Another weekend in the capital and there’s plenty to do and see. There’s everything from Susan Sarandon’s West End debut — astonishing as that is — to a huge festival in Deptford, and, of course, a chance to see the Lionesses (hopefully!) claim the Euros trophy. Besides that? It’s clearly time to rediscover The Osbournes. A genius piece of telly.
Here’s everything you could do in London this weekend.
Things to do in London this weekend (July 24-27)
Baller FC x Lionesses, Signature Brew Taproom, July 27, ballerfc.com
The sports collective Baller FC, a group of friends, event producers, DJs and musicians from the queer community, is putting on watching parties to celebrate the Women’s Euros and follow the Lionesses as they kick on. The final, on July 27, is set to be another historic match. A party in Haggerston is to bring skills challenges, barber cuts, art takeovers, quizzes and more alongside the classic food, drink, and big screens.
The FA via Getty Images
Marvel at Emily Kam Kngwarray
Tate Modern is hosting the first major solo exhibition in Europe dedicated to the late Aboriginal artist Emily Kam Kngwarray. The show features more than 80 of her works, including early batik — a dyeing technique on fabric — pieces and acrylic paintings. Many of these are being shown outside of Australia for the first time, providing insight into one of the most significant painters to emerge in the late 20th century.
Spot a celeb at Shanghai Me
Do you know what London was missing? Another high-end pan-Asian restaurant on the top of a skyscraper. Shanghai Me comes from the Dubai-based Fundamental Hospitality, and so a particularly loud brand of glamour is the order of the day. Diners may order two crab legs served on wooden boards for £90 (!)and sushi platters on iced bamboo scaffolding. The restaurant is on the 28th floor of the Hilton on Park Lane. We imagine celebrity sightings are on the way. The restaurant of Love Island dreams?
Catch Keeley Hawes in The Assassin
Few actors are more masterful when it comes to portraying mysterious, powerful women than Keeley Hawes. She returns to our screens in The Assassin, a six-part series that follows a retired assassin (Hawes) and her estranged son (Freddie Highmore), who reconnects with his mother seeing answers about her past. The story only darkens when a conspiracy begins to unfold.
Prime Video
Feel the bombast of The Bad Guys 2
After the bombastic success of the first film, here comes another animated heist comedy based on the children’s book series by Aaron Blabey. Produced by DreamWorks, the irreverent caper is directed by Pierre Perifel and features an all-star cast including Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, Zazie Beetz and Richard Ayoade. The premise hardly matters, but for what it’s worth, the Bad Guys are out of retirement and joining forces with an all-female criminal squad to carry out one final, monumental theft.
It seems impossible not to think about the Prince of Darkness right now. Ozzy Osbourne died this week at the age of 76. He left behind one of music’s most profound and beguiling back catalogues, one that changed music forever and which remains as powerful a force as ever. He also dabbled in reality TV, you may or may not recall, and was pioneering on screen just as he was on stage. Four seasons of the Osbournes began in 2002; it’s a show that ought to be revisited by all, one that documented the warmth, feeling and love of a family. If nothing more, it is wonderfully entertaining and funny.
Revisit the Nineties with Irvine Welsh’s Men in Love
There have been three sort-of sequels to Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh’s era-defining 1993 novel. This is the most immediate, beginning where that book left off. The lads are feeling their way into the future, still themselves, still drawn to violence and addiction: if you liked or hated the original, you’ll like or hate this. What with this mess of a government and an Oasis reunion it feels like quite the story for the times.
Penguin Books
Explore Fletcher’s Would You Still Love Me If You Really Knew Me?
Queer pop icon Fletcher is back with her third studio album, a fun and melodic record full of sensitivity, wit and romantic ideals. Her massive fanbase is only expected to grow with this latest piece of work, which blends autobiography with pop hooks. “This is my heart split open on record,” Fletcher said ahead of the release.
Don’t miss the last days of the Deptford X Festival
There are just three days left of the 26th edition of the Deptford X Festival, one of London’s greatest community assets. Founded in 1998 and the city’s longest-running visual arts showcase, Deptford X brings together more than 500 artists for more than two weeks, combining events, workshops, readings and exhibitions. Rooted in Lewisham Arthouse, it’s a wonderful celebration of local creativity.
Book up for Mary Page Marlowe
In this “vivid, time-jumping mosaic of one woman’s life”, the story begins with a 40-year-old woman telling her children that she is divorcing their father. From there, her past life is examined out of chronological order. The play, from the Pulitzer prize-winner Tracy Letts, premiered in 2016 and is coming to The Old Vic in September, starring Susan Sarandon in her London stage debut, and Andrea Riseborough. Absolutely not to be missed.