Unusual Things To Do In London This Month | August 2015
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Your one-stop culture shop – everything you really need to know if you’re looking for quirky, kooky or unusual things to do in London this month!
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August 2015
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PERFORMANCE
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Bears In Space | Soho Theatre | 3-22 August | 7:15pm | £10-16
When our Fringe reviewer Laura saw Bears in Space last August in Edinburgh, she described it as “Boosh-inspired, Red Dwarf and Futurama influenced multi-disciplinary performance, with some great absurd moments”. We caught the first show of this Soho Theatre run, and we can confirm that this is a madcap, crazy flight of fancy – of the very best kind. Bears. In Space. What else do you need to know?
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Gaggle: Lysistrata | Almeida Theatre | 7 & 8 August | 10:30pm | £15
The inspiring all-female next-generation choir Gaggle joins Almeida’s rather brilliant and bloody Greek season with Lysistrata. This classic greek comedy about a gang of vigilante women is brought bang up to date within the post-election malaise of the UK now. Plus it features Charlotte Church, what more do you want?!
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Bastard Assignments3 | Kings Place | 8 & 9 August | Times Vary | £7.50
Delightfully bonkers opera which sold itself to us with a striking picture of a pigeon. A great excuse to discover Kings Place, the swanky headquarters of The Guardian.
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Today I Wrote Nothing | Soho | 25 August | 6pm – 11pm | FREE
Is it a game or is it a show? Take a friend into the world of Madame Katastroff in a theatrical journey for just 2 people.
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You Won’t Succeed on Broadway if You Don’t Have Any Jews | St James Theatre | 25 August – 5 September | 7:30pm | £15-35
This show celebrates the 80 years of Jewish contribution to musical theatre, expect some classics from Rent, Hairspray and Parade.
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CIRCUS
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NoFit State’s Open House | Venues in Stratford | 7-9 August | Times Vary | FREE
NoFit State, one of the finest circus companies in the UK bring a free day of high-flying fun to Stratford. Why not discover Roof East the new pop up while you’re there.
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COMEDY
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Daniel Koren: The Most Important Thing | Soho Theatre | 7, 8 & 10 August | 7:30pm (Monday 9:30pm) | £15
Daniel Koren is one of a new breed of offbeat mashup comedians, mixing music & stand-up. This show proves you don’t need to be up at the fringe to get great quality out-there shows on your doorstep.
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EVENTS
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Young Feminists London Present… | The George Tavern | 9 August | 1pm | FREE
A heady smörgåsbord of feminist talks, performances & agit-prop including Pecs, the all-female drag king collective.
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Utopia: Live Lates | Roundhouse | 20 August | 8pm | £15
Penny Woolcock transforms the Roundhouse in Camden into a cinematic, multi-sensory re-imagining of London complete with inequality, consumerism, housing, gentrification, education, crime and social media. Be sure to check out the Utopia: Live Lates, which include cabaret, dance & performance nights with cabaret artiste David Hoyle, poet Owen Jones & celebrity-duper Alison Jackson.
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FESTIVALS
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Camden Fringe | 3-30 August
Proof that there’s more than one Fringe to be had in August, and this one is now it’s 10th year. More productions than ever at venues in and around the borough of Camden. Check out the Full Programme Here.
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River Stage | National Theatre | Weekends in August | FREE
Great to see the NT making an effort to bring back the free festival vibes of Watch This Space in their riverside area. The River Stage is a programme of free takeovers by top-class cultural renegades including Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club & Cafe OTO.
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Wilderness Festival | Cornbury Park | 6-9 August | Time | £177
Not had a festival experience this year? Then do something spontaneous and head along to the marvellous Wilderness for live music from our favourites Caravan Palace & Roisin Murphy. Plus don’t forget the out of this world art experiences you can have in a gorgeous deer park in Oxfordshire.
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Forgotten Fields | Eridge Park | 7-9 August | £99-105
Head to the stunning Sussex countryside for a summer party with a difference! There’s a small capacity (just 4000), so you’ll really be able to relax as you enjoy a great festival line-up of music, film, performance, and lots of real ale!
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Urban Weekend | Southbank Centre | 7-9 August | Times Vary
Scanner’s Inc and DJ Biznizz have curated a weekend of urban activities: “a chance to find out how urban city environments inspire people to keep fit and become athletes or artists.”
Featuring live DJ’s, BMX displays, a live graffiti jam, dance, and a platform for local emerging artists.
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Come To The Sabbath – Festival Of Dark Arts | Apiary Studios | 18-23 August | 12pm – 6pm | £Various
They Say: A festival of dark arts delving into the influence of Black Magick, Witchcraft, Demonology and Satanism in pop culture.
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Love the Lea Festival | Walthamstow Marshes | 23 August | 11am – 7pm | FREE
Enjoy a day on the marshes, with live music (The Wave Pictures, Darren Hayman, The Bonfire Band, Noah Kelly), talks from the The London Sound Survey, workshops from Rob St.John, games, and craft activities.
You can also try your hand (you know you’ve always wanted to!) at pond dipping and water quality testing!
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FILM
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FILM4 FrightFest | VUE West End | 27-31 August
The 16th FrightFest – a festival of horror fantasy films! Certain highlights will be the European Premieres of David Keating’s “Cherry Tree”, and anthology “Tales of HAlloween”. There will also be screenings of Howard J. Ford’s “Never Let Go”, Paul Hyett’s “Howl”, and the World Premiere of Steve Oram’s “AAAAAAAAGH!”.
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FOOD & DRINK
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STOREYS | Television Centre | Weekends in August
Street food, art, music and events – on a rooftop! And not just any rooftop – the former BBC Car Park at Television Centre! Expect amazing artwork, some of the UK’s best street food traders and fantastic cocktails…
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MUSIC
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Cross Fest | New Cross Inn | 7-9 August | £5
One of our (many) locals, the New Cross Inn hosts a festival of live music & art from South East London, raising money for creative, cultural and charitable projects in the area.
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About Stuart Wilson
I am Joint Editor at To Do List. I like: nice pubs, film marathons, not doing real marathons, bad comedy, plays/musicals with shorter second halves, and the Oxford comma.