THE SCENE

Women’s stories and solidarity. Feminism and Activism. Photography.

The Untold and Untrue Story has arrived in London for a three-week run at the King’s Head Theatre in Islington. Let me start by saying it is the best and silliest kind of fun and the most I’ve laughed in such a short space of time.

Juraj Benko’s experimental one-hander at the intimate Cockpit Theatre is a unafraid exploration of the lasting impact of childhood trauma and the innate longing for love and connection that makes us human…

The experience combines both, offering a convivial, entertaining, and tasty evening…

Part of me would prefer to just give that tantalising clue to the play and say no more, so if you do attend this play in the oh so hip area of Dalston, you can fully experience the impact and delight of letting the evening unfold before you...

Tate Britain is currently holding a magnificent exhibition of John Singer Sargent featuring his masterpieces which many of us have drooled over books and online for years…

The storyline is of a widowed Welsh mother Anna becoming a governess and English tutor to the wives and numerous children of the stubborn King of Siam (now Thailand)…

The Southbank Centre continues to excel in their program of events for 2024 with the showing of the Ballet National de Marseille: ROOMMATES at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, SouthBank Centre…

Powerful spoken word theatre from playwright Henry Madd explores the highs and lows of small-town adolescence and the nuances of the friendships we make in these formative and turbulent years.

Wish You Weren’t Here, a Theatre Centre and Sheffield Theatres collaboration written by Katie Redford has been created in conversation with hundreds of young people across the country…

Los Angeles-based, Boston-raised songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist artist Khamari has landed himself in London to begin his first tour with a couple of nights at The Lower Third in Denmark Street...

Blood, US Border Patrol Uniforms, Tracey Emin all at the Barbican’s latest exhibition UNRAVEL: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art…

The production comes from the Aslant Theatre Company, an international female-led collective producing new work and imaginative adaptations. Despite Two Rounds having only three nights at the Jermyn Street Theatre we do hope this wonderfully amusing play will get another run…

Appropriately after Valentine’s Day we are sitting above a stage carpeted with 8000 carnations to see NELKEN by Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch + Terrain Boris Charmatz performing on a stage at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre. This seminal piece debuted in 1982 and hasn’t been seen here since 2005. It returns now with a new generation of dancers and under its new artistic director of 18 months, Boris Charmatz….

The Olivier Award nominated play 10 Nights originally staged at the Bush Theatre in 2021 is a one man show written by Shahid Iqbal Khan as part of the Write to Play programme led by Graeae Theatre in partnership with the Bush Theatre. The current production at the Omnibus theatre in Clapham…

When Forms Come Alive highlights ways in which artists have embraced ideas of movement, flux, poetic transformation and organic growth and how nothing stays the same…

The Southbank Centre hosted an event to kick off their 11-day annual Imagine Children’s Festival with the launch of Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho’s new book Luna Loves Gardening illustrated by Fiona Lumbers…

Kew Gardens 28th annual Orchid Festival has taken over the Princess of Wales Conservatory. Inspiration this year comes from the beauty and biodiversity of Madagascar which is home to over 1,000 species of orchid…

Dennis Severs House was born from the vision of a Southern Californian with the same name. He arrived in Spitalfields in 1979 and purchased a derelict house at 18 Folgate Street. In 1980, the house opened its doors, inviting visitors to discover his eccentric labour of love…

London brightens up every January with two fantastic annual light festivals—one at Battersea Power Station and the other at Canary Wharf. Here is everything you need to know about London’s 2024 lights festivals…

The international art calendar for 2024 has launched with the opening of the London Art Fair, founded in 1989 by London’s Business Design Centre in Islington…

Kathryn Gardner’s Fairytale on Church Street is The Cockpit’s first ‘homegrown’ show in 35 years. Her original story celebrates the importance of the arts in local communities and embraces the style of fringe theatre organisations like The Cockpit fight to preserve…

Sophie Anderson’s young adult novel, the basis of the play, is in the second camp. Inspired by stories told by her Prussian grandmother, Anderson’s Baba Yaga is an eccentric but well-meaning old lady (played with comic idiosyncrasy by Lisa Howard)…

A Christmas Carol meets It's A Wonderful Life meets... *NSYNC…

New writing from rising star Kat Rose-Martin is a moving comedy drama exploring the highs and lows of friendship, young love and ambition, played out against the sticky nostalgia of 2012 club nights….

