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Art, Culture & Museum Exhibitions
The Sad Ghost Club at The Cartoon Museum: Lize Meddings’s Gentle, Groundbreaking Work Finally Gets the Exhibition It Deserves
The Sad Ghost Club: Lize Meddings's exhibition, running at The Cartoon Museum on Wells Street from 6 October to 6 December 2026, is the kind of exhibition that reminds you why the best illustrative work, when it is given the space and care of a proper gallery context, can do something that larger, more celebrated art forms often cannot: make you feel profoundly, unexpectedly less alone. Created over ten years ago by illustrator Lize Meddings, The Sad Ghost Club centres on a sad ghostie learning to better understand themselves and others, while promoting positive mental health awareness. Through comics, zines and other media, Meddings found her work resonating deeply, and now there are over half a million club members on Instagram alone. This showcase arrives at a particular moment: the final instalment of the bestselling international graphic novel series was published in August 2026, bringing five volumes and six years of publishing to a close. As one chapter ends, this exhibition opens another, and it is a fitting, generous and genuinely moving way to mark the occasion. 
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October 19, 2026

Recent Reviews

Art, Culture & Museum Exhibitions
Does My Head Look Big in This? at The Cartoon Museum: Five Centuries of Flattery, Fury and the Art of the Gloriously Oversized Nose
Does My Head Look Big in This? The Art of Portrait Caricature, currently on display at The Cartoon Museum on Wells Street in London's West End, is the kind of exhibition that reminds you why the art of the caricature, so easily dismissed as mere mockery or novelty, is in fact one of the most politically charged and technically demanding art forms ever developed. This generous, meticulously curated show traces portrait caricature from its origins in Renaissance Italy through its outrageous Golden Age in eighteenth-century England and into its vigorous popularity today. It is funny, sharp, frequently rude, and considerably more thought-provoking than its title, which is, of course, precisely the point. 
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October 19, 2026
Themed Drinking & Dining
Greggs x Heinz Brinner Party at Greggs Cheapside: Breakfast After Dark Has Never Tasted So Gloriously Right
The Greggs x Heinz Brinner Party, a limited-edition pop-up event hosted at Greggs Cheapside, is the kind of experience that reminds you why the best food events are not always the ones with the longest tasting menus or the most elaborate settings. Sometimes all it takes is a genuinely brilliant idea, executed with the kind of cheerful confidence that only comes from two brands that know exactly who they are and exactly what their audience loves. Breakfast for dinner, brinner, as it is now apparently and irresistibly called, is one of those concepts that makes immediate, instinctive sense the moment you encounter it, and this collaboration between two of Britain’s most beloved food institutions is the ideal vehicle for it. No dress code anxiety, no three-hour sittings, no impenetrable menu descriptions. Just a bacon roll at 7 pm, a dedicated Heinz sauce station, and the deeply satisfying feeling of having found a loophole in the social contract around acceptable meal times.
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October 19, 2026
Drama
Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky at Southwark Playhouse: Lonely Hearts and Grimy Streets
Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky, Patrick Hamilton's trilogy of novels adapted for the stage by Simon Reade and directed by Matthew Iliffe, is the kind of production that reminds you why period drama, when handled with intelligence and care, can feel more alive and immediate than almost anything set in the present day. Running at Southwark Playhouse Borough, this world premiere stage adaptation brings 1929 London roaring back to life — not the London of glamour and pageantry, but the smoky, rain-slicked, aching London of people who want more than the city seems willing to give them. It is darkly funny, quietly devastating, and thoroughly absorbing from start to finish.
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October 17, 2026
Play
Custard Tarts at Riverside Studios: Sixty Minutes of Sapphic Joy, Custard Fights and Queer Liberation
There is a particular kind of fringe theatre that announces itself immediately as something special, not through elaborate production values or famous names but through the sheer originality and conviction of its storytelling. Custard Tarts, written and performed by Alice Harris-Dean and presented by Whole Headache Productions as part of Riverside Studios' Bitesize Festival, is exactly that kind of show. Having already earned nominations for the best new writing award at Chichester Festival Theatre and the international touring award 2026 in association with the Pebble Trust following its run at Brighton Fringe, this hour-long inquisition into sexuality, lesbian coding and self-acceptance makes its London debut fizzing with campness, sapphic tension and genuine emotional intelligence.
