What's on: out and about

EVENT

Notting Hill Carnival

28-29 Aug
nhcarnival.org

A parade of colourful floats and costumes will bring the streets of West London alive during this month’s Notting Hill festivities, back after a two-year break due to the pandemic. First held in the Sixties, the carnival is one of the world’s biggest and most vibrant street festivals and attracts more than two million visitors to enjoy dancing to steel bands and calypso music, and eating delicious Caribbean food.

EVENT

International Beatleweek

Liverpool
24-30 Aug
internationalbeatleweek.com

The Beatles’ first TV performance was recorded 60 years ago this month in Liverpool’s Cavern Club. Months later their first single Love Me Do was released – and the rest is rock ‘n’roll history. To mark that first televised gig, International Beatleweek is taking place this month and the Fab Four’s hits will ring out across Liverpool. Seventy tribute bands will come together in the city to perform at various venues.

EVENT

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

5-29 Aug
edfringe.com

Veteran actor Sir Ian McKellen will perform Hamlet, and Frank Skinner, Al Murray and Frankie Boyle will take the stage for stand-up shows during this year’s 25-day Edinburgh Festival Fringe – the world’s largest arts festival, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Other highlights include the premiere of a new murder mystery Are You Being Murdered? starring Arthur Bostrom (‘Allo ‘Allo!), and Les Dawson: Flying High, a celebration of the late comedy legend starring Jon Culshaw.

EVENT

This Bright Land

Somerset House, London
1-29 Aug
somersethouse.org.uk

A new cultural festival with music, dance and talks will launch this month at Somerset House, featuring a 35m observation wheel to give fantastic views of London’s skyline. There will also be a series of open-air ‘Vogue Balls’, and a Wonder Garden and treasure hunts for children.

THEATRE

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

UK tour
From 5 Sept
marigoldshow.com

If you loved Deborah Moggach’s bestseller and the star-studded film, then get ready for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel tour, which kicks off next month in London and will be travelling around the country until summer 2023. Rula Lenska, Hayley Mills and Paul Nicholas star in the play about an eclectic group of British retirees who head to India for a new life.

THEATRE

Horrible Histories – Terrible Tudors

Garrick Theatre, London
Until 2 Sept, then on tour until 26 Oct
birminghamstage.com

From Henry VIII and his unfortunate wives to Bloody Mary, Horrible Histories – Terrible Tudors will take its audience on a whistle-stop tour of Tudor times and provide the perfect diversion for grandchildren aged five and above during the summer holidays (and – whisper it – it’s educational too).

THEATRE

Room On The Broom

Lyric Theatre, London
Until 4 Sept
roomonthebroomlive.com

The Gruffalo

The Lowry, Salford, Greater Manchester
Until 21 Aug
thelowry.com

Younger children will love the magical Room on the Broom, an adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s much-loved book about a witch and a cat who pick up some hitchhikers, showing at London’s Lyric Theatre. They are also bound to adore The Gruffalo, based on the book by the same author, which will be at The Lowry theatre in Salford.

THEATRE

Mandela

The Young Vic,
London 29 November – 4 February 2023
youngvic.org

Tickets are now on sale for a new musical telling the story of the late Nelson Mandela and his fight for equality in South Africa. Michael Luwoye (Hamilton) is in the title role.

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