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Our guide to the best of London’s festivals

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Regulars

5 Scouted The Big Ten, Secret Cash Machines, Last Chance London, #loveScout and more 7 Talent Scout Hugh Viney of The Diamond Noise tells us about his favourite London haunts

Cover Story 8 Forget the tent There’s no need to travel far for your festival fix, there are more than enough of them in London. We round up the best

London by Lamé 14 Amy finds out she’s got more in common with a 13-year-old than she thought

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Scouted

BIG TEN

Leave the wellies at home

Have a grape night in

Spend a night at a museum

Why trek all the way to the countryside to sleep in a tent, when there are so many festivals on your doorstep?  p8

 Fiesta...and then sleep in your own bed

Wine tasting is not just for snobs. This duo will come to your house to teach you all about the viner points  p18

See Mel get violent and sweary. Again  p30

Jog on, Ben Stiller. London's cultural centres will be opening past your bedtime - so check them out p22

Steve Tanner / Prof Glyn edwards / Benedict Johnson

Visit the Tower of Babel Immerse yourself in the 200-strong cast of a spectacular new outdoor theatre production  p42

Swap the deerstalker for a War Horse  p32

See a Tottenham hot star  p35

Laugh at Sheeps  p26

Raise a glass to Mr Punch  p12

Open up to open water swimming  p41 scoutlondon.com Scout London

Scouted //SECRET CASH////////////////////////////////////// MACHINES OF LONDON//////////////////////////// SPITALFIELDS///////////////// On the way to a rub-a-dub on a night and no sausage and //////////////////////////////////// Friday mash for your Ray Mears? Don’t drip dry, there’s a local hole-inthe-wall dishing out monkeys and ponies.* That’s right - we spotted an ATM that is hidden from the masses and speaks cockney rhyming slang. Located in the window of an estate agent, the cashpoint looks less than legit at first glance. Operated by Bank Machine, which runs 2,500 ATMs across the country, the machine is free to use and language options are English or cockney. To find the cash (and LOLZ)dispensing wonder, head out of Spitalfields Market and take a right on to Commercial Street. Keep an eye out for SAI Properties. * Translation: We have found a cockney cashpoint and got a bit over-excited by it.

LONDON

Jeremy Deller: Joy In People Southbank Centre Closes Sun May 13 The King’s Speech Wyndham’s Theatre Closes Sat May 12 A Tale of Two Cities Charing Cross Theatre Closes Sat May 12

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The Bedford, Balham on Friday. You laughed at me and called me Harry Potter, but did a disappearing trick before I could get your number. Could we make magic? MARK I see you most mornings getting on the Central Line in Holland Park. You have a light pink coat and matching glasses. I’m the scruffylooking guy with the satchel who keeps staring. Put me out of my misery. SHY

If you know any of these people, let us know and we’ll try to get you in touch. love@scoutlondon.com

Amy Lamé’s Unhappy Birthday Camden People’s Theatre Closes Sat May 12

Educating Rita Menier Chocolate Factory Closes Sat May 12

Olly Murs lookalike on the number 30 bus to Hackney Downs on May 1. I was the girl in the pinstripe skirt who kept staring. I know you noticed as you smiled at me. Shall we be less shy next time? ANON

You were drinking bourbon and soda at The Old Blue Last on April 28. I was the guy unintentionally dressed like a sailor. I’ll try harder if you want to share a bottle of Woodford with me? MEL

last chance

Conrad Shawcross: Protomodel Science Museum Closes Sun May 13

# love

Spotted someone you fancy in London? #loveScout on Twitter

Plans for an Olympic ‘Henman Hill’ unveiled Got tickets to an Olympic event, but don’t know what to do with yourself before and afterwards? Well, the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has unveiled plans for a dedicated area kitted out with giant screens and picnic lawns in the Olympic version of the famous “Henman Hill” at Wimbledon, where fans can watch action on grassy areas.

It can hold up to 10,000 people and will be open to anyone with a ticket for an event on a first-come, firstserved basis. Organisers have also expressed an “ambition” to allow people without Olympic tickets in as well. Exactly what that means, we don’t really know. Anyway, it looks pretty, as the artist’s image above shows. We’re just wondering if we’ll get a chance to see it for real.

only two hours to go til the next coach stop

don’t underestimate my boredom

Hugh Viney Singer, The Diamond Noise, Edgware Road Rock ’n’ roll four-piece The Diamond Noise quickly built-up a passionate fan base through producing their own club nights and touring over the last year. Their single, Never Say Never Never, is out now and has been doing the rounds on Xfm, 6Music and Radio 2. We caught up with singer Hugh Viney ahead of their show at Camden Barfly on May 12. Let’s go to the pub. Scout’s buying - you pick the location. The Duke of Kendal, on Connaught Street. It’s a regular haunt of Jack Black and Jason Segal. On Sundays this amazing lady, who used play to troops off to fight in World War Two, gets on the piano and people gather round for a sing-song.

JACK FILLERY

All that singing is making us hungry. Any restaurant tips? Maroush on the Edgware Road. They’ve got a deli on one corner, a slick restaurant on another corner, and on a third they have the cafe.

Scout London Cover Stars 0004 Benoit Ollive, 23, Art Director, Brixton

What in London inspires you? London is a weird mix of contemporary art, retro fashion, futuristic architecture, letterpress workshops, street art, bagels, beers, students and international people. When you shake all that up you get unexpected results and that’s why I love this city. Any London secrets to share? All my secrets are well kept, but I’ll be happy to share some of them if we become friends.

Favourite part of London? There are so many places that I like here, I can’t choose just one, so I would say: Brixton Market, Brixton Beach Skatepark, Brick Lane/ Shoreditch, Little Venice, Camden and Strawberry Militia Office. How important is London to your work? Some of my projects, like the riot poster, are directly inspired by what is happening in London, I like to put what I feel about this city into

I recommend the cheap and tasty meze selection. How about outdoor spots? Udderbelly Festival on the South Bank. Cider in the sun, riverside, gourmet hotdogs, fake grass, giant Jenga and Connect 4, and a massive inflatable upside-down purple cow. What’s not to like? What’s your favourite music venue? It’s got to be Brixton Academy. The first time I went was for Kings of Leon on the Youth and Young Manhood tour. I love the slanting floor, the arch above the stage and Art Deco interior. Do you have any secret London tips for us? The cheeky Central Line shortcut at Tottenham Court Road. When you get to the bottom of the escalators, just turn right, ignoring the No Entry signs. Takes you straight to the platform.

design projects. I can’t live without London now. What’s next for you? I am working between London and Paris as art director for an advertising company and still run freelance stuff on Graphicfury.com. I also have my first solo exhibition in Hong Kong in June. I would like to go to America for a big project that I have in mind – we’ll see. See more at: graphicfury.com

Talent Scout is looking for talented creatives to design the Scout London logo that appears on our cover each week. London-based artists, designers, illustrators, photographers, all welcome. Interested? Contact talent@scoutlondon.com scoutlondon.com Scout London

London Festivals

Leave your wellies at home leave Festivals needn’t be about wellies and tents – there are more than enough events in London to satisfy any appetite. And you won’t even get muddy.

By Chris Beanland Soggy socks, bangers burnt to obliteration on the barbie, endless coach journeys, and that nagging, perpetual gnawing of exhaustion you get when (barely) sleeping under canvas. The perils of rural festival-going are sent to test us. And all of these trials can be avoided by going to London’s own festivals instead. Despite some recent, lazy broadsheet features suggesting that the festival bubble

has burst, it hasn’t. Well-managed and programmed events are still on the menu. The opening chords of the season have just been strummed with the successful multi-venue trawlaramas of the Camden Crawl and Land of Kings. And more is to come this summer - despite the recession, despite the Olympics and the Jubilee disruption, and despite what the naysayers might have

predicted, London’s festivals are in fine fettle. But where to start? Scout has distilled London’s best summer festivals into a long list of reasons not to leave the capital this summer. We spoke to the people behind some of the festivals to find out why they do things the way they do them - and also which London festivals the pros are looking forward to themselves.

6 Lollibop

i’ll Be your mirror “Are there many great festivals in London? There are some suspect ones, that’s for sure,” deadpans All Tomorrow’s Parties supremo Barry Hogan. “But I think Field Day has a good line-up this year. I guess everyone is getting excited for the Olympics and that has caused many events to change their dates.” Hogan’s I’ll Be Your Mirror festival will be taking place in the grand surroundings of Alexandra Palace, which was built as an entertainment venue for the people, and enjoys striking views towards London thanks to its position perched on top of a hill. “It’s a sister event to the All Tomorrow’s Parties festivals which usually take place in holiday resorts like Butlins,” says Hogan, “and it’s named after the b-side to The Velvet Underground’s original All Tomorrow’s Parties 7in single.” He adds: “Last year was the first event at Alexandra Palace and was curated by Portishead. This 8

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year Mogwai will headline and co-curate on the Saturday, with the other headliners being Slayer performing their Reign In Blood album on the Friday and The Afghan Whigs on the Sunday, who are reforming for this event.” Indeed that appearance from Greg Dulli and his neo-soul crew is one of the most eagerly awaited sets of the spring for many dedicated music fans. Hogan is renowned as something of a purist so with discernible pleasure pronounces: “Last year we won industry awards for the sound at the event, when in the past some people have often said Ally Pally was a very hard space to get good live sound in. People will be wristbanded so they can go out and spend time in the park around the Palace between bands.” May 25-27 atpfestival.com

Field dAy “My girlfriend Natalie - who’s currently putting together the Village Mentality area at Field Day

 Field Day

this year – and I ran a free event outside The Griffin pub in Old Street for 1,000 people over a summer weekend in 2006. Called Return Of The Rural, it was a village fete featuring James Yorkston and Beth Orton alongside Clinic and Four Tet,” recalls Tom Baker. The result of this weekend is Field Day, one of the capital’s hippest festivals. “Marcus [Weedon] - who ran The Griffin - was involved very much in making the event happen, so after its success we all thought we should do something bigger and on a grander scale.” Baker knew he was on to something: “A year later Marcus confirmed the use of Victoria Park and I drew up a list of people I thought should be involved, such as promoters Bugged Out, Bleed, Lanzarote. It meant we had a strong network to promote the event through. The line-up included Bat For Lashes, Justice and Foals.” Fast forward to this year’s Field Day and Baker promises much for fans. “It’s taken six years to be able to book the likes of Tortoise, Andrew Bird and Beirut,” he enthuses. “I’m

JOANNA PAINTER

 Hard Rock Calling

covered super excited to see Mazzy Star – who will be performing for the first time in the UK for 15 years at Field Day. Death Grips will be an onslaught of power and excitement and Metronomy will deliver an incredible set to get everyone dancing. Of course Franz Ferdinand will blow everyone away and Grimes will generate a hot, rammed tent.” The event has shifted forwards in the calendar this year because of an Olympic clash – Victoria Park was already booked on Field Day’s usual weekend and will host an Olympic-themed big screen party for those without tickets to the sport in Stratford. Field Day programmes some of the best bands you’ll find on a London festival bill and is the closest thing to Spain’s Primavera or America’s Coachella festivals that you’ll get on these shores. Thus it has become something of ‘must-do’ for the hipster set, attracting serried ranks of sexy female fashion bloggers sporting denim shorts, and blokes with preposterous haircuts. If All Tomorrow’s Parties took place outside in the sun (not that ATP punters 6 Eastern Electrics

generally like either of those things) it would look something like this. But Baker is refreshingly non-elitist in his outlook. “We’re here for everyone who wants to see bands they love, discover new music, and have fun at a village fete,” he tells us. Let’s hope Tower Hamlets Council allow Field Day to turn the sound up a bit (Caribou’s 2010 headline show was ruined by being too quiet) and then the party can really get started. June 2 fielddayfestivals.com

ERROL RAINEY

Apple Cart “Someone posted a joke festival line-up on Facebook recently, with the same old landfill indie bands and typical artwork with band logos on,” laughs Apple Cart main man John Burgess. “But I think London has avoided that trap and there’s a real variety on offer this summer, from SW4 to Stock, Aitken and Waterman’s Hit Factory in Hyde Park.”

The Apple Cart is a new festival that ploughs a similar artsy furrow to events such as Latitude and even Hay. “Our comedy tent last year was packed all day so we’ve made it bigger this year and have just announced Sean Lock alongside Shappi Khorsandi and Josie Long. Plus, we have a brilliant cabaret tent programmed with awardwinning burlesque and drag acts,” says Burgess. There’s a jolly good dose of nice quiet music for the 30 and 40 something crowd too: Noah and the Whale, Billy Bragg, Adam Ant and Josh T Pearson are among the highlights. But it’s the add-ons that mark The Apple Cart out. “We’ve got Art Car Boot Fair – who plan to freeze a car,” says Burgess. “There’s so much to dip in and out of all day, backed by a brilliant soundtrack. Or you can just pull up to a picnic table, sup on our specially-brewed Apple Cart real ale and graze Venn Street food market. I like the Annie Mac’n’cheese.” Burgess also promises: “Riot grrl burlesque from Lisa Lee, 6 Apple Cart’s John Burgess

things in style. “We introduced luxury gazebos for the first time last year, which were a huge success,” says Wells. “So we have many more available for hire. It’s a great way to dine before the concert and you even get your own waiting staff, so there’s no need to queue at the bar.” Wells gallantly reveals that his favourite London festival is one of his competitors. “2012 Summer Series at Somerset House is a great mix of up-and-coming artists playing in another spectacular setting. If Hampton Court Palace Festival is the mother of heritage music festivals,” he laughs, “then Somerset House is the rebellious child.” June 14-24 hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com

Barclaycard Wireless Steve Homer makes an interesting point about the number of festivals in the capital this year:

6 Field Day

Rich Hall’s Hoedown, and a great show from Beth Jeans Houghton.” June 3 theapplecartfestival.com

Hampton Court Palace Festival “We’re celebrating our 20th Anniversary this year,” says Jamie Wells, the proud director of the Hampton Court Festival, a series of standalone concerts which take place over 10 nights in the garden of Henry VIII’s favourite palace. Says Wells: “Festival-goers arrive early to enjoy a picnic – either their own or courtesy of Jamie Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts – and glass of fizz in the before the concert begins.” This year’s bill includes Van Morrison, Jools Holland, Squeeze and Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons. Hampton Court is definitely about doing

“I’m not sure it’s a good thing. For the customer it will hopefully give a broader choice of artists. But it has meant there is a lack of headline artists to draw from.” The promoter of Wireless has therefore had his work cut out. His job is to sign up the big names for this Hyde Park bash, which is in its eighth year. “Wireless started as an indie festival with the White Stripes, The Strokes, and Kasabian, to name a few of the headliners,” explains Homer. “But now it’s morphed into an urban and pop event. It has become the focus of a number of UK urban and pop acts like Tinie Tempah, Plan B and Example and we now have a bigger capacity and sell out a number of days each year. Example, for example, is back this year.” Homer has negotiated some exclusives: “Drake, Nicki Minaj and The Weekend will be playing their first UK festivals,” he says. And these, for Homer, are his highlights. “I’m excited to see Nicki Minaj, and some of the smaller acts scoutlondon.com Scout London

London Festivals on the satellite stages,” he reveals to Scout. But back to the festivals glut this year. Working for Live Nation (the large corporate, which also organises Hard Rock Calling) you might expect Homer to be down on the extra events in this Olympic year that threaten his bottom line – Hackney Weekend and BT London Live for example. But he’s resolute: “Not at all, they are very different types of event – there is room for them all,” he says. July 6-8 wirelessfestival.co.uk

Hard Rock Calling “Having Paul Simon bring his Graceland show back to London after 25 years will be amazing. It’s one of the best albums of its time and getting to see him perform it live is very special,” says Toby Leighton-Pope, promoter of Hard Rock Calling, which this year also features another high point for the promoter: “Having Bruce Springsteen back after his legendary 2009 performance.” Soundgarden headline the final of the three big nights. The event in Hyde Park has added an extra stage this year. “We have four stages now,” says Leighton-Pope. “As well as having these huge iconic acts we also want people to walk around the site and discover their next favourite band.” Is it perhaps the central London venue that makes this festival? “Yes, I think it’s a great thing,” agrees Leighton-Pope. “Hyde Park is one of the most recognisable parks in the world and to have so much amazing talent there this year is great for Londoners.” His manifesto? “Everyone is welcome, we have all kinds of music covered at the festival. We always have these iconic acts but we try to keep it contemporary too.” July 13-15 hardrockcalling.co.uk 6 Hampton Court Festival

10 Scout London scoutlondon.com

EASTERN ELECTRICS “Eastern Electrics grew from nothing to something on a cold, wet January nearly five years ago,” co-promoter Will Paterson tells Scout. “We wanted to put on a show that would, with a lot of love, time and investment grow into a new festival that sought to play all types of electronic music without worrying about the boundaries of genres or some of the rules that dominate London nightlife.” Paterson and his mates have put on 21 warehouse parties and booked almost 500 DJs since then. But this is their big one – the first Eastern Electrics festival, which is due to feature the likes of Julio Bashmore, Pan Pot and Sebo K. “We’ve worked with 12 promoters and A&R people we love to put on what we think is a truly unbeatable soundtrack. From acts like Jamie Jones, who we’ve championed for years, to the new wave of 4/4 guys like Joy Orbison – we feel there is everything a house lover could want and more,” says Paterson. The festival was due to take place on Clapham Common but Pride House – the LGBT Olympics-oriented event with which it was partnering – cancelled and the festival had to find a new venue. Now it’ll be held at a secret location - just like in the old rave days August 4 easternelectricsfestival.com

LOLLIBOP “I thought this was for the Scouts magazine at first,” jokes Chris Macmeikan. Well he is organising one of London’s key festivals for kids. “Lollibop took 10 years to make – it’s essentially the biggest under-10s festival in the world. We want parents to do stuff with their kids, not get stuck in a face painting queue or sit around

quaffing Pimms while their kids run off. It’s about interacting in a very safe environment with your kids and seeing some great shows.” It’s a weekend of music, but Lollibop also has tons of other stuff that will appeal to the inner child inside parents too. “We’ve got beat boxers, DJs, bands like Sam And The Womp doing gigs for kids, discos run by dads, Transformers, Dick and Dom running a wacky races, plus the Gruffalo,” says Macmeikan. He’s scornful of the big corporate-run hoedowns and adds: “There aren’t that many good festivals, especially those that reflect the boutique vibe, which is exactly what’s most popular in UK festivals now. I’ll be at London Remixed – a world music festival – and also Paradise Gardens.” August 17-19 lollibopfestival.co.uk

BEST OF THE REST Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend Radio 1’s massive Hackney Weekend on Hackney Marshes has a big name lineup that includes Rihanna, Jay-Z, Wretch 32 and Jack White. It takes place as part of the Beeb and Hackney Council’s Olympic celebrations and usurps the normal R1 Big Weekend. Jun 23 and 24 bbc.co.uk/radio1/hackneyweekend/2012 BLuesfest A stellar line-up of stars playing venues across the city. Don’t miss Hugh Laurie, Tom Jones, Ronnie Wood, Van Morrison and The Robert Cray Band. Jun 26-Jul 6 bluesfest.co.uk Back2Black Back2Black sees Brazilian superstar Gilberto Gil and friends dishing up samba, caipirinhas 6 Eastern Electrics

covered and maybe some capoeira for a big bash in Old Billingsgate Market, co-programmed by the Barbican Arts Centre. Jun 29-Jul 1 barbican.org.uk/back2black Bloc Bloc used to hire a holiday camp and put on their festivals ATP-style. But this year organisers have brought their baby to the capital and will be hosting a night of noise at the Pleasure Gardens – a new venue in Docklands’ Royal Victoria Docks which incorporates disused industrial spaces and dancefloors perched above the water. Jul 6-7 blocweekend.com Traction Train company Eurostar is taking pride in its ’hood by putting on a party to celebrate the opening of the massive King’s Cross redevelopment. Gilles Peterson headlines Traction and older readers may remember the Granaries site from when it used to house The Cross and the much-missed TDK Cross Central festival in the mid-00s. Jul 14 europe.eurostar.com/eurostar-traction Lovebox Lovebox offers the best of all worlds: crowdpleasing bands, DJs, parties and great vibes in Victoria Park. Highlights? How about Groove Armada, Crystal Castles, Kelis and Hot Chip for starters? Jul 15, 16, 17 lovebox.net BT River of music A free festival with six stages across London, themed by continent. Acts include Scissor Sisters, The Noisettes, Baaba Maal, Ludovico Einaudi and Kronos Quartet. Jul 21-22 btriverofmusic.com

London Live Blur headlines the BT London Live events which are a companion piece to the Olympics and happen in Hyde Park, Victoria Park and Trafalgar Square. Jul 27-Aug 11 btlondonlive.com South West Four South West Four brings the big dance names to Clapham Common for an enjoyable bash which, although finishing at a ridiculously early hour, still presents a sleek selection of genrestraddling beats. Chase & Status, Carl Cox and Knife Party star on the bill. Aug 25 and 26 southwestfour.com Underage Get your angst on at Underage, the festival for cool teens with floppy fringes and soon-to-beshattered dreams about a lazy oaf life working in the media. This year it moves to Shoreditch Park. Aug 31 underagefestivals.com London Jazz Festival London Jazz Festival presents the widest selection of smooth sounds and cutting edge jazz this side of Paris or Copenhagen. Be sure to book in time to catch the highlights of Paco De Lucia and Sarah Jane Morris. Nov 9 to 18 londonjazzfestival.org.uk What do you think? Let us know how you rate London’s various festivals which get your vote and which get your goat. What do you love about London’s festivals - and how can they improve? @scoutlondon

Jessica Gilbert

6 Barclaycard Wireless

If music’s not your thing...

