Things to do this week is sponsored by Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour.
All week
CIRCUS: NoFit State Circus brings its show, Lexicon, to London for a two-week run. Expect a blend of impressive acrobatics, flame juggling, rope and trapeze acts and physical poetry performances, all to a soundtrack of a live band. Roundhouse (Camden), £15, book ahead, 3-18 January
DARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS: After a lively stint at Ally Pally, the darts world heads east for the BDO World Professional Darts Championships, the first time the competition has been held at The O2. Watch 40 men and 16 women compete for the coveted title over the week, with the youth championship also taking place. Indigo at The O2 (North Greenwich), from £36, book ahead, 4-12 January
CHRIS REDD: Saturday Night Live cast member, and American stand-up comedian Chris Redd begins a short residency at Soho Theatre. He's best-known for impersonating the likes of Kanye West, Soulja Boy and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air on the US TV show. Soho Theatre, book ahead, £12-£20, book ahead, 6-11 January
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST: Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is performed at Tower Theatre, with one major hook — all of the roles are played by immigrants, for whom English is not their first language. It's apt, for a play about someone who isn't clear about who they are, and which itself was written by an immigrant. Tower Theatre (Stoke Newington), £12-£15, book ahead, 6-18 January
MEMORY PALACE: It's the final week to visit Es Devlin's Memory Palace. It's a beautiful curved mirrored artwork filled with places associated with pivotal moments in history, from the location of the earliest cave paintings to the steps where Greta Thunberg started her climate protests. Pitzhanger Manor (Ealing), £7.70, book ahead, until 12 January
DESIGNED IN CUBA: Also entering its final couple of weeks is Designed In Cuba, an excellent exhibition of Cuban graphic design. As well as showcasing the work of some extremely skilled designers, it offers an alternative look at historical events to the one that most of us grew up with. House of Illustration (King's Cross), included in admission (£8.80), book ahead, until 19 January
Monday 6 January
MOTIVATIONAL MOTIFS: Flagging on your new year's resolution already? Create your own motivational motif wall hanging to take home at this crafty evening — aided along by a drink or two from the bar, of course. All materials are provided. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), £5, book ahead, from 6pm
NEON LIFE DRAWING: Queen of Hoxton hosts an art session unlike your average life-drawing class. The models are naked, and covered in neon paint as they contort themselves into unusual shapes, ready for you to sketch their likeness using neon pastels. Queen of Hoxton, £14, book ahead, 7.30pm-11pm
Tuesday 7 January
CONSERVATION FRONTLINES: Conservation biologist and National Geographic Explorer Joshua Powell discusses the conservation challenges faced by wildlife rangers around the world, from temperate forests on the Azerbaijan-Iran border, to snow-capped mountain reserves in Kyrgyzstan. It's a Babble Talks event which means it's aimed at parents or carers with babies. The George IV (Chiswick), £10, book ahead, 11am-12pm
PAINT STREET ART: Pop-up Painting's latest event is themed around famous Banksy street artwork, Balloon Girl. Using the materials provided, and under expert guidance, create your own version of the masterpiece — helped along by a drink or two from the bar. Sipping Room (Canary Wharf), £29.99, book ahead, 7.30pm-9.30pm
HAMMER & TONGUE: Spoken word night Hammer & Tongue returns to east London, headlined by battle rapper and comic Shuffle T. There's also an open mic section, where any poets can sign up for a 3.5 minute slot. The Book Club (Shoreditch), £7, book ahead, 7.30pm-10pm
Sponsor message
Interior design for a new decade — at up to 80% off
With party season over, and a couple of chilly months still to come, 'tis the season for supremely cosy nights in. Which means that it's the perfect time to give your home a gorgeous new look. Cue the Ultimate Interior Design Sale 2020 at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour.
From Monday through to Saturday this week, you can get your hands on an eclectic range of premium furniture, flooring, and fabrics — plus fabulous lighting and accessories — all at up to 80% off. The 30+ brands featured are some of the biggest names in the world of design, including Ceccotti Collezioni, Davidson and Victoria + Albert Baths.
Basically, the Ultimate Interior Design Sale has everything you need to make your home a haven of comfort, luxury and style. Take a look at some of the highlights here, or click here to plan your visit — it's free!
Ultimate Interior Design Sale. From Monday 6 January to Saturday 11 January at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour.