Who better to have your portrait painted by than Hans Holbein? The Tudors were the absolute luckiest! The Queen’s Gallery is currently host to a wonderful exhibition Holbein at the Tudor Court where some of the most important and exquisite collection of this master painter are showcased…

Great news for the African art fair 1-54 (so-called because there are 54 countries in Africa today), as it was recently announced that following its success in London, New York and Morocco, the fair will debut in Hong Kong next year…

Sheila Atim and Clara Amfo launch the Canada Goose takeover at Selfridges Cinema, celebrating bold and brave women for the brand's FW23 campaign, Live in the Open…

Hiroshi Sugimoto’s awe-inspiring photographs are currently on display at the Hayward Gallery. It is the largest survey to date of this artist in the UK and it is spellbinding, some rooms much more than others. For over 50 years…

Founded by Matt Clark in 2003, UVA (United Visual Artist) has earned international commissions from prestigious institutions, thanks to their unique blend of light, space, sound, and custom-made kinetic instruments. Their work encompasses sculpture, performance, and large-scale installations, drawing inspiration from a wide array of disciplines…

We all know this famous Flemish artist’s brushworks, his masterpieces, but do we know who inspired him, where he found inspiration? Discover our review of Rubens & Women at the Dulwich Picture Gallery…

This was Waterworks third instalment, and the line-up was massive with loads of DJ greats including Eliza Rose, Eris Drew, Call Super, Palms Trax, Dr Banana, Amaliah, Anz, Lukas Wigflex, and Pearson Sound. One unique thing about Waterworks is their bold assertion that they have no headliners. Every artist is booked because they represent a section of the diverse talent that makes up London’s underground music scene…

We attended Kew the Music and we found it to be one of the most laid back, enjoyable ways to spend an evening in London. Summer 2023 had a marvellous line up including The Vamps, Hacienda Classical, Bastille, The Human League, Jack Savoretti, and Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra…

WAVE: Currents in Japanese Graphic Arts celebrates the enduring influence of Japanese graphic art through the lens of established and emerging voices…

Hospitality in the Woods festival makes a triumphant return to London…

Eating Myself is a compelling exploration of food, nurturing, and female identity in Peruvian society. Written and performed by Pepa Duarte and directed by Sergio Maggiolo, the play offers a sensory journey into womanhood, body image, and tradition…

Greenwich Summer Sounds 2023 made its grand entrance this summer bringing a refreshing and refined experience to the London festival scene…

Experience the vibrant Flamenco Festival at Sadler's Wells, a captivating celebration of Spanish culture and artistry. We went to see ‘La Confluencia’ by the all-male Estévez/Paños and Company…

Nwando Ebizie’s Extreme Unction Vol. 2 is a performance installation “where grieving and loss meet ecstasy and exultation, a liminal sonic-ritual art environment.” Situated in the theatre of Artadmin’s Toynbee Studios, the immersive sensory experience forms a part of their What Shall We Build Here festival which integrates art, community and climate awareness…

Tipsy is a witty comedy about a woman getting a little too drunk while getting her nails done. You may think you know what you’re getting into with this 90-minute play at The Cockpit by this description, however, the story quickly turns on its head and brings the audience upside-down with it…

Rom coms have been sorely missing from our media diets for a long while now. As Hollywood regurgitates remakes and blockbuster franchises, the appetite for original and personal stories keeps growing. If you’re hungry for a fresh take on a beloved genre, then a small, independent Black British film may satisfy your craving: Raine Allen Miller’s Rye Lane…

In their latest production, State Shift at Sadler’s Wells, The Ruggeds treated the audience to an intimate evening featuring two choreographed pieces by Roy Overdijk, the duet Waterbrothers and solo Turns. Accompanied by an energetic musical showcase from Jessy 'Boi Beige' Kemper, who created a club-like ambience in-between performances that, complemented the dancers' artistry…

