SUMMER DIARY
All your cultural musts and maybes for the summer
ART ATTACK
TO 30 AUGUST 2014 FASHION AND TEXTILE MUSEUM, LONDON MADE IN MEXICO
The first ever exhibition featuring the reboza, the classic Mexican shawl which was made famous in the 20th century by artist Frida Kahlo. Throughout its history it’s been worn by revolutionaries, artists, writers and collectors who have helped to shape the garment into a symbol of Mexican culture and identity. Go to: ftmlondon.org
28 JUNE – 27 JULY 2014 VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON M.F . HASSAIN MASTER OF INDIAN PAINTING
For the first time ever, the final nine paintings of M. F. Hassain, who has been called the “Picasso of India”, go on display. His Indian Civilization series comprises eight huge triptychs representing the richness of Indian culture and history. Go to: vam.ac.uk
10 JULY – 26 OCTOBER 2014 NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON VIRGINIA WOOLF – ART, LIFE AND VISION
Major retrospective of one of the 20th century’s most important writers including intimate portraits and photographs of Woolf and other members of the Bloomsbury set, as well as diaries, letters and books. Go to: npg.org.uk
TO 19 AUGUST 2014 BRITISH LIBRARY COMICS UNMASKED: ART AND ANARCHY IN THE UK
If you thought comics were just for kids, then this, the UK’s largest ever exhibition of British comics from the late 19th century to the modern day, will change your mind. Featured is the work of iconic names such as Neil Gaiman (Sandman), Alan Moore (Watchmen, V for Vendetta), Grant Morrison (Batman: Arkham Asylum) and Posy Simmonds (Tamara Drewe), as well as classic 1970s titles including 2000AD, Action and Misty. Booking essential. Go to: bl.uk
TO 07 SEPTEMBER 2014 TATE MODERN MATISSE - THE CUTOUTS
Landmark show exploring the later days of the artist. In his late sixties, when ill health first prevented him from painting, he began to cut into painted paper with scissors to make drafts for a number of commissions. In time, Matisse chose cutouts over painting, and this exhibition showcases a dazzling array of 120 bold and exuberant works made between 1936 and 1954. Go to: tate.org.uk
COME TO THE CABARET
TO 25 JUNE 2014 CONWAY HALL, LONDON LONDON BURLESQUE FESTIVAL
From over 100 avant-garde to erotic, sexy circus artists of both sexes, novelty acts with classic and new strip tease, this is the world’s biggest celebration of the art of burlesque. Dress to impress! Go to: londonburlesquefest.com
DANCIN’ IN THE CITY
T0 28 JUNE PEACOCK THEATRE, LONDON BAD BOYS OF DANCE – ROCK BALLET
Classic ballet meets hip-hop, tap and musical theatre in a high voltage dance experience set to some of pop and rock’s greatest hits including LMFAO, Queen, Kanye West and Coldplay. Go to: sadlerswells.com
31 JULY TO 01 AUGUST 2014 THE ROUNDHOUSE, LONDON BALLET BOYZ
The boyz are back in town with the final performance at the Roundhouse of their awardwinning double bill of Serpent and Fallen, plus the chance to see an excerpt from their new fulllength work Young Men, on the theme of wars and the men who fight them. Go to: sadlerswells.com
19 – 27 JULY 2014 PEACOCK THEATRE, LONDON MUMMENSCHANZ – MUSICIANS OF SILENCE
Internationally acclaimed piece of visual theatre using colourful masks and described as a familyfriendly experience “for children who think they are adults and adults who believe they are children at heart”. Go to: sadlerswells.com
FUNNY LADY
TO 02 AUGUST 2014 ON TOUR IN THE UK 30 MILLION MINUTES
The first ever solo comedy tour for the star of The Vicar of Dibley and French & Saunders, 30 Million Million Minutes sees Dawn French taking her audience through all the lessons life has taught her. With a sharp eye for comic detail and a wicked ear for the absurdities of life, she shares how she has misguidedly spent her whole life vigorously attempting to be a fully functioning female human.
