THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015
OLIVIA POULET: HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE
If you're the kind of person who keeps ups with the latest reviews, you might already be aware that the new co production by DEM Productions and Fools and Kings Theatre of Paula Vogel's Pulitzer winning play 'How I Learned To Drive' has already garnered rave notices since it opened at Southwark Playhouse earlier this month.

In the lead role is actor Olivia Poulet - a TV face that you will no doubt recognise from shows like 'The Thick Of It' - who has received high praise for her skilful performance in the show. Ahead of the run, I sent some questions over to Olivia to find out more about the play, and her role in it. You can read the interview here.

'How I Learned To Drive' is on at Southwark Playhouse until 14 Mar. See the venue website here for more info and to book tickets.



PHIL MANN: BATTLEACTS!
As you may know, the TW team head up to Edinburgh every August to partake of the cultural banquet that is the Edinburgh Festival; one of the best improv troupes we have come across in recent years is BattleActs!, who have scored a plethora of stars and a whole lot of great reviews (not just from us) up there.

So, it was pleasing to hear that, following a successful run at London's Vault Festival last year, they will once more be taking part. I sent some questions over to the group's Phil Mann. You can read the interview here.

BattleActs is on at Vault Festival from 18 Feb until 1 Mar. See this page here for more info.
FRIDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2015>>
DANCE: Ballet Flamenco De Andalucía - Images | Sadler's Wells | 20-21 Feb
'Images: 20 Years' is a celebration of the 20th anniversary of Ballet Flamenco De Andalucía, considered the most important company involved in flamenco art in Spain. Presented as part of Sadler's Wells' Flamenco Festival London, this performance is directed by the multi-award-winning Rafaela Carrasco. Details and tickets here.

EXHIBITIONS/KIDS: Plantastic! | Horniman Museum & Gardens | 14 Feb - 1 Nov

The Horniman's new family-friendly exhibition magnifies the world of plants with interactive exhibits and games. It'll be like you've been shrunk down down to the size of an insect, in order to first hand how plants live. Details and tickets here.

MUSIC: FKA Twigs | Roundhouse | 19-20 Feb (pictured)

The second of two nights headlined by FKA Twigs will at The Roundhouse, showing off songs from her Mercury nominated debut album, 'LP1', showing off her rapid ascent to fame (it's less than two years since her debut release). Details and tickets here.
SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2015


FESTIVALS/KIDS: Mini Vault | Vault | 21-22 Feb & 7 Mar
The Vaults host a weekend of amazing shows for under elevens, as part of the wider Vault Festival, which includes a whole load of free events and activities, amongst the paid performances. The previous TWL-tipped Comedy Club 4 Kids will be in attendance, and there'll be a play about zombies, amongst other things. Details and tickets here.

EXHIBITION: This Comedian | Embassy Tea Gallery | 20 Feb - 2 Mar

Idil Sukan's debut exhibition collects ten years' worth of design and photography work in the comedy industry. If you have even the slightest interest in British comedy, you'll have noticed Sukan's eye-catching photographs numerous time in recent years. Now's your chance to spot the ones you know and more you don't. Details and tickets here.

THEATRE: Joy | Etcetera Theatre | 17-22 Feb
"Three men. Three different walks of life. One problem. Joy... or lack thereof", is the premise of this show from Velvet Trumpet. Each character has a different reason to need to find a bit of happiness, and a darkly funny story to tell. Details and tickets here.
SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2015>>


MUSIC: Håkan Hardenberger | Royal Festival Hall | 22 Feb (pictured)
Swedish trumpet virtuoso Håkan Hardenberger joins the Philharmonia Orchestra to perform HK Gruber's 'Aerial' concerto and Gustav Mahler's 'Symphony No 5'. Hardenberger will also give a free talk beforehand. Details and tickets here.

THEATRE: King Lear | Peckham Asylum | 18 Feb - 4 Mar

Starring the BAFTA-nominated John McEnery and directed by Benjamin Blyth, this production of Shakespeare's 'King Lear' from the Malachite Theatre company has been designed specifically for the setting of the Peckham Asylum. Details and tickets here.

