/concs £15, £23.

Martin Crimp’s violent modern satire.

Jack & The Beanstalk Ends Jan 19 2013, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, E15 1BN Stratford £7-£23, concs £5.50-£17.50. Family pantomime.

Julius Caesar Ends Feb 9 2013, Donmar Warehouse, 41 Earlham Street, WC2H 9LX Covent Garden £10-£35, phone for availability, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm, no perfs Dec 24-27, Jan 1. Phyllida Lloyd’s all-female production of Shakespeare’s Roman tragedy.

Kiss Me Kate booking until Mar 2 2013, Old Vic, 103 The Cut, SE1 8NB Waterloo £11-£60, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm, Dec 24, 28, 30 & 31, 2.30pm, no perf Dec 25, Jan 1, no eve perf Dec 24, 31. The award-winning Cole Porter musical, directed by Trevor Nunn.

The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming: YaD Arts Ends Dec 30, Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH Chalk Farm £10, family £32, concs £8, Tue-Thu 10am & 2pm, Sat & Sun 11am & 2.30pm, except Dec 26-30, 11am-2.30pm, extra perf Dec 24, 11am & 2.30pm, no perf Dec 25. A wonderfully strange tale by Lemony Snicket, adapted by YaD Arts.

The Magistrate booking until Feb 10 2013, National Theatre: Olivier, South Bank, SE1 9PX Waterloo £12-£47. Victorian farcical comedy by Arthur Wing Pinero, with John Lithgow in the title role.

Cloud Man: Ailie Cohen Puppet Maker (Ages 4-7) Starts Dec 22, ends Jan 6 2013, Blue Room, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Waterloo £12, child £6, From Dec 22, Mon-Sun 11.30am & 2.30pm, except Dec 26, 2.30pm, no perfs Dec 25, Jan 1. Cumulus expert Cloudia has a dream of finding a Cloud Man high up in the sky in this familyoriented fantasy.

The Master And Margarita booking until Jan 19 2013, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS Barbican £16-£42, Mon-Sat 7.15pm, mats Dec 22, 29, Jan 5, 1.30pm, Dec 30, 4pm, no perf Dec 16, 23-26, 31, Jan 1, 6, 13, (press night Dec 18). Complicite presents an adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel.

Meow Meow’s Little Match Girl Ends Dec 30, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Waterloo £15-£30, Dec 1921, 26-28, 7.30pm, Dec 22 & 23, 29 & 30, 6.30pm, Dec 22, 29, 9pm, mats Dec 23, 30, 2pm. Australian cabaret star presents an edgy reworking of Hans Christian Anderson.

Merrily We Roll Along Ends Mar 9 2013, The Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark Street, SE1 1RU London Bridge £35, Meal Deal £43, concs £27.50, Premium Seats £37.50.

Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s musical, based on the 1934 drama.

Midnight’s Pumpkin Ends Jan 13 2013, Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, Clapham Junction £15 & SW11 5TN £25. Kneehigh’s re-imagining of Cinderella.

Old Money Ends Jan 12 2013, Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, NW3 3EU Swiss Cottage £15-£29. A poignant comedy about life, death and widowhood.

People booking until Apr 2 2013, National Theatre: Lyttelton, South Bank, SE1 9PX Waterloo £12-£47, Mon-Fri under 18s £19 & £23.50, other concs available. Alan Bennett’s celebrated new drama.

The Prince And The Pauper (Over 6s) Ends Jan 13 2013, Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ London Bridge £22, under 21s & concs £15. Mark Twain’s tale on confused identities by.

Robin Hood Ends Jan 6 2013, Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, SE10 8ES Greenwich £19 & £25, concs £16 & £23, child £9.50 & £12.50. Traditional family pantomime.

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs Ends Jan 13 2013, New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, SW19 1QG Wimbledon £10-£35, Dec 17, 19-22, 27, Jan 2-5, 8-12, 7pm, Dec 23 & 24, 26, 31, Jan 6, 13, 1.30pm & 5.30pm, mats Dec 17, 19-22, 27, Jan 5, 12, 2pm, Jan 2-4, 8-11, 1.30pm.

Priscilla Presley stars as The Wicked Queen.

