Unmissable Things to Do In London in September 2019
September Things To Do in London include a free fire spectacular, an all-girl rock show and the re-opening of LGBTQ+ haven The Chateau.
Cabaret & Variety
OPIA Lates: homotOPIA | Brew by Numbers | 5 September | 7pm | From £10.30
An intimate night of storytelling through music, poetry, visual art, comedy and dance in Peckham by OPIA Collective, a company of female/LGBTQ artists.
CRAMPS | The Chateau | 6 September | 6pm | £5
Camberwell’s den of queer rebellion reopens after the summer break with a night of performance.
An Evening with Marlow & Moss (LOL) | Crazy Coqs | 9 September | 7pm & 9:15pm
The writers of runaway surprise Tudor wives musical hit SiX give a night of cabaret in the gorgeous subterranean world of Brasserie Zedel’s Crazy Coqs.
Busty + Ginger Washed Up! | The RVT | 13 September | 7:45pm | £8
Cabaret queens Busty and Ginger wash up on a desert island and find solace in song.
What Words Are Ours? | Roundhouse | 14 September | 8pm | £12
Poet-clown Talia Randall presents a knockout night of spoken word with comedians, cabaret artists and visual vernacular performers including Dean Atta (The Black Flamingo) and Deaf Hip-Hop artist Signkid.
The Legends and Legacies Ball | The Albany | 21 September | 7:30pm | FREE
Inspired by the Alternative Miss World pageant, expect a night of cabaret, extravagance and celebration hosted by Xnthony, with the older LGBT+ community at its heart.
Cabaret Vs Cancer: The Bitten Peach | Underbelly Festival Southbank | 24 September | 7:45pm | From £17
Support Cabaret vs Cancer with this queer Asian cabaret spectacular.
Comedy
Guz Khan & Aamer Rahman: Work in Progress | Soho Theatre | 2-5 September | 8:45pm & 10:15pm
A work in progress double bill from Guz Khan (Man Like Mobeen) and Australian newcomer Aamer Rahman.
Toucan: Have a Party | 2Northdown | | 10 September | 7:30pm | £10
The perfect prescription for the back to school blues, join Emma Hinds and Shae Rooke for a feel-good hour of fun.
Jack Tucker: Comedy Stand-up Hour | Soho Theatre | 25-28 September | 10:15pm | From £11
Zach Zucker’s divisive anti-comedy is a must-see, even just to see if it really merits the most scathing one star review we’ve ever read!
Circus & Dance
Tarot | Underbelly Festival Southbank | 3-4 September | 9:30pm | From £17
A decadent circus cabaret which delves into the mysteries of the tarot.
Exhibitions
Being Human | Wellcome Collection | From 5 September | FREE
A new permanent collection opens in Euston’s Wellcome collection featuring artworks from Yinka Shonibare, Katherine Araniello, Superflex and many more.
Late at Tate Britain: Social Justice | Tate Britain | 6 September | 6pm
A Plymouth School of Art co-production fusing workshops, performances and art including a DIY banner making workshop from our fave woke artist and illustrator Soofiya.
Festivals & Seasons
The Coast is Queer | The Spire, Brighton | 12-15 September
A bookish excuse to get out of the big smoke and head to the little seaside smoke.
Age Against the Machine | Various Venues | From 13 September
Sad as we were to discover that there will be no Lewisham People’s Day this year, Age Against the Machine is a major new festival in Lewisham celebrating older people and the arts. So many free events and chances to get to know the residents of this friendly south-east London borough.
All Our Tomorrows | The 100 Club | 12-14 September
A strokey-chin three-day festival of artpop at the legendary 100 Club. We recommend heading to the 14 September party as you get so many hot new bands for just £5.
Tootopia | Tooting | 20-22 September
Tooting is alive with music, food and arts. Go hear it, eat it and gawp at it!
Film & TV
The Host | Boat Departing from Tower Millenium Pier | 6 September | 6:30pm | £20
Cult Korean sewer monster movie epic is shown on a boat as part of the London East Asia Film Festival.
Music
Girls Wanna Rock | Amersham Arms | 29 September | 2:30pm | £12.50
If the band names of Tequila Mockingbird and YUR MUM aren’t enough, there’s a whole smorgasbord of other girl-fronted bands at this all-dayer.
Talks & Lectures
War Child Presents: Mental Health And The Music Industry | EartH (Hackney Arts Centre) | 4 September | 10am | £11.25
A much-needed chance for the music industry to focus on resilience, support & mental health.
Theatre
Chiaroscuro | Bush Theatre | From 2 September | From £10
Bush Theatre’s new Artistic Director Lynette Linton gets under the skin of queer women of colour with this explosive gig-theatre melange.
STYX | The Playground Theatre | 2-14 September | £14
A teary Edinburgh fringe hit is a rock trip tackling memory-loss.
MUSIK | Leicester Square Theatre | 3-7 September | £26.25
The Pet Shop Boys musical about an iconic rock goddess called Billie Trixx wowed in Edinburgh – don’t miss it!
The Open | The Space | From 24 September | From £12.50
Two men are trapped on the GBGC (Great British Golf Course) owned by Donald Trump, until an immigrant arrives and changes everything in this post-Brexit dystopian thriller.
Bonus Balls
Burning Hearts FE: Fall Fury | Theatre Deli – The Old Library | 7 September | 6pm | From £8
Burning Hearts is an inclusive women’s wrestling collective who are here to kick butt for your entertainment.
Little Nan’s Carless Car Boot | Deptford Market Yard | 8 September | 12pm
Deptford’s palace of trash presents a super mix of stalls to pick up a bargain this September.
FLAPJACK Vol. 06 | John The Unicorn | 14 September | 9pm | £5
A South London queer disco cum drag show, with FLAPJACKS!
Wishful | Silvertown Quays | 28 September | 6:30pm | FREE
A spectacular free floating fireshow inspired by the Thai festival of Loi Krathong.
Did we miss any offbeat things to do in London? Leave a comment…
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.
