With summer on the horizon, things are hotting up when it comes to entertainment in the city. New shows on the West End, unrivalled exhibitions and the opening of outdoor attractions offers something for every visitor.
EXHIBITIONS
Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography
For centuries, portraiture has played a vital role in shaping the public’s perception of the Royal Family. This exhibition charts the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day, bringing together more than 150 photographic prints, proofs and documents from the Royal Collection and the Royal Archives.
Where: The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace.
When: Until 6th October.
Francis Alÿs Ricochets at The Barbican Centre
A new immersive exhibition celebrating the universality and ingenuity of play: Ricochets is the largest institutional show in the UK by internationally renowned artist Francis Alÿs in almost 15 years.
For the past two decades, Alÿs has travelled around the world to film the critically acclaimed series Children’s Games: from ‘musical chairs’ in Mexico, to ‘leapfrog’ in Iraq, ‘jump rope’ in Hong Kong, and ‘wolf and lamb’ in Afghanistan.
Ricochets transforms the gallery into a cinematic playground: throughout the exhibition, visitors will be immersed in multi-screen film installations focusing on children’s games.
Where: The Art Gallery, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS.
When: 27th June to 1st September.
NEW THEATRE OPENINGS
New Cast for CABARET
The multi award-winning, critically acclaimed West End production of CABARET at the Kit Kat Club sees new principal casting take to the stage from this week.
Star of the Netflix smash hit series Heartstopper Rhea Norwood plays Sally Bowles and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Bad Education star Layton Williams plays The Emcee.
They will play the roles until Saturday 21 September 2024.
When: Currently booking to February 2025.
Where: Kit Kat Club at The Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5DE.
Web: www.kitkat.club
Kiss Me, Kate Opens
From Cole Porter, composer of Anything Goes, Kiss Me, Kate features musical theatre classics such as Brush Up Your Shakespeare, Too Darn Hot and Tom, Dick or Harry. This new production is brought to the stage by an internationally renowned creative team under Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher (South Pacific / My Fair Lady / To Kill a Mockingbird / The King & I) and features a world-class company of West End and Broadway performers and musicians.
Hailed as 'the ultimate Broadway musical from the golden age’ (Financial Times), Kiss Me, Kate is a simple love story...about two people who just can't stand each other. Guess who wins...
When: 4th June to 14th September 2024.
Where: Barbican Theatre, Silk St, EC2Y 8DS.
Web: www.kissmekate
Your Lie in April Opens This Month
Due to phenomenal demand, critically acclaimed Your Lie in April will run at the Harold Pinter Theatre for 12 weeks only. After a record-breaking sell-out concert launch at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, its producers (the same as smash hit Death Note) are to stage the European premiere of one of the most popular romantic stories and greatest tearjerkers in manga history.
An adaption of a much-loved manga story, it brings to life the poignant tale of Kōsei Arima, a young piano prodigy, and his inability to play following his mother’s death. He strikes a friendship with violinist Kaori Miyazono and she slowly encourages him to perform again.
When: 28th June to 21st September 2024.
Where: Harold Pinter Theatre, Drury Lane.
Closer to Heaven
Following Kevin Elyot’s Coming Clean, the Turbine Theatre’s season celebrating queer love continues with Closer to Heaven, running now to 30th June.
A new production of an adored club musical, the cast includes the Tony award-winning, 1994 Eurovision Song Contest contestant Frances Ruffelle as Billie Trix.
Audiences will be able to step back in time as the theatre transforms into “Vic’s Club” for an evening that promises to be anything but old fashioned. With a book by one of Britain’s most celebrated writers, Jonathan Harvey, Closer to Heaven features an original club score by the Pet Shop Boys and originally premiered at the Arts Theatre in 2001.
Where: The Turbine Theatre, Circus West Village, SW11 8AB.
When: Runs to 30th June.
Website: www.theturbinetheatre.com
OUTDOOR FETES, THEATRE & MORE
The Secret Garden at Regent's Park
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is home to the stage adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic story, The Secret Garden.
Adapted by Holly Robinson and Anna Himali Howard, it's centres around orphan Mary Lennox, who moves from India to her uncle's Yorkshire estate, where she discovers a mysterious collection of souls and the curious tale of a secret garden. Mary and her new friends give the garden a new lease of life; like the garden, Lennox also blossoms. However, despite all her fantastical adventures, she is still grounded and cares deeply for the hearts of those that surround her.
When: 15th June to 20th July 2024.
Where: Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, NW1 4NU.
Web: www.openairtheatre.com.
Kew Midsummer Fete
With over 100 stalls, a traditional Victorian fun fair, a beer tent, a tea tent, a dog show with a VIP judge, tug of war, and live local bands, not to mention a karate display and inflatables, this annual event really does offering something for everyone. The icing on the cake? It's free to enter and raises thousands of pounds for local charities.
Where: Kew Green, Kew, Surrey, TW9 3AP.
When: Saturday, 22nd June, from 11am to 6pm.
Web: https://kewfete.org.
Trooping the Colour
The Sovereign's official birthday is celebrated with the ceremony of the King's Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour. This impressive display of pageantry is performed by His Majesty’s personal troops of the Household Division on Horse Guards Parade. More than 1,400 officers and soldiers form the parade, together with 200 horses; over 400 musicians from ten bands and Corps of Drums march and play in unison. The parade route extends from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade and back again.
Where: Horse Guards Parade, St James's Park, SW1A 2AX.
When: 1st, 8th and 15th June, from 10.20am.
Taste London Celebrates 20 years
This year marks 20 years of the ultimate celebration of food and drink in London with five days of fun-fuelled feasting in the iconic Regent’s Park. Get ready for flame-fuelled theatrics, cooking classes with Michelin-starred chefs, cocktail masterclasses and live DJ sets to dance the day and night away.
Where: Regent's Park.
When: 12th-16 June.
Pub In The Park at Chiswick House & Gardens
New chefs. New artists. New dishes. New mainstage moments. New drinks. New areas. New experiences - a brand new Pub In The Park returns to Chiswick later this month.
Set in the palatial surroundings of Chiswick House & Gardens , with brand new midsummer weekend dates, it's an exciting new chapter in the story of one of Britain’s best food and music festivals. From Tom Kerridge to Gennaro Contaldo via Busted, De La Soul and a Lazy Sunday with Jools Holland, the entertainment knows no bounds
Where: Chiswick House & Gardens, Chiswick, W4 2RP.
When: 28th to 30th June.