London Diary: The best of what's on this week, Sept 17-23

You Me Bum Bum Train

”It was like being in a very weird dream, but awake”, such is screenwriter Jane Goldman’s summation of a previous Bum Bum Train experience.

What exactly it was, and this show is, is sworn to secrecy, as the whole performance – in which the audience is taken on an interactive ‘ride’ manned by a 200-strong cast – relies on surprise for its liberating, sense-defying effects.

Beg, borrow or steal, if needs be, to be a part of Kate Bond and Morgan Lloyd’s (above) sensory-assaulting 45-minute experience.

Until Sept 19. 7pm-10.45pm, every 15 mins, £20
Empire House, E15 4BQ
Tube | Stratford
bumbumtrain.co.uk

Not Until We Are Free

Inspired by the David Henry Thoreau quote, “Not until we are lost do we begin to find ourselves”, this interactive, aerial performance toys with proximity to create feelings of claustrophobia, amid swirling aerial performances that mix circus, theatre and narrative storytelling.

Sept 18-23. 7.30pm, £18
Arts Depot, N12 0GA
Tube | West Finchley
ockhamsrazor.co.uk

National Braai Day

A host of Saracens and Springboks players will be on hand to celebrate National Braai Day this weekend.

SA holiday Heritage Day – now known by its less formal name – will be celebrated in the finest way, with ‘bring and Braai’ grub, touch rugby with the stars (for the brave) and coaching ops, too.

Sat, Sept 22. 12pm-3pm, free
Raynes Park Sports Ground, SW20 0BH
Station | Raynes Park
saracens.com

East Ender Festival

Nothing to do with the BBC’s long- running miserablist soap, but an arts and music ‘micro festival’ featuring leftfield music aplenty and an open- air art gallery. Emerging talent and living legends rubbing shoulders this weekend will include JJ Doom (featuring MF Doom) and Drums of Death.

Sept 21-23. 1pm-4am (1am Sun, £15)
Village Underground, EC2A 3PQ
Station | Shoreditch High Street
eastenderldn.co.uk

Bedtime Stories

Get dressed up in your PJs, sup on some warming gin bevvies and listen to enrapturing stories.

The Bedtime Stories gang have been going three years now, their uniquely seductive nights garnering a hushed, don’t-tell-too-many-people-or-you’ll-ruin-it sensibility.

The four themed events this autumn/winter include Tales Of Seduction, Halloween Ghost Stories, Beauty And The Beast nights and Christmas-timed Tales To Make You Cry. A truly unique evening.

Sept 19-20; Oct 10-11; Nov 14-15; Dec 12-13.
7pm 109 Mile End Road, E1 4UJ
Tube | Stepney Green
40winks.org

Open House London

The 20th anniversary of this citywide architecture celebration hits London this weekend. All manner of buildings – offices, historical sites, those that don’t usually let the public enter – open their doors, with tours, organised jogs, competitions and more keeping the architecture theme running throughout the weekend.

Sept 22-23. Times vary, free
Various locations across London
londonopenhouse.org

Great Gorilla Run

Raising awareness about the ever- decreasing number of mountain gorillas in the world, a species that faces extinction. How best to do this? By dressing up in a gorilla suit, of course, along with hundreds of other like-minded animal loves and charging through 7km of City and Bankside streets.

Sept 22. 10.30am, £50
London Underwriting Centre, EC3R 7DD
Tube | Tower Hill
greatgorillarun.org