by Tristan Summerscale

THEATRE

1984 – Battersea Arts Centre

2nd December – January 9th

Though it’s hard to be sure if such a thing exists, the Blind Summit Theatre company have been called the rock’n'roll frontmen of puppetry. They adapt plays using a combination of physical theatre, puppetry, and music to create a unique theatrical experience. Their previous shows have been described as ‘beautiful’ in such lofty places as The Guardian and praise was heaped upon them for their work on Anthony Minghella’s adaptation of Madam Butterfly. This adaptation of George Orwell’s classic will aim to bring life to a well known story, and is being tipped to be a big hit this Christmas. You can find more information and booking details here.

ART 

JOHN MADJESKI FINE ROOMS TOUR – Royal Academy

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays until the 18th December at 1pm (Excluding the 1st December for some reason)

For those who want to visit one of the country’s great galleries, but baulk at the fifteen quid and long queues needed to get into the (by all accounts hugely impressive) Anish Kapoor exhibition, this could be the answer. The permanent collection at the gallery displays predominantly so-called ‘genre paintings’ with subjects of everyday life, and the gallery’s experts will be there to guide you through it. There’s no need to book for this, just meet in the foyer of the gallery.

FILM

I’M GONNA EXPLODE (VOY A EXPLOTAR) – ICA

6th December, 6.30pm

If you like galas and you like Mexican cinema, then you will enjoy this evening at the ICA, the closing night gala of their Discovering Latin America Film Festival. I’m Gonna Explode concerns Roman, the son of a successful but corrupt Guanajuato politician, who bonds with Maru, a middle-class girl at his school and embarks on a Bonnie and Clyde style adventure with her. The film was apparently inspired by Jean-Luc Godard’s Pierrot Le Fou, and is filled with the tricks and techniques of New Wave cinema. It’s also meant to be great fun, and not take itself too seriously, which is a relief. After the screening there will be a Q & A with the film’s UK distributors, and following that, a party in the ICA bar. You can find more information here.

Also on this week:

MUSIC – The Correspondents are a duo made up of a DJ/producer (Chuckles) and MC/ dancing genius (Mr Bruce), with influences as diverse as Ella Fitzgerald, Mr Scruff, Nightmares on Wax, Soweto Kinch, and most importantly The Jungle Book. Their inspired version of King Louis’ King of the Swingers is not to be missed. They’re playing at The Adventurists Christmas party on Friday 5th. More info here.

FILM – The Tricycle Cinema in Kilburn has a good lineup this week, with Steven Soderbergh’s enjoyable latest film, The Informant!, starring Matt Damon, showing Monday to Wednesday and Michael Haneke’s Cannes Festival winning The White Ribbon showing Thursday to Sunday. More info here.

COMEDY – Sketch group Idiots of Ants have been steadily climbing the greasy comedy pole in recent years with sold out shows at the Edinburgh festival and elsewhere. They’re bringing their show This is War to London this week from Thursday to Saturday at the Pleasance in Islington.