Featured Events in London in February 2024 (January Updated)

• Enjoy this two-time Olivier Audience Award winner and the longest-running musical in the West End • Witness the epic story of a man trying to escape his past and create a new life for himself and his surrogate daughter in post-Revolutionary France • Immerse yourself in a performance based on elements from Victor Hugo's novel of the same name, giving the audience a deep artistic enjoyment and historical review "Les Misérables" is a musical based on the novel of the same name by French writer Victor Hugo, and was co-created by French musical composers Claude Michel Schonberg and Alain Boboli. The English version of the musical "Les Misérables" has so far been translated into 22 languages. It was once selected as "Number One Essential Musicals" by the BBC. It has been performing continuously for more than 30 years, making it the longest-running musical in London's West End. "Les Misérables" has swept various musical theater awards, including multiple "Tony Awards", "Laurence Olivier Awards" and "Grammy Awards". Les Miserables the Musical is staged at the Sondheim Theater in London's West End. The theater only performs this one play all year round. Since the English version of "Les Misérables" was successfully produced and premiered at the Barbican Center in London in 1985, it has performed 8 performances a week in London and has been performing frequently. By 2010, the cumulative number of performances in London had exceeded 10,000. In March 2010, Les Misérables celebrated its 25th anniversary with three productions in London: the original version at Queen's Theatre; a 25th anniversary touring version at the Barbican Centre, where it premiered in 1985; and a 25th anniversary concert at the O2 Arena.

The artwork is displayed on powder-coated steel gates, designed by Whittle and made at Glasgow Sculpture Studios. It was unveiled on 5 October 2023 at the Queen’s House in Greenwich. Feeling Blue has been developed in response to RMG’s large and varied collections, as well as the history and cultural significance of Greenwich. The 160 x 155 cm tapestry is filled with richly evocative textures, symbolic shapes, and tropical colours. It was woven by hand over a period of six months by Naomi Robertson and Elaine Wilson at Dovecot Studios. They used a variety of techniques, yarns, and over 150 colour mixes to add variety and depth to the surface of the tapestry. Dominating the tapestry is the phrase ‘feeling blue’ which stands out from a background of blues and greens, the combination of different shades resembling water in motion. Blue is immediately associated with oceans and seas but there are also more emotive connotations which Whittle chose to explore. The colour blue, and in particular the term ‘feeling blue’, is used to describe sadness or depression. While the exact origin of the term is uncertain it has been suggested that it comes from the tradition of ships flying blue flags and officers bearing a painted blue band when a captain or officer died. For others, blue symbolises tranquillity. In the Queen’s House the colour blue is used throughout for decoration, notably the balustrade of the Tulip Stairs. Drawing on her research of the British naval uniform, Whittle also reflects on the legacies of British colonialism. From the mid-eighteenth-century, the Royal Navy introduced a uniform for officers made from a deep blue fabric. The colour was achieved using a dye from the indigo plant that was native to India. Until the end of the eighteenth century the indigo plant was grown, harvested and processed by enslaved people on North American plantations. Indentured labourers in India and modern-day Bangladesh also produced indigo for the East India Company. Today, Navy blue endures as a colour of authority from police to military officers, though the history of the colour and connection to colonialism is little known. Whittle continues her exploration of maritime worlds by the inclusion of coloured ropes – reminiscent of those used on ships. For Whittle, rope is a symbol of both hope and oppression. Ropes are associated with bondage, imprisonment and even execution but are equally symbolic of lifelines for people in distress. Whittle’s ongoing engagement with the climate crisis is found in the decorative coral that frames the tapestry. The delicate pastel pinks and vibrant yellows evoke the beauty of tropical oceans and are a reminder of the importance of reefs. Decorative cultured freshwater pearl beads have also been stitched onto the tapestry. As well as representing an oceanic realm, Whittle connects Feeling Blue with two sixteenth-century paintings the Armada Portrait and Sir Francis Drake which will be displayed alongside the tapestry. In both portraits, pearls are used as a symbol of wealth, some of which was derived from colonial trade and exploitation. The tapestry is hung on a set of blue ‘gates’, which are an important component of Whittle’s work. Whittle sees the ‘gates’ as reminiscent of fencing, suggesting containment and control. Placed within the gallery space the gates no longer act as a barrier. Instead, Whittle uses the gates to expand rather than restrict as visitors are free to walk around them and view the tapestry from both sides. The decorative fretwork on the panels evokes the architecture of the Queen’s House, in particular the Tulip Stairs. Alberta Whittle, said: “The commission has been a wonderful opportunity to think deeply about maritime histories and consider the powers in place that decide how these histories are portrayed. This new tapestry is a chance to explore these ideas of power alongside the rhythms of the ocean and its vulnerability under climate colonialism. The commission has also provided me with the opportunity to continue to work with Naomi Robertson and Elaine Wilson at Dovecot Studios and the rest of the fantastic weaving team.” Celia Joicey, Director of Dovecot Studios, said: "This commission represents the contemporary significance of tapestry as a collective medium. Started in the midst of the 2021 lockdown, it is testimony to a group of people responding creatively and collaboratively to the Museum collections. Feeling Blue embodies the passion, focus and skill of Dovecot’s weavers, Alberta Whittle’s endlessly interesting ideas and the care and enterprise of the commissioning team." Katherine Gazzard, Curator of Art, Royal Museums Greenwich, said: “At Royal Museums Greenwich, we are committed to working with contemporary artists whose practice engages with our historic sites and collections, as well as with the present challenges facing our communities and our planet. The opportunity to commission a contemporary tapestry from Alberta Whittle and Dovecot Studios spoke powerfully to this ethos. The finished tapestry will go on public display in the Queen’s House, our flagship art gallery. When the Queen’s House was built in the early 17th century, it was at the cutting edge of art and design. Commissions like Feeling Blue help us to honour that legacy, ensuring that, four centuries after the building’s completion, the Queen’s House continues to showcase artistic innovations and new perspectives.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feeling Blue Alberta Whittle Tapestry by Dovecot Studios 2023, cotton, linen, synthetic yarn, cultured freshwater pearl beads Tapestry woven for Dovecot by Naomi Robertson, Master Weaver, and Elaine Wilson Displayed on powder coated steel gates made by Glasgow Sculpture Studios Purchased with assistance from the Contemporary Art Society

