We take a look at the best of entertainment to be found in the capital this August
EXHIBITION
A Place, 1 August- 6 September
For the 20 artists currently in residence at Sarabande’s studios, A Place is a culmination of their time spent at the dynamic art space. Spanning six weeks, two group shows will explore the ambiguous space between comfort and change. The fi rst, Can I just…, runs from 1-16 August, followed by …stay longer from 22 August to 6 September. Expect striking works like Sophie Lloyd’s sugary portraits, Darcey Fleming’s woven hay bale twine entities, and Jo Grogan’s tulipadorned chair. Discover delicate photographs on leaves, ‘stained glass’ sugar sculptures, and intricate carvings, while paintings by Stephen Akpo and Koby Martin, and Daniel Prandi’s botanical renderings showcase nature’s magic. Not to be missed.
Sarabande Foundation, 22 Hertford Road, N1 (sarabandefoundation.org)
Photography by Daniel Greenan
MUSICAL
Fiddler on the Roof, Until 21 September
Open Air Theatre’s summer season continues with this joyful classic, set in the tiny village of Anatevka in 1905. Tevye, a Jewish milkman, struggles to maintain his traditions while his five daughters challenge the old ways. As the world around them changes, Tevye must decide whether to stick to his roots or embrace the new. Director Jordan Fein breathes new life into this 1964 musical with a spirited production that features If I Were a Rich Man, Tradition, Matchmaker, and Sunrise, Sunset. The perfect evening under the stars, celebrating love, life, and the power of community in the Capital’s most magical amphitheatre.
Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, NW1 (0333 400 3562; openairtheatre.com)
THEATRE
The Real Thing, 22 August-26 October
This month, The Old Vic presents a biting Tom Stoppard comedy, directed by Max Webster (Macbeth, Life of Pi), and starring James McArdle (Mare of Easttown, The Tragedy of Macbeth) and Bel Powley (A Small Light, The Morning Show). Annie’s an actress, Henry’s a playwright, and their life is tangled in fiction. Their marriage began as an affair – can it still be the real thing? Exploring layers of play, reality, and deceit, The Real Thing is all about love, infidelity, and the stories we spin. Max Webster says, “It’s an honour to direct one of my favourite plays at The Old Vic with this amazing cast.” A must-see.
The Cut, SE1 (oldvictheatre.com)
BALLET
Swan Lake, 28 August-8 September
The State Ballet of Georgia, known for its sleek grace and physicality, makes its London debut with this lavish production. Based in Tbilisi’s stunning Opera and Ballet State Theatre, the company has flourished under the artistic direction of Nina Ananiashvili, a former prima ballerina with the Bolshoi Ballet. She says: “Swan Lake is one of our best repertoires. It combines elaborate costumes, stunning choreography, exquisite ornaments… It was the first ballet that I performed in the Bolshoi Theatre and was my first and final significant performance at American Ballet Theatre. I can’t wait to share it with audiences in London for the fi rst time.”
London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N (020 7845 9300; londoncoliseum.org)
ART
Moco, From 8 August
This month sees the exciting launch of large-scale permanent art space, Moco – short for the Modern Contemporary Museum. Following its triumph in Amsterdam and Barcelona, the London gallery will exhibit new works and grand digital installations alongside iconic modern masterpieces by the likes of Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Yayoi Kusama and Keith Haring. At the helm are founders Kim Logchies-Prins and Lionel Logchies, a husband-and-wife team boasting over 50 years in the art world. The couple aim to inspire with an unparalleled anthology of works that would otherwise remain hidden in private collections. Make way for Moco!
1-4 Marble Arch, W1H (mocomuseum.com)
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