Art, Theatre, Music & Shows

Vivaldi's beloved Four Seasons is a hugely popular and familiar work - dare one suggest possibly over-familiar? The baroque masterpiece, as recomposed by Max Richter in an avant garde and minimalist vein over ten years ago now, jolts us into a re-acquaintance with Vivaldi's music. Mystery Ensemble's playing of the Richter re-imagining in Portsmouth's Anglican Cathedral last Friday was a delightful... Read More

Reformation: The Cultural impact - A Panel discussion moderated by writer, arts broadcaster and critic Mark Lawson will take place in the Aula Magna at Farm Street Jesuit Centre on 1 November, at 3pm, to mark the world premiere of Jonathan Moore's play about Saint Robert Southwell SJ, 'Shakespeare's Cousin.' Special guests on the panel will be: Clare Asquith, Countess of Oxford and Asquith, Indepe... Read More

El Parnaso Hyspano will be holding three spiritual music workshops in London in October, learning songs that pilgrims have sung on their way to Santiago de Compostela and other places of pilgrimage for many years. After the three sessions, participants will join in a mini-pilgrimage from Farm Street to Spanish Place singing these songs on the way. Pilgrims sang these songs in different times and ... Read More

Musicians from two Catholic schools in Wimbledon: Ursuline High School and Wimbledon College are joining together for a concert which promises to raise the roof in aid of Christians in the Holy Land. The concert, being held at Sacred Heart Church, Edge Hill, SW19 4LU, at 7.30pm on Thursday 1st October, will support Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)'s work in the Holy Land - Jerusalem, Bethlehem and ... Read More

Woe to the hypocritical holy men, Christ warned, 'Because you are like to whitened sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men's bones, and of all filthiness.' The celebrated actor Mark Rylance is currently appearing as just such an impostor in Tartuffe, Molière's hilarious satire against religious hypocrisy. With characteristic brio, he plays Pastor Blake, an oi... Read More

The Gesualdo Six thrilled the Proms audience at the Albert Hall in a late-night Prom last Wednesday. The sweet-voiced singers sang sacred songs medieval and early modern, along with a new creation from their director Owain Park which itself had venerable roots. Dressed in dark suits and white shirts, the six men were generally still, occasionally changing position or leaving the stage momentarily.... Read More

Learn traditional songs sung by pilgrims and join in a mini-pilgrimage from Farm Street to Spanish Place singing these songs on the way. Pilgrims sang these songs in different times and places, reflecting their experience of pilgrimage. We will use these songs to connect with the experience of pilgrimage in our own lives. No prior musical experience is needed, the sessions are open to all. Learn... Read More

Winston Churchill was a great statesman, soldier, and writer. He had many interests and hobbies including painting which became a vital part of his life during World War I. 'Painting is complete as a distraction," he explained, "I know of nothing which, without exhausting the body, more entirely absorbs the mind.' The Wallace Collection, London, displays nearly 60 of his works in this absorbing ex... Read More

Anyone fortunate enough to be at the Greenbelt festival this weekend will be able to see the British premiere of Francesco, a most moving play with music based on the 'Little Flowers of St Francis, in this the beloved saint's 800th anniversary year. I was fortunate to see a special preview of the piece, written and composed by Daniel Zappi, performed for Palestine in London in June. Superbly direc... Read More

A striking photographic exhibition that reveals the people and stories behind familiar images of the Holy Land is coming to the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St Dominic, St Dominic's Priory, Haverstock Hill, from Friday 4 to Sunday 13 September 2026. 50 Faces of the Holy Land features intimate black-and-white portraits by photographer Marcin Mazur. The project brings together Israeli and Pa... Read More

A powerful artwork honouring hundreds of children killed in Gaza has won the public vote at this year's National Eisteddfod art exhibition. The Josef Herman Award - The People's Choice was awarded to Diane Williams from Ynys Môn for the emotional work - a child's nightdress embroidered with the names of 300 children who did not attain the age of one in Gaza - displayed at Y Lle Celf, the National... Read More

The Players of St Peter's, based in St Saviour's Church, Chalk Farm, will be holding auditions for their forthcoming December production of scenes from Medieval Mystery Plays on Thursday, 20th and Monday, 24th August, at 7pm. If you want to take part but can't come on either of those dates, please email to discuss an alternative arrangement. The audition pieces are on the Players' website: https:... Read More

Justin Butcher is playing in his beautiful and profoundly moving one-man play Scaramouche Jones at the Edinburgh Fringe in a celebratory silver anniversary run. He plays a centenarian holy fool who has witnessed atrocity and inhumanity throughout his life, with seven cataclysmic moments evoking the seven sorrows of Mary. Yet he manages to pour a balm upon the world with life-affirming comedy and c... Read More

A dancing Omer Meir Wellber conducted the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, one of Europe's leading orchestras, with brio, acuity and panache at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall last Friday. Wellber, a former Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted the DKam, as it is affectionately nicknamed, from the harpsichord for Haydn's Symphony No. 44 in E minor. Not for Wellber ... Read More