The Snowman (Over 3s) Ends Jan 6 2013, Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, WC2A 2HT Holborn £12-£32, family £95, Dec 21 & 22, 26, 28, 30, Jan 1 & 2, 7pm, mats Dec 20-24, 27-30, Jan 2-6, 11am, Dec 20-24, 26-30, Jan 1-6, 2.30pm.

A musical adaptation of children’s story.

Straight Ends Dec 22, The Bush Theatre At The Old Library, 7 Uxbridge Road, W12 8LJ Shepherd’s Bush eves £19.50, concs £12, mats £15, concs £10, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat 2.30pm (audio described Dec 22, 2.30pm). DC Moore’s comedy drama adapted from the film Humpday.

FRINGE Beauty And The Beast Ends Dec 30, The Shaw Theatre, 100-110 Euston Road, NW1 2AJ Euston £19.50, Dec 22-24, 26-30, 5pm, mats Dec 17-20, 22, 29, 10.30am, Dec 17-20, 22, 23 & 24, 26-30, 1.30pm. Starring Alison Hammond, CJ de Mooi, Oliver Mellor, Rodney Ward and Rusty Goffe.

A Christmas Carol Starts Dec 22, ends Dec 30, Middle Temple Hall, EC4Y 9AT Temple £25, child £15, Premium £35, child £25, Dec 22-24, 27-30, 3pm & 7.30pm. A musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’s classic festive novella.

Christmas Tales From The Shed: Chickenshed (Ages 0-7) Ends Dec 23, Chickenshed, 290 Chase Side, N14 4PE Cockfosters £6, babies/children under 1 year FREE, Dec 22 & 23, 10am & 11.45am.

Songs, puppetry and fun for the festive season.

Boy George’s Taboo Ends Mar 31 2013, Brixton Clubhouse, 467 Brixton Road, SW9 8HH Brixton £10, £25, Meal Deal with top price ticket only £32.50, Oct 31 £20, Dec 17-23, Tue-Sun 7.30pm, mats Sat & Sun 3pm, no perfs Dec 24-28, then Tue-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat 3pm, Sun 5pm. Boy George’s romantic musical set during the era of the New Romantics

Tristram Kenton

Cinderella Ends Jan 5 2013, Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King Street, W6 0QL Hammersmith £12.50-£35, under 16s £15, family £60, £80, Dec 20 & 21, Jan 2-4, 7pm, Dec 22, 26-29, Jan 5, 6pm, mats Dec 22, 26-29, Jan 2-5, 2pm, Dec 23, 30 & 31, 3pm. Julie Atherton stars as the girl seeking her Prince Charming.

The Changeling Ends Dec 22, Young Vic, 66 The Cut, SE1 8LZ Waterloo £10£30, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm. The Jacobean tragedy written by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley.

A Clockwork Orange Ends Jan 5 2013, Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE Tottenham Court Road Nov 19-22 preview £15, Nov 23-30, Dec 1-31, Jan 1-5 Mon-Wed £17.50, concs £15, Thu-Sat £22.50, concs £20, Mon-Sat 7.15pm, mats Wed, Sat 3pm, Dec 27 & 28, Jan 3, 3pm, no perf Dec 24-26, 31, Jan 1, no mat perf Jan 2. Anthony Burgess’s classic horror as a dynamic, all-male physical drama.

Cinderella: A Fairytale (Over 6s) Ends Jan 26 2013, St James Theatre, 12 Palace Street, SW1E 5JA Victoria £15-£40, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Dec 18, 21 & 22, 24, 27-30, Jan 2, 4 & 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 2.30pm, no perf Dec 25, no eve perf Dec 24. A modern take on the classic fairytale.

Dogs Don’t Do Ballet: Little Angel Theatre (Ages 2-6) Ends Jan 27 2013, The Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, Cross Street, N1 2DN Angel £10, child/concs £8. Adaptation of the book written by Anna Kemp.

The Elves And The Shoemaker: Stuff & Nonsense (Over 3s) Ends Jan 3 2013, Jacksons Lane Theatre, 269a Archway Road, N6 5AA Highgate £14.50, family £43, child & concs £10.50, Dec 22, Jan 3, 4.30pm, mats Dec 17-20, 10am & 1.30pm, Dec 22-24, 27-31, Jan 2, 11am & 2pm.

