WORTH A LOOK?: ****
OUT: 27/1
Long-standing fans of this band have been aware for a while about how easily their more folk musings sit alongside the electro anthems that have propelled them to their most popular periods.
WHERE?: BFI
WHEN: 25/7
‘It was the best piece of writing I’d ever read,’ remembers Sir John Hurt reflecting on TV’s The Naked Civil Servant (pictured above) after a showing at the BFI.
WHEN?: 7.30pm Friday 27/1
WHERE: Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith
It’s almost 200 days since the UK voted Brexit and this week we choose our 2017 Eurovision entry.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
Writer/director Damien Chazelle’s last film Whiplash, the story of a jazz drummer and his abusive instructor, won three Oscars.
Europe’s premiere Eurovision selection show launches on 4/2 at 7pm English time with the return of 1999 winner Charlotte Perrelli, who also won Melodifestivalen in 2008, MF favourites Ace Wilder, Dinah Nah and Boris Rene. 2012 Eurovision winner Loreen also competes in heat 4 25/2. Prime-time Saturday nights in February sorted. Picture via YouTube from the Take Me To Your Heaven performance in 1999’s Eurovision.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Old Vic
WHEN: 10/1
The Old Vic is not a venue renowned for its late-night stand-up comedy but on the evidence of this sold-out fundraiser perhaps it won’t be long before it is.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Aldwych Theatre
WHEN: 7/1 (matinee), runs to 22/7
Carole King can lay claim to the title of the most successful female songwriter of the latter half of the 20th century with more than 100 US hits to her name between 1955 and 1999.
This solo star and former member of bands Alcazar and Barbados has tried, and failed, to represent Sweden eight times in the Eurovision Song Contest. The Eurofest club night at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern has boasted Melodifestivalen stars including Linda Bengtzing and Shirley Clamp. On 13/1 it throws open its doors to Carlsson. Tickets
WHERE: BFI
WHEN: 5/1
It’s 40 years since Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party pricked a nation’s consciousness through a cheesy-pineapple skewer, we’re here with the Oscar-nominated director and much of the cast to celebrate the TV career of its star, Alison Steadman.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE: Donmar
WHEN: 31/12 (matinee), runs to 18/2/17
We almost saw lead Gemma Arterton in Nell Gwynn, her film 100 Streets was one of our favourites of 2016 and so we pulled out as many stops as possible to see her star in Josie Rourke’s Saint Joan at the Donmar.