ON THE BOARDS
TO 06 SEPTEMBER 2014 ALDWYCH WOLF HALL & BRING UP THE BODIES
One of the hottest tickets in town, these are stage adaptations of Hilary Mantel’s bestselling books about Thomas Cromwell and dirty doings in Tudor England. Go to: rsc.org.uk
14 JULY TO 04 SEPTEMBER 2014 OLIVIER THEATRE, LONDON MEDEA
Goldfrapp provide the music for this new version of Euripides’ powerful tragedy. The play will also be broadcast live in cinemas later this year. Go to: nationaltheatre.org.uk
30 JULY – 6 SEPTEMBER 2014 LEICESTER SQUARE THEATRE, LONDON EPSTEIN- THE MAN WHO MADE THE BEATLES
A powerful two-hander about the private life of Brian Epstein who discovered and managed the Beatles but who felt himself forced to stay in the closet before he died of an accidental overdose at the age of 32. Go to: epsteintheplay.com
31 JULY - 27 SEPTEMBER 2014 DONMAR WAREHOUSE, LONDON MY NIGHT WITH REG
Twentieth anniversary of the classic gay play set in the 1980s when Aids was at its height tracking the lives and loves of a group of gay men and their reaction to the crisis. Go to: donmarwarehouse.com
FROCK STAR
TO 25 AUGUST 2014 BARBICAN, LONDON THE FASHION WORLD OF JEAN -PAUL GAULTIER: FROM THE SIDEWALK TO THE CATWALK
Major retrospective of the career of fashion’s enfant terrible, whose witty and at times outlandish creations have shaped the world of fashion for the past 40 years. The infamous conical bra and corsets Madonna wore during her 1990 Blonde Ambition World Tour will be on show alongside stage costumes designed for Kylie Minogue as well as pieces created for the films of Pedro Almodóvar and Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element. Tickets essential. Go to: barbican.org.uk
ON TOUR
TO 31 AUGUST 2014 ON TOUR IN THE UK PET SHOP BOYS - ELECTRIC WORLD TOUR
Hard to believe that the Pet Shop Boys have now been together for 34 years, and the UK dates for their world tour will feature tracks from their latest album Electric as well as all the classics. Go to: petshopboys.co.uk
TO 02 JULY 2014 ON TOUR IN THE UK DOLLY PARTON - BLUE SMOKE WORLD TOUR
Camper and more over-the-top than a Saturday night at G.A.Y, everyone’s favourite country girl moseys into town. And when you see past the boobs and the bouffant she’s one of the best singers and songwriters around. Go to: dollyparton.com
GOTTA SING! GOTTA DANCE!
TO 19 JULY 2014 ON TOUR IN THE UK 20TH CENTURY BOY
Brand new musical on the life of glam rocker and T Rex front man Marc Bolan whose life was tragically cut short at the age of just 29. Go to the website for performance details. Go to: 20thcenturyboythemusical.co.uk
TO 20 JULY 2014 ABOVE THE STAG THEATRE, LONDON BATHHOUSE: THE MUSICAL
Billy is wide-eyed and innocent and looking for everlasting love. But when he visits a bathhouse for the first time, it looks like the other patrons are after something a little more temporary. Campy and raunchy fun with some great toetapping tunes Go to: abovethestag.com
TO 13 SEPTEMBER 2014 SHAFTESBURY THEATRE, LONDON THE PAJAMA GAME
Revival of the 1950s musical set during a wages dispute in a Pajama Factory, with songs like Steam Heat and Hernando’s Hideaway. Go to: shaftesbury- theatre.co.uk
09 JULY TO 21 SEPTEMBER 2014 GARRICK THEATRE, LONDON LET IT BE
Marking the 50th anniversary of A Hard Day’s Night, this musical about the rise of the Beatles from Liverpool’s Cavern Club to international fame is packed with over forty of their hits and has been seen by over 700,000 people worldwide. Go to: letibelondon.com
17 JULY – 23 AUGUST 2014 REGENT PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE, LONDON PORGY AND BESS
Classic Gershwin musical of love and betrayal, this tells the story of beggar, Porgy, and his devotion to taming wild Bess to save her from a life of ruin on Catfish Row. Featuring songs Summertime and I Got Plenty Of Nothing. Go to: openairtheatre.com
TO 19 JULY 2014 ARCOLA THEATRE, LONDON CAROUSEL
The classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and which Time magazine called the best musical of the 20th century. This reimaging of the show includes classic songs such as If I Loved You, June Is Bustin’ All Over, and You’ll Never Walk Alone. Go to: arcolatheatre.com
OPERATICS
TO 05 JULY 2014 COLISEUM, LONDON THE PEARL FISHERS
A coproduction with New York’s Metropolitan Opera, the Pearl Fishers is the story of a friendship tested by love, and explores themes of longing and loss and desire and rejection in this 2010 revival. Go to: eno.org
TO 06 JULY 2014 COLISEUM, LONDON COSI FAN TUTTE
Mozart’s comic masterpiece of love, lust and desire as two young men test the virtue of their fiancées by attempting to seduce each other’s girlfriend. Directed by Improbable’s Plelm McDonnel who was also responsible for the smash hits Satyagraha and The Perfect American at the Coliseum. Go to: eno. org
BANDS OF GOLD
13 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2014 TOBACCO DOCK, LONDON GAY WEDDINGS LIVE
Thinking of tying that knot now that gay marriages are legal? The Gay Weddings Live show will tell you all you need to know for making the most of your big day. Go to: gayweddingslive.com
ON THE PROM
