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.

Did we miss any offbeat things to do in London? Leave a comment…