August To Do List – Sizzling Hot Stuff
Lets all just be honest shall we, and admit that Loserville has excelled itself with this August To Do List… There’s no filler here – just wall-to-wall, ball-achingly excellent hits from beginning to end. And we haven’t been paid a penny!
The Beauty Queen of Leenane @ The Young Vic | All August (until September 3rd) | 19:30 + selected matinees | From £10
High in the mountains of Galway live a lonely spinster Maureen and her devilishly manipulative mother Mag. Maureen longs for the romance that will spirit her away. But if she goes, who will stir the lumps out of Mag’s Complan?
Emad Altaay Exhibition @ Free Space Gallery | 4th August – 3rd October | Mon-Fri 9:00 – 19:00 | Free
Emad Altaay‘s brand new works will be premiered at the Free Space Gallery. Emad has a large following in his native middle east and is new to London. Since his arrival in the city less than a year ago as a refugee his work has changed dramatically. This exhibition explores his change in style and inspiration as he establishes his identity as a London based artist.
Through A Glass Darkly @ The Old Operating Theatre | 4th August | 19:00 | £15
At this exclusive evening of mind-reading and cold-reading performance,The London Magician will talk about, and demonstrate, the mind-reading and magical effects that first flourished in the Victorian séances hosted by fraudulent mediums – people who were emulating genuine psychics in parlours across England.
Meeting the dead, past-life regressions, amazing mind-reading, apports – the fraudulent mediums were the forefathers of the cold reading prodigies of today. But more than being told, you will be shown: magic will be performed, minds read, tales and fortunes told.
Illusion, mentalism and conjuring meet, through a glass darkly.
UnderConstruction @ Royal Vauxhall Tavern | 4th August | 20:00 | £7 | Our Review
UnderConstruction, the highly acclaimed and hugely popular alternative performance platform for new work, will be curating a show especially for the Hot August Fringe. The show will feature 10 compelling performances selected from the latest season of UnderConstruction.
Aztec Records Launch Party @ Zigfrid von Underbelly | 5th August | 19:00 | Free
After a year of trading, learning the ropes and making friends, Aztec Records are ready to launch officially to the world. They’ve been operating in Beta mode until now but have grown beyond their wildest dreams in this short period of time. It will be a night to remember for years to come, so you want to say you were there at the start, partying with them and making history!
(…they say)
Adhocracy @ Rich Mix | 6th & 7th August | Various Times | Various Prices
Adhocracy is a weekend of creative thought and activity about D.I.Y. cultures and can-do attitudes – then and now, including a fair of wares and awareness, talks and panel discussions, demonstrations of How-To, a pedal-powered cinema programme and a rip-roaring night of Good Attitude.
The Apple Cart Festival @ Victoria Park | 7th August | 11:00 – 22:00 | £29.95 | Loserville Review
Taking place on a leafy, tree-lined part of Victoria Park, The Apple Cart is a new boutique day out boasting everything from Mercury winning musicians, award garnering comedians, conjuring Magic Circle members, interactive art happenings, family friendly village fete fun plus gourmet food to feast on and real ale to sup.
See our fab preview here.
The Wolf @ Network Theatre | 10th August – 3rd September | 19:30 + Selected Matinees | £15
Following the a sell-out run of Ivona, Princess of Burgundia Sturdy Beggars return to the tunnels of the Network Theatre with a brand new adaptation of Molnar’s rarely-performed classic farce, the next play in the company’s Brain Drain Season.
Don Giovanni @ Soho Theatre | 11th August – 17th September | 19:15 + Selected Matinees | £25 (£10 tickets available for Under 26s/standing)
Sung in a new English translation and set in the pre-credit crunch days of the early noughties, this heady mix of sex, violence and beautiful music is a collaboration between Soho Theatre and the UK’s hottest opera company, OperaUpClose, following the critically acclaimed and Olivier Award winning success of La Bohème.
Myra Dubois: From Rotherham with Love @ Royal Vauxhall Tavern | 10th & 11th August | 19:00 | £7
The warts and all account of Myra’s story: from glass collecting to self proclaimed glory via heartbreak and amateur dramatics, there will be songs, there will be laughter and there may even be tears.
One things for sure: it won’t be very glamorous…
Constructed @ Bistrotheque | 20th August | 20:30 | £10
Rude Grrl presents Constructed, a revolving programme of unique performances developed from UnderConstruction (see above). Artists presenting work tonight include: Lavinia Co-Op, Marcus Reeves, Davies & Blake, Dickie Beau, Michael Twaits.
Duckie 16th Birthday Bash @ Royal Festival Hall | 26th August | 21:00 | £10
Authentic London retrosexuals Duckie present the 16th anniversary of their post-gay pop & performance shindig. You’re invited to partake in our fancy dress code of vintage British tribes: punks, teds, skins, yuppies, mods, rockers, goths, rude girls, sloane rangers, crusties, city gents, suburban housewives, new romantics, streakers, greenham common women, natty dreads, honky-tonks and casuals.
Check out our jazzy preview here for more details!
I am Joint Editor at To Do List. I like free, cheap & offbeat London, especially: cabaret, art, theatre, pop-ups, eating out, quirky films, museums, day trips, social enterprise & much more.