Other London festivals BURLESQUE World Burlesque Games 2012 Until May 13, various venues A feast of feathers and flirting of the highest order marks out this festival celebrating the most titivating genre of dance. Various venues will be serving up sexy shimmying of the highest order. londonburlesquefest.com FOOD Taste of London Jun 21-24, Regent’s Park If food is the new rock ’n’ roll then Taste of London is the foodie equivalent of a music fest. Al fresco eats are dished up by dozens of the capital’s best restaurants, giving you the chance to sample varied small plate treats from all sorts of places under (hopefully) warm and clear skies. tastefestivals.com/london ARCHITECTURE London Festival of Architecture 2012 Jun 23-Jul 8, Various venues Building buffs will be in their element during London’s annual celebration of the urban built environment – subtitled “The Playful City” for this year. Lectures and exhibitions constitute the backbone of the RIBA-helmed celebration. lfa2012.org POETRY Southbank Centre’s Poetry Parnassus Jun 26-Jul 1, Southbank Centre Get your wits out for the lads (and indeed lasses) at SBC’s Poetry Parnassus. Performances and workshops in celebration of this most lucid of literary subcultures will fuel your love of verse. southbankcentre.co.uk BOOKS London Literature Festival Jul 3-15, Southbank Centre No need to head to Hay, Edinburgh or Cheltenham when we have such an excellent book festival of our own. Expect top writers and plenty of discussion about trends and taboos in literature right now. londonlitfest.com LATINO Carnaval del Pueblo 2012 Aug 18, Royal Victoria Docks Here’s one for your motorcycle diaries: a muy grande fiesta tipping its cap to everything great about South America: the food, the dance, the people. London’s Latino kings and queens will probably all be at Carnaval del Pueblo. carnavaldelpueblo.co.uk scoutlondon.com Scout London 11

London

Pulling no punches

hen you think of old, legendary British entertainers, who comes to mind? Terry Wogan? Bruce Forsyth? Ronnie Corbett? No – you’re going to have to go back much further than those old-timers to find the ultimate performer, as one star of the stage is about to celebrate three and a half centuries at the top. That man is Mr Punch, from the Punch and Judy puppet show. The first record of a Punch and Judy show was on May 9, 1662, by celebrated London diarist Samuel Pepys – a British star was born. The comedy marionette performance tells the story of slaphappy Punch, his wife Judy and the ongoing saga of his inability to look after their baby. Bouts of clouts followed (traditionally for Judy

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and the baby, but they’ve had to be curbed in these more sensitive times) with additional characters Mr Crocodile, the Doctor and the Policeman all entering the affray with the squawking puppet. The UK’s love affair with Punch continued all throughout the Victorian era, when the traditional striped booths became an icon at British seaside resorts. He has since entertained generations of children and is being celebrated at the Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival exactly 350 years since that famous diary entry. Currently in the middle of preparing for his birthday party, we were lucky enough to get an exclusive chat with Mr Punch himself. Mr Punch, it’s your 350th birthday. You’re looking

remarkably well – it’s almost as if you haven’t aged at all. What’s your secret? Plenty of fresh air, a good lick of paint now and again and most importantly - keeping the woodworm at bay. Talk us through your fashion choices. Don’t you know jester’s hats are, like, so 1678? Speaking as a jester, I look upon it as my stage costume and my public expects it. At home I’m quite comfy in a tracksuit and you’d probably not recognise me at all in my street clothes. Now, on to matters of your baby. You’re not the most responsible of adults to be left babysitting your child. What seems to be the issue with looking after him? I think he (or it might be a she,

come to think of it) is too much of a chip off the old block for me to handle. Children of celebrities can be like this, I’ve noticed. What first attracted you to Judy? That nose, that chin, that smile, those eyes. What’s not to love? You’ve been married for a long time now - what’s kept you together all these years? We seem to share the same sense of humour. You’re rather violent, what with your stick and all. Have you ever considered anger management? It’s a slapstick. Clowns used them in the olden days which is how ‘slapstick comedy’ got its name. I’m not sure anger management works on jesters. We tend to enjoy the funny side of things.

PROF GLYN EDWARDS

Mr Punch marks his 350th birthday this week. Laura Martin talks to the birthday boy himself about the secrets of a long life in showbiz and that ‘awkward’ humour

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PROF GLYN EDWARDS / MARC DAVISON

66 Don’t get me going on the topic of ‘Punch & Judy politics’ 99 What makes you lash out? Are you unhappy? I’m ‘as pleased as Punch’ most of the time. But I do have a short fuse with officialdom. Don’t we all? And don’t get me going on the topic of ‘Punch and Judy politics’. I don’t want the reputation of a politician. You’re known for your love of sausages. Are you ever tempted to branch out to something else? Funnily enough I’ve yet to eat one. Every time I’m given some, they get pinched by a crocodile. I guess I’m just unlucky that way. Do you feel terrorised by Mr Crocodile? Have you considered letting London Zoo know there’s a crocodile on the loose? I think it’s stalking me. It never used to be there until about 1860 - since then I can’t shake it off. And I don’t think London Zoo would treat me seriously. They’d just laugh. Despite your lack of childcare abilities, children seem to love you. Why do you think this is? I’m unlike any puppet they’ve seen and I

break all the rules that they can’t. They understand me very well and my job is all about making them laugh their little socks off. I’m like a cartoon character that talks back to them. Have you ever thought about retiring? There’s a saying amongst my ‘Professors’ that I’m too old to die. And I’ll never retire so long as there are fresh puppeteers to bring me on stage. It’s your 350th birthday this week. Are you doing anything special to celebrate? You bet. Those nice people at the Heritage Lottery Fund are helping me celebrate my long career and my ‘Professors’ are holding a big party for me in Covent Garden Piazza on May 12. There are more details at thebiggrin350.com, or download my free Punch and Judy app from the iTunes app store. That’s the way to do it!

That’s the way to do it Other events to mark Punch’s birthday The Raspberry Reception The home of British puppetry celebrates Mr Punch’s birthday with Punchmen from around the world joining UK veteran ‘Prof’ John Styles. May 9, Little Angel Theatre, Islington littleangeltheatre.com Ito Shiro and Katami Eimei Two masters of Japanese ‘Kugutsu’ puppetry make their visit to Mr Punch’s birthday events. They will present an evening of three short plays including a Japanese-style ‘Punch & Judy’. May 10, Little Angel Theatre, Islington littleangeltheatre.com Subversive Symposium Four speakers will plunder history, give a nod to tradition, rant about contemporary subversives and shout out for the future. May 14, Central School of Speech & Drama cssd.ac.uk/events/research-events/subversivesymposium V&A Museum of Childhood A series of events and exhibitions celebrating the art form. May - October museumofchildhood.org.uk

The 37th Annual Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival, May 12-13, Covent Garden, FREE Laura Martin was speaking to ‘Prof’ Glyn Edwards. scoutlondon.com Scout London 13

Fans for the memories By Amy Lamé

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on the Block; David Bowie to Madonna have provided a backing track to life’s every moment. I've been a Smiths and Morrissey devotee for nearly 25 years. Sounds impressive? I’m a relative lightweight. I lost my entire collection of 12in vinyl in the back of a minicab after a particularly hedonistic DJing gig. I don’t have a Morrissey-related tattoo. I’m not a vegetarian and I don’t own a cat. I never saw The Smiths live, and I’ve only seen Morrissey in concert 23 times. Yes, only. Concerts are by nature a collective experience, and seeing your idol live is the crystallisation of adoration, passion and sheer insanity. Think of the classic concert images of screaming Beatles fans, or chanting Bay City Rollers fans tarted up in tartan. Morrissey gigs are a fine collection of 40-somethings with sparse quiffs and beer bellies – and that's just the women (badam-ba!). Morrissey has the incredible ability of appearing to sing his lyrics of longing to each person individually. This creates a heady atmosphere of undying loyalty and obsessiveness. Überfandom is about sticking by your idols, in good times and bad. I am sure Madonna fans went to see her film Swept Away, but they were wise to sweep it under the carpet and carry on as if nothing happened. Morrissey has certainly made some terse quiffraising statements in his career.

I sometimes roll my eyes in despair, but my fandom is forever. One Direction have certainly given fans reason to question their devotion. Harry Styles and Caroline Flack, anybody? At least Cliff Richard had the dignity to remain “single” for his fans rather than publicly date someone old enough to be his parent. Despite the media campaigns, the photo shoots, magazine covers and branded trinkets, it always boils down to the music. I am sure I’m not the only one who finds One Direction’s songs insipid, vapid and clichéd. This highlights the troubling part of the superfan equation – the current state of popular music. We are accustomed to having our pop stars clean, shiny and shrink-wrapped. No controversy, no commotion, just pure, fluffy fun. There's little hope – we’ve been culturally victimised by Pop Idol and X Factor. Why should pop stars make a fuss or express an opinion that fans may disagree with, when it may affect record sales? If Simon Cowell is your boss, best keep your mouth shut unless you're singing. Now, where did I put my copy of “Bigmouth Strikes Again”? Amy Lamé’s show, Unhappy Birthday, based on her Smiths and Morrissey fandom, is at Camden Peoples Theatre until May 12, then touring. unhappybirthday.net

OVERHEARD LONDON “Are those your real feet?” Drunken reveller to yours truly. I’m not sure if that’s a comment on the state of his inebriation, or my feet. Either way, it ain’t pretty.

REASONS TO LOVE LONDON

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Big it up for Marie, the most glamorous cashier in London town! She’s got big hair, long, painted nails, and a smile brighter than the lights on top of the BT Tower. Marie makes a delight out of the normally life-sapping experience of checkout in the Sainsbury’s Local on Hampstead Road. Go on, buy a pint of milk and say hi.

BEAR FACED / Hey mr glen

never knew I had so much in common with a 13-yearold. My friend’s daughter is currently obsessed with One Direction. Before I go any further, NO, I am NOT a One Direction fan. But I am an überfan, and am endlessly fascinated how pop music inspires crazed behaviour. The word obsessed is often overused, but this girl is giving it new meaning. Her notebooks are covered in pictures of the band members – Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry and Louis – though I prefer to call them Larry, Moe, Curly, Abbot and Costello. She sings their songs a capella, has a band-branded mobile phone cover, T-shirts, and jewellery. Her notebooks are covered in I “heart” 1D song titles, and endless etchings of their names entwined with hers. This means only one thing: she’s an überfan. The melding of teenage hormones, pop music and cute boys – or girls – makes for a heady concoction. Can you even imagine a time when teenagers – in concept or reality – didn’t exist? Teens are marketing managers’ dreams: ripe consumerist fruit ready and willing to be fleeced of their pocket money for shoddy trinkets. What else is new? My friend’s daughter is the latest in a long line of superfans. Artists from Elvis to Donny Osmond; Spice Girls to New Kids

London ONGOING Antique Market at Alfies Antique Market, Church Street, NW8 8DT Marylebone Tue-Sat 10am-6pm, FREE. Indoor market for antiques and other collectibles. Until Dec 31. Cutty Sark at King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9HT Cutty Sark Tue-Sun 10am, 11am, 12noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, extra days May 7, Jun 4, closed Jun 2, timed entry, £12, accompanied child £6.50, concs £9.50, family £20 & £29, accompanied under 5s FREE. Tread the decks of the iconic three-masted sailing ship. Until Dec 31. Pilates at Primrose Hill Community Centre, Hopkinson’s Place, Fitzroy Road, NW1 8TN Chalk Farm Wed 7pm-8pm, phone for prices. Pilates class. Until May 30.

recommended London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Einstein On The Beach at Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS Barbican £35-£125, 6pm, 5.30pm, 4pm, ticket holders to be seated 20 minutes before performance. Rarely-performed epic opera by composer Philip Glass and director Robert Wilson.

WEDNESDAY MAY 9 Brief Encounter: Secrets Of A Samurai Sword: Talk at Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, W1U 3BN Bond Street FREE, 1pm-1.20pm. With Victoria Coleman. Frogs In Danger: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington FREE, 2.30pm3pm. A staff member discusses all things amphibian.

Zippos Circus at Central Park, High Street South, E6 6EJ East Ham £8-£21, child £6£17, 7.30pm, 5pm, 3pm, 6pm, 11am. Traditional and contemporary circus acts. Adding Value In Africa: Some Reﬂections From The Grandson Of A Ghanaian Cocoa Farmer: Talk at London School Of Economics, Houghton Street, WC2A 2AE Temple FREE, 6.30pm8pm. Lord Boatang explores how aid to Africa can be used to empower producers. Crocodiles Rock: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington FREE, 2.30pm3pm, 12.30pm-1pm. A palaeontologist discusses the reptiles’ evolution and history. An Evening With Richard Eyre at Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, W6 9RL Hammersmith £10, 6.30pm. Reading Group at Wanstead Library, Spratt Hall Road, E11 2RQ Wanstead FREE, 6.30pm. Book club.

Lunchtime With... Michael Ball: Talk at Criterion Theatre, 218-223 Piccadilly, Piccadilly Circus, W1J 0TR Piccadilly Circus £12.50, NUS/Equity mems £10, 1.15pm. The leading West End star discusses his career. Pat Thomas: Author Event at Rough Trade East, Brick Lane, E1 6QL Aldgate East FREE, 6.30pm. The author discusses and reads from his book Listen, Whitey! The Sounds Of Black Power 1967-1975. The Way Of Tea at British Museum, Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG Tottenham Court Road FREE, 2pm, 3pm. A demonstration of the Japanese tea ceremony.

London Pet Show 2012 at Earls Court, Warwick Road, SW5 9TA Earl’s Court £13, child £9, OAP £10, family £41, under 5s FREE, 9.30am-5pm. Exhibitors and trade stands, displays, talks and demonstrations. Witnessing Climate Change: Talk at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD South Kensington FREE, 2.30pm-3pm. Torres Strait Islander Emma Loban discusses the rising sea levels of the region.

C. G. P. GREY

SUNDAY MAY 13

May In A Day! at Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regents Park Road, NW1 7AY Camden Town £6, concs £4, family £14 & £18, under 18s £4, under 2s FREE, 2pm, doors 1.30pm. One-day festival celebrating the traditions of Britain in the springtime.

Transport for London travel update

Bakerloo line: No service between Queen’s Park and Harrow & Wealdstone all weekend. Central line: No service between Marble Arch and Bethnal Green all weekend. Metropolitain line: No service between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Rickmansworth and Croxley all weekend. Northern line: No service between Camden Town and High Barnet and Mill Hill East until 8.30am southbound and 9am northbound on Sunday.

Technology Will Save Us: Lumiphone Workshop at Rough Trade East, Brick Lane, E1 6QL Aldgate East £30, 11am. Learn about soldering and the electronic components that make up our everyday lives and create your own lumiphone. AfterCHOC Lounge at The Cavendish Arms, 128 Hartington Road, SW8 2HJ Stockwell £39, two people £69, email lounge@afterchoc.co.uk for availability, phone for times. Learn to taste, cook and decorate with chocolate.

THURSDAY MAY 10

TUESDAY MAY 8 Grand Designs Live at ExCel, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, E16 1XL Canning Town phone for prices, 10am6pm. Contemporary home show. Marks & Spencer Sustainable Fashion Lab at The Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, E1 6QL Liverpool Street FREE, entry via one item of unwanted clothing, 10am5pm. An exploration of the future of fashion through collaborations with leading figures in sustainable fashion and design. Nikolaj Znaider: Masterclass at LSO St Luke’s, 161 Old Street, EC1V 9NG Old Street FREE, 10.30am-12.30pm. The violinist works with Guildhall School students.

FRIDAY MAY 11 Saul David, Patrick Bishop: Talk at Waterstones, 82 Gower Street, WC1E 6EQ Goodge Street £3, 6.30pm. The authors sign their books Target Tirpitz and All the King’s Men.

Docklands Light Railway: No service between Stratford to Poplar all weekend. London Overground: No service between Watford Junction and Euston all weekend. No service between Highbury & Islington and Stratford on Sun. Tramlink: No service between Mitcham and Mitcham Junction all weekend. For the latest information on all public transport across the capital check tﬂ.gov.uk

SATURDAY MAY 12 Dr Sketchy at The Old Queen’s Head, 44 Essex Road, N1 8LN Angel £10, adv £8.50, 2pm-5pm. An art workshop in a burlesque environment for over 18s. Falklands War Celebrity Speaker Day: Talk at National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, SW3 4HT Sloane Square £15, concs £12.50, 10am-5.30pm. Talks about the conflict. Mudlarking With The Rose (Over 7s) at The Rose, Bankside, 56 Park Street, SE1 9AR London Bridge £10, mems £8, Ages 7-14 £4, 12.30pm, under 14s must be accompanies. With Dr. Fiona Haughey, Director of Archaeology on the Thames Project.

London 2012 Olympic Games: Our Greatest Team Rises at Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP South Kensington £114-£534, 6.30pm, black tie dress code. Formal dinner and entertainment. Manga Comic Workshop (Ages 13-18) at British Museum, Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG Tottenham Court Road FREE, 11am, 2pm, booking essential. Design your own characters and scenes and plan a story. Nonsense! The Wonderful World Of Edward Lear at The British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB Euston £7.50, concs £5, 2.30pm-4pm. Featuring poets Michael Rosen and Roger McGough. Patricia Routledge: Facing The Music: Talk at Charing Cross Theatre, The Arches, Villiers Street, WC2N 6NL Embankment £17.50 & £25, 7.30pm. The actress discusses her career with broadcaster Edward Seckerson.

MONDAY MAY 14 Board Games And Beyond! at Upstairs At The Ritzy, Coldharbour Lane, SW2 1JG Brixton FREE, 6.30pm. Led by board games champion and enthusiast Charlie Fish. James Holland: Talk at Waterstones, 82 Gower Street, WC1E 6EQ Goodge Street £3, 6.30pm. The author talks about his book The Dambusters: The True Story Of The Legendary Raid On The Ruhr. Last Night A Speed Date Changed My Life at The Book Club, 100-106 Leonard Street, EC2A 4RH Old Street £13, 7pm-1am. Speed dating. Quiz at The Water Poet, 9-11 Folgate Street, E1 6BX Liverpool Street £10 for team, 7pm, doors 6.30pm. Tsol Live: Talk at Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, N1 2UN Highbury & Islington £20, 7pm-10pm. With Alain De Botton, Roman Krznaric, Philippa Perry, John-Paul Flintoff, Tom Chatfield and John Armstrong.

scoutlondon.com Scout London 15

Shopping

recommended

Dropping their smalls American retail group Abercrombie & Fitch is opening five of its sister stores in London on the same day and, as Lisa Williams discovers, is dropping its pants to mark the occasion

hose who oppose the opening of an Abercrombie & Fitch on Savile Row may be pleased to know that its sister stores Hollister and Gilly Hicks’s latest openings are planted well and truly on the high street. Saturday, May 12, sees the group launch a multi-pronged attack on the capital, with the simultaneous opening of four of each of its stores. Hollister sells California-inspired casual clothing in shops so dark you’re not entirely sure of the colour of your new hoodie until you’ve bought it, and neighbouring Gilly Hicks (pronounced with a hard ‘G’) specialises in Australia-inspired swimwear, clothes and underwear, dubbed ‘Down Undies’. Anyone hoping to meet the titular designer when Gilly

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Hicks expands its brand will be disappointed. There’s no such person. Rather, the shop’s name is a character invented by the company which, when it first opened its doors in the US, adorned it stores with ‘portraits’ of Gilly who they said was an English émigré to Australia. Indeed, although it’s branded ‘Gilly Hicks, Sydney’, there is no Gilly Hicks in Sydney. Confusing? Sure. But devotees of the clothes couldn’t care less and have instilled such confidence in the company that it’s decided on its biggest opening so far, with flagship stores for each brand opening in Regent Street (housing an in-store live feed from Bondi and Huntington beaches), then new shops in Westfield Stratford, Kingston’s Bentall Centre and Bluewater in Kent.

As retail events go, it’s massive and, to mark the event, they’re pulling a similar stunt to the one which they pulled when Gilly Hicks first opened its doors in west London. “We will be handing out the cutest Gilly Hicks ‘Down Undies’,” says the company’s Eric Cerny. “Over 120,000 pairs will be given out in various sizes and colours and

patterns from the latest collection in store.” From 10am the smalls will be dropped from the top of opentopped buses which will make their way from the new flagship stores in Regent Street to each of the new shops. Could the next stop be Sydney perhaps? “Not yet,” laughs Cerny.

