Unmissable Things to Do In London in October 2019
October Things To Do in London include a plethora of spooky goings on, plus music hall mayhem, circus thrills, live music gems, queer fun, exciting theatre and more!
Cabaret & Variety
He’s Behind You: The Slasher Panto | Pleasance London | 17-18 October | 9:30pm | £13
London’s top drag stars assemble for this bloody 80s slasher pantomime.
Carmina Victoriana: A Thoroughly Modern Music Hall | Wilton’s Music Hall | 18-19 October | 7:30pm | From £10
Cult divas from Diane Chorley to Glamrou expose the herstory of music hall in this spectacular variety show.
Comedy
Him Indoors | Pleasance London | 19-20 October | 9:45pm | £10.50
Killer eels and a Wicker Man feel make offbeat wonder Cheekykita’s horror show a must see!
Circus & Dance
What Does Stuff Do? | Jacksons Lane | 4 October | 7:30pm | From £10
Part TED Talk, part circus: Robin Boon Dale gets philosophical and bends water…
Hands Some Feet | Jacksons Lane | 12 October | 7:30pm | From £10
Finland’s Liisa Näykki and Jeromy Zwick dissect relationships and particularly ‘hepuli’ moments (aka the explosions!).
Drag Race Parties
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Screening Party | The Two Brewers | 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 October | From 7pm | FREE
Love Drag Race? Then head down to Clapham for this epic party hosted by Tia Kofi. Guests in the first week are Mitch & Ashraf, RuPaul’s rather fine Brit Crew.
WOOF x Louche: The Anti-DragRace Revolution | The RVT | 3 October | From 7pm | £8-12
Hate drag race for it’s narrow version of drag culture? Go to this anti-party and celebrate the marginalised and underrepresented.
Exhibitions & Art Fairs
Moniker | The Chelsea Sorting Office | 2 – 6 October | From £12
An accessible contemporary art fair that feels fresh and surprisingly inclusive.
Festivals & Seasons
Roundhouse Rising | Roundhouse | 15-29 October
Open your ears to the new sounds of the city at Roundhouse’s signature festival of rising talent.
Film & TV
Margate Film Festival | Various Venue | 23-27 October
Escape the city for the new Brighton, and see a great range of film wonders including the epic Exodus (pictured above), an apocalyptic vision filmed in Margate’s amusement park Dreamland.
Music
SHHE | The Glove That Fits | 10 October | 7pm | £5
They say: “SHHE’s self-titled debut album is a sparse, haunting and atmospheric journey of introspection and exploration of identity that demonstrates their ability to capture movement, change and the light and darkness that haunt the human condition.”
We say: Erm, ok then.
Out, Out
LESBIENNALE | Village Underground | 10 October | From 10pm
LESBIENNALE is a fiesta exploring marginalised identities within lesbianism including erotic readings, a cinema, a digital exhibition and queer party with live performances.
Talks & Lectures
Philosophy as Therapy? | LSE | 9 October | 6:30pm | FREE
Can we find peace in the great works of philosophy?
London Literature Festival Writers’ Day | Queen Elizabeth Hall | 26 October | 1pm | FREE
A free day of exploration and inspiration for London’s writers.
Theatre
The Demolition Party | Ovalhouse | From 5 October
Ovalhouse will be demolished before its relocation to Brixton, and the venue is celebrating with a season exploring trans identity with Emma Frankland, how loud speakers can get with Christopher Brett Bailey, as well as a show called Gaping Hole.
Last Orders: The Haunting of the Old Red Lion | Old Red Lion Theatre | 8-26 October | 7:45pm | From £12
Discover the spooky secrets of the Old Red Lion in this live experimental theatre happening.
Elephant In The Room | Roundhouse | 10-12 October | 7:30pm | £12
Hip hop dance, spoken word and physical theatre fuse in Lanre Malaolu’s pioneering look into toxic masculinity and mental health.
NT Live: A Midsummer Night’s Dream | The Castle Cinema | 17 October | 7pm | £16
Missed the immersive hit of the summer? So did we! Catch Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones) in this repeat showing at the lovely local Castle Cinema.
Making Black History: A night of new dance & theatre from artists of colour | Poplar Union | 19 October | 7:30pm | £12
Work in progress performances featuring rand new dance, theatre and poetry from artists of colour.
Truth to Power Cafe | Conway Hall | 20 October | 3:30pm | FREE
With so much wrong with the world, Truth to Power Cafe is here to challenge those in power.
Bonus Balls
Riposte | Grow Tottenham | 5 October | From 11pm | £12
A multi-sensory, inclusive party with performances, installations and sexy vibez.
Amatory Asylum | House of Kittens | 10 October | From 7pm | £40
Erotic immersive storytelling from ladies of all genders.
Brixton Reel: Too Black Too Queer | Scala | 12 October | From 8:30pm | FREE
Free party at the Scala to celebrate the Black LGBTQ+ experience – and then an excuse to dance the night away with the Urban World club night with genres including RnB, Hip Hop, Afrobeat, Bashment, House, Bollywood, World and Desi beats.