Wednesday 8 January
LONDON INTERNATIONAL MIME FESTIVAL: The capital's longest established theatre season, London International Mime Festival is back for four weeks of performances. The programme includes live art, physical and circus-theatre, mask, puppetry, movement and object theatre.Our picks include the entirely fictional The Strange Tale Of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel, and full-mask theatre show Dead Good. 8 January-2 February
THE ORGASM GAP: Sexuality, pleasure and empowerment expert Kim Loliya gives a talk about the 'orgasm gap', a cross-cultural phenomenon featuring women of all ages. A study found that 95% of heterosexual men usually or always climax during sex, compared to just 65% of heterosexual women. This is not the case for women in same-sex relationships, and this talk looks at why. The Book Club (Shoreditch), £10, book ahead, 7pm-9pm
CHARITY COMEDY: Rich Wilson, Phil Nichol and Sindhu Vee are among the performers on the line-up at Laugh Till It Hurts. The comedy night raises money for homelessness charity Crisis. Bloomsbury Theatre, £15/£12.50, book ahead, 7.30pm
Thursday 9 January
GET FIT: Hear celebrated chef Tom Kerridge discuss his life and career, as well as the tips he's learned about getting fit and losing weight without compromising in the kitchen. He offers chef’s techniques for the best lower-calorie cooking, plus tips for stepping up to fitness targets. Conway Hall (Holborn), £25, book ahead, 6.45pm-8pm
MAKING WAVES: Cinematic sound is an often overlooked art form, but 2019 film Making Waves shines a light on the people who create it. Sound engineer Midge Costin directs the film, drawing together interviews with filmmakers, editors and sound specialists to show just how crucial sound design is to the success of film. Dugdale Centre (Enfield), £6.50, book ahead, 7.45pm
SKATE LATES: The party's still going at the Somerset House ice rink, where DJ Yoda is the latest artist to oversee late-night skating. He spins the tunes while you skate into the night, with refreshments available at the Bailey's Skate Lounge. Somerset House, £17, book ahead, from 8pm
Friday 10 January
LONDON HUGHES: Comedian and actress London Hughes takes over Bloomsbury Theatre for two nights of laughs, joined by special guests. She explores how as a woman, you can be incredibly successful yet incredibly single. Excellent name, too. Bloomsbury Theatre, £17.50, book ahead, 10-11 January
LONDON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL: The 17th edition of the London Short Film Festival begins today, to entertain you with dramas, documentaries and animations. There are plenty of new releases to see, as well as short films that have placed in international competitions — naturally, we like the sound of London Lives, an insight into surviving life in the capital. Various locations and prices, book ahead, 10-19 January
VILE CABARET: The story of composer Kurt Weill is told through satirical and dark songs in The Vile Cabaret. Weill was born in Germany in 1900, and fled to Paris during the second world war, and the show gives an insight into the social and political climate of the time. The Other Palace (Victoria), £20, book ahead, 8pm
Saturday 11 January
PLANT WHISPERING: Determined to keep a houseplant alive for longer than a week this year? Learn the art of plant whispering at a workshop by poet, folk musician and plant whisperer Jade Cuttle. Listen to the music of plants, and tap into what they can tell us about the world around us. Queen of Hoxton, £8, book ahead, 11.30am-12.30pm
FAMILY FOLK SHOW: Award-winning folk duo Megson perform a gentle, entertaining concert specially for younger children. Expect to hear songs about the natural world from their When I was a Lad and Little Bird albums. Aimed at children aged 6 months-7 years and their families. Kings Place (King's Cross), £8.50/£6.50, book ahead, 2.30pm
FROMAGE ON ICE: Grease is the word to have the time of your life at a Dirty Dancing vs. Grease Fromage on Ice special. Skate the night away to tunes from both musical films — it's a good warm up for Secret Cinema's next venture. Alexandra Palace, £10/£9, book ahead, 8.30pm
Sunday 12 January
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: Luzia is Cirque du Soleil's latest show at the Royal Albert Hall, and it's set in Mexico. It takes water and light for inspiration, with trapeze artists performing through pouring showers. Hoop diving, acrobatic stunts and a surreal menagerie are all part of the fun — and let's face it, with Cirque, you know it's going to be good. 12 January-1 March
TS ELIOT PRIZE: Southbank Centre hosts two special events ahead of the announcement of the TS Eliot Prize winner. Poetry critic Jeremy Noel-Tod offers an overview of this year's shortlist (£10, book ahead, 2pm). Later, the shortlisted poets themselves read their own work (£15/£12, book ahead, 7pm).
BRITAIN BY NUMBERS: Stuart Newman discusses his new book, Britain by Numbers, and what it can tell us about our nation, including who lives here, where we work, who we marry, what crimes we commit. How have house prices changed in the past decade? What do we spend our money on? All will be revealed... Conway Hall (Holborn), £8/£5, book ahead, 3pm-4.30pm