FRIDAY 29th JUNE

ABSOLUTE RADIO Comedy Tent

SATURDAY 30th JUNE

riverside stage

SUNDAY 1st JULY SUNDAY 1st JULY

Kashmir Club

AND FOR THE KIDS

CIRCUS SKILLS ~ AFRICAN DANCE WORKSHOPS ~ STORYTELLING ~ KIDS YOGA ~ PARACHUTE GAMES ~ VENTRILOqUIST SHOW THE ORANGE HAT PUPPET SHOW ~ DRUM CIRCLE ~ MAGICcornburyfestival.com WORKSHOPS ~ PUNCH & JUDY ~ CLAY MODELLING ~ WILLOW TUNNELS ACE OF DIAMONDS MAGIC SHOW ~ FACE PAINTING ~ ARTS & CRAFTS ~ SAND ART ~ MASK MAKING ~ CRAzY COMIC CLUB

cornburyfestival.com

Food & Drink All-time grape With the massive London International Wine Fair little over a week away, it’s vino season in London, and this May has been named Real Wine Month. Here’s a sip of what’s going on... RAW - Real Artisan Wine Fair Old Truman Brewery, E1 May 20, 21

Grape Expectations Forget ideas that wine tasting is all about terroirs and tasting notes, one London duo brings the bucket to your home to teach you about the viner points of wine. By Ben Norum

“W

ine should be fun,” says Kiki, one of the founders of A Grape Night In, London’s newest wine tasting enterprise. On meeting her and business partner Laura, it’s clear that this philosophy stretches further than the company’s pun-tastic name, and infuses all they do. The pair offer something very different from our city’s many swirland-spit sessions – their particular brand of wine education is rooted not in terroirs and tasting notes but in the way that wine is best enjoyed – with good food and good company. The latter is up to you, but they provide all the rest, bringing a selection of wines and matched dishes to your door for a bespoke tasting evening in your own home. They have the games, quizzes and banter. Just like a vintage episode of The Naked Chef, all you need to do is draft in some mates. It was indeed under Jamie Oliver’s watchful eye – or at least while working at his restaurant Fifteen – that Laura and Kiki first met, and bonded over a love of food and wine. The pair’s impressive combined pedigree also includes stints at Brawn, da Polpo and Vivat Bacchus

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restaurants, so it’s not surprising that they know a thing or two about wines, or that their passion for the grape is equal to their love of food. Discussing the concept of offering tastings at home with them, the duo acknowledge that there are two main advantages for both them and their customers. The first is price. By cutting out the hassle and cost involved with finding appropriate venues, evenings become much better value. Packages start from as little as £35-a-head for tastings which include six different wines and small plates of food to match. While this value is important for their own success in a competitive industry, Laura also explains how pivotal it is to their philosophy that wine is accessible to everyone. “It’s frustrating when wine is made to seem elitist,” she says. “We want to share our love of wine with everyone, and there’s a real gap in the market for fun and affordable tastings. Especially in the current financial climate.” Indeed, “the girls”, as they call themselves, recently ran an event titled Raise A Glass To The Recession, which included picks and tips for the current best value bottles, lesser-known varieties and the cheapest places to buy.

The second advantage of tastings at people’s homes is the flexibility it gives, as opposed to group events or those dictated by a certain restaurant or wine brand. A Grape Night In tastings can be entirely tailor-made for the group participating, be they novices, those with some prior wine knowledge, or a party just in it for some nice drinks and a good time. Popular tastings include those which are grape- or countryfocused alongside quirkier ideas such as Old World vs New World, a Weird and Wonderful night with offerings that will challenge your taste buds, and a romantic night which pairs sexy wines with aphrodisiac foods. If that’s got you going, then it’s good to know that a trial of the tastings can be had without organising a full-blown party. A Grape Night In holds regular events and free sample sessions at tapas bar Seven at Brixton in trendy Brixton Market. The pair have big plans for the future involving converting a tank into a moveable wine tasting theatre and many more pop-up events across London. Watch this space, we’re pretty sure there’s graper things to come agrapenightin.co.uk

A celebration of the best talent in the world of wine, showcasing small producers from around the world, with a focus on improving the transparency of how wines are made and the ingredients used. rawfair.com Real Wine Fair Victoria House, WC1 May 20 (consumer day) Meet, talk and taste with the producers of more than 600 wines which are made as naturally as possible, using organic and biodynamic techniques. therealwinefair.com Real Wine Café at The Real Wine Fair May 20 Serving a variety of specially created dishes from The Modern Pantry, Ottolenghi and Moro, all created to match tapas-style with the fair’s selection of natural wines. therealwinefair.com Wild Food & Natural Wine North Road, EC1 A set dinner of foraged food and naturally made wines, hosted by chef Chris Hruskova. northroadrestaurant.co.uk Biodynamic Tasting The Jugged Hare, EC1 A guided tour of some of the best biodynamic wines out there and what the fuss is all about. thejuggedhare.com

reviews

Top Ten Wine Bars

Gordon’s Wine Bar, Unbeatable institution. WC2N 6NE Embankment

Albertine, Chic, friendly and fun. W12 7DP Shepherd’s Bush

Green & Blue Wines, Deli with drinks. SE22 8HJ East Dulwich

28°-50° Wine Workshop & Kitchen, Tastings and workshops. EC4A 1BT Chancery Lane

Bar Pepito, Sherry galore! N1 9FD King’s Cross

Antidote, Natural and biodynamic. W1F 7RR Oxford Circus

Wonder Bar at Selfridges, 50+ by the glass. W1A 1AB Marble Arch

Vivat Bacchus, Knowledgeable team. EC4A 4LL Farringdon

Wine Wharf, Unparalleled choice. SE1 9BU London Bridge

Seriously foodie. 10 Vinoteca, EC1M 4AA Farringdon

Dabbous Fitzrovia The minimalist approach to design means London’s latest highly-hyped opening is in danger of appearing cold and soulless. The stripped back look of Dabbous (pronounced ‘dabou’) incorporates exposed copper pipes, huge overhead air vents and iron mesh screens. The view of scruffy scaffolding and ugly grey office blocks opposite doesn’t much help, either. The saving grace is that chef Ollie Dabbous’ spectacularlypresented dishes ensure your eyes don’t wander anywhere but your plate. A small à la carte menu is available, but the emphasis is very much on the tasting menu, and at £49 for seven courses, it takes only a basic grasp of division to realise what good value this really is. Dishes take simple ingredients on a creative journey, playing with diners’ taste buds. A crisp asparagus starter comes with rapeseed oil mayonnaise, crunchy hazelnuts and a sprinkling of wild meadowsweet. A coddled egg comes unctuous and creamy, served in its shell and with meaty mushrooms. The plate ‘Alliums’ is named after the flowering plants and sets onions afloat on a chilled pine consommé with basil oil. Cured and charred salmon is served with sweet elderflower, shards of almonds, spring onion and a flotilla of pretty, edible flowers and petals. A work of art it may be, but the result is more than decorative, layering flavours delicately on top of each other like gastronomic Jenga.

A plate of acorn praline and turnip tops combine the porcine treats with a knowing nod to fact they act as a bed for a huge hunk of blushing pink Iberico pork. Dessert is a tart sheep’s milk ice-cream which is well contrasted by a rich chocolate and hazelnut oil ganache and dressed with basil. It’s wild, sure, but makes more sense on the palate than the plate, as the flavours vie with each other for attention. Clever stuff. The star of the show? It has to be the lovage palate cleanser. The herb, used by the ancient Romans on a daily basis, is making a concerted comeback. Here it’s served as a refreshing bright green sorbet which fills the mouth with a strong zingy flavour that leaves us wanting more. In fact, that’s not the only thing we’re left craving. We want more of Dabbous and its carefully orchestrated pairings. More of such good value tasting menus. And more lovage in restaurants around London. Ollie Dabbous is The Next Big Thing among those “in the know” and we really have to agree. So, our advice to you: get here and get your fix before the Michelin chaps arrive, the prices are hiked and the waiting list gets even longer. Hurry. Rebecca Wilson 39 Whitfield Street, W1T 2SF Goodge Street scoutlondon.com Scout London 19

Food & Drink

reviews

Kua ’Aina Oxford Circus

Thirty Six Green Park

This unique sandwich and burger bar comes to Carnaby Street from Hawaii via Tokyo. It is the first European franchise of a popular Japan-based chain that takes its inspiration from the original North Shore restaurant which opened in 1975. Try tuna, swordfish or mahi mahi (dolphinfish - no, not actual dolphin) as sandwiches or burgers, paired with the likes of pineapple (and ham, if you fancy), avocado or bacon. Wash down with a Hawaiian beer, a glass of wine or one of its daily rotating range of special roast coffees, then finish with a slice of steamed cheesecake if you’ve room. It’s self-service, stripped back and simple, but that makes it all the better for taking a bit of a lunchtime breather at the closest that London gets to the tropical beach. Now if only we could nab a bit of Hawaii’s sunny weather we’d be laughing. BN

Duke’s hotel is considered somewhat lower key than its Park Lane counterparts, and where this downstairs restaurant’s reputation is concerned, that’s certainly the case. It’s hotel guests mostly filling the room on our visit, but it soon becomes apparent that us Londoners are missing out. The classic fine-dining menu sturdily bridges French and British cuisine, offering a few creative flourishes - fillet of brill served alongside a mini rib of beef, horseradish and a deep-fried oyster, for example. While the food is mostly faultless, the service is phenomenal. Staff chattily guide us through the menu, helpfully advise on matching wines and bring unexpected extras from start to finish. At around £60 a head excluding wine, Thirty Six is unlikely to become a regular haunt, but for a special occasion you could do far worse than stepping over the ‘forbidden’ tourist threshold. BN

26 Foubert’s Place, W1F 7PP

Oxford Circus

Duke’s, St James’s Place, SW1A 1NY

Green Park

Aquum Clapham North

Wulumuchi Leicester Square

The idea of a restaurant in a club isn’t the most appealing of prospects, so it’s with some scepticism that we step inside the glowing Aquum, where Clapham’s glamour-pusses guzzle cocktails. However, we were intrigued by the club forging a partnership with Earlsfield restaurant Amaranth and the resulting pan-Asian menu. A spiced sea bass, steamed and presented in banana leaf is silky soft and moist to the bite, and the beef rendang shows off its slow-cooked credentials by melting away into a rich union of meat and addictively earthy, roast spice sauce. The blinged-up surrounds leave us feeling a little like we’re the last man standing on the dance floor during our early evening visit, but we’re told that its transformation into more of a restaurant has only just begun. It’s probably best to wait until that’s complete if you prefer to keep your dancing and dining separate. BN

The latest offering by the Leong family, who have a near monopoly in the ever-competitive Chinatown, is a restaurant which is a mouthful to say and will leave you full to the brim. A progressive and innovative menu steers clear of the usual sweet and sour chicken, preferring a more daring focus on the not-so-common Xibei regional cuisine from the Xinjiang province in north-west China. Pronounced ‘wu-lumu-chi’, the restaurant shouldn’t be top of the list for veggies, with dishes such as Da Pan Ji (literally ‘big plate chicken’) and several fatty lamb variations taking precedence. A token offering of handsliced aubergine, marinated and stir-fried, served with fresh coriander, shallot and chilli, however, is a highlight. Oh, and don’t forget the goat’s milk tea that washes it all down. This is highly-affordable cuisine that will broaden your horizons. Oliver Pickup

68-70 Clapham High Street, SW4 7UL 20 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Clapham North

16 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BE

Leicester Square

Food & Drink CENTRAL The Fat Of The Land 45 Harrowby Street, W1H 5HT Edgware Road Gastropub ££ New Marylebone pub from the team behind The Peasant in Clerkenwell. Seasonal cooking, and a local sourcing policy which applies to both food and ales. 10 Greek Street 10 Greek Street, W1D 4DH Tottenham Court Road Mediterranean ££ 35 seats, 30 wines and a daily changing menu at this new opening from Cameron Emirali, previously head chef at The Wapping Project. 52 North Bar & Kitchen 21-22 Poland Street, W1F 8QG Oxford Circus Modern British ££ Meaty British dishes, cheeses and trifle grace the menu, while Britannia rules the roost with plenty of English wines available. Yoobi 38 Lexington Street, W1F 0LL Piccadilly Circus Japanese £ London’s first temakeria, specialising in cone-shaped seaweed sushi wraps known as temaki.

recommendations The Paradise 19 Kilburn Lane, W10 4AE Kensal Green Gastropub £££ Confident British cooking with a few Mediterranean twists, adding some exoticism to this graveyard-flanked area. Aces & Eights 156-158 Fortess Road, NW5 2HP Tufnell Park Cocktail Bar ££ US-style drinking hole that matches cocktails with craft beers and ceiling bedecked with bras. Oh yes.

Draft House 21 Lordship Lane, SE22 8HX East Dulwich Gastropub ££ The latest addition to this quickly expanding pub group which champions great beer from near and far.

EAST Hoxton Apprentice 16 Hoxton Square, N1 6NT Old Street Modern British ££ Run by the Training for Life charity which teaches catering skills to the long-term unemployed, this is good, honest feel-good food. Cabana 5 Chestnut Plaza, Montfitchet Way, E20 1GL Stratford Brazilian ££ Brazilian street food with a focus on ceviche. The crown jewel in Westfield’s dining crown.

The Lobster Pot 3 Kennington Lane, SE11 4RG Kennington French £££ Mr Lautrec’s eccentric homage to seafood, set in a restaurant decked out like a boat. Try the surprsie eight course menu, and listen out for the seagull noise.

WEST The Pear Tree 14 Margravine Road, W6 8HJ Baron’s Court Gastropub ££ Laid-back dining with considerable flair. Try homemade gravlax and scotch eggs from the regularly changing menu. Hare & Tortoise 38-39 Haven Green, W5 2NX Ealing Broadway Asian £ It’s pub in name, but not in nature at this border-crossing outlet. Large portions and low prices make it a justifiably popular choice among locals.

Andrew Edmunds 46 Lexington Street, W1F 0LW Piccadilly Circus European ££ Simple but sound cooking here is equally as important as the compact and buzzy atmosphere. Take a seat by the window and watch Soho go by.

NORTH

Whitechapel Gallery Dining Room 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX Aldgate East Modern British £££ Now with Ramsay expat Angela Hartnett at the helm, dishes play with vibrant flavours and seasonal ingredients.

JONATHAN LOVEKIN

SOUTH

Camden Blues Kitchen 111 - 113 Camden High Street, NW1 7JN Camden Town Creole ££ Live music, creole food, cocktails and alcoholic milkshakes make for a fun night out. Can’t beat blendedup Oreo cookies and rum.

Poppy Hana 168-170 Jamaica Road, SE16 4RT Bermondsey Japanese ££ Now under new management, but offering the same popular selection of dishes including sushi and katsu curry to eat in or take away. Enak Enak 56 Lavender Hill, SW11 5RQ Clapham Junction Pan-Asian £££ Madcap restaurant from Singapore-born telly chef Nancy Lam. Almost 20 years old and still going strong. Try the chicken sambal.

The Ledbury 127 Ledbury Road, W11 2AQ Notting Hill Gate British ££££ Two-Michelin starred British finery, showcasing the best of seasonal produce. Opt for a sneaky weekday lunch for the best value menu.

Scout London Price Guide ££££ £££ ££ £

Over £19 per main £14-18 £9-13 Under £9

scoutlondon.com Scout London 21

Art & Culture

After-hours culture

f you’re hoping to see a scrap between Steve Coogan and Owen Wilson, forget it. But what Museums At Night lacks in slapstick comedy fighting (like in the movie Night At The Museum) it more than makes up for in nocturnal mind expansion. “I’m looking forward to hearing author Craig Taylor talk about his new book Londoners at the London Transport Museum,” says project leader Ruth Clarke. “I’m also curious about the Love and Lust event at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology and the Horniman’s Body Art night featuring tattoo historian Matt Lodder.” At its core, Museums At Night is an arts marketing wheeze to encourage people who wouldn’t normally visit hallowed historical ground to forgo a night in front of the telly and get out to London’s best cultural venues instead. It takes place on the weekend of International Museums Day (May 18), and aims to light a

22 Scout London scoutlondon.com

firecracker in the museums world. But it’s more than a flashbang ruse, as Clarke explains: “There are opportunities for kids to try something new, from torchlit tours to nature walks and sleepovers. For adult visitors, it’s a chance to kick back with friends - whether it’s an exclusive stroll through blockbuster exhibitions such as the Louboutin show at the Design Museum, or exploring historic landmarks such as Ham House after dark.” The event also challenges our relationships with buildings. That dynamic becomes very different during the night: there’s a feeling of freedom, a frisson of the forbidden even. “As the sun sets, interesting buildings come alive in a magically atmospheric way,” says Clarke. “Many of the museums and historic houses taking part will be illuminated differently.” There will be events at 39 museums this weekend, from the National Army Museum in

Chelsea to Kew Bridge Steam Museum and the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. What Museums At Night really excels in is injecting some quirkiness into the museumgoing experience. Clarke highlights her picks of the fun: “Downton Abbey fans will enjoy an Edwardian evening at the Cartoon Museum. There’s a London quiz at the National Maritime Museum, and the chance to play surgical top trumps at the Hunterian.” Museums At Night also serves to highlight London’s lesser-known outposts of cerebral celebration: the Cuming Museum in Southwark, the Pump House Gallery in Battersea and the Bank Of England Museum are all in on the act. Plus, “For adults only,” laughs Clarke, “there’s a psychic ghost hunt at Valence House.” Various venues, May 18-20 museumsatnight.org.uk

Chris Beanland shines a light on London’s museums as they open their doors at night

highlights

Bare your sole Christian Louboutin’s shoes are famous for their iconic red soles, as the man himself says: “The colour of the soles has no function other than to identify to the public that they are mine.”

Before he founded his own brand, Louboutin worked for Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent.

PHILIPPE GARCIA FROM CHRISTIAN LOuBOuTIN BOOK PuBLISHED BY RIZZOLI

The Design Museum is celebrating the Parisian’s shoes this week by exploring the artistry and theatricality, from extravagant stilettos to lace-up boots. The process from initial drawings

Louboutin left the fashion industry in 1989 to work as a landscape designer, returning in 1992 with a footwear collection.

The signature red soles of Louboutin shoes were inspired by nail polish. In 1992 a shoe arrived back from the factory and didn’t look as good as the original sketch. A bottle of red nail polish sat nearby provided the solution as Louboutin coated the underside of the shoe scarlet.

For a short time, some Louboutin shoes were available with baby blue soles, intended as ‘something blue’ for brides-to-be. Louboutin took out a lawsuit against Yves Saint Laurent, which recently used red soles in its shoe collection. An American court rejected his petition last August. Louboutin is planning to appeal the decision.

To relax, Christian Louboutin practices the trapeze. Inspired by the 1987 Wim Wenders film Wings of Desire. He has trapeze bars installed in his Paris home.

through to production is revealed and it wouldn’t be a shoe exhibition without a fetish room. In preparation for the exhibition, Scout London has unearthed 10 little-known Louboutin facts:

There are 3,000 women who own 500 pairs each on the company’s books, and one who owns more than 6,000 pairs. Celebrity fans include Dita von Teese, Lady Gaga, Victoria Beckham and Michelle Obama.

Jennifer Lopez recorded a song called Louboutins. It was her last for Sony.

Last year Louboutin sold 700,000 pairs of shoes. That’s 2,000 a day at £350-£1,000 each. Christian Louboutin at The Design Museum. Until Jul 9

Where to head this week... with your National Art Pass.

Half-price or discounted entry to major exhibitions. Free entry to over 200 art galleries, museums and historic houses across the UK. For complete listings or to buy a National Art Pass visit artfund.org

Lucian Freud Portraits National Portrait Gallery until 27 May 50% off with National Art Pass Lucian Freud, Girl in a Dark Jacket, 1947 © The Lucian Freud Archive. Photo: Courtesy Lucian Freud Archive

Mondrian II Nicholson: In Parallel The Courtauld Gallery until 20 May

Yayoi Kusama Tate Modern until 5 June 50% off with National Art Pass

Van Dyck in Sicily: Painting and the Plague, 1624 – 25 Dulwich Picture Gallery until 27 May 50% off with National Art Pass

Yayoi Kusama, Obliteration (Net Obsession Series), c. 1966 © The artist

Sir Anthony van Dyck, Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Prince of Oneglia, 1624 © By permission of the Trustees of Dulwich Picture Gallery

Download our free Art Guide app and find great art wherever you are, whatever your interest. ‘The Art Fund’ is the trading name of the National Art Collections Fund. Registered charity nos. 209174 and SC038331. The National Art Pass is issued to Art Fund members, subscriptions start from £50.

Art & Culture CENTRAL

London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Writing Britain: Wastelands To Wonderlands at The British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB Euston £9, child FREE, NUS/disabled/unwaged £5, OAP £7, Until Sep 25. An exploration of how the landscapes of Britain run throughout great literary works. Jeremy Deller: Joy In People at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Waterloo £9, OAP £8, NUS/ unwaged £7, mems/under 12s FREE, ages 12-18 £6.50, inc adm to David Shrigley: Brain Activity, Until May 13. Photographs, posters, sound installations and banners.

£6.50, mems FREE, Until May 27. Portrait paintings by the late realist artist. London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Damien Hirst at Tate Modern, Bankside, Holland Street, SE1 9TG Southwark £14, concs £12.20, mems FREE, Until Sep 9. The first major survey of the acclaimed British artist’s work to be held in the UK. Mondrian/Nicholson: In Parallel at Somerset House, The Strand, WC2R 1LA Temple £6, concs £4.50, NUS/disabled carer/Mon 10am-2pm/under 18s FREE, Until May 20. Paintings and reliefs. Ron Mueck at Hauser & Wirth, 23 Savile Row, W1S 2ET Oxford Circus FREE, Until May 26. Sculptural works exploring the artist’s understanding of myth and folklore. Picasso And Modern British Art at Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1P 4RG Pimlico £14, concs £12.20, mems FREE, Until Jul 15. A mostly chronological show exploring the Spanish artist’s connections to the UK. Royal Academy Of Arts at Royal Academy Of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD Green Park FREE, additional charges for some exhibitions, Until Dec 31. A changing programme of exhibitions, the popular summer exhibition has been held since 1768. The Box: Ai Weiwei at Pippy Houldsworth, 6 Heddon Street, W1B 4BT Ladbroke Grove FREE, Until May 26. A conceptual installation.

NORTH

Fourth Plinth: Michael Elmgreen & Ingar Dragset: Powerless Structures, Fig 101 at Trafalgar Square, WC2 5DS Charing Cross FREE. A bronze sculpture commenting on the bravery of growing up. 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. British Library Exhibition Galleries at The British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB Euston FREE, Until Dec 31. Treasures from the world’s largest library collection on display. Includes a hands-on gallery for young visitors. London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Lucian Freud: Portraits at National Portrait Gallery, 2 St Martin’s Place, WC2H 0HE Charing Cross £14, OAP £13, NUS/ages 12-18/unwaged £12, Art Fund £7, concs

Alighiero Boetti: Game Plan at Tate Modern, Bankside, Holland Street, SE1 9TG Southwark £10, concs £8.50, Art Fund mems £5, concs £4.25, mems FREE, Until May 27. Mixed-media works by the first arte povera artist to have a UK solo show.