Brixton’s Brockwell Park is having a very busy summer. Only a day after the jazz and soul showcase of Cross the Tracks, the 50-hectare park hosted the reggae and dancehall festival City Splash. For its third year, City Splash welcomed more than 60 Caribbean and African music acts to a 30,000 strong audience in South London…

Civilization: The Way We Live Now is a major exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery. It features an impressive collection of over 350 original prints by 150 internationally acclaimed photographers, taking visitors on a global journey, delving into our shared experiences of city life, and raising essential questions about the components that shape our contemporary "civilization" today…

Out-Spoken is a recurring event hosted at Southbank Centre each month, celebrating diversity in poetry, voice and performance. Joelle Taylor, a TS Elliot Prize-winning poet and the writer of C+nto, hosts the event. Out-Spoken aims to champion diverse voices in poetry…

La Linea Festival 2023 encapsulated the very best of London's Latin music scene, with vibrant performances from 20-piece London Latin jazz band, New Regency Orchestra and British-Colombian ensemble, Mestizo…

The closure of Printworks London marks the end of an era for London's clubbing scene, but the legacy of this iconic venue will undoubtedly live on…

Breakin’ Convention 2023 review: An evening of inspiring performances from local and global talent at Sadler's Wells, as Breakin' Convention, international Festival of Hip Hop Dance Theatre, celebrates its 20th anniversary…

 We were lucky enough to be invited for a trip on the Belmond train for their newest feat, the Murder Mystery Lunch, which promises ‘a sumptuous lunch and plenty of head scratching’, but it achieved much, much more than that. In our experience, everywhere I looked my eyes were met by something beautiful, and everything that passed my lips tasted divine. Attention to detail is a key feature of this luxurious, extraordinary experience…

Review of Quality Street at the exquisite Richmond Theatre. The romantic comedy by JM Barrie first took to the stage in 1901 and has been updated in this recent production by Northern Broadsides and the New Vic….

Sugar Coat is a vibrant coming-of-age story exploring themes of miscarriage, sexual assault and sexuality, partially told through original music inspired by the Riot Grrrl bands of the 1990s…

London-based dance company Ballet Black has been on a mission to diversify ballet since 2001. Their latest sold-out production, Ballet Black: Pioneers, featured at the Barbican between 8 to 12 March of this year. The show comprises two acts: Then Or Now, a fusion of poetry, music and dance choreographed by Will Tuckett, and By Whatever Means, a theatrical love letter to Nina Simone, choreographed by Mthuthuzeli November…

An engrossing examination of tech culture, Director Katie-Ann McDonough brings to life Joseph Carlton’s work Brilliant Jerks, the story of a successful taxi hailing app told through three compelling narratives…

Holly Blakey makes a triumphant return to the Southbank Centre with the highly anticipated performance of "Cowpuncher My Ass," which features a score by Mica Levi, accompanied by the esteemed London Contemporary Orchestra…

We had the privilege of attending ‘An Evening with Edward Enninful’ held at the Southbank Centre. The fashion editor, appeared in conversation with the screenwriter Michaela Coel to mark the publication of his memoir A Visible Man…

In a London exclusive event, the Southbank Centre in collaboration with Penguin Press presents Bernie Sanders: It’s OK To Be Angry About Capitalism, which will see Senator Bernie Sanders in conversation about his highly anticipated new book of the same name…

The Southbank Centre today announces the return of Cowpuncher My Ass, the genre-defying performance piece commissioned by the Southbank Centre with choreographer Holly Blakey, original score by Mica Levi and costume design by Andreas Kronthaler for Vivenne Westwood…

The spectacular show curated by Ekow Ehsan unites 11 artists from the African continent as they address racial injustice through myth, Afrofuturism and fantasy.

