Critics’ choices
What to see this week
FILM THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD by Robbie Collin
Armando Iannucci’s ingenious adaptation of the Dickens novel turns its young orphan’s search for identity into a whistle-stop farce, loaded with wisdom and wit. Dev Patel heads a sparky ensemble, including Tilda Swinton and Hugh Laurie.
PG cert, 119 min POP MADONNA by Neil McCormick
Arty, outrageous, sleazy and sophisticated, Madonna is an all-time-great pop star. A 14-night London residency promises the most intimate shows of her career. But after eight cancelled gigs so far on this tour due to injuries, let’s hope she’s still up to it.
London Palladium, W1 (madonna.com), Mon-Feb 16
DANCE SWAN LAKE by Mark Monahan
The great Carlos Acosta launches his directorship of Birmingham Royal Ballet with a revival of Peter Wright’s Swan Lake. Telling the story as authentically and unfussily as possible, it’s one of the best versions around.
Mayflower, Southampton (brb. org.uk), Weds-Sat and touring
COMEDY ALEX EDELMAN by Tristram Fane Saunders
Radio 4 star Alex Edelman’s sharp, award-winning hour
Just for Us tells the eyeopening true story of how this young Jewish comedian infiltrated a Neo-Nazi meeting on a whim.
Lowry Studio, Salford (alex edelmancomedy.com), Fri and touring
THEATRE PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ( SORT OF) by Dominic Cavendish
Six actresses with bags of comic talent offer a winningly fresh, irreverent (yet faithful) take on a passionately loved Austen classic. Spliced with pop songs, sung karaokestyle, it will make you laugh from start to finish. Lyceum, Edinburgh (0131 248 4848), until Feb 15
ART PICASSO AND PAPER by Alastair Sooke
This colossal exhibition of more than 300 of Picasso’s works, exploring his imaginative uses of paper, contains a host of surprises and moments of delightful frivolity and mischief.
Royal Academy, London W1 (020 7300 8000), today-April 13
JAZZ JOE MCPHEE by Ivan Hewett
Tremendous veteran free-jazz saxophonist Joe McPhee may now be 80, but his playing is as exuberant as ever. He performs with quartet Decoy and is supported by daring vocalist Elaine Mitchener.
Queen’s Hall Edinburgh (0131 668 2019), Fri; Bridge Hotel Newcastle (0191 232 6400), next Sun
CLASSICAL VADYM KHOLODENKO by Ivan Hewett
This young Ukrainian pianist, winner of one of the world’s great piano competitions, the Van Cliburn, in 2013, launches the new Jaques Samuel Bechstein concert series with a mighty programme of Mozart, Schubert, Rachmaninov and Scriabin, as well as a contemporary piece by Kaija Saariaho.
St John’s Smith Square, London SW1 (020 7222 1061), Fri