24 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Turner Inspired: In The Light Of Claude at The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN Leicester Square £12, OAP £11, NUS/unwaged/Art Fund/ Art Fund/ages 12-18s £6, family £24, accompanied under 12s FREE, Until Jun 5. Paintings by Turner and Gellée. Arsenal Museum at Emirates Stadium, 75 Drayton Park, N5 1BU Highbury And Islington £6, concs £3, Until Dec 31. Extensive archive of football memorabilia chronicling 122 years of the Gunners’ history. Louise Bourgeois: The Return Of The Repressed at Freud Museum, 20 Maresfield Gardens, NW3 5SX Finchley Road £6, under 12s FREE, senior cititzen £4.50, concs £3, Until May 27. Documents, drawings and sculptures which explore the artist’s engagement with psychoanalysis. Freud Museum 20 Maresfield Gardens, NW3 5SX Finchley Road £6, OAP £4.50, concs £3, under 12s FREE, Until Dec 31. This was the residence of Sigmund Freud after he had fled the oppression of Nazi Germany in 1938 and chose a life of exile in England. There is quite a collection of antiques from many different corners of the globe and also many of his papers, his library, furniture and even his famous couch.

recommended EAST London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: At Home With The World at Geffrye Museum, Kingsland Road, E2 8EA Old Street FREE, Until Sep 9. Objects, furniture and ceramics spanning 400 years, charting the international influence on Britain’s domestic interiors. Occupy Everything at Hales Gallery, 5-13 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Bethnal Green FREE, Until May 26. Politically charged prints, paintings, drawings and installations by the artistic duo kennardphillipps. Ragged School Museum at Ragged School Museum, 46-50 Copperfield Road, E3 4RR Mile End FREE, Until Dec 31. The museum examines the experience of growing up in the East End during the late Victorian period and visitors can also experience how Victorian children were taught. Vestry House Museum at Vestry House Museum, Vestry Road, E17 9NH Walthamstow Central FREE, Until Dec 31. Displaying forest archives and local social history. Gillian Wearing at Whitechapel Gallery, 80-82 Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX Aldgate East £8.50, concs £6.50, Until Jun 17. Film footage and photographs of ordinary people.

£20 & £32, mems/carers/under 12s FREE, Until Aug 12. A major showcase of British design from the ‘Austerity Olympics’ of 1948, to the present day. Japanese Enamels: The Seven Treasures at Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL South Kensington FREE, Until Aug 19. Cloisonne-enamelled objects and vases from the late-17th century to the 20th century. Museum Of Brands, Packaging And Adverstising at Museum Of Brands, Packaging And Advertising, 1 Colville Mews, W11 2AR Westbourne Park £6.50, child £2.25, concs £4, family £15, Until Dec 31. Collections include toys, newspapers, comics and fashion. Conrad Shawcross: Protomodel at Science Museum, Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD South Kensington FREE, Until May 13. Five small-scale artworks.

SOUTH The Cinema Museum 2 Dugard Way, SE11 4TH Elephant & Castle guided tour £7, child/ concs £5, Until Dec 31. Vast collection of film memorabilia chronicling the history of the silver screen to the present day, including posters, props, a vast stills collection and ushers’ uniforms. The Cuming Museum Old Walworth Town Hall, 151 Walworth Road, SE17 1RS Elephant & Castle FREE, Until Dec 31. Permanent and temporary displays including hands-on exhibits. London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: The Body Adorned: Dressing London at Horniman Museum And Gardens, 100 London Road, SE23 3PQ Forest Hill FREE, Until Jan 6. An exploration of the relationships between dress and costume and the body, and the emergence of London as a world city. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: Royal River: Power, Pagentry And The Thames at National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, SE10 9NF Greenwich £11, child £5, family, 2 adults, up to 2 children £24.50, family, 1 adult, up to 3 children £14.50, concs £9, Until Sep 9. A major exhibition featuring paintings, manuscripts and other artefacts. Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum at The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, Church Road, SW19 5AE Southfields Museum £11, child £6.75, concs £9.50, Museum & Tour £20, child £12.50, concs £17, Until Dec 31. The story of the development of the game into today’s exciting sport.

WEST British Design 1948-2012: Innovation In The Modern Age at Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL South Kensington £12, OAP £10, NUS/ unwaged/disabled/ages 12-17 £8, family

Alex Prager: Compulsion at Michael Hoppen Gallery, 3 Jubilee Place, SW3 3TD Sloane Square FREE, Until May 26. Lens-based media exploring subversive narratives. Christer Stromholm at Michael Hoppen Gallery, 3 Jubilee Place, SW3 3TD Sloane Square FREE, Until May 26. Photographs of mid-20th-century Parisian transvestites and transsexuals. Ten Climate Stories at Science Museum, Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD South Kensington FREE, Until Sep 28. Photographs, objects, audio and artefacts highlighting designs and discoveries that have affected man’s relationship to the planet. Transformation And Revelation: Gormley To Gaga. UK Design For Performance 2007-2011 at Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL South Kensington FREE, Until Sep 30. A celebration of the work of over 30 British theatre designers, architects and artists. 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 and correspondence. Robin Wait: Out Of Time: Contemporary Palladium Prints at The Apothecary Gallery, 33 Greyhound Road, W6 8NH High Street Kensington FREE, Until May 26. Contemporary photography made using 19th-century techniques. Works On Paper at Cadogan Contemporary, 87 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3LD South Kensington FREE, Until May 12. Works by artists including Richard Adams, Briony Anderson and Elise Ansel.

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Comedy

Bleating funny We love Sheeps. No, not in that way. Chris Beanland chats to the comedy trio

“T

here are too many tunnels under here now,” jokes Alistair Roberts. “But there is a way to avoid that incredibly long one.” We’re standing inside the cavernous new western booking hall of King’s Cross station with Sheeps, a comedy troupe comprising three wellturned out, polite, humble young men who are also – annoyingly – very funny on stage. The bony white superstructure and curved exterior wall of this building makes you feel like you’ve been eaten by a whale. It’s sort of apt. “A lot of our sketches end with a death,” ponders Roberts as we sit down in the Old Parcel Yard pub perched above Platform 9¾. “Maybe we need to work on that.” The trio – Roberts, along with Daran Johnson and Liam Williams – impressed Scout when we checked them out in the Lilliputian surroundings of the Leicester Square Theatre last year. Their oeuvre will be familiar to anyone who’s ever spent an evening in the company of We Are Klang, Flight of The Conchords or even Monty Python. “I was personally great in that show, just really impressive,” deadpans Johnson. Roberts says their inspirations veer between

26 Scout London scoutlondon.com

“Chucklevision and Peter Serafinowcz.” That night, the three looked as full of beans as you’d expect of Footlights alumni (for it is so). They joked about broken families, cats getting job interviews, ABBA lyrics and plenty more besides. They play on their wits and deploy whimsy. But for us, the best bits of their show were the meta moments when they satirised themselves and the – often hammy – world of sketch comedy itself. Surprisingly, those jokes didn’t go down too well with other audiences though. “I don’t think we can do too much more ‘meta’ stuff,” says Roberts humbly. “It didn’t get great feedback. People felt it was navel-gazing and it was. We thought the audience didn’t ‘get’ it but then you realise that the audience get it, they instantly get it, but they wish you’d do something else. Our show where Liam got signed to Break-A-Leg Talent Management played to silence.” That’s a pity, but if audiences aren’t ready to be challenged, at the very least they can expect laughs at this show on The Invisible Dot venue’s first major tour. “We do stuff there every month,” says Roberts.

Williams adds: “We just like playing around and being a bit silly. It’s not intended to be an artistic manifesto, we’re just being irreverent.” The three have day jobs tutoring – after our chat Roberts heads off to Knightsbridge to teach English as a foreign language. The Sheeps adventure continues apace. But they’re not getting cocky yet. “We’re quite good friends in real life and just try to act the same on stage and off,” says Roberts. The trio live together in Tottenham and are currently looking for a new place to rent. Has Radio 4 come calling yet? I ask Liam Williams. “No” is his simple reply. Johnson says: “No. We knocked at their door – they didn’t answer.” The phone will be ringing soon. Scout called. “Jonno (Johnson) actually saw the magazine before this interview was even mentioned,” says Roberts. Johnson adds some parting words: “Please could you edit out the bits where I sound like a k**b?” The Invisible Dot tour, including Sheeps, Adam Riches, and others is on May 14 at the Bloomsbury Theatre

recommended ONGOING E4 Udderbelly Festival at Southbank Centre, Jubilee Gardens, SE1 8XX Embankment Times vary, prices vary. Stand-up, family shows, music and theatre. Until Jul 8.

TUESDAY MAY 8 Hannibal Buress at Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE Tottenham Court Road 7.45pm, May 8-10 £15, concs £12.50 & £13.50, May 11 & 12 £17.50, concs £15 & £16. Intelligent observations. Dave Cohen: Songs In A Flat Downstairs At The King’s Head, 2 Crouch End Hill, N8 8AA Finsbury Park 8pm, phone for prices. Stand-up and songs. The Cutting Edge at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 8pm, £14, NUS/concs £9. Sean Meo, Simon Evans and Martin Coyote.

WEDNESDAY MAY 9 Comedy Night at The Intrepid Fox, 15 St Giles High Street, WC2H 8LN Tottenham Court Road 9pm, £5. With Michael Fabbri, Stuart Black, Nick Hodder, Gemma Whelan and Tyson Boyce. Comedy Store Players at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 8pm, £17, NUS/concs £12. With Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch, Neil Mullarkey, Pippa Evans, Brendan Dempsey and Josie Lawrence. E4 Udderbelly Festival: Peacock & Gamble: Don’t Even Want To Be On Telly Anyway... at E4 Udderbelly At Southbank Centre, Jubilee Gardens, SE1 8XX Embankment 9pm, £12.50 & £17.50, concs £11. Two-time Chortle Comedy Award nominees. Pear Shaped In Fitzrovia at Fitzroy Tavern, 16a Charlotte Street, W1T 2NA Goodge Street 8.30pm, £5. With Toby Brown, Robyn Perkins, Eamonn Fleming, Mark Machado, Omar Hamdi, Joel Soetendorp, Leighton Cuff and MCs Brian & Krysstal and Anthony Miller. This Is One Of The Better Comedy Nights at The Camden Head, 100 Camden High Street, NW1 0LU Camden Town 7.30pm, £3. With Tony Law, Lou Sanders and Jessica Fostekew.

THURSDAY MAY 10 The Best In Stand Up at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 8pm, £18 & £25.50, NUS/concs £13 & £20.50. Jarred Christmas and Hal Cruttenden

Bill Bailey: Qualmpeddler: Work In Progress at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX Leicester Square 8pm, £17.50, phone for availability. Offbeat humour.

E4 Udderbelly Festival: Frisky And Mannish: Extra-Curricular Activities at E4 Udderbelly at Southbank Centre, Jubilee Gardens, SE1 8XX Embankment 9pm, £15.50 & £20.50, concs £14. Fast-paced musical comedy. Totally Tom: Edinburgh Preview at The Cavendish Arms, 128 Hartington Road, SW8 2HJ Stockwell 7.30pm, £5. Sketch duo Tom Stourton and Tom Palmer.

FRIDAY MAY 11 Banana Cabaret at The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, SW12 9HD Balham 9pm, £14, concs £11. With Phil Nichol, Andrew Maxwell, Josh Howie and Jen Brister. The Best In Stand Up at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 7.30pm, 11pm, 7.30pm £20 & £27.50, 11pm £15 & £22.50, NUS/concs £10 & £17.50. Jarred Christmas, Hal Cruttenden and Mickey Hutton. Big Night Out at Rumba, 36 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EP Piccadilly Circus 8pm-10pm, phone for prices. With Martin Beaumont, Greg Burns, Otiz Cannelloni and MC Chris Gilbert. Comedy Cafe at Comedy Cafe, 66-68 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY Liverpool Street 8pm, £12. With Tony Law, Joseph Wilson, Michael Legge and Bennett Arron. Crack Comedy Club at The Watershed, 267 The Broadway, SW19 1SD Wimbledon 8.30pm, £12, adv £10, NUS £6, £21 inc meal. With Eddy Brimson and Dan Evans. E4 Udderbelly Festival: Abandoman at E4 Udderbelly At Southbank Centre, Jubilee Gardens, SE1 8XX Embankment 9pm, £15.50 & £20.50, concs £14. Musical comedy.

Foster’s Comedy Live at Highlight, Camden Lock, Middle Yard Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AB Camden Town 8.15pm-10.30pm, £17 & £18. John Moloney, Curtis Walker, Josh Howie, Phil Ellis, Obie. Stephen Hill & Mark Restuccia at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX Leicester Square 7pm, £8, concs £6. The stand-ups preview new material. The London Improvathon 2012 BC at Hoxton Hall, 130 Hoxton Street, N1 6SH Old Street 7pm, 9pm, 11pm, 1am, 3am, 5am, 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, 9pm, 11pm, 1am, 3am, 5am, 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, episode pass £12.50, concs/adv £10, 50-hour pass £50, adv £40. An Olympic and Greekthemed 50-hour improvised soap opera. Piccadilly Comedy Club at The Comedy Pub, 7 Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Leicester Square 8.30pm, £5, inc burger £7.50. With Ava Vidal, Paul Sinha and Ryan Cull. Sex Guru in 247 Easy Steps at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX Leicester Square 9.30pm, £16, concs £12. Spoof relationship advice from Wolfgang Weinberger. Soho Comedy Club at The Casino At The Empire, 5-6 Leicester Square, WC2H 7NA Leicester Square 8pm, £15, adv £10. With Tony Law, Rhodri Rhys, Katie Wilkins and MC Kate Smurthwaite.

SATURDAY MAY 12

Channel 4 Comedy Gala 2012 at The O2 Arena, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX North Greenwich 7.30pm, £40-£100. With Lee Evans, Michael McIntyre, Jonathan Ross, Micky Flanagan, Sean Lock, Kevin Bridges, Jo Brand, Jack Whitehall, Jack Dee, Jon Richardson, Seann Walsh, Lee Nelson, Josh Widdicombe and Paul Chowdhry.

Robin Ince: Happiness Through Science at The Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, WC1H 0AH Euston 7.30pm, £15, concs £12.50. Intelligent comedy. Sara Pascoe: The Musical at The Camden Head, 100 Camden High Street, NW1 0LU Camden Town 7.30pm, £3. Songs and one-liners. Soho Comedy Club at The Casino At The Empire, 5-6 Leicester Square, WC2H 7NA Leicester Square 8pm, £15, adv £10. With Paul Sinha, Tony Law, David Mulholland and MC Kate Smurthwaite. Up The Creek at Up The Creek, 302 Greenwich Creek Road, SE10 9SW 8.45pm, £15, concs £12. With Jason Patterson, Ian Smith, Andrew Maxwell and MC Chris Henry.

SUNDAY MAY 13

Jimeoin at The Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, WC1H 0AH Euston 8pm, £15. Observational wit. Stand Up For The Week: Work In Progress Shows at The City Arts & Music Project, 70-74 City Road, EC1Y 2BJ Old Street 7.30pm, £4. With Jon Richardson, Seann Walsh, Josh Widdicombe, Sara Pascoe, Paul Chowdhry and Andrew Lawrence.

Monkey Business Comedy Club at Sir Richard Steele, 97 Haverstock Hill, NW3 4RL Chalk Farm 8.45pm, £12.50, concs £10. The Horne Section, Scott Capurro, Matthew Section, Lee Camp, MC Martin Besserman.

Holly Burn: Work In Progress at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX Leicester Square 7pm, £5. Character comedy. Central London Comedy Club at Theodore Bullfrog, 28 John Adam Street, WC2N 6AS Charing Cross 8.30pm, £5. With Nick Sun, Joanne Lau, Tony Marrese, Andrew Watts, Ben Adams and MC Ramsay MacDonald. Comedy Cabaret Downstairs At The King’s Head, 2 Crouch End Hill, N8 8AA Finsbury Park 8.30pm, £10, concs £7. With Kevin Precious, Julie Jepson, Duncan Edwards, Paul Sinha, Carly Smallman and MC Dave Thompson. Comedy Carnival at The Clapham Grand, 21-25 St John’s Hill, SW11 1TT Clapham Common 8pm-10pm, £14. Alistair Barrie, Josh Howie, MC Pete Jonas. Pete Firman: Edinburgh Preview at Hen & Chickens, 109 St Paul’s Road, N1 2NA Highbury & Islington 9.30pm, £7.50. Magical comedy. Jongleurs Comedy Show at Sway, 61-65 Great Queen Street, WC2B 5BZ Holborn 7pm, 10pm, phone for prices. Mandy Knight, Joe Castagnola, Sean Meo.

Comedy Variety Cabaret Downstairs At The King’s Head, 2 Crouch End Hill, N8 8AA Finsbury Park 8.30pm, £7, concs £5. With Lenny Peters, Andrea Hubert, Danny Hurst, James Dowdeswell and Steve N Allen. Russell Howard’s Good News: Warm Up Show at Tabard Theatre, 2 Bath Road, W4 1LW Turnham Green phone for times, phone for prices. The stand-up performs new material ahead of his BBC3 series. LOL Comedy at Highlight, Camden Lock, Middle Yard Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AB Camden Town 8pm-10.30pm, £15. With Stefano Paolini, Marlon Davis, Darius Davies, Dane Baptiste and Babatunde. The Wilmington Players at The Wilmington Arms, 69 Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4RL Angel 7pm, £4. Improvised comedy.

MONDAY MAY 14 Edward Aczel: Edward at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX Leicester Square 7pm, £7, concs £5. The stand-up tries out new material. Comedy Night In Aid Of Bobath Centre For Cerebral at Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Piccadilly Circus 8pm, £10, NUS/concs £8. With Andi Osho, Francesca Martinez, Nick Doody, Andrew Watts, Nina Conti and MC Hal Cruttenden. Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX Leicester Square 8pm, £12.50. Topical humour and improvised chat.

scoutlondon.com Scout London 27

Film

 Dark Shadows

The queen of kook A visit into the fantastical world of Helena Bonham Carter By Susan Griffin

iss-matched shoes, thatched hair and what can only be described as ‘bag-lady-chic’, Helena Bonham Carter’s done it all. But while she’s often slated in the press for her kooky fashion sense, she does have her supporters. Take Vanity Fair who described her style as ‘exquisite selfexpression’. “Oh that’s so nice,” says Bonham Carter, sitting beneath a lamp at a table strewn with cups of tea at Soho Hotel. She looks messily resplendent in a black gothic Victoriana ensemble, while those porcelain, doll-like features make her look a decade younger than her 45 years. “See, I never read anything about myself but maybe I should,”

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she muses, in a quiet, well-spoken, slightly rambling voice that she describes as “mumbly”. She doesn’t really care what people think of her sartorial choices she says. “You can’t take it too seriously and I don’t. There’s a huge amount of fantasy in my dressing up but like a lot of people, you dress up and think you look marvellous and then you see a photo and go, ‘Oh no, that’s not at all what I meant’. Because you project a lot of yourself when you look in the mirror,” she says earnestly. “You don’t see the reality of it all, which is why I don’t watch myself [on screen] because it’s too different to what I hoped.” The self-analytical approach could have something to do with

the fact that her mother trained to be a psychotherapist after undergoing therapy for depression. In her latest movie, Bonham Carter will pay homage (of sorts) to her mother’s profession by playing the psychotherapist Dr Julia Hoffman. “She’s an alcoholic psychiatrist. And she’s got a secret. They all have secrets,” she says of Dark Shadows. It’s a big screen adaptation of the gothic, camp American soap opera which stars Johnny Depp as a vampire who returns, in the 70s, to his ancestral home. The film marks Bonham Carter’s seventh collaboration with her partner - director Tim Burton, 53. “This is a thing he raced home to see when he was about age 10,

so it’s returning to his childhood roots of what he loved watching,” she says. “It’s actually a really bad, hilariously bad soap opera, and because it’s so bad, he felt he had to make a hugely expensive movie.” It’s on record that it’s the first film she’s done with him that she didn’t have to audition for, but Bonham Carter insists she won’t be affronted if one day Burton decides to make a film without her. “It would be worse to be cast in something and not be the right person and we still go through with it,” she says. “I know he wouldn’t do that because he’s got huge artistic integrity so I’m sure it will happen and I’ll go off with somebody else,” she laughs.

featured

 Starring in The King’s Speech

The pair, who have two children together - Billy, eight, and Nell, four - met while shooting Planet Of The Apes in 2001. The film bombed but they’ve gone on to share huge success with fantastical films including Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Alice In Wonderland and the musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (a personal favourite as she’s a huge fan of musician and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and had to audition “the Hell out of it”). Equally quirky in their looks and lifestyle [though she insists their living arrangement is “nothing more interesting than two houses knocked together”] people are perennially fascinated by Burton and Bonham Carter. Today she admits their conjoined homes in north London are a treasure trove of the weird and wonderful, including an oversized chair from the Charlie And The Chocolate Factory set, a “tiny, baby door” and even a gypsy caravan. “It’s definitely been designed with some imagination,” she laughs. “God knows if we’re actually helping them [the children] by bringing them into this fantasy reality but then there’s a lot that’s utterly normal.” Born in Golders Green, north London, it was only following a

series of family dramas, including her father’s stroke which left him wheelchair-bound, that Bonham Carter chose to apply herself to acting and, at 13, signed herself with an agent, despite having no training. “When you’re young, you can be brave. You don’t realise how far you can fall and there’s a certain belief and confidence, which I had quite early on,” she says. “Confidence is a trick. If you think you can do it, you can fool other people into thinking you can

Wings Of The Dove and the chance to prove her diversity arose. “There’s a crazy window, in between when you get nominated and the Oscars ceremony, when you get offered everything under the sun, however unsuitable,” she says. One such offer was Fight Club and it was Brad Pitt who suggested she play the dissolute Marla Singer. “I guess Fight Club was the most unsuitable part and I thought, ‘Good on you, Brad’ and decided to go for it.