Niki McCretton’s adaptation of the classic children’s story.

Ex Libris Macabre Ends Dec 22, Theatre Delicatessen, 35 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QA Baker Street £14, concs £10, Mon-Sat 8pm. Immersive theatre experience based on dark fairy tales.

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience Ends Dec 22, The Charing Cross Hotel, Strand, WC2N 5HX Charing Cross Tue-Thu/Sun £43.50, Fri & Sat £49.50 inc three course meal, Tue-Sun 7.30pm, mats Sat & Sun 1.30pm. An interactive comedy inspired by the TV programme.

Feathers In The Snow Ends Jan 5 2013, Southwark Playhouse, Shipwright Yard,

corner of Tooley Street and Bermondsey Street, SE1 2TF London Bridge £16, concs £14 , family £50. Epic family show about migration, magic and imagination.

Hamlet Ends Jan 12 2013, The Network Theatre, 246A Lower Road, SE1 8SJ Waterloo £6-£10.50, concs £6-£7.50, Dec 17-22, Jan 2-5, 7-12, 7.30pm, doors 7pm. The Bedouin Shakespeare Company presents the Bard’s tragedy.

The House Where Winter Lives: Punchdrunk Enrichment (Ages 3-6) Ends Jan 13 2013, Discover Children’s Story Centre, 383-387 High Street, E15 4QZ Stratford £8, child £6, concs £7.50, Dec 21, 4.30pm, Dec 22 & 23, 2731, Jan 2-7, 12 & 13, 11.30am, 1pm, 3pm, 4.30pm. Immersive storytelling adventure set in a magical frozen forest.

The Architects Ends Feb 2 2013, V22 Workspace, Block F, 100 Clements Road, SE16 4DG Bermondsey Tue-Thu £20, Fri & Sat £25, Sun £10, Tue-Sat 8pm, doors 7pm, Sun 6pm, doors 5pm, mats Sat 3pm, doors 3pm, Sun 1pm, doors 12noon, no perf Dec 25 & 26, Jan 1. Promenade show from Shunt collective about the Minotaur.

It’s A Wonderful Life Ends Dec 30, The Questors Theatre, 12 Mattock Lane, W5 5BQ Ealing Broadway £12, child £6, family £37, Tue-Sat 7pm, mats Sat & Sun 2.30pm, no eve perf Dec 25 & 26.

Adaptation of Frank Capra’s film.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream & The Tempest Ends Jan 5 2013, The Lion & Unicorn, 42-44 Gaisford Street, NW5 2ED Kentish Town £15, concs £12. Grassroots Shakespeare London.

Mother Goose Ends Jan 5 2013, Millfield Arts Centre, Silver Street, N18 1PJ Silver Street £8.50-£17.50, Dec 22 & 23, 27-30, Jan 2, 5, 5pm, Jan 3 & 4, 7pm, mats Dec 17-20, 22 & 23, 27-31, Jan 2, 5, 1.15pm, Dec 17-20, 10am, Dec 24, 12.30pm & 4pm, Jan 3 & 4, 2pm. Family pantomime.

Once Upon A Mattress Ends Jan 5 2013, Union Theatre, 204 Union Street, SE1 0LX Waterloo £18, Tue-Sun 7.30pm, mats Sun 2.30pm, no perf Dec 2431, Jan 1. Hans Christian Andersen tale.

Pinocchio: Little Angel Theatre (Over 6s) Ends Jan 27 2013, The Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, Cross Street, N1 2DN Angel Wed-Sun £14, child & concs £10, family £44, Fri 5pm £5, Puppetry adaptation of the story.

Papatango New Writing Festival 2012 In Partnership With The Finborough Theatre : Everyday Maps For Everyday Use Ends Dec 22, Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, SW10 9ED West Brompton Tue £10, Wed-Sun £14, Wed-Fri, Sun concs £10, Tue-Sat 6.30pm, doors 6pm, mat Sun 1.30pm, doors 1pm. Tom Morton-Smith’s drama.

