EXHIBITION

Collaborative, 15 September-19 November
One for your radar during this month’s London Design Festival is a group exhibition exploring connection through clay. The show pairs fi ve leading ceramicists with creatives from other disciplines – think architects, musicians, woodworkers – to create pieces that blur the boundaries between function and expression. From sound-infused sculpture to a playable ceramic board game, each work is the result of hands-on collaboration and mutual experimentation. With a strong focus on community studio practice, the exhibition feels grounded yet expansive – a reminder that clay, in the right hands, is anything but static.
County Hall Pottery, Belvedere Road, SE1 (07593 144458; countyhallpottery.com)

CONCERT

Violin & Piano Recital with Champagne Cream Tea, Sunday 21 September, 2.30pm
French violinist Irène Duval, praised for “her mastery of phrasing and of the dramatic dimension” (Diapason), joins forces with British pianist Mishka Rushdie Momen, hailed by The Times as “one of the most thoughtful and sensitive of British pianists.” Together, the duo weaves a programme that dances between the familiar and the rare, from Beethoven’s radiant Spring Sonata to Brahms’ lyrical Violin Sonata No.1 in G Major. Alongside, discover the delicate beauty of Clémence Grandval’s Deux Pièces and the sweeping passion of Schubert’s Fantasy.

An extended Champagne Cream Tea interval, featuring Stephen Cottage’s legendary scones, ensures this is more than a concert, it’s an indulgent afternoon of music and decadence. Not to be missed.
Royal Academy of Music, Marylebone Road, NW1 (020 7873 7300; ram.ac.uk)

EXHIBITION

Blitz: The Club that Shaped the 80s, 20 September-29 March 2026
Tucked down a Covent Garden side street, a smoky basement once lit the fuse on a cultural explosion that would define the 1980s. This autumn, the Design Museum throws open the doors to the scene’s glittering legacy – where sequins met synths, and New Romantics reigned supreme. Expect era-defining outfits, hand-scrawled lyrics and Bowie-fuelled nostalgia. The exhibition pulls together over 250 objects from the wardrobes, scrapbooks and studios of the original Blitz Kids – most of which haven’t seen the light of day since they first hit the dancefloor. Velvet, vinyl and outrageous tailoring all feature. Not to be missed.
224-238 Kensington High Street, W8 (020 3862 5900; designmuseum.org)

Vivienne Lynn, Boy George, Chris Sullivan, Kim Bowen, Theresa Thurmer, and a Blitz attendee, 1980. © Derek Ridgers c/o Unravel Productions

THEATRE

Land of the Living, 9 September-1 November
Juliet Stevenson and Tom Wlaschiha lead the cast in a new drama landing at the Dorfman this month – a haunting, slow-burn piece set between postwar Germany and the present day. At its centre is a boy stolen by the Nazis, a young UN relief worker faced with an impossible choice, and the long shadow of a decision that can’t be undone. Written by David Lan and directed by Stephen Daldry, it’s a story of fractured memory, uneasy morality and what it means to do the right thing when there are no right answers. Expect sharp performances, atmospheric design and a script that doesn’t let you off the hook.
Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 (020 3989 5455; nationaltheatre.org.uk)

THEATRE

Entertaining Mr Sloane, 15 September-8 November
Jordan Stephens of Rizzle Kicks fame makes his stage debut at the Young Vic this autumn, joining Tamzin Outhwaite, Daniel Cerqueira and Christopher Fairbank in a darkly comic tale of charm, manipulation and blurred boundaries. He plays a mysterious young lodger who quickly disrupts the uneasy dynamic in a suburban household, drawing both Kath and her brother Ed under his spell – while their father watches on, unconvinced. Directed by Nadia Fall, this is Joe Orton at his most provocative: sharp, subversive and still deliciously uncomfortable. Expect biting humour, simmering tension and a performance from Stephens that’s set to surprise.
Young Vic, 66 The Cut, SE1 (020 7922 2922; youngvic.org)

© Black Socks

FESTIVAL

Open House 2025, 13-21 September, city-wide
London’s favourite city-wide celebration of architecture and public space returns this September – and 2025’s Open House feels more personal than ever. The event throws open the doors to hundreds of buildings across all 33 boroughs, from grand institutions to behind-the-scenes gems, with tours, talks and walking routes that shine a light on how the Capital is shaped. This year, a team of guest curators joins the fold, each selecting ten spaces or events that speak to themes close to their hearts – from accessibility to activism, heritage to creativity. Their picks offer a fresh lens through which to explore the festival’s 800-strong line-up.
(openhouse.org.uk)

Open House Festival 2024 © Sonny Malhotra