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amount of fantasy in my dressing up 99 do it - never mind if you can’t.” Within a few short years she’d starred in a number of successful period dramas - A Room With A View, Lady Jane and Howard’s End - and was hailed “the corset queen”, she says with a sigh. Then in 1998 she was nominated for an Oscar for The

“I loved the humour and the part. I like anyone who’s dysfunctional. Neurosis, I love neurosis,” she says. Having said that, she received plaudits for her portrayal of the steely but graceful young Queen Mother opposite Colin Firth’s stuttering King George VI in 2010’s

 Bonham Carter with partner Tim Burton

The King’s Speech. She actually turned down the role numerous times. It was the director Tom Hooper who did all the running. “I didn’t mean to do it,” she admits. “I have children and was doing something in the week [the something being Harry Potter, in which she starred as Bellatrix] and it would have meant doing everything back-to-back, so I just said, ‘No Tom’.” It didn’t help Hooper’s cause that the role hadn’t jumped out at Bonham Carter. “The Queen Mum? It’s like the ultimate supporting wife,” she says wearily. Just to “shut up” Hooper, she eventually agreed, and afterwards decided to take time out for most of 2011, but is now back in front of the camera filming Les Misérables and The Lone Ranger. “I wanted to slow down. It’d been mad juggling everything and I wanted to get fit and concentrate on the parenting course,” she says. Parenting course? “It basically teaches you how to become a calmer, happier, easier parent,” she explains. “And it’s really useful, because no-one teaches you how to do the hardest job in the world.” Dark Shadows is released in cinemas on May 11 scoutlondon.com Scout London 29

Film

out this week Dark Shadows (12A) Johnny Depp sinks his pearly whites into this offbeat comedy based on a 1960s TV series about a roguish playboy called Barnabas Collins, who re-awakens from an early grave 200 years after a witch called Angelique (Eva Green) cursed him to walk the earth as a vampire. However, while Barnabas acclimatises to the groovy customs of swinging 1972 Maine, Angelique returns to make his undead life a misery and he joins forces with the latest branch of the Collins family tree, headed by Elizabeth (Michelle Pfeiffer) to repel the vengeful harpy. Dark Shadows reunites Depp with quixotic director Tim Burton, a creative marriage sealed in 1990 with Edward Scissorhands, and co-stars Helena Bonham Carter and Christopher Lee. See interview with Helena Bonham Carter, p28. DS

How I Spent My Summer Vacation (15) Punch and Judy, donkey rides, sandcastles and candy floss are in disappointingly short supply in Adrian Grunberg’s grimy and darkly comic thriller about a veteran thief known as Driver (Mel Gibson), who steals $4m from a kingpin (Peter Stormare) and ends up in Mexico’s most notorious prison, El Pueblito – a petri dish of festering human life. A tender bond between Driver, a 10-year-old urchin (Kevin Hernandez) and his ballsy mother (Dolores Heredia) provides the hook for a series of energetic set pieces, briskly directed by Adrian Grunberg, who struggles to mesh the graphic violence and macabre humour that sticks up two fingers to political correctness. Gibson, who co-wrote the foul-mouthed script, puts aside off-screen personal traumas to play his grizzled gringo with roguish charm. DS

Jeff Who Lives At Home (15) Filmmaking brothers Jay and Mark Duplass, two key exponents of the low-budget, independent mumblecore movement, move dangerously close to the mainstream here with this quirky comedy of ill manners and brotherly love. Like their previous work, Jeff Who Lives At Home is distinguished by flowing, naturalistic dialogue, which dissects the relationship between thirty-something layabout Jeff (Jason Segel) and his brother Pat (Ed Helms). Framed by the tug of war between free will and destiny, Jeff Who Lives At Home is an engaging portrait of lives in a rut that mines a rich vein of earthy humour. Banter between Segel and Helms rings remarkably true and there is a gorgeously tender sequence involving Susan Sarandon’s lovesick mom, who has always dreamed of being kissed beneath a waterfall. DS 30 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Film

recommended

Beyond the multiplex A round-up of our favourite off-beat cinematic experiences on offer this week

Edible Cinema: Pan’s Labyrinth (15)

Singin’ In The Rain (U)

Food designer Andrew Stellitano adds a delicious dimension to the cinematic experience with this unique fusion of food and film. A cocktail whets the appetite before Guillermo del Toro’s brooding, bloody fable, set during the fascist regime of 1940s Spain, begins. At specific points, the audience is directed to consume the contents of numbered packages. The taste, smell and texture of each parcel corresponds with the action on the screen: Ofelia devours an enchanted grape while you tuck into a carbonated red fruit; the girl and her mother Carmen walk through a Spanish woodland as you nibble on pine-smoked popcorn. A veritable feast for the senses. DS Electric Cinema, 191 Portobello Road, W11 2ED Sunday, May 13, 8.30pm, £22.50

Ladbroke Grove

Considering the torrential downpours that have battered London, it’s apt that the Phoenix has chosen to mark its centenary with Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly’s 1952 musical extravaganza. The setting is 1927 Hollywood: the era of the silent movie. Don Lockwood (Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) are the most famous on-screen couple of the day whose cinematic swoonings capture the hearts and the imaginations of the world. When their latest film is remade as a musical talkie, starlet Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds) dubs Lina and sparks fly. Renowned for Kelly’s water-logged dance to the titular tune, Singin’ In The Rain is a classic that endures, blessed with toe-tapping tunes including You Were Meant For Me, Make ‘em Laugh and Moses Supposes. Wellington boots and umbrellas recommended. DS Phoenix Cinema, 52 High Road, N2 9PJ East Finchley May 13, 2pm, free, adv booking required on 020 8444 6789

Ghostbusters (12A)

Hunger (15)

More than 25 years after Ivan Reitman’s award-winning comedy first haunted the big screen, Ghostbusters still looks surprisingly good despite gargantuan leaps in digital effects, and the action packed finale, with a giant Marshmallow Man romping through New York City, still gets the pulse racing. Bill Murray is perfectly cast as Dr Peter Venkman, who joins forces with fellow university parapsychologists Dr Raymond Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) and Dr Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) to open a business that hunts down the spooks that call Manhattan their home. Meanwhile, over on Central Park West, the demonic spirit of Zuul possesses Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver). DS

Turner Prize-winning artist Steve McQueen made his directorial debut with this harrowing recreation of the 1981 hunger strikes by IRA members jailed by the British. Distinguished by McQueen’s meticulous eye for detail and steadfast refusal to paint the characters as heroes, villains or martyrs, Hunger is a breathtaking accomplishment. Michael Fassbender is mesmerising as Bobby Sands, wasting away before our eyes until every rib threatens to tear through his translucent skin. Brief moments of humour offer a respite from the gut-wrenching scenes of struggle but, like the prisoners, we cannot escape the prison’s walls. DS

The Prince Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BY Leicester Square Saturday, May 12, 9pm, £12.50, concs £10

Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, W6 9RL Hammersmith Tuesday, May 8, 6.45pm (screening as a double bill with If Not Us, Who?), £9.50, concs £8.50 scoutlondon.com Scout London 31

DVD / Download

From deerstalkers to dragons Having caught criminals and learnt to ride a horse, Londoner Benedict Cumberbatch tells Shereen Low about becoming a dragon - but not about Star Trek

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Sherlock Holmes and cosmology genius Stephen Hawking, the born and bred Londoner admits he was considering a career break before he got the call from Spielberg. “It’s a dream. It sounds like a cliché, saying ‘I’ll do that unless Spielberg calls’, but I had literally just said that. A week later I had to eat my words,” he recalls. The transformation from sleuth to cavalryman wasn’t easy and Cumberbatch had to take lessons. “I hadn’t done any [riding] since I was 12,” he says. “Even then, I think my mother just wanted to keep me pre-occupied during the school holidays.” Cumberbatch, who studied drama at Manchester University before training at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, wants to set the record straight - that he did actually ride the horse. “We were taught how to ride for the remit of the job. There were

very specific requirements, like hold the double rein with the sword in the right hand,” he says. “People think Tom [Hiddleston] and I had our faces super-imposed onto our body doubles, which is rather irritating considering all we did!” It’s an exciting time. After supporting roles in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Atonement, and starring in Danny Boyle’s London production of Frankenstein, he next appears in Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings prequel The Hobbit and JJ Abrams’s Star Trek sequel. While he says he’s “thrilled” with his role in the iconic sci-fi, he can’t reveal anything more. “It’s a great job to get, but there’s a lawyer standing here saying that I can’t say anything about it,” he quips, before saying: “If we can hold it back, you will have more to look forward to.” He can, however, disclose a bit more about his roles in The Hobbit.

“I am the voice of Smaug but I am also playing the moving, physical dragon. But I’m not repeat not - doing the voiceover for Necromancer!” he insists. “It’s all very exciting.” War Horse is out now on DVD

ANTHONY CHAMMOND / Flickr/turbotoddi

eing late never makes for a great first impression especially when it’s one of the most important meetings of one’s career - it was Benedict Cumberbatch’s first introduction with Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg. The 35-year-old couldn’t find space to park his motorbike when invited to meet with the legendary director after being offered the role of Major Jamie Stewart in War Horse. Luckily, Spielberg was very understanding and they discussed Cumberbatch’s role in depth. “Stewart is young, as many of the commanding officers were in the first world war, but he has an authority and certainty that is inspirational to his men,” he explains, in his naturally ‘posh’ accent (a by-product of his Harrow School education). Best known for his TV roles on the BBC as the legendary detective

new releases Transit (15) Marek (James Frain), his girlfriend Arielle (Diora Baird) and accomplices Losada (Harold Perrineau) and Evers (Ryan Donowho) successfully pull off the brutal theft of $4m from an armoured truck. Having fled the scene, the criminals realise that they will be stopped at road blocks and their possessions searched, so to avoid arrest conceal the loot in an SUV belonging to ex-con Nate (Jim Caviezel), who is on

a camping trip with his family. As soon as the loot has passed the police blockades, Marek and his cohorts hunt down Nate to retrieve it. Transit is a predictable and needlessly violent B-movie thriller, in which the B stands for balderdash. Screenwriter Michael Gilvary appears unconcerned by the foundations of a cracking yarn, preferring to place his protagonists in situations where they can behave irrationally and end up with lashings of blood on their hands. DS

Four (15) A businessman (Craig Conway) discovers that his wife (Kierston Wareing) has taken a lover (Martin Compston). Consumed with rage, the cuckold decides to wreak revenge by hiring a seedy detective (Sean Pertwee) to kidnap his wife’s lover and teach the younger man a lesson he won’t forget in the confines of a remote warehouse, where no-one will hear his screams for help. However, the harebrained plan spirals out of control when the cheating wife is also delivered to the warehouse, and she unleashes unbridled

rage. John Langridge makes his feature directorial debut with this darkly comic thriller, penned by Paul Chronnell, and both have clearly been on a strict diet of Quentin Tarantino: one character even references Reservoir Dogs as his favourite film. Comparisons between the award-winning 1992 bloodbath and this low budget effort extend only as far as the warehouse setting, profusion of expletives and potent threat of violence. Four, however, is malnourished on both the page and the screen. DS

Hara-Kiri: Death Of A Samurai (18) Kageyu (Koji Yakusho) opens his door to a samurai called Hanshiro (Ebizo Ichikawa) who wishes to commit ritual suicide. Having apparently fallen on hard times, Hanshiro is unable to bear the shame of poverty and hara-kiri provides an acceptable escape. However, Kageyu is suspicious of the samurai’s motives and the feudal lord attempts to dissuade Hanshiro from his tragic course of action by recounting the true story of a young ronin called Motome (Eita), who made a similar request. Hanshiro listens to this sad tale then reveals his

own history in flashback and his reasons become clear. Cult director Takashi Miike shows restraint with this visually arresting remake of Masaki Kobayashi’s 1962 classic. Miike holds back on the grisly violence and virtuoso fight sequences, which distinguished his previous film, 13 Assassins. That said, the disembowelling of one character turns the stomach by virtue of sickening sound effects and the final reckoning cannot resist some glorious spurts of fresh blood that are slightly muted in 2D compared to the eye-popping 3D of the cinema release. DS scoutlondon.com Scout London 33

LGBT TUESDAY MAY 8

recommended Disco Paradiso at Joiners Arms, 116-118 Hackney Road, E2 7QL Old Street phone for prices, 11pm-2am. DJs Jo Public and Stewart Who? spin disco, soul, funk and rock’n’roll. Girls-A-Loud at The Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BJ Tottenham Court Road FREE, 8pmlate. DJs Coco Yeah and MDMX play pop, chart and electro. Shinky Shonky at Ku Bar, 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA Leicester Square FREE, 10pm-3am. Boogaloo Stu and his colourful coterie spin classic and contemporary pop, plus live cabaret performances. Work at Fire, South Lambeth Road, SW8 1UQ Vauxhall £5, £4 before 1am, 11pm-5am. Lee Harris, Niyi Maximus Crown and Big John Freeman spin house, pop, electro, R&B, funk and dancehall.

THURSDAY MAY 10

Scavellet Meets Balearic Summer Launch Party at The Shadow Lounge, 5-7 Brewer Street, W1F 0RF Leicester Square £15, adv £10, mems FREE, 10pm-3am. Amir Groove, Gustavo Co and James Vaux invoke the spirit of the holiday island of Ibiza with deep, vocal, and Balearic house plus pole dancers and stage performers. The non-compulsory dress code is summer white. Candy Boys at The Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BJ Tottenham Court Road FREE, 7pm3am. Resident DJs spin dance and pop. Lines & Bears at Barcode Vauxhall, Railway Arch, 69 Goding Street, SE11 5AW Vauxhall phone for prices, phone for times. Resident DJs spin house music, plus line dancing. Ruby Tuesdays at Ku Bar, 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA Leicester Square FREE, 9pm-late. Pop, R&B and 1980s hits from Sandra D and Joe Grohl.

WEDNESDAY MAY 9

Trannyoke at Escape Bar, 10A Brewer Street, W1F 0SU Piccadilly Circus FREE, 9pm-3am. DJ Matt spins pop and dance, with host Lady Lloyd, and karaoke.

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Dolly Mixtures at The Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BJ Tottenham Court Road FREE, 9pm3am. DJP plays pop and R&B. Industri at Barcode Vauxhall, Railway Arch, 69 Goding Street, SE11 5AW Vauxhall FREE, 8pm-2am. House from Miss Minty, Brent Nicholls and Paul Heron. Macho City at Joiners Arms, 116-118 Hackney Road, E2 7QL Old Street £3, FREE before 11.30pm, 10pm-3am. Resident DJs spin disco, pop and retro. QueerlyOut at Escape Bar, 10A Brewer Street, W1F 0SU Piccadilly Circus £5, £3, FREE before 9pm, 9pm-3am. DJ Robby D spins commercial dance, pop and R&B. Retrosexual at Ku Bar, 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA Leicester Square FREE, 10pm-late. Tasty Tim spins 80s music. Room Service at Miabella, 12-13 Greek Street, W1D 4DL Tottenham Court Road £10, £5 before 11pm, 10pm-3am. Weekly gay dance party in the company of residents Kris Di Angelis, Severino, Fat Tony, Steve Pitron, Matt Bogard and Ariel plus special guests. Usual Suspects at First Out, 52 St Giles High Street, WC2H 8LH Tottenham Court Road FREE, 6pm11pm. Resident DJs play pop, R&B, electro and indie. Xxtra at The Shadow Lounge, 5-7 Brewer Street, W1F 0RF Leicester Square £5, FREE before 11pm, 10pm-3am. Terry-James Lynch hosts a night of house, electro and pop, plus fashion.

Old Street £5, 10pm-4am. DJ Larry Tee plays techno and house.

Tonker at Eagle, 349 Kennington Lane, SE11 5QY Vauxhall £6, mems £5 after 10pm, FREE before 10pm, 9pm-3am. DJ Tim Jones and Alan X play house, chart and dance. Therapy at The Shadow Lounge, 5-7 Brewer Street, W1F 0RF Leicester Square FREE before 11pm, 10pm-3am. Electropop and dance from DJs Miswhite, Minx, Paul Heron and Sonathaq.

Shake & Pop at The Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BJ Tottenham Court Road £5, mems £3, FREE before 10pm, 9pm3am. DJ Bam Bo Tang spins urban anthems, chart, retro hits and pop classics.

FRIDAY MAY 11

SATURDAY MAY 12

Girl Friday at First Out, 52 St Giles High Street, WC2H 8LH Tottenham Court Road FREE, 7pm11pm. Resident DJs play pop, R&B, electro and indie. The O Zone at Ku Bar, 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA Leicester Square w/flyer FREE, 10pm-3am. Dusty O spins pop, chart and R&B. Popstarz at The Den & Centro, 18 West Central Street, WC1A 1JJ Holborn phone for prices, 10pm-4am. Long-running night full of indie, pop and R&B. Popstarz: After Dark at The Den & Centro, 18 West Central Street, WC1A 1JJ Holborn FREE, 4am-8am. Resident DJs spin indie, rock, R&B, pop and Motown. Super Techno Party Machine at East Bloc, 217 City Road, EC1V 1JN

A:M Afterhours at Fire, South Lambeth Road, SW8 1UQ Vauxhall £12, w/flyer £8, 3am-11am. Resident DJs spin house and disco. Barcode Saturday at Barcode Vauxhall, Railway Arch, 69 Goding Street, SE11 5AW Vauxhall phone for prices, phone for times. Mattias, D’Jonny, Gonzalo, Steven Artis and Pagano play electro. Duckie at Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY Vauxhall £6, 9pm-2am. The Readers Wifes spin pop, indie and cabaret at this long-running rock disco hosted by the irrepressible Amy Lamé, featuring special guests every week. Fabulous at Ku Bar, 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA Leicester Square £3, FREE before 11.30pm, 9pm-3am. DJP and Toumo Foxx plays pop, chart and R&B.

Inferno at The Shadow Lounge, 5-7 Brewer Street, W1F 0RF Leicester Square £10, FREE before 11pm, 10pm-3am. Andrew Elmore spins funk, house and dance. Monster at The Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BJ Tottenham Court Road £5, mems £3, FREE before 10pm, 9pm-3am. DJ Sandra D plays chart hits, dance and pop classics. Pussy Faggot! at The Macbeth, 70 Hoxton Street, N1 6LP Old Street £10, adv £8, 7pm. An alternative contemporary club night with roots in New York’s East Village scene of the 1980s and 1990s. Encompassing performance art, spoken word, dance, drag, live music, DJs and video art. Urban Desi at Raduno, 85 Charterhouse Street, EC1M 6HJ Farringdon £10, guestlist £8, NUS £7, 10.30pm-5am. Resident DJs spin R&B, bashment, funk and garage in the Urban room, and Bhangra, Bollywood and pop in the Desi room.

SUNDAY MAY 13 Barcode Sunday at Barcode Vauxhall, Railway Arch 69 Goding Street, SE11 5AW Vauxhall phone for prices, phone for times. DJ Saki plays dance and house. 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. Music Love Makers at Joiners Arms, 116118 Hackney Road, E2 7QL Old Street £3, FREE before 11.30pm, 10pm-2am. Resident DJs spin indie and electro. Orange at Fire, South Lambeth Road, SW8 1UQ Vauxhall £12, £10 before 12midnight, w/flyer £6 before 12midnight, adv £8, 11pm-9am. The Oli, Paul Martin and The Sharp Boys spin house in room one, while Gonzola Rivas, David Jiminez and Hi Fi Sean provide minimal techno and tech house in room two. S.L.A.G.S / CHILL-OUT Sundays at Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY Vauxhall £8, £5 before 7.30pm, 2pm-12midnight. Simon Le Vans, Andy Almighty and Sean Sirrs spin disco, electro and house, plus The D E Experience performs live. Sunday Social at The Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BJ Tottenham Court Road FREE, 8.30pm-12.30am. Resident DJs spin pop hits.

MONDAY MAY 14 Bearcode at Barcode Vauxhall, Railway Arch 69 Goding Street, SE11 5AW Vauxhall phone for prices, 9pm-1am. Resident DJs play house music. Detention at Ku Bar, 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA Leicester Square FREE, 10pm-3am. KU DJs and Doug Silva spin house music. The Joiners Arms: Soulful Sounds at Joiners Arms, 116-118 Hackney Road, E2 7QL Old Street FREE, 10pm-2am. DJ Alex spins soul and funk. Mondays at The Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1D 3BJ Tottenham Court Road FREE, phone for times. Resident DJs spin pop and R&B. Popcorn at Heaven, Charing Cross Arches, Villiers Street, WC2N 6NG Charing Cross £8, 11pm-5.30am. Jonesey, Harvey Adam, Jamie Hammond and Terry T-Rex provide dance, electro, R’n’B, pop and hip-hop.

