1. St Patrick’s Festival
Celebrate the Irish community and culture across London. As well as the famous parade and festival in Trafalgar Square, there will be art and talks at City Hall, a family adventure trail through central London, music and poetry on the Underground and much more.
Various locations, Friday, March 17, to Sunday, March 19. Details: london.gov.uk
2. London Beer Week
A seven day festival celebrating the city’s beer scene with the best bars and breweries, as well as the best ales, lagers and ciders available.
Various locations, until Sunday, March 19. Details: drinkup.london
3. The Significant Other Festival
Significant Other: colloquially used as a gender-blind term for a person’s partner in an intimate relationship without disclosing or presuming anything about marital status, relationship status, or sexual orientation. Fringe Innovators The Pensive Federation are excited to bring their annual festival of new writing to the Vaults. Come along as they challenge a new team of theatre makers to create a 10 minute masterpiece in just 10 days.
The Vaults Theatre, Launcelot Street, SE1 7AD, until Saturday, March 18. Details: 020 7401 9603
4. Courtney Pine featuring Omar
In a career stretching back into the 80s, Courtney Pine was one of the first black British jazz artists to make a serious mark on the scene when his first album charted the top 40 and since then he’s won numerous BBC Jazz Awards, a Mercury Music Prize nomination and remained at the forefront of UK jazz. For his latest project, Black Notes From the Deep (Freestyle Records) he returns to the tenor saxophone for the first time in a decade and features the vocal talents of UK soul star Omar. This very special project brings together two of the UK’s finest jazz and soul talents; composing, recording and performing original material together for the first time.
Barbican, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS, Friday, March 17, 7.30pm. Details: barbican.org.uk
5. St Patricks Day Celebration with Robbie Love
Robbie Love is a versatile Irish singer who has an incredible selection of songs from The Eagles, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Oasis.
The Coppermill Pub, 205 Coppermill Lane, E17 7HF, Friday, March 17, 3pm and 9pm. Details: 020 8520 3709
6. The Golden Years
Jimmy Jemain and The Knights Shadows accurately recreate the Golden Years of the early Cliff Richard and The Shadows.
Millfield Theatre, Silver Street, Edmonton, N18 1PJ, Friday, March 17, 7.45pm. Details: 020 8807 6680
7. ABBAMANIA
It is 40 years since ABBA won Eurovision and now it’s your chance to thank ABBA for the music. Featuring a special concert presentation, which celebrates the music of ABBA in a respectful and enjoyable way, reviving special memories of when ABBA ruled the airwaves. Europe’s leading ABBA tribute, ABBAMANIA, continue to entertain audiences with their outstanding vocals and musical performance live on stage.
Millfield Theatre, Silver Street, Edmonton, N18 1PJ, Saturday, March 18, 7.45pm. Details: 020 8807 6680
8. Orchestra of the Swan
OOTS celebrates its 21st anniversary season under the leadership of Artistic Director David Curtis. With an annual programme of over 50 concerts throughout England and Wales, tours to China and Turkey, UK tours with groups such as Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and James, and tours planned for this season to Mexico and Carnegie Hall, OOTS has an international impact.
Chelmsford City Theatres, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG, Saturday, March 18, 12pm. Details: 01245 606505
(photo from Prague City Tourism)
9. Spirit of Prague
Beer lovers are being given the chance to enjoy both the traditional and modern side of Prague, without leaving the capital during this year’s London Beer Week. The brewers of Staropramen, the number one Czech beer in the UK, and Pravha, the new lighter tasting pilsner, are opening the Spirit of Prague pop-up beer hall. The bar of two halves will transport guests from the traditional side of Prague to a modern and vibrant side of the city.
Shop 8, Old Truman Brewery, E1 6QR, until Sunday, March 19. Details: drunkup.london
10. Mr Happy
Be prepared to see Mr Happy’s amazingly funny magic show – with the help of Crush the turtle and George the dragon – his famous puppets who tend to steal the show. Mr. Happy’s creative balloon modelling, cheeky personality and enthusiasm are contagious.
Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT, Saturday, March 18, 11.30am. Details: 01708 443333
11. Giselle
A tragically romantic tale of a young girl who falls deeply in love, however she would soon be deceived for he was betrothed to another. The young girl kills herself as she could not live without him. The Queen of the Wilis, along with the ghosts of young girls who die before their wedding nights, condemns the lover to dance to his death. He can only be saved by the intervention of the spirit of Giselle. First performed in 1841, Giselle has never lost its popularity with audiences, considered to be one of the jewels in the crown of the romantic repertoire.
Millfield Theatre, Silver Street, Edmonton, N18 1PJ, Sunday, March 19, 2pm and 6pm. Details: 020 8807 6680
12. Anything Goes
Join the staff and alumni of Allen & Overy plus guests from Christ Church Primary School and J.P. Morgan on board the SS American, as it sails from New York to London in Cole Porter’s musical Anything Goes. Expect romance, comedy and some truly great musical numbers. Money raised will go to the charity War Child.
Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ, Saturday, March 18. Details: 02089 852424
13. Spirit Young Performers: The Stars of the Future
The internationally acclaimed Spirit YPC Performance Troupe is made up of astonishing singers and dancers aged 6-18, including many young professionals from London’s West End. Now they appear in a full-length showcase of talent. The Stars of the Future showcase features tunes from Matilda the Musical, Hamilton, School of Rock, Legally Blonde, Kinky Boots and more. A must-see for fans of musical theatre and up-and-coming talent.
Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ, Sunday, March 19. Details: 02089 852424
14. Potted
Our fascination with indoor gardening is centuries old. We use plants to decorate and delight, to improve our homes and also our health. In celebration of the humble houseplant, this exhibition at the RHS Lindley Library presents a series of designs by students from Central Saint Martins College. In a collaborative project with the library, the students have investigated a variety of well-known and well-loved houseplants and created made to measure pots to suit their individual needs.
RHS Lindley Library, 80 Vincent Square, SW1P 2PE, Friday, March 17, to Sunday, March 19. Details: rhs.org.uk
15. A Contemporary Evening
The Bolshoi boldly takes on a new challenge in a triptych of works by three masters of modern and contemporary choreography. For the first time, the company performs The Cage by legendary Academy Award-winning choreographer Jerome Robbins. Together with Harald Lander’s homage to classical ballet in Études and Alexei Ratmansky’s colourful folklore-inspired Russian Seasons, A Contemporary Evening brings some of the best dancers in the world together with masters of contemporary choreography.
Chelmsford City Theatres, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG, Sunday, March 19, 3pm. Details: 01245 606505
16. Seann Walsh
With a keen observational mind, Seann can spot the absurdity in everything and convert it to perfectly delivered stand-up comedy.
Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT, Sunday, March 19, 7.30pm. Details: 01708 443333
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