• Enjoy stunning visuals, gorgeous costume designs, and stunning stage backdrops • Experience the untold story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch • Explore the complexities of good and evil, the power of redemption, and the lasting bonds of friendship Feel the magic of Elphaba and witness the magic of theater at the Apollo Victoria Theater in London's West End. Wicked tells the untold story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch, in one unforgettable show. Prepare to be wowed by technical wizardry, dazzling costumes, jaw-dropping songs and a witty homage to L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz.” Although Wicked is one of London's longest-running musicals, it continues to redefine modern musical theater for an entire generation, challenging our preconceptions of good and evil. △　You will enjoy the dazzling stage and exquisite and dreamy costumes △　The large mechanical stage will bring you a special on-site experience △ Enjoy the showdown between the evil witch and the good witch

A Virtual Reality Art Exhibition that you can view in any location and on any device. Please see the above picture instructions for how you can view it on a tablet/mobile. You can view the exhibition with or without a virtual reality headset. Copy this link to view the Virtual Reality Art Exhibition on a computer/laptop: https://edu.cospaces.io/PMB-KAV The Virtual Private View of the Exhibition was held on Thursday 14th of May 2020 at 8:15pm on Zoom (Virtual drinks provided.)

The Architecture Window is a space for new voices in architecture at the heart of the RA. It hosts a series of ‘microexhibitions’ which showcase work by young people, design and architecture students, young curators and architects.

Tate presents a rare chance to experience two of Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms. These immersive installations will transport you into Kusama’s unique vision of endless reflections. Infinity Mirrored Room – Filled with the Brilliance of Life is one of Kusama’s largest installations to date and was made for her 2012 retrospective at Tate Modern. It is shown alongside Chandelier of Grief, a room which creates the illusion of a boundless universe of rotating crystal chandeliers. A small presentation of photographs and moving image – some on display for the first time – provides historical context for the global phenomenon that Kusama’s mirrored rooms have become today. Born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan, Kusama came to international attention in 1960s New York for a wide-ranging creative practice that has encompassed installation, painting, sculpture, fashion design and writing. Since the 1970s she has lived in Tokyo, where she continues to work prolifically and to international acclaim. Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirror Rooms is presented in The George Economou Gallery. This exhibition is in partnership with Bank of America, with additional support from Uniqlo. Please read our safety guidelines below before you visit.

According to Brown, the title questions not so much what a leisure centre is but what might be the centre of our leisure. What is the point at which relaxation and non-functional activity allows the mind to freely wander, when we can indulge in activities or thoughts simply for the pure pleasure of doing so. When does sex go beyond procreation, when does food satisfy more than hunger or when does furniture become more than functional - arguably, the point at which it becomes art. The Leisure Centre combines the works of Glenn Brown, with artists from the past and present which are in his collection, of which the full list is below. The exhibition asks the viewer to become a flaneur, travelling through time and place around the rooms of The Brown Collection; questioning which century a work was made, who made it and why. Philip Akkerman (Dutch, b.1957), Abraham Bloemaert (Dutch, 1566-1651), Glenn Brown (British, b. 1966), Gillis Claesz. de Hondecoeter (Dutch, 1575/80-1638), Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (Dutch, 1562-1638), Morris Cox (British, 1903-1998), Henri Fantin-Latour (French, 1836-1904), Gaetano Gandolfi (Italian, 1734-1802), Mauro Gandolfi (Italian, 1764-1834), Ubaldo Gandolfi (Italian, 1728-1781), Jean-Baptiste Greuze (French, 1725-1805), Hans Hartung (German-French, 1904-1989), Grace Pailthorpe (British, 1883-1971), Fiona Rae, R.A. (British, 1963), Austin Osman Spare (British, 1886-1956), Andries Jacobsz Stock (Dutch, 1580-1648), Jan Saenredam (Dutch, 1565-1607), Jan Toorop (Dutch, 1858-1928), Gillian Wearing (British, b. 1963)

