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