THEATRE: Lippy | Young Vic | 19 Feb - 14 Mar

Winner of a number of awards, including last year's First Fringe Award and a Total Theatre Award for innovation, 'Lippy' makes its way to the Young Vic theatre. Based on true events, the play tells the story of four women who spend 40 days destroying every trace of their existence in preparation for their deaths. Details and tickets here.
MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 >>
MUSIC: Busdriver | Birthdays | 23 Feb (pictured)
Following the release of his latest excellent album 'Perfect Hair' last year, LA rapper Busdriver makes it to London for a live show at Birthdays in Dalston. Expect smart lyrics, self-deprecating humour and and a style like no one else. Details and tickets here.

COMEDY: No Such Thing As A Fish Podcast | Soho Theatre | 23 Feb
Named the best new podcast of 2014 by iTunes, The QI Elves' No Such Thing As A Fish Podcast begins a new weekly run of recordings at the Soho Theatre. Read this ThreeWeeks interview with one of the elves, Dan Schreiber, to find out more. Details and tickets here.

COMEDY: Liam Williams | Soho Theatre | 23-28 Feb

It would technically be possible to see both this and the QI Elves' podcast, thanks to the intricacies of the passing of time. And that would be a very good night out. The very funny Liam Williams hits Soho with a show about money, told in his own downbeat style. Details and tickets here.
TUESDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2015 >>


COMEDY: Phil Wang - Mellow Yellow | Soho Theatre | 23-24 Feb
A man with "a nerdy charm and ready wit", said ThreeWeeks when reviewing this show at last year's Edinburgh Festival, Phil Wang plays the second of two nights at the Soho Theatre tonight. In 'Mellow Yellow', he takes a laid-back look at love, race and Batman, amongst other things. Details and tickets here.

MUSIC: Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra | Cadogan Hall | 24 Feb

On their first trip to the UK for ten year, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra head to Cadogan Hall with a performance that will include the European premiere of Fung Lam's 'Quintessence'. After that, they'll run through Beethoven's 'Violin Concerto' and Prokofiev's 'Symphony No 5'. Details and tickets here.

WORDS & EVENTS: Miranda July | Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall | 24 Feb (pictured)
Acclaimed filmmaker, artist and author Miranda July comes to the Southbank Centre for an event marking the release of her debut novel, 'The First Bad Man'. Always an intriguing voice in whatever she does, this will be well worth attending. Details and tickets here.
WEDNESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2015 >>


COMEDY: Ellis & Rose’s Brainwash Club | Backyard Comedy Club | 25 Feb (pictured)
Harry Hill is coming to Bethnal Green to headline Ellis & Rose’s Brainwash Club. I think that's something worth celebrating. Also on the bill are Anna Morris, The Story Beast, Darren Walsh, Harriet Kemsley, Jody Kamali, and Margaret Thatcher: Queen Of Soho. Details and tickets here.

COMEDY: Comedians' Cinema Club presents Brokeback Mountain | Aces & Eights Bar | 25 Feb

Each month, the Comedians' Cinema Club invites a group of comedians to recreate a film that they may or may not properly remember the plot of. Tonight, Milo McCabe, Abigoliah Schamaun, Tom Horton, Dan Schreiber Lloyd Griffiths and Comedians' Cinema Club regulars Eric Lampaert, Matthew Highton and Will Seward will put 'Brokeback Mountain' onto the Aces & Eights stage. Details and tickets here.

COMEDY: Stand Up For Shelter | Hammersmith Apollo | 25 Feb
Eddie Izzard headlines a benefit in aid of Shelter, with support from Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe, Sara Pascoe and Rob Beckett. Hosting the whole shebang will be Absolute Radio’s Christian O’Connell. An impressive line-up indeed and, of course, all for a good cause. Details and tickets here.
THURSDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2015 >>
COMEDY: Always Be Comedy with Katherine Ryan | Price Of Wales, Brixton | 26 Feb
Always Be Comedy comes to Brixton with a brilliant line-up of comedians in tow. Headlining this night at the Price Of Wales will be the fantastic Katherine Ryan, with sets from Joe Lycett and Julian Deane, and everything kept moving by James Gill on compere duties. Details and tickets here.

COMEDY: Laugh Out London with Tony Law | The People’s Park Tavern | 26 Feb
If you're out east, then look no further than this Tony Law-headlined Laugh Out London night down by Victoria Park. Also on the bill are James Acaster, Sofie Hagen and Alex Edelman. Details and tickets here.

DANCE: Artificial Things | Artsdepot | 26 Feb
Presented by the Stopgap Dance Company, 'Artificial Things' sees a group of friends try to escape each other's company through rock n roll, but instead finds their issues with each other brought raucously to the surface. There will be a Q&A following the performance. Details and tickets here.
 
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