Yayoi Kusama from livincool.com
Yayoi Kusama at the Tate Modern
9th February to 5th June 2012
Spots, pumpkins and repetition are this 82 year old lady’s trademarks and she is said to have been a big influence on Yoko Ono. Her art, which earned a record amount of money for a female artist in 2008, reflects her own obsessions and she has been living voluntarily in a psychiatric insitution since the 1970s.
Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi Theatre
10th March to 22nd September 2012
QT has already bought tickets for this one. The production of this dark musical earned fabulous reviews when it ran in Chichester in 2011, and its stars Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton are transferring to the West End show. The lyrics and music in this Stephen Sondheim creation are the best I’ve ever heard, so if you like your entertainment slightly twisted and in a minor key, go for it!
Master and Margrita from http://english-learners.com
Master and Margarita at the Barbican
15th March to 7th April 2012
Mikhail Bulgakov who wrote “The White Guard” which ran at the National Theatre in 2011 wrote the novel on which this is based. It describes a visit of the devil to the Soviet Union and is a satire on the stifling social order in Russia of the 1920s and 30s. Considered a masterpiece this production comes from the Complicite theatre company.
Gross and Klein at the Barbican
13th to 29th April 2012
This one’s set to be immensely popular as it stars Oscar award winning actress Cate Blanchett. It’s a surreal Alice in Wonderland-like play where the main character becomes unfamiliar to all who previously knew her. This production has already appeared in her home country Australia, and garnered great reviews for Ms Blanchett’s performance.
Caligula at ENO
25th May to 14th June 2012
This German opera composed by Detlev Glanert is based on Albert Camus’ 1944 play about the perverted Roman emperor of the same name. QT knows nothing about opera but has been a fan of Caligula since seeing John Hurt play him the 1970s BBC series I, Caligula (available very cheaply on Amazon) Should be dark and disturbing and will probably bring to mind our modern day dictators.
Bauhaus school, Dessau
Bauhaus – Art as Life at the Barbican
3rd May to 12th August 2012
The Bauhaus school was only around for 14 years but has had a huge influence on Modernist architecture and design ever since. This exhibition will include painting, sculpture, architecture and more and the Barbican are running workshops and films to complement the exhibition.
Dr Dee at ENO
5th June to 7th July 2012
The prodigious talent of Damon Albarn keeps on rocking. This Alan Moore-inspired opera first saw the light of day in Manchester in 2011 and is coming to the ENO. It tells the story of 16th century magician and scientist John Dee, advisor to Elizabeth I and owner of one of the largest libraries in Britain at the time.
Here’s a Guardian video of Albarn and others discussing Dr Dee
Gillian Wearing
Gillian Wearing at Whitechapel Gallery
28th March to 17th June 2012
A Turner prize winner (for her sins), Gillian’s photographs and films are really quite unnerving and apparently seek to explore identity. They often feature ordinary people in slightly odd circumstances. The Whitechapel Gallery itself is a lovely gallery and if you get a chance, go to see its Rothko exhibition before it ends on 26th February.
Another London at Tate Britain
1st July to 16th September 2012
This photographic exhibition will feature classic 20th century images of London by the likes of Henri-Cartier Bresson, Bruce Davidson and Elliot Erwit. Old London photographs always a winner, in my book!
And last but certainly not least …
Viva Forever
Yes – Spice Girls, the Musical. I haven’t bothered to look up where it’s happening or when as this is really just a joke entry. But it is written by Jennifer Saunders!
Related post: Top 10 Best Kept Secrets in London
Tags: 10 best cultural events, Another London, Bauhaus - Art as Life, Caligula, Dr Dee, Gillian Wearing, Gross and Klein, Master and Margarita, Sweeney Todd, Yayoi Kusama
A fantastic selection. I was in London just recently and by the looks of it I need to get back there!
Thanks Robin
) One I didn’t mention was the Hockney at the Royal Academy of the Arts – looks excellent.
If you get the opportunity, you must go see Sweeney Todd. It’s such a fun musical!
Emme Rogers @ Roamancing recently posted..Snowy Canadian Flashbacks to the Tub at Le Chamois
I will be, Emme – tickets bought already!