Shuffle Film Festival

After directing the Olympic Opening Ceremony last year in east London, you’d think Oscar-winning film director Danny Boyle would be after a change of scenery for a while. Not so. The Mancunian, who has lived in the East End for many years, has chosen to curate a film festival there this summer.

There will be indoor and outdoor screenings, including Boyle works Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting and Shallow Grave, plus Q&As with the man himself, alongside exhibitions, DJs and some of Boyle’s own favourite movies. 

£15+, Aug 8-18, times vary 
St Clement’s Social Club, E3 4LH  
Tube | Bow  
stclementssocialclub.com

Luke McGregor

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Best Newcomer winner for the year brings his debut show, My Soulmate Is Out Of My League, to town. In it the young stand-up faces his three fears: asking women out, sharks and elevators, all in one go – by dating a female shark in an elevator. 

£10, Aug 5-17, 7.30pm 
Soho Theatre, W1D 3NE 
Tube | Tottenham Court Road 
sohotheatre.com

The Scoop At More London 

This riverside amphitheatre next to City Hall hosts a wealth of free events over the summer from movies and music to theatre. Every Wednesday to Sunday the Free Open Air Theatre Season presents Thebans, two productions –  Prince of Thebes (6pm) and then Oedipus And Antigone (8pm) – inspired by the titular ancient Greek city.  

Free, Aug 7-Sep 1, from 6pm SE1 2DB  
Tube | London Bridge 
morelondon.com

Bridge to Bridge Swim

One of three prestigious Bridge-to-Bridge swims over the season that begin at Henley-upon-Thames. This one starts at the famous Henley bridge and heads 14km to Harlow. It’s strictly for challenge-seekers, but does come with the added incentive that the swim is downstream, which makes it much, much easier. 

£77, Aug 11, 6.30am 
Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2LW 
Station | Henley  
henleyswim.com

The Drowned Man

The Punchdrunk Theatre Company has returned to London with its latest sensory-assaulting, immersive mindfuck of a production, The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable. Enter, if you dare, and you’ll be plunged into a nightmarish vision of Hollywood centred around Temple Pictures, where you’ll move through four different theatrical arenas in which reality and fantasy collide. 

£47.50, Until Dec 30, Tue-Thur, 10pm;
Fri & Sat, 8pm & midnight; Sun, 8pm 
31 London Street, W2 1DJ  
Tube | Paddington  
nationaltheatre.org.uk 

The Sketchbook Exhibition 

The Graffiti Life Gallery unveils its second exhibition of the summer, The Sketchbook Show, which incorporates the work of 50 artists who have all donated raw and uncut work including illustrations, graffiti, design and animations, from their own sketchbooks. Personal viewing by appointment. 

Free, Until Sep 2, Sun only, 11am-4pm 
The Graffiti Life Gallery, E2 6EH  
Tube | Liverpool Street 
thegrafittilifegallery.co.uk

[Title of show]

This Broadway hit musical is about two friends who decide to write a new production in three weeks for the New York Musical Theatre Festival, only to find their pressure-driven exploits are more entertaining than their actual product, so they focus the show on that instead. Fiendishly postmodern. 

£15+, Aug 7-Sep 14,
7pm Landor Theatre, SW9 9PH 
Tube | Clapham North  
landortheatre.co.uk

Photos: Simon Kane