Spill Festival of Performance – Across London

The SPILL Festival is an international event celebrating experimental theatre, live art and performance. Started back in 2007 by artist and fest director Robert Pacitti, this year’s line-up includes stunning live productions, participatory shows, installations and the odd discussion and film, too.

Our pick of the bunch is Splat! (April 3 & 4), where artist The Famous Lauren Barri Holstein (above) unleashes her new show, in which she dances round the stage with a deer head on her bonce and roller skates strapped to her feet. 

April 3-14. Times vary 
Various prices and venues across London  
spillfestival.com 

 

Jimi Hendrix Pop-up

The first ever pop-up store dedicated to the greatest guitarist who ever lived, Jimi Hendrix (sorry Slash and Clapton) hits town this week in honour of the London-born mega-legend and the new album of previously unheard recordings People, Hell And Angels. There’s a Fender station, where fans can practice their licks, too.

Free, April 1-12. Mon-Sat,
12pm-8pm 8 Ganton Street, W1F 7QP  
Tube | Oxford Circus 

 

Mouth-to-Mouth Festival

M.Gira from rock band Swans curates this inaugural music fest where the emphasis is not so much on who’s been crashing the singles charts recently, but on full-throttle live performance irrespective of musical genre. Features Mercury Rev’s Cinematic Silent Sound Tettix Wave Ensemble, Ben Frost, Xiu Xiu and Grouper.

£35, April 4. From 5pm 
Koko, NW1 7JE  
Tube | Mornington Crescent  
koko.uk.com

 

Strictly Science

This new interactive exhibition celebrates 100 years of medical advancement, looking at what we once thought was the pinnacle of medical invention, knowledge and advancement. And the realisation that one day, today’s ‘cutting edge’ tech will be viewed with the same disdain. 

Free, April 4-15. 10am-6pm 
Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ  
Tube | South Kensington 
mrc.ac.uk

Bird’s Eye Film Festival – South Bank

This week-long movie festival focusing on contemporary Arab women filmmakers has a chocka line-up of documentaries, shorts, events, panel discussions, as well as 10 Q&A sessions with directors, seven UK premieres, two London premieres and two live music premieres.

The opening night gala’s centrepiece is When I Saw You, a moving story from Annemarie Jacir about an 11-year-old boy’s escape from a Palestinian refugee camp.

Various prices. April 3-10.
Times vary Venues vary  
birds-eye-view.co.uk 

 

Ruby Wax

As part of the Barbican’s Wonder: Art And Science On The Brain season, the erstwhile US comedian, writer and broadcaster talks about her life and work, from celebrity success to her struggles with mental illness, and subsequent emergence as a neuroscientist. Expect funny, emotional and educational, as Ruby waxes lyrical.

£8+, April 8, 7.30pm EC2Y 8DS  
Tube | Barbican 
barbican.org.uk

 

Peckham Print Studio Pop-up

Print and art store Peckham Print Studio takes up this week-long pop-up residency in Shoreditch’s Boxpark.

There will be new work that has been commissioned especially for the week, a Pull Your Own Print event, and an exclusive evening with print-based clothing label Heresy. Get some new additions for the wardrobe. 

Free, April 1-7. Mon-Sat,
11am-7pm E1 6GY  
Tube | Old Street  
peckhamprintstudio.com