Music

featured

Tottenham hot star Wretch 32 is homeward-bound for his next show and he can’t wait. By Shereen Low

f anyone’s proud to call London home, it would be Wretch 32. The chart-topping rapper, whose real name is Jermaine Scott, is bringing his music back onto home ground this month, with a gig at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on May 9. In July, he’ll return for the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Finale show at Hyde Park, along with Dizzee Rascal, The Wanted and Rizzle Kicks. “It feels great to perform in my home town and I love getting to perform in front of my friends and family,” says the 27-year-old. “I love the energy at the London shows. I feel like I’m performing in the comfort of my own home.” In fact, as a boy Scott dreamed of moments like this. “Growing up in London, close to these venues, seeing so many great artists perform within these walls, I never knew one day I’d have an opportunity to grace the stage. So when it happens you can forgive me when emotions take over,” he reveals. Scott, the son of a local reggae DJ, grew up in Tottenham’s Tiverton Estate in north London, which hit headlines last summer for the infamous riots that swept through parts of the city. “I was watching the news thinking, ‘London looks like it’s in trouble, man’. It was crazy,” he recalls. “But I was more focused on what I could do to help rebuild my community. So I came back and donated some time and some clothes.” The former grime MC, who’s also a devoted

dad and loyal boyfriend, has no qualms about being open about where he’s from. “I think people from Tottenham are proud to say they’re from there. Anything I can do for my area as an artist and as a parent, consider it done,” he says. Scott rose to fame through underground mixtapes, before landing his first big break in 2007 and releasing his debut album, Wretchrospective, in 2008. But it wasn’t until 2010, when his name made it onto the BBC’s Sound of 2011 list, that people really started paying attention. Despite being pipped to the top spot by Jessie J in the poll, Scott’s debut single Traktor won praise from fellow musicians, including Adele, Nicki Minaj and 50 Cent, with even Liam Gallagher counting himself as a fan. “It was really surprising to hear that Adele was feeling those singles like Unorthodox, because I know some people don't like listening to rhymers do music,” recalls Scott. After releasing his second (though the first that really counted) album Black And White, which featured collaborations with Example, Chipmunk and Ed Sheeran, he won four gongs at the Urban Music Awards as well as four Mobo Awards nominations last year. Scott also made his soap debut in Hollyoaks. “It's such a good time in my life right now. I'm really happy,” he says. The follow-up to Black And White is on its way. It’s “done and dusted” but Wretch still needs to come up with a name. “Mmmm what to expect? Expect the next

level and chapter from Black And White. I’m pushing my sound to get that stadium feel”. What’s next for Scott? “I've been in America having a few meetings and it's interesting times because it feels like they're ready for something like that now,” he says. No matter what happens, London will always have a special place in Scott’s heart. “Tottenham has always been my home. Whenever I get to pop back, I’m here,” he says. “A lot of people see the negative in Tottenham but kids there see me as a positive. I really put my heart on the page, and not moving gives me the benefit of keeping my music real.” Wretch 32, May 9, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £15.

scoutlondon.com Scout London 35

Music

Garbage May 9, The Troxy, £29 Garbage are back after a six-year hiatus with their fifth album, Not Your Kind Of People, and it's a corker. With flame-haired Scottish vixen Shirley Manson fronting the multi-million selling American alt-rockers, Garbage

are ready to make a whole load of decade-old teenage dreams come true again. With the gig taking place in this super cool art deco venue in east London, it's certainly one of the big draws of this week.

Fun. May 14, XOYO, £8.50 This American indie-pop trio has shot to prominence over the past few weeks following the release of their smash hit power ballad, We Are Young - the first single from their second album, Some Nights. They're in the Top 10 singles chart in both the UK and the US. Featuring American soul singer, Janelle Monáe, it gained prominence after being covered on Glee and has been downloaded over 2m times since. That's the power of Glee.

Also this week:

Reverend and the Makers May 10, Scala, £12.50

The Yorkshire-based indie-electro band led by Jon McClure played their first gig for two years in Coventry earlier this year. This gig celebrates the release of their third album, which is simply dubbed @Reverend_Makers. Apparently nothing represents modern times as much as the @ symbol. Are you going to be @ Scala for this? You probably ought to – it's going to be a fantastic night. Tweet us your answer anyway. 36 Scout London scoutlondon.com

Grimes May 9, XOYO, £9

Canadian solo dream-pop auteur, Grimes (Claire Boucher to her mum) is one of the freshest talents in new music. But don't be fooled by her name. This music has nothing to do with east London MCs. Her minimalistic third album, Visions, was released earlier in 2012 to great acclaim across the board with her experimentation and curious vocals being particularly praised. As a result, this is one of the hottest tickets in London this week.

10cc May 10, Royal Albert Hall, £25-£45 3 Inches Of Blood, Goatwhore, Angelus Apatride, Havok May 13, The Underworld, £12 Alkaline Trio, Dave Hause May 10, Electric Ballroom, £18 Ben Kweller May 9, Monto Water Rats, £12.50, phone for availability Bo Ningen, Damo Suzuki May 12, Cafe Oto, £9, adv £7 Dexys May 8, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £20-£30, phone for availability Holy State, Tenebrous Liar May 12, The Waiting Room, adv £5 Ian McCulloch May 12, phone for times, Union Chapel, £22.50 Michael Schenker May 12, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, adv £22.50 Morten Harket May 13, IndigO2, £25£35 Polar, Carcer City May 10, The Garage, £7 Prong May 13, The Garage, £13.50 Scooter May 12, HMV Forum, £20 The Subways, Royal Republic, Turbowolf May 10, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £15

The Cribs May 8, Troxy, £20 The Swellers May 13, The Old Blue Last, £6 The View May 10, Hoxton Square Bar And Kitchen, adv £16.50 This Is Hell, Feed The Rhino May 12, The Borderline, £8 Visions Of Trees, Philco Fiction May 11, The Old Blue Last, FREE Wretch 32, Jakwob May 9, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £15 Yelawolf, Doomtree May 14, Electric Ballroom, £14.50

this week

Amon Tobin

Listening Post

May 12, O2 Academy Brixton, ÂŁ28.50

PLAYLIST

The master of electronic music released his seventh album, ISAM in 2011. He calls it a "sound sculpture" and that's not far off at all, as his live show features grand soundscapes augmented by excellent light shows and visuals. Considered one of the most influential artists in his field, the Rio de Janeiro native has had his music featured in many movies and video games over the years. You more than likely know his songs without even realising.

CMY

Ladyhawke May 11, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, ÂŁ16

Ladyhawke is a really shonky fantasy film with Matthew Broderick, Rutger Hauer, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Fortunately the same criticism cannot be levelled at the Kiwi synth superstar, whose second album, Anxiety, released later this month, is about to take on a whole new lease of life. Having achieved success with her 2008 debut there will be no shortage of delirium when she hits the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire this week.

Mc Lane Explosion Magic Fly Master Classics

Sugarhill Gang Rapper's Delight Sanctuary

Fern Kinney Groove Me Malaco

Gorrilaz 68 State EMI

Cheryl Lynn Got To Be Real Sony

MPHO Morning After Wall of Sound

Leonore O'Malley First Be A Woman Strut

Boystown Gang Cruising the Street Sound and Media

Groove Armada The Girls Say Columbia

Lauryn Hill Every Ghetto, Every City Ruffhouse

Scout London Graphic Designer Kevin Duggan's funky Friday office mix...

Music A$AP Rocky Jun 5 & Jun 6, Electric Ballroom, £15 Abigail Washburn, Kai Welch Jun 14, The Lexington, adv £10 Aborted Jun 17, The Underworld, adv £12.50 Africa Utopia: Angelique Kidjo Jul 26, Southbank Centre, £10-£27.50, concs £5-£13.75 Ahmet Aslan, Olcay And Erdogan Bayir Ensemble May 11, Union Chapel, £20-£25 Al Di Meola World Sinfonia, The Ronnie Scotts All Stars May 16 & May 17, May 18, Ronnie Scott’s, £35-£60 Alanis Morissette Jun 27, O2 Academy Brixton, £37.50, phone for availability Albert Hammond, Lotte Mullan May 15, Union Chapel, adv £25 Alexander O’Neal May 17, Leicester Square Theatre, £32.50 Aliases May 30, O2 Academy Islington, phone for prices Amaranthe, Dynazty, Soen May 22, The Garage, £10 Andrew Roachford Jun 16, The Jazz Cafe, £20 Arcane Roots, A Plastic Rose Jun 5, The Barfly, Camden, £8 Architects, Heights, Last Witness Jun 6, The Garage, phone for prices Avicii Jun 4, The O2 Arena, £36 Barry Manilow May 15, The O2 Arena, £25-£100 Bat Country May 11, Heroes Bar, £5, adv £4 Beach House May 24, Village Underground, £14, phone for availability Ben Kweller May 9, Monto Water Rats, £12.50, phone for availability Best Coast Jun 20, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £16 Billy Ocean Jul 21, Under The Bridge, £27.50 Blaze Bayley May 18, Monto Water Rats, £10 Blink 182, All American Rejects, Twin Atlantic Jun 8 & Jun 9, The O2 Arena, £35 Bloc Party Jun 21, phone for times, KOKO, £20, phone for availability BluesFest 2012: George Benson, Christian Scott Jun 28, Royal Albert Hall, £37.50-£70 BluesFest 2012: Hugh Laurie Jul 2, HMV Apollo, £35-£40 BluesFest 2012: Tom Jones Jul 1, HMV Apollo, £35-£75 BluesFest 2012: Van Morrison Jun 29, HMV Apollo, £45-£100 Blur, The Specials, New Order Aug 12, phone for times, Hyde Park, adv £55 Bob Geldof Jun 1, Islington Town Hall, £25 & £35 Bob Mould, Cloud Nothings Jun 1, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, adv £25 Brendan Benson May 22, The Scala, adv £15 Brontide Jun 21, phone for times, Hotel Street, FREE Buzzcocks May 26, O2 Academy Brixton, £25 Casiokids Jun 27, The Barfly, Camden, £9 Chimp Spanner, Algorithm, Midnight Realm, Colours To Shame May 19, The Garage, phone for prices

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Chris Cornell Jun 18, London Palladium, £27.50-£35 Coldplay Jun 1, Jun 2, Jun 4, gates, Emirates Stadium, £55-£75, phone for availability Combichrist Jun 28, Electric Ballroom, £17.50 Comeback Kid Jun 29, The Borderline, £12 Crystal Palace Garden Party 2012 Jun 23 & Jun 24, phone for times, Crystal Palace Park, Sat £42.50, Sun £27.50, weekend ticket £55.90 Cud Jun 16, The Garage, £12.50 Cursive Jun 2, Cargo, £12.50 Curtis Stigers Jun 25-Jun 27, phone for times, Ronnie Scott’s, phone for prices Cypress Hill Jun 5, HMV Forum, £25 DZ Deathrays May 17, The Barfly, Camden, adv £7 Darbar Festival : Chitrangana AgleReshwal Sep 28, Southbank Centre, £15 & £20, concs £7.50 & £10 Darren Hayes Sep 24, IndigO2, £22.50£37.50 Daryl Hall Jul 12, phone for times, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, phone for prices Decapitated Jun 29, The Underworld, adv £15 Defeater Jul 6, The Underworld, adv £11 Delain, Trillium May 16, O2 Academy Islington, £5 Dionne Warwick May 28, Royal Albert Hall, £20-£125 Eddie Vedder Jul 30, HMV Apollo, £37£50 Elvis Costello & The Imposters May 23 & May 24, Royal Albert Hall, £28.50 & £38.50 Eugene McGuinness Jul 3, The Lexington, adv £7.50 Exit International May 8, O2 Academy Islington, £6 Fairport Convention May 16, The Borderline, £24

BluesFest 2012: Ronnie Wood Jun 30, HMV Apollo, £35-£75 Faith No More Jul 10, O2 Academy Brixton, £33.50 Fat Freddyís Drop Aug 4, HMV Forum, adv £29.50 Fear Factory, October File, Hang The Bastard Jun 7, The Underworld, £17.50 Fei Comodo May 23, O2 Academy Islington, £7 Field Day: Franz Ferdinand, Metronomy, Beirut Jun 2, Victoria Park, early bird £39.50 Fighting With Wire Jun 12, The Barfly, Camden, adv £6 Forever Never, Sworn To Oath, Orestea May 30, The Barfly, Camden, £7

Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons Jun 26 & Jun 27, Royal Albert Hall, £85 Fu Manchu Sep 15, O2 Academy Islington, £14

Guns N’ Roses, Thin Lizzy May 31 & Jun 1, The O2 Arena, £45 & £50 Future Of The Left Jun 14, XOYO, £10 Futures, Don Broco, Natives Jul 10, XOYO, £9.50

Incubus Jul 9, O2 Academy Brixton, phone for prices It Bites, Jon Amor Blues Group May 20, Bush Hall, £18 Jack White Jun 22, HMV Apollo, phone for prices James Yorkston And The Athletes May 29, Cecil Sharp House, £14.50 Japandroids May 22, The City Arts & Music Project, adv £9.50 Jay-Z And Kanye West May 18-May 22, The O2 Arena, £39.50 & £60 Jettblack May 30, The Borderline, £8 Jill Scott Jul 9 & Jul 10, phone for times, Somerset House, £37.50 Jimmy Cliff May 18, IndigO2, £20-£45 Judas Priest May 26, HMV Apollo, £37.50 Karma To Burn, Desert Storm, Diesel King, Beer Vs Manero Sep 1, The Underworld, adv £12 Katy B Jul 8, Somerset House, £25 Katzenjammer May 23, XOYO, £13.50 Korda Marshall, Silverseam May 9, The Troubadour, £6

The Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets May 10, 11 & 19, O2 Academy Brixton, £37.50 GUN May 22, O2 Academy Islington, £10 Gallon Drunk May 25, Nambucca, £10 Gallops, Portasound Jun 19, Hotel Street, £3 Gary Numan Jun 1, HMV Forum, £28 Gaz Coombes May 25, Bush Hall, £12.50 Gemma Hayes May 18, St-Giles-In-TheFields, adv £15 George Michael: Symphonica: The Orchestral Tour Sep 29, Royal Albert Hall, £46-£126 Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly May 16, The Garage, £10 Glenn Hughes, Fish May 25, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £22.50 Gods Of Rock May 26, The Roadhouse, £12, £5 before 9pm Godsmack, The Defiled Jun 20, HMV Forum, £19.50 Gossip May 15, XOYO, phone for prices Grandaddy Sep 4, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £20 Hard Rock Calling 2012: Soundgarden, Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band, Paul Simon Jul 13-Jul 15, phone for times, Hyde Park, Fri £50, Sat £60, Sun £55, Sat & Sun £110 Heart Of A Coward, Martyr Defiled, In Ruins May 27, The Garage, £6 Hit Factory Live: Steps, Jason Donovan, Bananarama, Rick Astley, Dear Or Alive Jul 11, Hyde Park, £54.25 Howe Gelb May 31, Village Underground, £12 Hue & Cry May 26, O2 Academy Islington, £22.50, £32.50 w/signed album I’ll Be Your Mirror London 2012 May 25, May 26 & May 27, Alexandra Palace, Fri £39, Sat & Sun £59

Keane Jun 8, O2 Academy Brixton, £28.50 Kyle Eastwood Band May 9-May 12, Ronnie Scott’s, £25-£42.50 La Dispute, Title Fight Sep 20, The Garage, £12 Lady Antebellum Jul 16, HMV Apollo, £30 Lagwagon Jun 26, O2 Academy Islington, £17 Laura Marling Jul 7, phone for times, Royal Albert Hall, £22.50-£45 Lianne La Havas Jul 16 & Jul 17, Village Underground, £16.25 Liars Jun 12, XOYO, £12.50

Lionel Richie Oct 28 & Oct 29, The O2 Arena, £40-£65 Limp Bizkit May 29, O2 Academy Brixton, phone for prices London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: BBC Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend: Leona Lewis, Will.i.am, Jessie J, Ed Sheeran, Florence & The Machine, Tinie Tempah, Plan B, Lana Del Rey, Jack White, Professor Green, Calvin Harris, Wretch 32, Labrinth, Emeli Sande, Dappy Jun 23 & Jun 24, Hackney Marshes, booking essential FREE, Ticket Registration via www.bbc.co.uk

future events Classical

London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Eurostar Presents Traction Jul 14, Granary Square, £20 LostAlone, Mojo Fury May 23, The Barfly, Camden, £7.50 Lynyrd Skynyrd Jun 3, HMV Apollo, £40 M83 Jul 16, phone for times, Somerset House, £25

Lars Vogt May 15, Southbank Centre, £10£35, concs £5-£17.50 Andre Rieu, Johann Strauss Orchestra Dec 16, The O2 Arena, £40-£90 BBC Symphony Orchestra May 10, Barbican Centre, £10-£30 Juan Diego Florez And Wurttembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn May 8, Royal Albert Hall, £22-£69 LSO Chamber Orchestra May 13, Barbican Centre, £10-£27 London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: London Sinfonietta May 12, Southbank Centre, £9-£22, concs £4.50-£11

Pieter Wispelwey May 10, LSO St Luke’s, £10, concs £9 London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Philharmonia Orchestra May 13, Southbank Centre, £12-£45, concs £6-£22.50 Philharmonia Orchestra/London Philharmonic Choir/Trinity Boys Choir May 18, Southbank Centre, £14.50-£48, concs £7.25-£24

Madonna Jul 17, Hyde Park, £70-£125 Macy Gray Jun 27 & Jun 28, The Jazz Cafe, adv £30 Malcolm Middleton May 21, Cargo, £14.50 Marillion Sep 16, HMV Forum, £28.50 Marilyn Manson Jul 5, O2 Academy Brixton, £30 Marionette, Algorithm May 10, The Borderline, £7.50 Maximo Park Jun 8, Heaven, £16 Mazzy Star Jun 3, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £22.50 Megadeth Jun 12, Electric Ballroom, £35 Metric Jul 2, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £16.50 Mica Paris Jun 30, The Albany, £12 Michael Kiwanuka May 23, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £14 Miike Snow, Niki And The Dove, Alex Metric May 31, O2 Academy Brixton, £16 Mike And The Mechanics Jul 18, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £30 Milk Maid Jun 28, phone for times, Shacklewell Arms, FREE Ministry Jul 20, HMV Forum, £20 Motorhead/Anthrax Nov 17, O2 Academy Brixton, £34 Mull Historical Society May 29, Dingwalls, adv £14

MxPx, Victims Of Circumstance Aug 8, The Garage, £15 Neneh Cherry & The Thing Jul 15, Village Underground, £15.50 Nerina Pallot May 10 & May 11, St James’s Church, £25 Nicki Minaj Jun 24 & Jun 25, HMV Apollo, £35 & £45 Nik Kershaw Sep 28, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £25-£40 Norah Jones Jun 1 & Jun 2, Southbank Centre, £22.50-£45, concs £12.25£22.50 Off!, Trash Talk Jun 20, The Garage, adv £16 Olly Murs Mar 29, The O2 Arena, £34 One Direction Feb 22 & Feb 23, Feb 23 & Feb 24, The O2 Arena, phone for prices Ozric Tentacles May 23, O2 Academy Islington, £17 Paloma Faith Jul 17, phone for times, Somerset House, £25 Paul Heaton Jul 5, Barbican Centre, £18£28 Peter Hook And The Light Jun 1, O2 Academy Islington, phone for prices Pianos Become The Teeth, Balance And Composure, Seahaven Aug 10, The Borderline, £12 Priceless London Wonderground: The Tiger Lillies Jun 7-Jun 9, The London Wonderground Spiegeltent, £17.50 & £22.50, concs £16 Queen & Adam Lambert Jul 11 & Jul 12, HMV Apollo, £70-£75 Regina Spektor Jul 2, Royal Albert Hall, £38.50 Richard Hawley Jun 8, HMV Forum, £20 Rick Wakeman, Hawkwind, Focus, The Strawbs, Curved Air, Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash Jun 23, Crystal Palace Park, £42.50, adv £30 Rumer May 24, St James’s Church, £28.50 Saint Vitus, Acid King, Sardonis Jun 11, The Underworld, £16 Scissor Sisters May 16 & May 17, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £32.50 Set Your Goals, Make Do And Mend, The Story So Far May 24, The Old Blue Last, £10 Slash Jun 6, HMV Apollo, £29.50 Spiritualized Nov 5, Roundhouse, £23.50 Steel Panther Nov 15, HMV Apollo, £19.50 Steve Hackett May 20, Islington Town Hall, £25-£30 Steven Wilson May 15, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £25

BMW LSO Open Air Classics May 12, no glass or furniture allowed in the square, Trafalgar Square, FREE Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra May 12, Barbican Centre, £15-£65 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra May 23, Southbank Centre, £9-£55, concs £4.50-£27.50

Rizzle Kicks Nov 16, O2 Academy Brixton, £17.50

Westlife: The Greatest Hits Tour, Vanquish May 12, May 23, May 24, The O2 Arena, £38.50-£44

Sunn O))), Nurse With Wound Jun 12, KOKO, £18 Suzanne Vega Jun 13, Union Chapel, adv £29.50, phone for availability Tall Ships Jun 7, Hotel Street, £3 Talvin Singh & Anne Garner Jun 13, Christ Church Spitalfields, £5.32, child £5-£16, NUS £5, under 26s £5-£24 Tangerine Dream Jun 24, phone for times, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £45 Ted And Gladys May 31, Lauderdale House, £9, concs £7.50 Tenacious D Jun 5-Jun 7, O2 Academy Brixton, £35 The Apple Cart Festival 2012: Adam Ant and The Good, The Mad & The Lovely Posse, Billy Bragg, Noah And The Whale Jun 3, Victoria Park, £35, with adult under 14s FREE The Brian Jonestown Massacre Jul 7, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, adv £15 The Cranberries Jun 18, HMV Apollo, £35 The Gaslight Anthem Jun 11, KOKO, £20.25 The Horrors May 25, O2 Academy Brixton, £17.50 The Human League Nov 26, Royal Albert Hall, £27.50 The Jezabels May 17, Electric Brixton, £10 The Maccabees Jun 8, Alexandra Palace, phone for times The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: The Diamond Jubilee Concert Jun 4, gates 3.30pm, Buckingham Palace, FREE, tickets allocated by ballot The Rasmus May 21, O2 Academy Islington, £13.50 The Temper Trap May 21 & May 22, KOKO, £16.50 Three Trapped Tigers May 29, phone for times, Hotel Street, FREE Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Jun 18 & Jun 20, Royal Albert Hall, £40-£75 Tony Bennett Jun 30 & Jul 1, phone for times, Royal Albert Hall, phone for prices Trudy Kerr Band, Ingrid James May 12, phone for times, 606 Club, £12 Ugly Kid Joe, Fozzy, Butcher Babies Jun 6, The Underworld, adv £17.50 Unearth, Malevolent Creation, Malefice, Romeo Must Die Jun 20, The Underworld, £15 Viking Skull, Mercy House May 23, The Borderline, £8 W.A.S.P. Sep 21, HMV Forum, £22.50 Wavves Jun 6, Hoxton Square Bar And Kitchen, adv £12.50 William Control, Fearless Vampire Killers, Obscure Pleasures May 31, O2 Academy Islington, £11 Wireless Festival 2012: Wireless 2012: Rihanna, Drake, Jessie J, Professor Green Jul 6 & Jul 7, Jul 8, phone for times, Hyde Park, Fri phone for prices, Sat day ticket £49.50, Sun day ticket £52.50, Sat & Sun two day ticket £97 Witchsorrow, Astrohenge, Trippy Wicked & The Cosmic Children Of The Knight, Iron Witch, Dead Existence, The Bendal Interlude, ENOS, Gurt Jun 30, The Windmill, £7, adv £6 Wolfmother Jul 6, IndigO2, £22.50 & £27.50 Young Guns, We Are The In Crowd, Your Demise, Marmozets Oct 17, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, £13.50

scoutlondon.com Scout London 39

Music TUESDAY MAY 8 Dark Hours at Monto Water Rats, 328 Gray’s Inn Road, WC1X 8BZ King’s Cross St Pancras 7pm. Resident DJs spin metal and rock. Stupid Tuesday at Thirst, 53 Greek Street, W1D 3DR Tottenham Court Road £3, FREE before 10pm, 5pm-3am. Resident DJs play funky house, disco and pop. White Heat at Madame Jojo’s, 8-10 Brewer Street, W1F 0SE Piccadilly Circus £5, concs/flyer £4, 10.30pm-3am. DJs Matty, Olly and Marcus spin electro, techno and indie.

