London Scene: The best of London's stage and screen

Headliners: New Year’s Eve Comedy | Comedy

With so many comedy shows this festive period, you’re spoilt for choice. This New Year’s Eve-er, with Mike Gunn (right), Pete Johansson, Addy Van Der Borgh and John Mann, looks like a cracker. Tucked away in a highly atmospheric pub in west London, what could be better than celebrating NYE with a belly-full of laughs?

The George IV
W4 2DR | Dec 31 | £25 
Tube | Turnham Green 
headlinerscomedy.com 
 

A Bigger Splash | Exhibition

This exhib looks at the relationship between performance and painting in the second half of the 20th century. Featuring key works by the likes of Jackson Pollock, David Hockney and Cindy Sherman, it compares and contrasts various pieces, considering how performance informed their creation. 

Tate Modern
Bankside, SE1 9TG | Until April 1 | £10
Tube | Blackfriars 
tate.org.uk

Kiss me, Kate | Theatre

Hannah Waddingham is Lilli, rehearsing a musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming Of The Shrew with her ex-husband, director and co-star Fred. With Cole Porter’s classic tunes, Sam and Bella Spewack’s book interweaves post-marital off-stage spats with on-stage sparring. From the opening number, it’s hard to resist. LK

The Old Vic
The Cut, SE1 8NB | Until Mar 2. | £11+ 
Tube | Waterloo  
oldvictheatre.com
 

Sleeping Beauty | Ballet

Matthew Bourne’s new Sleeping Beauty is an inventively gothic affair – beginning in 1890 and ending in the present day – as long-term collaborator Lez Brotherston provides stunning designs. The pre-recorded music may bug purists but, with nods to different dance styles and cheeky inventions, this ballet’s a treat.

Sadler’s Wells | Roseberry Avenue, EC1R 4TN.
Until Jan 26 | £12+ 
Tube | Angel 
sadlerswells.com
 

Quartet | Film

Dustin Hoffman makes his directorial debut with this charming comedy drama about the members of a retirement home for former musicians – featuring Billy Connolly, Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon – and their staging of one last show. Old age-themed laughs are matched with the realities of retirement and failing health in what is a quietly understated but moving movie.

On general release January 1