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October 16, 2026
Play
Tea, Tournaments and a Secret Tearoom: Mr Moore's Bizarre Secret Society at Bridewell Theatre
If your idea of a good family outing usually involves a soft play centre and a lot of quiet suffering, Mr Moore's Bizarre Secret Society is a much better plan. It's a brand-new family play at the Bridewell Theatre, tucked just off Fleet Street in London, running from 30 September to 10 October. It's written by Gloria Danili, directed by Roman Stefanski, and pitched as a story for kids and grown-ups alike. Think Alice in Wonderland meeting A Christmas Carol, with a lot of tea involved. It's easy to see why it's getting attention.
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October 16, 2026
Immersive Theatre & Games
GAWD v. The People at Lightroom: The AI Judge Has Heard the Evidence — and Humanity Had Better Hope It Was Convincing
GAWD v. The People, created by Nilor Studio and directed by an ensemble of human and artificial intelligence in equal, uneasy measure, is the kind of experience that reminds you why immersive theatre, when it takes a genuinely original risk, can unsettle and delight in ways that conventional performance never quite manages. Running at Lightroom near King's Cross, the venue whose eleven-metre-tall fully projected walls and vast open floor have previously hosted David Hockney and David Bowie, this world public premiere marks the first presentation of the show outside of festivals, following its official selection for the Immersive Competition at Cannes 2026. It is funny, uncomfortable, entirely unpredictable, and over in an hour that feels both perfectly judged and not quite long enough.
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October 16, 2026
Classes & Workshops
La Bibliothèque’s Premium Cocktail Masterclass: An Elegant Evening of Mixology
La Bibliothèque’s Premium Cocktail Making Masterclass is an intimate, hands-on experience that blends mixology, storytelling and fine dining atmosphere into a relaxed but polished evening. Hosted by the acclaimed East London restaurant La Bibliothèque, the class guides guests through the making of signature cocktails while introducing the techniques, ingredients and small details that shape a well-balanced drink. Rather than feeling like a formal lesson, the experience unfolds more like an evening shared around a stylish bar, which is conversational, interactive and quietly immersive.
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October 16, 2026
Musical
You & It at King's Head Theatre: A Tender and Timely Musical That Asks Whether Love Can Survive Being Replicated
You & It, with a book by Seoeun Oh and Q Lee, music and lyrics by Q Lee, and directed by Esther Jun, is the kind of production that reminds you why musical theatre, when it takes genuine creative risks, can explore the questions that matter most to us right now more vividly than almost any other art form. Making its London debut at the King's Head Theatre, this award-winning South Korean musical, winner of Best Musical at the 13th Daegu International Musical Festival, arrives in Islington carrying both an irresistible premise and the emotional ambition to match it. Set in 2034, where artificial intelligence and human life have become quietly, routinely entwined, it is a love story, a grief story and a philosophical provocation all at once, running one hour and fifty minutes without interval and barely wasting a moment of it.
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October 14, 2026
Drama
Jerker at Waterloo East Theatre: Two Voices, One Phone Line and an Intimacy That Takes Your Breath Away
Jerker, written by Robert Chesley and directed by Henry Adams, is the kind of production that reminds you why intimate studio theatre, stripped of spectacle, reduced to its absolute essentials, can achieve something that no larger stage could replicate. Produced by Adam Roebuck, the same producer behind F**king Men, Afterglow (2019) and Happy Ending, and making its highly anticipated Waterloo East Theatre premiere this autumn, forty years after its acclaimed San Francisco debut, this is a bold, seductive and unexpectedly tender two-hander that arrives with both its reputation and its relevance fully intact. In ninety interval-free minutes, it asks what intimacy really means, what vulnerability costs, and whether two people can truly know each other when they have never once been in the same room.
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October 14, 2026
Art, Culture & Museum Exhibitions
Fifteen Dresses Made of Flowers: Fleurs de Villes DIANA Blooms at Somerset House
Somerset House has hosted plenty of beautiful things, but turning fresh flowers into a wardrobe is a new one. Fleurs de Villes DIANA, presented in support of The Diana Award, is a world premiere exhibition in the East Wing Galleries on the Strand. It's a fresh floral celebration of Diana, Princess of Wales, built around 15 one-of-a-kind floral mannequins inspired by some of her most iconic looks, and it's exactly the kind of quietly spectacular, slightly unusual thing London does so well.