WEDNESDAY MAY 9 Back To My Roots at Zen Sai, 16 Inverness Street, NW1 7HJ Camden Town FREE, 9pm-2am. Paul Trouble Anderson spins 1970s to 1990s jazz, funk, hip hop, disco and R&B. N*A*S*I*N at The Borderline, Orange Yard, Manette Street, W1D 4JB Tottenham Court Road £5, w/flyer £4, NUS £3, mems £2, 11pm-3am. SoniX, Brahim and Punk Gareth play punk, rock, metal and ska.

THURSDAY MAY 10 Bad Sex at Proud Camden, The Horse Hospital, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AH Camden Town £7, £5 before 10pm, guestlist/NUS £5, guestlist/NUS FREE before 10pm, 7.30pm-2.30am. Phaze One, Mayton DJs and Fin Munro spin house, electro and indie, plus Glass Diamond and Sleep Thieves perform live. Jamm Presents at Jamm, 261 Brixton Road, SW9 6LH Brixton £10, 8pm3am. Bez spins indie, electronica and dance classics. Latinos at El Penol, 382-384 Brixton Road, SW9 7AW Brixton FREE, 9pm4am. Diego Rmx, Urbano, Junior, Primo, Mauro Cangri and Kevin Gato spin house, Latin and funk. Part Two at The Macbeth, 70 Hoxton Street, N1 6LP Old Street FREE, 7pm. DJ CAAN spins rock and electro, plus Lois & The Love, Bebe Black and The Shoestrung perform live. Thursdays at Movida, 8 Argyll Street, W1F 7TF Oxford Circus phone for prices, phone for times. DJ Jojo spins hip hop, R&B, house, rock and old school. Uprawr at Dingwalls, Camden Lock, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AB Camden Town £5, NUS £4, w/flyer £3, 10.30pm-2.30am. Young Offenders Institute at 93 Feet East, 150 Brick Lane, E1 6RU Liverpool Street FREE, 7pm-11pm. Resident DJs spin funk, soul, hip hop, rock and electronica.

FRIDAY MAY 11 Club NME at KOKO, 1a Camden High Street, NW1 7JE Mornington Crescent £5, 9.30pmlate. Resident DJs spin indie, house and electro, plus Retro Stefson and White Arrows perform live. Cover Up at Ginglik, Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 8PH Shepherd’s Bush phone for prices, phone for times. DJ C-Boogie spins hip hop and funk, plus The Fontanas perform live. Fridays at Movida, 8 Argyll Street, W1F 7TF Oxford Circus phone for prices, phone for times. Tony Piscitelli spins

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clubbing house, minimal, techno and deep house. The Mystery Jets DJ set at The Old Queen’s Head, 44 Essex Road, N1 8LN Angel £4, FREE before 8pm, 8pm-2am. The Mystery Jets play disco and electro.

Scandalism at The Nest, 36 Stoke Newington Road, N16 7XJ Dalston Kingsland adv £7, 9pm-4am. Optimo runs the gamut of disco, electro, techno, rock and pop in the company of Planningtorock and Psychemagik, plus Picture Books live. V:Room Friday’s at Strongroom, 120-124 Curtain Road, EC2A 3SQ Old Street phone for prices, phone for times. Resident DJs spin Northern Soul, Mod, psychedelia and rock. The Gallery at The Ministry Of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, SE1 6DP Elephant And Castle £14, mems £11, 10.30pm-6am. Gareth Emery (DJ set), Lange, MIKE, Jonathan Ulysses, Steve Lee, Manda Dex, Hausmann, Plastic Fondu and Dirty Discotech spin house, electro and techno.

Dub Pistols Album Launch at Electric Brixton, 1 Town Hall Parade, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RJ Brixton adv £15, 9pm-4am. DJs Rob Da Bank, Eddy Temple-Morris and Rednek spin electronica, dubstep and indie in the main room, while Agman, PJ, K.I.D Shut Up And Dance, Apply The Breaks, Swifty B, Chug, Jynx, Concept, Lock-Up, One Skinny DJ, Ellis Dee And Twista mix breaks, dubstep and drum’n’bass, plus live performances from Dub Pistols and High Rankin. A History Of Detroit at The Rhythm Factory, 16-18 Whitechapel Road, E1 1EW Whitechapel adv £10, 10pm-6am. DJs Alan Oldham, Djax, John Heckle, Tom Long, Larry Cavelle, DJ Mourad, Analog Chronicles, Alex Mason and Asher Jones spin Detroit techno, plus Stephen Brown performs live. I Love Pacha at Pacha, Terminus Place, SW1V 1JR Victoria phone for prices, 11pm-late. Super Stylers, Darryl Green, Wayne Dudley, Love Fever, James Good & Rich Marsh, Chaz Beasli, AudioVandals, Dean Wardle, Paul White and Ronnie Worster & Mike Linnane spin house, techno, funk and electro. 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.

Sin City at Electric Ballroom, 184 Camden High Street, NW1 8QP Camden Town £7, NUS/mems £5 before 11.30pm, w/flyer £5 before 12midnight, 10.30pm-3.30am. Stevie C, Riyad, Tony Madball and Demonic play contemporary rock and metal in the main room, while Shuff and Vixen spin classic rock and metal in room two. What Ever Happened To P-Rock? at The Macbeth, 70 Hoxton Street, N1 6LP Old Street £5, concs £3, 7pm-late. DJ Harley, Uprawr BRM & LDN DJs, Say It Ain’t So DJs and Break-Fast DJs spin punk, rock and nu metal.

SATURDAY MAY 12 Big Fancy Dress Party at Strawberry Moons, 15 Heddon Street, W1B 4BF Piccadilly Circus phone for prices, phone for times. Residents spin R&B, chart, house and club classics. Club De Fromage at O2 Academy Islington, N1 Centre, 16 Parkfield Street, N1 0PS Angel £6.50, 10.30pm-3.30am. The resident DJs at Tony and Slow Alfie spin pop hits, with themed fancy dress.

Supervision at Proud 2, The O2 Arena Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX North Greenwich adv £17.50, 9pm7am. DJs Tocadisco, EDX, Arno Cost, Tristan Garner, Kim Fai, Manuel De La Mare, Ant Brooks, Dan Castro, Futuristic Polar Bears, East And Young mix house, electro and techno. This Feeling at The Queen Of Hoxton, 1-5 Curtain Road, EC2A 3JX Shoreditch High Street £8 after 9pm, £6 before 9pm, 8pm-2am. Indie and rock courtesy of Tubes, The Vinyl Solution, Nineties Mike, Cool Bri..tannia and Soul Boy Mystic Collective, with live performances from Born Blonde, The Lily Moons, Modern Faces and The Smokin’ Barrels. Tief Presents Suol Label Night at Corsica Studios, 4-5 Elephant Road, SE17 1LB Elephant & Castle £15, adv £10 & £13, earlybird £8, 10pm-6am. DJs Fritz Kalkbrenner, Daniel Bortz, Trickski, Chopstick & JohnJon, Hesseltime and Mr Solid Gold from the Berlin-based record label mix house and techno. West London Bass Club at Ginglik, Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 8PH Shepherd’s Bush phone for prices, phone for times. Hip hop, reggae, drum’n’bass, dubstep and electro courtesy of Evil T and The Evil Uncles.

SUNDAY MAY 13

Bugged Out! Presents When 2 Become 3 at Fire, South Lambeth Road, SW8 1UQ Vauxhall adv £12, 10.30pm-6am. Chicago legend Derrick Carter joins The 2 Bears - Joe Goddard and Raf Daddy to spin house, electronica, indie and disco into the early hours. Fabric at Fabric, 77A Charterhouse Street, EC1M 6HJ Farringdon adv £18, £19, adv £23 inc cd, NUS £12, £10 after 4am, 11pm-8am. Tiefschwarz, Meat, Terry Francis, Slam, Jozif, Russ Yallop and Luca C spin house and techno, plus Re You & Rampa and BNJMN perform live. Funkymojoe Is Full Of Glamour at Funkymojoe, 159-161 High Road, E18 2PA South Woodford £5, FREE before 9.30pm, 8.30pm-2.30am. Resident DJs spin funky house, club classics, R&B and commercial garage. Hed Kandi Presents Pure Kandi at Hed Kandi Bar, 38 Clapham High Street, SW4 7UR Clapham North FREE, 7pm-2am. Funky house and dance from DJ Stephanie Jay. Oh No! at The Garage, 20-26 Highbury Corner, N5 1RD Highbury & Islington £5, concs £4, 11pm-late. Resident DJs spin electro, house, chart and indie. Roller Disco at Renaissance Rooms, opposite Arch 8, Arches, Miles Street, SW8 1RZ Vauxhall £15, online adv £14, 8pm-2am. Old school roller disco with Mr Shiver and DJ Bradley playing disco, funk, soulful house, electro and breakbeat. Salsa Fusion at 229 The Venue, 229 Great Portland Street, W1W 5PW Great Portland Street £8, 9pm-2am. Salsa night with resident DJs.

Up On The Roof at Brixton Clubhouse, 467 Brixton Road, SW9 8HH Brixton £15, adv £12, earlybird £10, 2pm-2am. The legendary ter Flash headlines this summer party on the rooftop terrace, promising a heady mix of hip hop, house, soul and disco with support on the decks from Mister Shiver, Kid Fury, Loudat, Michael Jansons, Rob Alldritt, Evil Hypnotist and Number 9. Big Chill Sundae Presents at The Big Chill Bar, Drury Walk, E1 6QL Liverpool Street phone for prices, 2pm12midnight. DJ Scratchy spins rock’n’roll, reggae and blues and Smooth Sailing DJs supply techno and disco. Monday Don’t Mean Anything at The Lockside Lounge, 75-89 West Yard Dock, NW1 8AF Camden Town phone for prices, phone for times. DJ Adam Cotier spins disco and techno. Super Sunday Roasts at The Star Of Bethnal Green, 359 Bethnal Green Road, E2 6LG Bethnal Green FREE, 12midnight-12noon. Resident DJs play downtempo, soul and R&B.

MONDAY MAY 14 The Biggest Student Night at Metra, 14 Leicester Square, WC2H 7NG Leicester Square phone for prices, 8pm-3am. Resident DJ DSD spins dance, chart, R&B and pop. Tango Mondays at Chateau 6, 563 Fulham Road, SW6 1ES Fulham Broadway 3p, 8.30pm-12midnight. Resident DJs spin Latin, salsa and tropical beats, plus dance lessons.

Sport & Fitness

featured

Are you swimming comfortably? Robert Bridger dives into the freedom of one of the newest Olympic sports

ou’re standing on the edge of the Royal Victoria Dock in Docklands, staring at the stretch of water ahead of you. Ahead, hundreds of people are already swimming away, out towards the other side. Don’t worry – it’s not a mass exodus. This is the scene at the Great British Gas London Swim, when around 5,000 people take the plunge in a one-mile open water route with the London skyline as the backdrop. For many people the biggest challenge of open water swimming is overcoming the prospect of plunging into the Thames. “Contrary to popular belief, the water quality is in fact very

good and the Thames is now acknowledged to be one of the cleanest metropolitan rivers in the world,” says Great British Gas London Swim’s Philippa Morrow. “This is largely down to it being tidal.” With minds set at ease, waves of 300 swimmers at a time will set off on May 26, accompanied by expert kayakers and safety boats which shadow their splashings every stroke of the way to ensure no-one gets into trouble . As one of the fastest-growing Olympic sports in the UK, open water swimming is expected to be a particularly popular event at this year’s Games. In fact, Team GB medal hopeful Keri-Anne Payne will be taking part this year, grabbing

the chance for a test event ahead of her bid to bring home a gold medal. The swimming challenge was launched in 2008, the same year that Team GB won two medals in the Marathon 10k swim at the Beijing Olympics. It was the first time open water swimming had been included on the modern Olympic programme. Even if you’re not an athlete, the freedom of swimming in the unfettered open water is still very accessible. “Many of our competitors train in their local pools and the next logical step is to take their skills to the open water,” says Morrow. “We’ve seen an increase in the number of people wanting to try

new sporting activities who may be daunted by the prospect of a run, but they know if they can manage 65 lengths of a pool they can complete a one mile swim, and have a great time doing it.” Indeed, for many people, once they’ve experienced swimming without lanes, walls or chlorine, it can become very addictive. “We’re really pleased to see the sport going from strength to strength and that we’ve been able to give people the opportunity to experience such an enjoyable way of staying active,” says Morrow. The Great British Gas London Swim, May 26, Royal Victoria Dock. To register go to greatswim.org/london

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Theatre

Building a stairway to Heaven

ONDON: 2012. While all eyes will be on the meeting of international sporting prowess this summer, one innovative outdoor theatre show will instead be celebrating the joining of international cultures in a far more dramatic fashion. Babel will unite four powerhouses of the theatre world for a three-week, 12-show run. Produced by World Stages London, WildWorks and Battersea Arts Centre, it brings together Lyric Hammersmith, Theatre Royal Stratford East and the Young vic to create a two-hour immersive theatre piece celebrating London’s multiculture, set to take place in the historic Caledonian Park, Islington. David Micklem, 44, is the lead producer on Babel and is also the BAC’s joint artistic director. He says the concept for the production arose from a biblical epiphany – of sorts: “The idea came from Bill Mitchell, who is the artistic director of WildWorks. He said he’d been thinking about the story of the tower of Babel as a kind of metaphor for London. It’s the most multicultural city in the world, a city where more than 200 languages are spoken every day of

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the week. It’s that diversity that makes us a fantastic city.” For those that aren’t up to speed on their Old Testament, the story of Babel tells of a time long ago when all humans spoke the same language. They decided to build a stairway to Heaven, so to stop them getting above their station, God cast them to the four corners of the earth and made them all speak different languages. Babel will turn this on its head and celebrate in reuniting all the languages with shared stories. Micklem explains: “We’re all connected by these languages. There are stories out there that connect us beyond that language, there are still things that we can share and enjoy together, there’s a commonality. It feels exciting to be doing a piece of work in 2012 when the eyes of the world are on London and celebrating our internationalism.” The show will run from May 8 as part of the World Stages London series of theatre. It is a co-production with WildWorks – famous for its outdoor performance of The Passion in Port Talbot – and boasts a cast of 200 musicians, performers and non-professional participants

who will entertain an audience of 1,000 people each night. It’s been a long time in the planning, Micklem says. “The show has been developed over the past couple of years with the aim of creating incredible amounts of space in the production and allowing the voices to come through. “Through each of the four theatres involved, we are finding existing groups of people and we are bringing in their stories to the production. The stories of those groups are very much at the centre of this story of Babel.” From school-aged beatboxers to middle-aged cake-bakers, the show builds up a snapshot of modern-day London, taking in its vast cultural scenes and presenting them back to the crowd through an immersive theatrical experience, which will see the audience and cast mingling to create an incredible, memorable experience. David explains: “I don’t want to give too much away, but as an audience member, you’ll not only see some of the best professional performers around today but you’ll also see participants and their stories being presented in what I hope will be a very seamless way.

STEvE TANNER

Immersive production Babel will see over 200 performers mingling with the audience in a once-in-a-lifetime piece of theatre, as producer David Micklem tells Laura Martin

featured

66 There are moments

Steve Tanner

that will be absolutely jawdropping 99

“There are wonderfully blurry lines between the professionals and the participants. For people who are looking for a large scale, epic spectacular, this is a great piece of work. “There are moments that will be absolutely jaw-dropping.” Babel had initially been pencilled in to take place in Battersea Power Station, but when the landmark’s owner went into administration in December, a new venue for the production had to be found. And, like all the best co-incidences, the setback actually ended up working in Babel’s favour, as Caledonian Park was chosen instead. At the heart of the park is an old clock tower – perfect as the symbolic tower of Babel. “Bill calls it the ‘last, lost iconic tower in London’,” says Micklem. The park itself has a rich history, despite now being a little-known spot. As well as being London’s biggest cattle market in the mid-19th century, over the years it has been everything from an abattoir and bull-baiting spot to fashionable tea gardens. It was even a meeting spot for trade unionists gathering to demand the release of the

Tolpuddle Martyrs in 1834. Now Micklem feels it’s the perfect spot to host such a production that’s also a kaleidoscope of histories. “When Battersea fell through, Caledonian Park was the obvious next choice for its rich history,” he says. “It’s also one of the most diverse places in London, with a mix of social housing bumping up against some of the poshest houses in the city.” David has a reputation for producing theatre productions that lift you out of your seat, throw you into the action and have you enthusiastically recounting it to friends for weeks after. For his production of The Sultan’s Elephant in 2006, a giant mechanical beast roamed the capital’s streets ridden by a small girl, drawing an estimated crowd of 1m people in just a few days. His involvement in Punchdrunk’s criticallyacclaimed 2007 production of The Mask Of The Red Death heralded a new era for conventional theatre. He says: “That show was a gamechanger. It changed the way people engaged with theatre. For me, it was the moment when immersive theatre hit the mainstream. People realised theatre wasn’t just something that

happened in a dark room where you sat on a seat and watched a stage for an hour and a half. It made it more live, immediate and sexy.” He adds: “Immersive theatre is still very much an exciting proposition. Some of the other work we’ve been developing recently blurs what’s real and fictional. Babel will be blurry – I get really excited by that.” Given last month’s relentless April showers, there might be those dubious about attending a two-hour open-air performance. Embrace the elements, says David: “WildWorks is used to outdoor work in all weather with its productions. But we do encourage ticket holders to watch the weather forecast and dress appropriately. We’re imagining that Londoners will be getting their wellies out of the cupboards and putting their cagoules on. It will take an Act of God for weather to cancel the show.” Here’s hoping that resurrecting the tower of Babel doesn’t summon him upstairs and his meteorological wrath. Babel, May 8-20, Caledonian Park. Tickets from £17.50. See babellondon.com scoutlondon.com Scout London 43

Theatre WEST END

One Man, Two Guvnors, ends Jan 12 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, no perf Dec 25, extra mat perf Dec 27, Jan 3, 2.30pm, Dec 24, 2.30pm, Dec 26, 7.30pm. Richard Bean’s comic tale, based on Carlo Goldoni’s The Servant Of Two Masters. Belong, ends May 26, Jerwood Theatre At The Royal Court, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS Sloane Square Mon available on day of perf £10, Tue-Sat £20, under 26s £8, OAP/NUS £15, Mon-Sat 7.45pm, mats Sat 3.30pm, extra mat perf May 17, 24, 3.30pm. A satirical drama written by Bola Agbaje. Billy Elliot - The Musical, ends Dec 15, victoria Palace, victoria Street, SW1E 5EA Victoria £19.50-£65, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm. An adaptation of the film. Chicago, ends Jan 26 2013, Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HH Charing Cross £26£67.50, Apr 23-Sep 22 Mon-Fri 8pm & 5pm under 26s £20, Mon-Thu, Sat 8pm, Fri 5pm & 8.30pm, mats Sat 3pm, no perf Dec 24 & 25, 3pm, Dec 22, 3pm. Musical. Detroit, ends Jun 15, National Theatre: Cottesloe, South Bank, SE1 9PX Waterloo May 8-12, 14 previews £12£28.50, May 15-31, Jun 1-15 £12-£32, Mon-Fri mid week mats OAP £12-£22, under 18s £12-£20, May 8-12, 14, 16, 2426, 31, Jun 1 & 2, 4-6, 11-15, 7.30pm, press night) May 15, 7pm, mats May 26, Jun 2, 6, 13, 2.30pm. A brutal comedy written by Lisa D’Amour, set in the mid-American city of Detroit. Dreamboats And Petticoats, ends Nov 24, Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5DE Charing Cross £17.50-£55, Premium Seats £55-£65, Mon-Fri 7.30pm, Sat 8pm, mats Thu 3pm, Sat 4pm. Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran’s musical. The Duchess Of Malﬁ, ends Jun 9, Old vic, 103 The Cut, SE1 8NB Waterloo £10-£49.50, Premium Seats £75, Mon-