18 JULY TO 13 SEPTEMBER 2014 ROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON, RADIO 3 PROMS 2014
Highlights this year include Sir Simon Rattle conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker in Bach’s St Matthew Passion, a series of concerts commemorating the First World War, a battle of the swing bands, plus the world premiere of A Man from the Future, the Pet Shop Boys’ celebration of gay code breaker Alan Turing, and orchestral versions of some of their hits. Go to: bbc.co.uk/proms
13 SEPTEMBER 2014 ROYAL ALBERT HALL, HYDE PARK, RADIO 3 PROMS IN THE PARK AND LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS
Terry Wogan presents a host of musical stars in Hyde Park for the Last Night celebrations including Rufus Wainwright, soprano Pumeza Matshikiza, the BBC Concert Orchestra and special guests Earth, Wind and Fire. And if you can’t get a ticket for the Last Night, the event will be broadcast live on BBC1 and on live screens in London, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Go to: bbc.co.uk/proms
FESTIVAL FEVER
25 TO 29 JUNE 2014 GLASTONBURY, SOMERSET GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL
The granddaddy of all festivals is sold out now and will feature amongst hundreds of acts over 64 stages, Dolly Parton, Lily Allen, Goldfrapp, Alison Moyet, Fatboy Slim and Bryan Ferry. Go to: glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
04 TO 06 JULY 2014 FINSBURY PARK, LONDON; PERRY PARK, BIRMINGHAM WIRELESS
Kanye West, Drake, Giorgio Moroder and Bruno Mars are among the stars headlining in both London and Birmingham. Go to: wirelessfestival.co.uk
04 TO 06 JULY 2014 GREAT TEW PARK, OXFORDSHIRE CORNBURY MUSIC FESTIVAL
Marc Almond, Melanie C, Jools Holland, Suzanne Vega, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Simple Minds are just some of the performers at this summer music festival in the heart of Oxfordshire. Go to: cornburymusicfestival.com
04 TO 06 JULY 2014 GLYNDE PLACE, SUSSEX LOVE SUPREME JAZZ FESTIVAL
Smooth sounds in the Sussex countryside with jazz greats and legends including this year Jamie Cullen, De La Soul, Curtis Stigers and Courtney Pine. Go to: lovesupremefestival.com
04 TO 13 JULY 2014 HYDE PARK, LONDON BRITISH SUMMER TIME
Over two weekends Hyde Park will be presenting what is, to say the least, an eclectic range of acts including Black Sabbath, The Libertines, McBusted, Boyzone and Tom Jones. Check website for performance details. Go to: bst- hydepark.com
17 TO 20 JULY 2014 HENHAM PARK, SOUTHWOLD, SUFFOLK LATITUDE
More than just a music festival there’s something for everyone at one of the best independent festivals in the country including music, theatre and comedy. Damon Albarn, Black Keys, Chrissie Hynde and Kelis will be appearing together with comedians Dara O Briain and Simon Amstell, and in the Faraway Forest the wonderful Jonny Woo. Go to: latitudefestival.com
18 TO 19 JULY 2014 VICTORIA PARK, LONDON LOVEBOX
Two days of music and dance in the East End with sets from M.I.A., Soul II Soul and others as well as Horse Meat Disco, Duff Disco and Little Gay Brother. Go to: loveboxfestival.com
24 TO 27 JULY 2014 CHARLTON PARK, MALMESBURY, WILTSHIRE WOMAD
The greatest world music festival in the world features a wealth of roots talents from every continent, including Richard Thompson from England, Bobby Womack from the USA, Clinton Fearon from Jamaica and Yousson N’Dour et le Super Étoile from Senegal. Go to: womad.co.uk
31 JULY TO 03 AUGUST 2014 TISNO, CROATIA STOP MAKING SENSE
Four days of summer partying in this up-for-it dance festival on the beautiful Croatian coastline with its own private beach and accommodation, with sets from some of the world’s best DJs including many known on the gay scene. Party all night and chill out and sunbathe all day. Go to: stopmakingsense.eu
14 TO 17 AUGUST 2014 SLEDMERE, DRIFFIELD, EAST YORKSHIRE TRIBFEST
The biggest tribute band music festival in the world is now in its 8th years and last year saw over 45 acts with lots of other fantastic music, comedy, fun and frolics around the site. Go to: tribfest.co.uk
16 TO 17 AUGUST 2014 HYLANDS PARK, CHELMSFORD AND WESTON PARK, SHROPSHIRE V FESTIVAL
One of the best organised festivals around sees Saturday’s line-up in Chelmsford going up to Staffordshire for the Sunday event and vice versa. Acts this year include Justin Timberlake, Blondie, Pixie Lott, Sophie Elli Bextor, the Human League, Paolo Nuttini, M People, and very special guests Chic featuring Nile Rodgers. Go to: vfestival.com
22 TO 24 AUGUST 2014 READING READING FESTIVAL
The classic British festival which this year will see the Arctic Monkeys and Jake Bugg headline. Go to: readingfestival.com
23 TO 24 AUGUST 2014 CLAPHAM COMMON, LONDON SOUTHWEST FOUR
August Bank Holiday dance festival with headliners Above & Beyond and deadmau5. Go to: southwestfour.com
23 TO 24 AUGUST 2014 HALTON, CHESHIRE CREAMFIELDS
One of the biggest and best dance festivals in the country organised by Liverpool superclub Cream with a huge live outdoor stage and eight dance areas playing some of the most mind-blowing music, and featuring the likes of Pete Tong, Armin van Buren and Fatboy Slim. Go to: creamfields.com