This Week September 25 – October 1

25 September 2017 Will Rathbone

The cold weather is coming! Think of this as a chance to really enjoy the warmer things in life. Cosy down in the theatre as Jane Eyre returns to the National, dance like a person possessed to The Turbans as part of Theatre Royal Stratford East’s Borderless festival, or head down to a vintage market and find yourself a new winter coat. Embrace the cold!

Bearpit Karaoke
 
The legendary outdoor sensation that is Bearpit Karaoke travels to London from Berlin, and brings with it a fun-filled community spirit and, of course, timeless classics belted out by complete strangers. The strains of Total Eclipse of the Heart will be heard reverberating around Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, accompanied by generous and hearty encouragement from the accompanying crowd. Such fun.
 
Bearpit Karaoke takes place in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens on 29 September at 6pm and 30 September at 3pm. Entry is free.


Bearpit Karaoke. Photo courtesy of Time Out
 
Jane Eyre – National Theatre
 
Sally Cookson’s powerful adaptation of Jane Eyre returns to the National Theatre following a critically acclaimed run last year and a successful UK tour. A parable for the struggle that women face for freedom and true independence, this production encapsulates the values at the heart of Brontë’s iconic 1847 novel, and presents them in Cookson’s distinctive, engaging style. Live music, strong acting and a classic story all rolled into one.
 
Jane Eyre runs at the National Theatre from 26 September till 21 October. Tickets from £15.


Nadia Clifford in Jane Eyre. Photo by Brinkhoffmogenburg
 
The Turbans – Theatre Royal Stratford East
 
The Turbans will make you dance. They’ll make you grin, hug your friends and whirl around. Their infectious mix of near-eastern and eastern-European styles are effervescent, and they blend their own compositions with inspired covers. They perform as part of Borderless – a festival celebrating music from across the globe – which continues at Theatre Royal Stratford East over the coming weeks.
 
The Turbans perform at Theatre Royal Stratford East on 27 September. Tickets cost £22.


The Turbans. Image courtesy of The Turbans
 
Opera: Passion, Power and Politics – V&A
 
There’s a new exhibition opening nearly every week as the autumn season settles in, and this week it’s the turn of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Their latest immersive offering, Opera: Passion, Power and Politics, explores the genre through seven major openings in seven different European cities over 400 years. Opera operates on an enormous scale and, even if you’ve never had an interest before, this could be just the ticket to get you started. Before long you’ll be sitting in a box, wiping away a tear like De Niro in The Untouchables.
 
Opera: Passion, Power and Politics opens at the Victoria and Albert Museum from 30 September till 25 February. Tickets cost £19.


Opera: Passion, Power and Politics.
 
Bethnal Green’s Affordable Vintage Fair
 
One way to feel better about packing your shorts away for another year is by revisiting your thick coats. There’s always room in the wardrobe for another swanky winter coat – and vintage fairs are the perfect place to go hunting. Bethnal Green’s Affordable Vintage Fair won’t break the bank, so head on down to seek out a stylish new piece of winter-wear.
 
Bethnal Green’s Affordable Vintage Fair takes place at York Hall on 1 October. Earlybird entry is £3 before 11am, or £2 after.


Bethnal Green Affordable Vintage Fair