To mark Cugoano's 250th anniversary, Trinidad-based artist Che Lovelace has been selected to create paintings to be installed in the entrance of the church. Seen by all visitors to St James’s it will be the first permanent art commission to commemorate Cugoano’s life anywhere in the world. Lovelace paints the intersecting lives of the people and natural beauty of Trinidad. Infused with rich colours and bold shapes, his paintings straddle the boundary between magical realism, abstraction and the beauty of the natural world. Quobna Ottobah Cugoano described his personal experience of being trafficked at the age of 13 to work on a plantation in Grenada and bought by a merchant to England where he gained his freedom in 1772, in his book Thoughts and Sentiments on the Evil of Slavery published in 1787. His baptism, in 1773, was an act which promised his ongoing freedom; however he didn’t live long enough to see slavery abolished by the UK Parliament. With his exact dates of birth and death unknown, Cugoano’s baptism on 20 August 1773 at St James’s is the only place and date that is clearly and verifiably part of his story. Lovelace was selected by a process led by curator Ekow Eshun and involving members of the church’s congregation and clergy. The commission is supported by generous donations from international lawyer and philanthropist Dr Tai-Heng Cheng and his husband, gallerist Mr Cole Harrell, both American Friends of St James’s Piccadilly. The commission is part of St James’s cultural programme overseen by Creative Director Richard Parry, previously Director, Glasgow International. The commission is the cornerstone of St James’s programme of events commemorating Cugoano’s baptismal anniversary year, which includes: Friday 22 September, 7-9pm – opening event and artist Che Lovelace ‘In Conversation’ with Rector of St James’s Lucy Winkett Thursday 5 October, 7pm – Author Ben Okri will read from recent works and discuss the legacy and resonance of Cugoano today with writer and curator Ekow Eshun Saturday 7 October, from 5.30pm – Visualising Britain’s Black Past an evening exploring the life, legacy and contemporary resonance of Ottobah Cugoano. Desireé Baptiste will perform her short play, Incidents in the Life of an Anglican Slave, inspired by a 1723 letter from an anonymous enslaved Virginian housed discovered in Lambeth Palace Library. Screening of Palimpsest: Tales Spun From Sea And Memories by Billy Gerard Frank artist-film maker and shown in the Grenada National Pavilion at 59th Venice Biennale. Followed by a panel discussion led by curator Ekow Eshun exploring the life, legacy and contemporary resonance of Ottobah Cugoano with the artists joined by Paterson Joseph, actor and author of The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho (2022). Saturday 14 October, 7pm - Julianknxx presents a special performance with a choir songs which echo the notion of ‘flight’ in relation to Africa, coinciding with his exhibition Chorus in Rememory of Flight at Barbican

‘The pandemic really brought out the good in people, it seemed to illuminate our strengths and fortitude in the face of an ever-evolving virus.’ - RM, clinical microbiology fellow, north-west England fortitude (noun): courage in pain or adversity In January 2021 the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) museum created a survey to collect and record the experiences of RCP members and other healthcare professionals working during the COVID-19 pandemic. From trainee doctors and consultants to GPs and physician associates, survey respondents from over 20 medical specialties and professions described how their lives were transformed. With their permission, the RCP is privileged to share their experiences, in their own words. These stories may be challenging to read and hear. They are honest and speak of suffering, chaos and exhaustion. They are also inspiring, filled with compassion, courage and joy. Some stories may contradict our own understanding of the pandemic, and others caution and urge us to learn from these experiences. The objects, images, written accounts and recordings in the exhibition were donated to the RCP via the survey, and the quotes are taken directly from donations. This exhibition contains images, descriptions and audio recordings relating to illness, death, grief and trauma

In this fun, family-friendly experience you’ll get a chance to hear, interact with, and even make your own music! You’ll explore the science and secrets around the impact music has on us with unique interactive exhibits. From exploring how technological advances can make music more accessible for everyone, to the ways in which music unlocks emotions and memories, Turn It Up is an unforgettable, hands-on experience where you can feel, remember and reflect on what music means to each of us.