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October 4, 2026
Drama
Tartuffe (Remixed) at Marylebone Theatre: God, Family and a Very Charming Fraud
Some productions feel like genuine occasions, not just another night at the theatre but something you sense you will be talking about for a long time afterwards. Tartuffe (Remixed), written and directed by Darren Raymond and running at the Marylebone Theatre, is one of those productions. Returning to Marylebone following his sell-out performance of Venus and Adonis, Oscar and Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance takes on the titular role in this boldly reimagined new version of Molière's classic comedy, and the result is theatre that is simultaneously rooted in a 360-year-old satirical masterpiece and entirely, urgently alive to the present moment.
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October 1, 2026
Comedy
Jeeves Takes Charge: A Comic Masterclass at Charing Cross Theatre
There are very few performers alive who could hold an audience entirely alone on a stage for two hours while inhabiting twenty-two different characters, flipping between them mid-scene, mid-sentence, sometimes mid-breath, and make it look not just effortless but genuinely, helplessly funny. Sam Harrison, West End, Chichester and RSC favourite, is one of them, and his performance in Jeeves Takes Charge at the Charing Cross Theatre is the kind of theatrical event that reminds you why live comedy, at its best, is an art form unto itself. Adapted by James Duke, Edward Duke and Hugh Wooldridge from P.G. Wodehouse's beloved Jeeves and Wooster stories, and directed by Hugh Wooldridge, this is a production with forty-five years of history behind it, and it has lost absolutely none of its charm.
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August 30, 2026
Play
Love You Long Time Already at Theatre503: A Heartfelt Exploration of Family and Belonging
Love You Long Time Already at Theatre503 is a tender and sharply observed new play that explores love, family and cultural identity through the lens of a Filipino-British experience. Set against the backdrop of changing relationships and competing expectations, the production examines how people carry memories, obligations and hopes into their connections with others. Rather than relying on grand declarations, the play finds its emotional depth in everyday conversations, unspoken tensions and the small moments that reveal what characters struggle to articulate.
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July 28, 2026
Play
The Smile of Her at Marylebone Theatre: A Fierce and Moving Journey of Self-Discovery
Located just a short walk from Baker Street Station, the intimate Marylebone Theatre has built a reputation for presenting thought-provoking productions with the polish of a larger West End venue while maintaining a close connection between performers and audience. Its latest offering, The Smile of Her, continues that tradition with a deeply personal and emotionally charged one-woman play written and performed by acclaimed actress Christine Lahti. Running for 90 minutes without an interval, the production brings audiences into the heart of a woman's lifelong struggle against expectations, stereotypes, and the pressure to always be "a good girl."
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July 18, 2026
Cabaret & Burlesque
The Ladyboys of Bangkok at Shepherd’s Bush Green: A Dazzling Night of Glamour and Cabaret
The Ladyboys of Bangkok is a long-running touring cabaret spectacular that blends high-energy dance, pop music, comedy and dazzling costumes into a night that feels more like a party than a traditional theatre show. Performed in its signature Sabai Pavilion or touring venues across the UK, the production brings together a cast of glamorous performers in a fast-paced revue of chart hits, show tunes and playful sketches, creating an experience that celebrates performance, identity and spectacle in equal measure.
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July 2, 2026
Play
Arthur at Polka Theatre: A Magical Family Adventure Filled with Courage and Heart
For decades, the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon has been one of London's leading destinations for children's theatre, producing imaginative and engaging productions that entertain young audiences without ever talking down to them. This summer, the theatre presents Arthur, a brand-new adventure play created in collaboration with The Egg at Theatre Royal Bath and Bucket Club. Combining Arthurian legend with a contemporary coming-of-age story, the production promises an exciting journey packed with original music, mythical creatures, magical encounters, and valuable lessons about courage, teamwork, and leadership. Recommended for children aged 6 to 12, Arthur offers the kind of family theatre experience that appeals to adults and children alike.
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July 1, 2026
Classes & Workshops
Glass for Beginners at FirePetal Studio: Creativity in the Glow of the Flame
Glass for Beginners at FirePetal Studio is a hands-on workshop that introduces the delicate art of glass bead making in a way that feels both calming and creatively absorbing. Set inside a working glass studio, the class guides beginners through the fundamentals of lampworking, heating colourful glass rods over a flame and shaping them into beads, charms and small decorative pieces. Rather than feeling like a formal craft lesson, the experience unfolds as a slow, tactile process of experimentation, patience and discovery.