Snow White and The Seven Poofs The Climax! Ends Jan 6 2013, The Green Carnation, 5 Greek Street, W1D 4DD Leicester Square £15, Tue-Sat 7.30pm, Sat 4.30pm, Sun 5.30pm, mats Sun 2.30pm, no perf Dec 18, 24-26, 31, Jan 1. A very camp, very rude, grown-up pantomime written by Simon Gross.

The Three Musketeers Ends Jan 9 2013, Rosemary Branch Theatre, 2A Shepperton Road, N1 3DT Old Street £14 & £18.50, concs £11 & £16.50, adults only perfs £22.50 inc glass of fizz, no concs in January, Dec 18-20, 27, 30, Jan 2 & 3, 7.30pm, adults only perf Dec 14, 21, 28 & 29, 31, Jan 4-6, 8 & 9, 7.30pm, mats Dec 20, 22, 27, 29, 31, Jan 5, 3pm. A musical pantomime by John Savournin and David Eaton.

Tom’s Midnight Garden (Over 4s) Ends Jan 19 2013, The Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, WC1H 0AH Euston £19.50, child £14.50, concs £16.50, family £64, Dec 17-20, Jan 8-11, 14-18, 10.30am & 1.30pm, Dec 21, 1.30pm, Dec 22, 27-29, Jan 12, 19, 2.30pm. Adaptation of Philippa Pearce’s children’s tale.

Too Many Penguins? (Ages 1-4) Ends Feb 16 2013, Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, SW19 1SB South Wimbledon £10, concs £8.

Whimsical children’s show about friendship.

The Wind In The Willows (Ages 5-11) Ends Feb 16 2013, Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, SW19 1SB South Wimbledon £16, concs £11. Kenneth Grahame’s story of friendship and bravery.

WIN a VIP Spamalot theatre trip for four money prices. Classic dishes such as steak frites, moules marinières and corn-fed chicken from the heart of rural Brittany sit alongside lighter dishes such as tuna Niçoise. Côte’s crème caramel and crème brûlee are house specialities.

To book tickets (from £15) and for more information visit spamalotwestend.co.uk or call 0844 871 7631 Freshly minted for 2012, SPAMALOT tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and features a bevy (or possibly a brace) of beautiful show girls, witchburnings , flying cows, killer rabbits and French people. The show also includes the nation’s favourite comedy song, Always Look on The Bright Side Of Life.

The production stars Stephen Tompkinson (DCI Banks, Wild at Heart) who makes his West End Musical debut as King Arthur.

This VIP prize for four people includes: - Premium tickets to see Spamalot at the Playhouse Theatre - Interval drinks and a programme - A pre-theatre meal at Côte Brasserie, St Martin’s Lane (cote-restaurants. co.uk) which serves simple, freshlyprepared French food at value-for-

To enter text SCOUT PYTHON and your answer to 88010 or head to scoutlondon.com/win Texts cost £1*, and count for TWO entries!

Who stars as King Arthur in Spamalot?

A) Stephen Tompkinson B) Stephen Fry C) Stephen Lee

* TERMS & CONDITIONS: Messages cost £1 each + standard network rate. 18+ bill payers only. Send STOP to end. Number may show on bill. A2B 08700460138. Closing date Jan 6, 2013. One reader will win four premium tickets, interval drinks (one glass of wine, beer or soft drink per person) and a programme to see Spamalot at the Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, London and a pre-theatre meal to the value of £120 at Cote Brasserie, St Martin’s Lane, London. The prize is valid throughout January 2013, excluding Saturday evening performances, subject to availability. No cash alternative available. Travel not included. Full details online. The promotion is open to residents of the UK except employees of the Promoter, their families, agents or anyone professionally connected with the promotion. Promotion limited to one entry per person. Responsibility is not accepted for entries lost, damaged or delayed as a result of any network, computer hardware or software failure of any kind. Proof of sending will not be accepted as proof of receipt. For full T&Cs for all competitions, visit scoutlondon.com/win

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THE ARCHITECTS A SHUNT EVENT A wildly disorientating performance chasing the tail of myths, memory and misanthropy; and the vague hope that amongst you there might also be a hero.

Until 2 February

www.shunt.co.uk www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shunt-architects 020 7452 3000