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Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm. John Webster’s Jacobean tragedy is directed by Jamie Lloyd. Ghost - The Musical, ends 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 film. Hay Fever, ends Jun 2, Noel Coward Theatre, 85-88 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4AU Leicester Square £16£53.50, Premium Seats £85, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm. Noel Coward’s comedy starring Lindsay Duncan and Kevin McNally. Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain! (Over 6s), ends Sep 21, Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HH Charing Cross £10-£14.50, Wed-Fri 1pm, Sat 10.30am & 12noon, Sun 3pm & 5pm. A look at all the nasty, crazy things British people have done to each other over many years. Jersey Boys, ends Oct 21, 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, mats Tue, Sat & Sun 3pm, except May 8-Oct 21, Sun 5pm. Musical drama about the career of Frankie valli And The Four Seasons. The King’s Speech, ends May 12, Wyndham’s Theatre, Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0DA Leicester Square MonSat £10-£52.50, Thu 2.30pm OAP £35, standby rate £25, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm. David Seidler’s original drama which inspired the celebrated film. Les Miserables, ends Oct 27, Queen’s Theatre, 51 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 6BA Piccadilly Circus £10-£65, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm. Musical drama. The Lion King, ends Sep 30, Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington Street, WC2E 7RQ Charing Cross Tue-Thu £30-£60, Fri, Sun £32.50-£62.50, Sat £35-£65, May 8-Jul 23, Sep 2-30, Tue-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat & Sun 2.30pm, Jul 24-Sep 1, TueSat 7.30pm, mats Wed & Thu, Sat 2.30pm, no eve perf Jul 27. Musical. Long Day’s Journey Into Night, ends Aug 18, Apollo Theatre, 31 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EZ Piccadilly Circus £21-£53.50, Premium Seats £76, Mon-Sat 7pm, May 8-Aug 18, Mon & Tue, Thu-Sat 7pm, mats Wed 2.30pm. David Suchet and Laurie Metcalf star in Eugene O’Neill’s drama. Love Love Love, ends Jun 9, Jerwood Theatre At The Royal Court, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS Sloane Square May 3-31, Jun 1-9 Mon £10, Tue-Sat £12, £20, £28, OAP & student £15, £23, under 26s £8, concs on top two prices until May 5 £15, £23, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat 2.30pm, May 24, 2.30pm, no perf Jun 4 & 5. Mike Bartlett’s drama follows the sparky relationship between Kenneth and Sandra, in 1967. Mamma Mia!, ends Sep 1, Prince Of Wales Theatre, 31 Coventry Street, W1D 6AS Charing Cross Mon-Fri £20-£64, Sat £20-£67.50, Premium Seats £85 & £95, Mon-Thu, Sat 7.30pm, Fri 5pm & 8.30pm, mats Sat 3pm, extra mat Jul 27, 3pm, no eve

perf Jul 27. Musical comedy. Matilda: The Musical, ends Feb 17 2013, Cambridge Theatre, Earlham Street, WC2H 9HU Covent Garden Feb 14 2012-Feb 17 2013 £20-£62.50, disabled £31.25, Tue-Thu under 18s £19-£52.50, Tue 7pm, Wed-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm, Sun 3pm, extra mat perf Nov 1, 2.30pm. Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin’s musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s tale. Misterman, ends May 28, National Theatre: Lyttelton, South Bank, SE1 9PX Waterloo May 1-28 £12£40, Mon-Fri 7.30pm under 18s £12£16.50, midweek mat senior citizen £12£30. Cillian Murphy stars in Enda Walsh’s epic drama on the evangelist Thomas Magill trying to save the sinful town of Inishfree. The Mousetrap, ends Dec 15, St Martin’s Theatre, West Street, Cambridge Circus, WC2H 9NZ Leicester Square £15.60£41.60, Premium Seats £60.60, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Tue 3pm, Sat 4pm. Agatha Christie’s murder mystery. Noises Off, ends Jun 30, Novello Theatre, 5 Aldwych, WC2B 4LD Covent Garden Mon-Thu £10-£52.50, Fri & Sat £10-£55, Premium Seats £85, concs available, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm. Michael Frayn’s farcical comedy. The Phantom Of The Opera, ends Oct 27, Her Majesty’s Theatre, 57 Haymarket, SW1Y 4QL Piccadilly Circus £22.45£85, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm. Musical. Posh, Starts Fri, ends Aug 4, The Duke Of York’s, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4BG Leicester Square £15-£52.50, student £25, OAP £29.50, OAP advance £32.50, From May 11, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm (press night May 23, 7pm). Laura Wade’s drama. Rock Of Ages, ends Oct 28, 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. Chris D’Arienzo’s musical celebrating Los Angeles rock culture. Shrek - The Musical, ends Mar 31 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, Thu-Sat 7.30pm, Wed 7pm, mats Thu, Sat & Sun 3pm, no perf Oct 10. Musical based on the computer-animated film. South Downs & The Browning Version: Double Bill, ends Aug 4, The Harold Pinter Theatre, 6 Panton Street, SW1Y 4DN Piccadilly Circus £15-£49.50, Premium Seats £75, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm. One-act dramas by David Hare and Terence Rattigan. Stomp, ends Dec 15, Ambassadors Theatre, West Street, WC2H 9ND Leicester Square £20-£49.50, Mon, Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 6pm, mats Thu, Sat & Sun 3pm, extra eve perfs Jun 6, Aug 1, 15, 22, Oct 31 2012, 8pm, extra mats Aug 15, 22, Oct 31 2012. Steve McNicholas and Luke Cresswell’s show. Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street, ends Sep 22, Adelphi Theatre, 409-412 Strand, WC2R 0NS Charing Cross £20-£67.50, £25 seats available in person from the box office from 10am on day of performance (max 2 per person), Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat

2.30pm. Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton star in Stephen Sondheim’s musical. A Tale Of Two Cities, ends May 12, Charing Cross Theatre, The Arches, villiers Street, WC2N 6NL Embankment £24.50 & £29.50, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat 4.30pm. Musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’s novel. Thriller Live, ends Sep 23, Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7ES Piccadilly Circus £27.50-£59.50, Premium Seats £85, Tue-Fri, Sun 7.30pm, Sat 8pm, mats Sat 4pm, Sun 3.30pm. A celebration of the music of Michael Jackson. Travelling Light, ends Jun 2, National Theatre: Lyttelton, South Bank, SE1 9PX Waterloo £12-£47, Tue-Thu mats OAP £12-£27, disabled £12 & £15, Mon-Fri, Sun under 18s/Sat mats under 18s £12-£23.50, May 11 & 12, 18 & 19, 21 & 22, 29-31, Jun 1 & 2, 7.30pm, mats May 12, 19, 31, Jun 2, 2.15pm, May 13, 20, 3pm. Nicholas Wright’s drama in which a successful film director looks back on his early life. War Horse, ends 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. Michael Morpurgo’s story. We Will Rock You, ends Oct 20, Dominion Theatre, 268-9 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 7AQ Tottenham Court Road Jan 1-May 13, May 15-Oct 20 2012 £27.50£60, May 14 10th Anniversary Special Show £14.15, £40.50, £73.25, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat 2.30pm, May 14, 7pm, 10th Anniversary Special Sho. Musical. What The Butler Saw, ends Aug 25, vaudeville Theatre, 404 Strand, WC2R 0NH Charing Cross May 4-15 previews £15-£39.50, May 16-31, Jun 1-30, Jul 1-31, Aug 1-25 £25-£49.50, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm (press night May 16, 7pm, no perf Jul 27, extra mat perf Jul 24, 2.30pm). Joe Orton’s final play features Omid Djalili as Dr Rance. Wicked, ends 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. Musical. The Wizard Of Oz, ends Oct 28, London Palladium, 8 Argyll Street, W1F 7TF Oxford Circus £25-£65, Premium Seats £84, £25 day seats available from the box office from 10am on day of the performance, Tue-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm, Sun 3pm. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s version of L Frank Baum’s tale. The Woman In Black, ends Dec 15, Fortune Theatre, Russell Street, WC2B 5HH Covent Garden £16.50£45, Premium Seats £55, Jan 9 2012-Jul 15 2012, Sep 2 2012-Dec 15 2012, Tue-Sat 8pm, mats Jan 9 2012-Jul 15 2012, Sep 2 2012-Dec 15 2012, Tue, Thu 3pm, Sat 4pm, Jul 16 2012-Sep 1 2012, Mon-Sat 8pm, mats Jul 16 2012-Sep 1 2012, Tue 3pm, Sat 4pm. Susan Hill’s ghost story. Written On The Heart, ends Jul 21, Duchess Theatre, 3-5 Catherine Street, WC2B 5LA Covent Garden £22.50£74.50, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm. David Edgar’s drama about the genesis of the King James Bible.

recommended OFF WEST END Aesop’s Fables, Starts Sun, ends Jun 2, Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ Hackney Central £8-£34, May 13, 5pm, mats May 16, 30, 1.30pm, press perf mats May 19, 10.30am, May 26, Jun 2, 2.30pm. Isango Ensemble present a musical adaptation of the ancient Greek collection of tales.

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, ends Sep 9, Kensington Gardens, Princes Square, W2 4NJ Bayswater May 8-31, Jun 1-30, Jul 1-31, Aug 1-31, Sep 1-9 Mon-Fri £25, £35, £45, Sat & Sun £29.50, £39.50, £49.50, May 8-29 child FREE, May 8-Jun 3, Jul 11-22, Mon, Wed-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat 3pm, Sun 12noon & 3.30pm, press night May 29, 7pm, Jun 4-8, Jul 23-Sep 9, Mon, ThuSat 7.30pm, mats Wed & Thu 2.30pm, Sat 3pm, Sun 12noon & 3.30pm, Jul 27, 2pm. Rupert Goold and threesixty’s retelling of the C.S. Lewis magical fairy tale. Brimstone And Treacle, ends Jun 2, Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL Dalston Junction May 4-31, Jun 1 & 2 Mon/Wed-Sat £16, concs £12, Tue Pay What You Can, Mon-Sat 8pm, mats Sat 3pm. Dennis Potter’s darkly-comic realist drama, on paranoia, xenophobia and prejudice.

Moon On A Rainbow Shawl, National Theatre: Cottesloe, South Bank, SE1 9PX Waterloo £12-£32, May 17-23, May 28-30, 7.30pm, May 30, 2.30pm, Jun 7-10, 7.30pm. Absorbing, witty tale of love and longing set in the Caribbean. Said by some to be a 20th century classic. Chair, Starts Fri, ends May 25, Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King Street, W6 0QL Hammersmith May 11 £12.50, May 12-18, 20-25 £15, May 19, 26 The Chair Triple Bill £25, From May 11, Mon-Sat 8pm, press night May 14, 7pm,

mats May 16, 23, 3pm, May 19, 6pm, The Chair Triple Bill, no eve perf May 23. Edward Bond’s one-act drama. Educating Rita, ends May 12, The Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark Street, SE1 1RU London Bridge £29.50, concs £27, £37 inc meal, Tue-Sat 8pm, mats Sat & Sun 3.30pm, May 10, 3.30pm. Willy Russell’s comedy drama features Claire Sweeney and Matthew Kelly. Encounters: A Double Bill Of Plays: Dry Ice & You’re Not Like The Other Girls Chrissy, ends May 12, The Bush Theatre At The Old Library, 7 Uxbridge Road, W12 8LJ Shepherd’s Bush Tue-Sat 7.30pm £24, concs £12, Wed, Sat 2.30pm £18, concs £10, May 8-12, 7.30pm, mats May 9, 12, 2.30pm. Two solo plays written and performed by Sabrina Mahfouz and Caroline Horton.

London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Shakespeare’s Globe Multi-Lingual Shakespeare Festival 2012, ends Jun 2, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT Mansion House phone for prices, Mon-Sat, phone for times. All of Shakespeare’s plays to be presented, each in a different language, each by an international company. Making Noise Quietly (Being Friends/ Lost/Making Noise Quietly), ends May 26, Donmar Warehouse, 41 Earlham Street, WC2H 9LX Covent Garden May 1-26 £10-£32.50, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm. Three short plays forming a triptych exploring the effects of war and the universal bonds of suffering. Written by Robert Holman. World Stages London: Three Kingdoms, ends May 19, Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King Street, W6 0QL Hammersmith May 6-19 £12.50-£35, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats May 12, 19, 2.30pm (press night May 8, 7pm). A dark thriller written by Simon Stephens, about trafficked women.

FRINGE

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, ends Jul 1, Southbank Centre, Jubilee Gardens, SE1 8XX Embankment £14-£20.50, May 20, June 3 & 17, July 1, 7.45pm. Hilarious satire and parodies created on the spot with help from the audience. Filumena, ends May 12, Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, N1 1TA Highbury & Islington Mar 22-May 12 £8-£32, concs available, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat 2.30pm. Eduardo De Filippo’s jubilant comedy drama, adapted by Tanya Ronder. Here, ends May 19, Rose Theatre, 24-26 High Street, KT1 1HL Kingston-upon-Thames £14-£30, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm. Michael Frayn’s comedy-drama. London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Henry IV: Part 1, Starts Mon, ends May 15, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT Mansion House £10-£35, standing £5, disabled £5-£17.50, under 18s £7-£32, under 3s FREE, season ticket £100, May 14, 7.30pm, mat May 15, 2.30pm. A new production of the history play of madness all over the land. Performed in Mexican Spanish. London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Henry VI: Part 1, Starts Fri, ends May 13, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT Mansion House £10-£35, standing £5, disabled £5-£17.50, under 18s £7-£32, under 3s FREE, season ticket £100, May 11, 7.30pm, mat May 13, 12.30pm. The first part in a new Balkan trilogy interpretation of the history play. Performed in Serbian. London 2012 Cultural Olympiad: Macbeth (Makbet), ends May 10, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT Mansion House £10-£35, standing £5, disabled £5-£17.50, under 18s £7-£32, under 3s FREE, season ticket £100, May 9, 7.30pm, mats May 8, 10, 2.30pm. A modern interpretation of Shakespeare’s Scottish tragedy, adapted by Maja Kleczewska. Performed in Polish.

Amy Lame’s Unhappy Birthday, ends May 12, Camden People’s Theatre, 58-60 Hampstead Road, NW1 2PY Euston Tue-Thu £10, concs £8, Fri & Sat £12, concs £10, Tue-Sat 7.30pm. A solo comedy inspired by former Smiths frontman Morrissey. As You Like It, ends Jun 2, The Space, 269 Westferry Road, E14 3RS Mudchute £12.50, concs £10, From May 8, Tue-Sat 8pm, mats Wed, Sat 4pm, no perf May 14 & 15, 18, 24, 28 & 29, Jun 1, no eve perf May 12, 23, 26, no mat perf May 9, 16, 19, 30, Jun 2. Lazarus Theatre Company presents Shakespeare’s comedy. Belt Up Theatre’s Macbeth, ends May 18, House Of Detention, Sans Walk, EC1R 0LT Chancery Lane May 1-18 £15, concs £13, Tue-Sat 7pm. A site-specific, atmospheric production of Shakespeare’s bloody tragedy. The Great Gatsby, ends May 19, Wilton’s Music Hall, 1 Graces Alley, off Ensign Street, E1 8JB Aldgate East May 1-19 TueSat reserved seating £27.50, unreserved seating £17.50, Tue-Sat 7.30pm. Tour de Force Theatre Company presents an adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald’s American classic. His Greatness, ends May 19, Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, SW10 9ED West Brompton May 8-19 Tue £12, Wed-Fri, Sat & Sun 3pm & 7.30pm £16, concs £12, Sat 7.30pm £16, Tue-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat & Sun 3pm. Daniel MacIvor’s moving drama, a tale of coping with greatness and the pain you suffer when that greatness is in decline. How To Think The Unthinkable: Unicorn Theatre (Ages 11-14), ends May 19, Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ London Bridge May 1-19 £15, child £10, NUS/OAP/unwaged £12, May 12, 19, 5.30pm, mats May 9, 11, 16 & 17, 1.30pm, May 10, 17, 10.30am. Ryan Craig’s drama is based on the story of the ancient Greek story of Antigone. Lost Musicals 2012 Season: Flahooley, Starts Sun, ends Jun 3, The Lilian Baylis Studio, Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN Angel £23, £29.50, May 13, 20, 27, 4pm, Jun 3, 1.45pm & 5.30pm. A 1950’s-penned satirical and allegorical fairy

tale musical, written by Sammy Fain, E Y Harburg and Fred Saidy. Mother Adam, ends Jun 2, Jermyn Street Theatre, 16B Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6ST Piccadilly Circus May 8 & 9 previews £15, May 10-31, Jun 1 & 2 £18, concs £15, From May 8, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Sat 3.30pm (press night May 10). Charles Dyer’s late-1960s drama, featuring Linda Marlowe as Mammels. The Man With The Disturbingly Smelly Foot: The Unicorn (Ages 7-10), ends May 20, Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ London Bridge May 1-20 £15, child £10, NUS/OAP/unwaged £12, mats May 8, 10, 15, 18, 1.30pm, May 8 & 9, 11, 15 & 16, 18, 1.30am, May 12 & 13, 19 & 20, 2pm. A re-working by Nancy Harris, of Sophocles’s drama Philoctetes. Starlight Express, Starts Fri, ends May 19, New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, SW19 1QG Wimbledon £19.50-£46, From May 11, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 2.30pm. Bill Kenwright presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical. Stop Search, ends May 26, Broadway Theatre, Rushey Green, SE6 4RU Catford £14.50, concs £11, Mon-Sat 8pm, mats Wed & Thu 2pm, Sat 4pm. A hard-hitting drama on the impact of the police’s Stop and Search powers, Written by Dominic Taylor.

World Burlesque Games 2012: Triple Crown, Floridita, 100 Wardour Street, W1F 0TN Oxford Circus £16.50-£34.50, May 8, 9pm. A burlesque-infused variety show hosted by Miss Behave. Summer, ends May 26, Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, SE4 2DH Honor Oak Park £12, concs £10, From May 8, Tue-Sat 8pm, mat May 26, 4pm (press night May 9). A drama by Julia Stubbs Hughes, based on a novel written by Edith Wharton. World Stages London: BABEL, ends May 20, Caledonian Park, Market Road, Off York Way, N7 9PL Caledonian Road May 8 & 9 preview £12.50, May 10-20 Tue-Thu £22.50, concs £17.50, Fri-Sun £25, concs £20, From May 8, Tue-Sun 8.30pm, press night May 10. A contemporary fable based on the Old Testament story, set in and around the old Caledonian Park Clock Tower. World Stages London: Wild Swans, ends May 13, Young vic, 66 The Cut, SE1 8LZ Waterloo May 1-13 £10£29.50, Mon-Sat 7.30pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm. A stage adaptation of the bestselling book written by Jung Chang.

scoutlondon.com Scout London 45

Competitions

Win a right royal knees-up

o celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the team at the EDF Energy London Eye is asking people which British moment since the Queen’s coronation in 1952 they feel is the most iconic. The moment which is voted favourite will be recreated in one of the Eye’s 32 capsules to create a party of equally iconic status.

Sounds exciting? You betcha. So much so that we are giving one Scout reader the chance to take 19 of their friends and family on this bespoke Iconic Moment Capsule on May 26 at 10am. Guests will be able to take in London’s panoramic views, as well as look in-depth at specific landmarks on the new Samsung Galaxy interactive touch screen guides, which were

installed at the beginning of 2012. As if that weren’t enough, the winner and their guests will also get free entry into the 4D Experience. This showcases a film displaying the first 3D aerial photography over London, as well as live effects like wind, snow and bubbles, producing a wonderful four-dimensional experience. To find out more information about the variety of London Eye experiences please visit www.londoneye.com To enter, email: win@scoutlondon.com and answer the following question:

How many capsules does the EDF Energy London Eye have? Is it: a) 32 b) 29 c) 36

TERMS & CONDITIONS: The prize is for up to 20 guests (including the winner) with Fast Track to their Private Capsule, one rotation of 30 minutes. The London Eye reserves the right to cancel or amend any of the Terms and Conditions of this promotion without notice, in the event of a major catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, earthquake or actual, anticipated or alleged breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other similar event. The winner and his/her guests are subject to the London Eye’s standard terms and conditions of entry. The winner must take part in the prize. There is no cash alternative to the prize and it is non-changeable, non-refundable and not for resale. The prize is can only be used on the date and time specified. The prize cannot be redeemed in conjunction with any other offers. The promoter’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The promoter is The London Eye Company Limited, Registered office: York Court, Allsop Place, London NW1 5LR. For full T&Cs for all competitions, visit scoutlondon.com.

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Scout Media Holdings Limited

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Scout London is published by Scout Media Holdings Ltd. Registered company number 07890708. Registered company address: 39-41 North Road, London N7 9DP. Scout London is a registered trademark. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden. Copyright of all original content is held by Scout Media Holdings Ltd. Scout London makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions. Please confirm with the venue before setting out.

46 Scout London scoutlondon.com

amy lamé’s new show directed by scottee camden people’s theatre 1-5, 8-12 may tickets £10/£12 box office 08444 77 1000 www.unhappybirthday.net #unhappybirthday

photography tom sheehan

OPENING FILM

moderate 12a Contains sex references

In Cinemas May 25 findanyfilm.com/moonrisekingdom