After well-recieved runs at both the White Bear and Oval House, Daniel Reitz’s play, Studies for a Portrait,  about a dying artist caught in a web of emotional intrigue (three men vying for his affections, art and fortune-hmmm), lands at the King’s Head Theatre with a n all new cast. The eight week run debuted March 30th and will run through May 23rd.

Julian Barker, who is perhaps one of the most acclaimed American artists of all time (alongside the likes of Andy Warhol), has only months to live as pancreatic cancer is ravaging his body. As the news of his imminent demise spreads, he retreats to East Hampton to die an artists death. Chad, Julian’s much younger partner, is set to become the prime beneficiary of his extremely valuable legacy of iconic works. But Marcus, Julian’s former lover, is determined to stake his claim and re-enters the picture.  And last but not least enters Chad’s 23-year-old underwear-model boyfriend, Justin, who intervenes with his own agenda.

Is there anything better than spending your evening watching a cat fight unfold? I think not.

Other ideas for you Culturati’s out there.

The 24th London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival is set to hit the capital’s SouthBank for the last fortnight of March, bringing an eclectic, ground-breaking, sometimes devilish, oft heartbreaking collection of films whose commonality is their celebration of gay – or just queer! – culture. Read the full story

Following the massive success of its three pop-up nights last year, the (in)famous Circus – as brought to you by AAA-list drag queen Jodie Harsh – has made the welcome decision to open back up a regular club night. Now approaching its fourth birthday, Circus becomes a monthly party – and things can only can better (and bigger!). Read the full story

Matthew Bourne’s legendary all-male Swan Lake is back in London – but only until January 24, and this production, at Sadler’s Wells, has been garnering reviews to equal – or better, those it received at its premiere there in 1995.
 
The longest running ballet in the history of the West End or Broadway, Bourne’s Swan Lake is based loosely on the romantic Russian original, including its Tchaikovsky music and plot outline, but with stylistic inspiration from Hitchcock’s The Birds, and most startlingly of all, with the traditional female corps de ballet replaced with a menacing male ensemble. At its Broadway premiere, Time Out New York called it “a miracle”.
 
Touring companies have played to sold-out houses throughout the world, earning Bourne’s work over 30 international theatre awards, including three Tonys, but now it’s back where it all began, and with extravagant, award-winning designs by Lez Brotherston.
 
“The impact of this vibrant staging is undiminished; if anything it’s even stronger” (The Times).
 
“As bold and beautiful as ever” (Daily Telegraph).
 
“The most successful modern ballet yet made. This Swan is as powerful as ever” (Daily Express).
 
 
www.sadlerswells.com

NYE. The choices are endless, as is the potential for disappointment. Over-expensive, over-priced, over-hyped, we could go on. Which is why Carpet Burn have laid on a small, intimate house party that just happens to be in a club. With some of the best DJs in town, music to make you smile, a crowd that promises to make you smile some more, all in deepest, darkest, fun-est Shoreditch. With a retro, feel-good 80′s twist!

Think party poppers, indecent balloons, animal nitrate, pink wafers, silly string, Kerry’s prawn ring, Tia Maria, silly conversation, AMAZING 80s dance, pop and house and a place to go where everybody knows ya name (or soon will when you’ve talked b****cks at them for fifteen minutes at the bar). What’s even more heart warming is this is being brought to you for at the cost one ten pound note.

Hosted by JONNY WOO

PRINCE NELLY (GUILTY PLEASURES)
LIL’ JON
STEVE THE QUEEN
C*NT MIX WON’T MIX (his living room)

£10 advance tickets/£15 on the door.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT:

Eagle London, 349 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall (£2 booking fee)
Prowler, 5-7 Brewer Street, Soho (£2 booking fee)
Mollie Sugden’s, 240 Brick Lane, Shoreditch (£1 booking fee)

Or email carpetburn76@googlemail.com for an online option (£2 booking fee).