Pick of the Line: Comedy and Clissold Park 5/1/12 – 12/1/12

The Brockley Jack pic: Ewan M

Whether you are full of New Year’s energy or still recovering from the excess of the holiday season, Eastlondonlines can help you find something fun do over the next seven days.

 

 

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5 – “Around the World in 80 Days”, January 5 – January 7 at 7:45pm & January 8 at 4pm, at the Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, Brockley, SE4 2DH

There’s still just time to catch the award-winning Brockley Jack theatre’s festive production, a retelling of Jules Verne’s classic adventure which as the name suggests takes the audience on a world tour from Victorian London to America, via their “technicolour Bollywood vision” of India. Described by The Stage (thestage.co.uk) as “chock-full of makeshift steampunk style,” it promises a lot more verve and imagination than the typical Christmas theatre fare.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6 – The Constella Orchestra New Year Concert, January 6 at 7:30pm, at St Margaret’s Church, Brandram Road, SE13 5EA

The Constella Orchestra is made up of some of the UK’s most talented music students, and aims to bridge the gap between studying music and professional performance. In the suitably imposing setting of St Margaret’s Church in Blackheath they will perform several works including the overture to Mozart’s the Marriage of Figaro.

 

Museum of Childhood at the V&A pic: Rafael Kage

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7 – The Victoria & Albert Museum of Childhood, open 10am – 7:45pm every day, Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9PA

The V&A Museum of Childhood has a number of intriguing exhibitions, but this Saturday will be the last day to see one of their more unusual displays. In My Giant Colouring Book, by the famously transgressive British artists Jake and Dinos Chapman, the brothers present a series of twisted and surreal images based loosely on children’s join the dots puzzles. Also on show is The Stuff of Nightmares, in which local children working with artists have transformed the museum’s front room gallery into a sinister forest scene inspired by the works of the brothers Grimm.

 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7 – “I wish you well” January 5 – January 7, 12pm – 6pm, at the VEGAS Gallery, 274 Poyser Street, E2 9RF

I wish you well at the VEGAS Gallery is a mixed media group exhibition that focuses on the ending of relationships. Including film, sculpture, paintings and drawings by a range of British and international artists, it aims to explore “the pain of the loss of love.” Thought-provoking stuff, though perhaps not the best choice if you’re looking for something light and uplifting.

 

Clissold Park pic: Paul Pod

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 – Clissold House & Park, Hackney, open 7:30am – 4:30pm every day, Greenway Close, N4 2EY

Clissold Park in Stoke Newington has long been one of Hackney’s most popular parks, and the recently completed refurbishment of Clissold House only adds to its appeal. The park includes several lakes, animal and bird enclosures and a children’s play area, and visitors can now take free guided tours of the historic house, or simply relax with a coffee in the renovated cafe.

 

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 – “Beowulf” at the Rosemary Branch theatre, January 5 – January 8 at 7:30pm & January 7 – January 8 at 3pm, 2 Shepperton Road, N1 3DT

Beowulf at the Rosemary Branch Theatre, on the border of Hackney and Islington, is another Christmas show with bite. The pantomime by the Charles Court Opera is described as “sublime silliness,” and has been lauded as “wickedly funny” by the Guardian. The final show will be this Sunday. It’s worth noting that some performances are listed as “adults only” on the Rosemary Branch theatre’s website.

 

Rich Fulcher pic: Ella Mullins

MONDAY, JANUARY 9 – “Happy Mondays”, January 9 at 8pm at the Amersham Arms, New Cross, SE14 6TY

Happy Mondays is the Amersham Arms’ weekly stand-up comedy night, which this week boasts Rich Fulcher, also known as Bob Fossil in the BBC’s wonderfully surreal fantasy sitcom The Mighty Boosh. If his performances in the series and the Mighty Boosh live show are anything to go by he’ll bring plenty of energy to the proceedings in his own unique, unpredictable but always entertaining style.

 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 – “Count Oederland” at the Arcola Theatre, January 10 – January 21 at 7:30pm, 24 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL

Hackney’s famous Arcola Theatre presents Count Oederland, an edgy political thriller written by Max Frisch, described as “Switzerland’s best-known and most controversial author and dramatist.” “Weird, subversive, grotesquely enjoyable,” said the Guardian.

 

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11 – Comedy at the Scream Lounge, January 11 at 9pm, 20 South End, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 1DN

The Scream Lounge is one of Croydon’s best-loved independent music venues, but also hosts other events, including this free live comedy night. Featuring TV’s Dan Wright, the night is compered by Sarah Iles, who Edge Comedy Clubs calls “simply the best female comedian on the circuit.”

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