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July 1, 2026
Classes & Workshops
Pizza Making at La Bibliothèque: A Relaxed, Hands-On Culinary Experience
The Pizza Making Class by La Bibliothèque is a warm, sociable cooking experience that turns the process of making pizza into something both hands-on and genuinely immersive. Hosted by the East London restaurant known for its blend of Japanese and Mediterranean influences, the workshop guides guests through shaping dough, layering ingredients and baking pizzas in a relaxed, stylish setting. Rather than feeling like a strict culinary lesson, the class unfolds more like an evening spent around a lively kitchen counter, full of conversation, flour-covered hands and the unmistakable smell of fresh dough hitting the heat.
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July 1, 2026
Immersive Theatre & Games
Neon Naked Life Drawing at The Phoenix, Cavendish Square: A Glowing, Immersive Twist on the Art Class
Neon Naked Life Drawing near Oxford Circus transforms a traditional art class into something immersive, playful and unexpectedly freeing. Hosted by Neon Naked Life Drawing at venues including The Phoenix in Cavendish Square, the experience combines life drawing, UV lighting and fluorescent body paint to create a workshop that feels halfway between an art studio and a late-night creative event. Designed for beginners as much as experienced artists, the sessions focus less on technical perfection and more on experimentation, atmosphere and confidence.
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July 1, 2026
Musical
Hot Mess at The Other Palace: A Brilliant Pop Musical About Love and Collapse
Hot Mess at The Other Palace is a wildly inventive new pop musical by Jack Godfrey and Ellie Coote that transforms the climate crisis into an offbeat romantic comedy between Earth and Humanity. Directed with brisk energy and packed with sharp humour, the production turns an enormous global issue into something strangely intimate: a messy relationship story full of attraction, denial, hope and inevitable fallout. After award-winning runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, the show arrives in London with infectious confidence and a soundtrack that refuses to leave your head.
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June 24, 2026
Immersive Theatre & Games
The Talisman Treats by Gourmaze: A Delicious Adventure Packed with Puzzles and Surprises
London is no stranger to immersive experiences, but few combine sightseeing, storytelling, puzzle-solving and sweet treats quite as successfully as The Talisman Treats by Gourmaze. Taking participants on a self-guided adventure through some of the capital's most charming streets and hidden corners, this interactive treasure hunt transforms an ordinary day out into a magical quest. Designed for families, friends, couples and curious explorers alike, the experience combines the excitement of an escape room with the freedom of a city walk, creating an engaging adventure that unfolds at your own pace.
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June 17, 2026
Play
A Fine Idea at Arcola Theatre: Powerful Stories of Resilience and Hope
A Fine Idea, written by Christine Bacon and directed by Charlotte Westenra, is a probing and emotionally intelligent new play that examines aid, power and the uncomfortable distance between good intentions and meaningful change. Running at the Arcola Theatre, it approaches its subject through the lens of one woman's crisis of conscience, tracing the history of international development with a clarity and honesty that is rarely seen on stage. Rather than offering reassurance, the production asks its audience to sit with a question that is as simple as it is unsettling: Do we actually want to change things, or do we just like the idea of helping? 
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June 17, 2026
Concerts & Music
Fantasia Orchestra at 10: Tom Fetherstonhaugh Interview
As Fantasia Orchestra marks its tenth anniversary, founder and conductor Tom Fetherstonhaugh reflects on friendship, cross-genre programming, musical openness, singers, sitars, dream collaborators from history and what comes next.
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June 8, 2026
Classes & Workshops
Lino Printing at MYO Creative Studio: Turning Simple Designs into Works of Art
The Lino Printing Class by MYO Creative Studio is a wonderfully hands-on creative workshop that introduces the traditional art of linocut printing in a way that feels accessible, relaxing and deeply rewarding. Hosted at MYO’s welcoming London studio, the class guides participants through designing, carving and printing their own artwork, transforming a simple sheet of lino into a personalised print. Whether you're completely new to printmaking or simply looking for a creative afternoon, the experience balances practical instruction with plenty of room for experimentation.
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June 7, 2026