The New Black Vanguard showcases the works of 15 contemporary Black portrait photographers breaking boundaries and leading the way in changing preconceived narratives of blackness. In this exhibition, you’ll step into a world where art, fashion and culture align, from Vogue Magazine covers to culture captured on the streets of Lagos…

A firm fixture of the festive season, the Southbank Centre's Winter Market returns to its riverside location. Featuring traditional alpine-style chalets and an array of seasonal pop-up bars and restaurants…

This year's 1-54 marked the 10th anniversary of the African Contemporary Art Fair at Somerset House, and its largest fair to date. Here’s our list of artist who stood out at 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair 2022…

This year Frieze returns to Regent’s Park with more than 280 galleries from 42 countries in a collection of contemporary and classic art. Since its inaugural fair in 2013, Frieze has been a staple on the London art scene, offering an opportunity to observe the work of the masters while discovering new and emerging talent all of which is up for sale (often at a hefty price tag at that)…

Saturn Returns at the Unlimited Festival Review: A choreopoem by Sonny Nwachukwu exploring the psychospiritual clashes produced in Black people by the weight of history.

The story of The Paradis Files centres around a blind musician, known as The Blind Enchantress, and her family who are determined to find a cure. Set in the glittering salons 18th century Vienna, Maria-Theresia von Paradis, has the world in awe of her stardom – she is a pianist, composer, and touring musician…

A metal spider is the main event that you see plastered all over all the exhibition marketing, apparently Louise feeling an affinity for the creatures because they are ‘repairers’: ‘If you bash into the web of one, she doesn’t get mad…

In her latest exhibition, The Loneliness of the Soul, Emin brings together a collection of 25 of her own pieces in her typical confessional style, creating an intimate dialogue between artist and viewer. Alongside her own work stand 18 watercolour and oil paintings by Norwegian expressionist Edvard Munch…

Review: Located in a darkened basement near Covent Garden, ‘The Art of Banksy’ brings together numerous original works on loan from private collectors…

Doyle Wham presents the first solo exhibition of Kenyan based photographer and filmmaker, Margaret Ngigi, in the UK. The exhibition explores the complex pressures facing young women in contemporary Kenyan society…

The Mandrake Hotel is offering morning meditation sessions, providing Londoners with the perfect way of finding some serenity amongst the hustle and bustle. The meditation session takes place on their exotic terrace gardens that is brimming with Tasmanian tree ferns…

Autograph present the first solo exhibition of the British-Liberian artist Lina Iris Viktor, featuring a collection that includes photography, paintings and sculptural installation created between 2015 and 2019, with several pieces on display for the first time…

Milky Chance is the name of German folk duo from Kassel, but their sound could also be described as alternative rock, electronic, reggae, folk and indie – what a mix. Milky Chance took over Brixton Academy as part of their ‘Mind the Moon’ tour with their album of the same name…

Unsurprisingly for the National, the production completely turns the traditional Chekhov play on its head, relocating the story to the home of Lolo and her family in Biafra during the Nigerian civil war…

Dysfunctional, uncivilised and a little rough around the edges, Fat White Family are just like any other family, right? The band was first formed and founded by lead vocalist Lias Kaci Saoudi in Peckham in 2011 and…

Khruangbin is the unusual, and somewhat hard to pronounce, name of the musical trio from Houston, Texas. The band have created something unique and syrupy for the ears through blending several genres…

Empowerment was a solid theme of the evening and is a common thread that runs through Lizzo’s music; her lyrics give a voice to the underconfident, the uninspired and the marginalised.

How to Fail, a much-loved podcast since its inception in 2018, is also the title of Elizabeth Day’s new bestselling book – How to Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong. In October, Elizabeth Day took her podcast live for a special show…

Every man, woman and dog on planet earth has heard of the dazzling musical Hamilton by now. The hype that surrounds this show has been sustained since its first debut on Off-Broadway in 2015, and it most definitely…

Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes, creators and co-hosts of ‘The High Low’, hosted a live experience of their extremely popular podcast. This live show was the first in their tour that…

The Exhibition of British Sculptor Anthony Gormley has landed at the Royal Academy of Arts. Famed for his body forms dotted around the country including the Angel of the North in Newcastle…

UNIQLO, the Japanese global apparel retailer has put together an impressive immersive exhibition exploring LifeWear from three prospectives, Art, Science, Craftsmanship London…

The musical presents an alternative ending to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, really asking ourselves the question: what if Juliet’s famous ending was really just her beginning…