Top events in London this week
Check out the editors picks for London this week. The London Ice Sculpting Festival starts 13th Jan, don’t forget to vote for your favourite sculpture. You have the opportunity to win a holiday to the Icehotel in Sweden. http://bit.ly/gehbmC. In the cinemas this week: The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth. The King’s Speech tells the story of the relationship between Britain’s reluctant King George VI, plagued by a nervous stammer, and the unorthodox Australian speech therapist who helps him… If you are looking for some family fun, then Disney 50 might be something for you. To celebrate Walt Disney Animation Studios making its 50th feature film, BFI Southbank will be screening each film every weekend for the whole of 2011. For more details, please visit: http://bit.ly/eOmGDR
For more information about what’s on in London please visit www.wozzon.com or download the woZZon app for your Smartphone. http://bit.ly/e4xnrg
Film
The King’s Speech
p>Colin Firth is danger of winning his first Oscar for his outstanding performance as King George VI. The Englishman narrowly missed out on an Oscar for his performance in a Single Man and excels in this royal drama alongside Helena Bonham Carter and Guy Pearce .The King’s Speech tells the story of the relationship between Britain’s reluctant King George VI, plagued by a nervous stammer, and the unorthodox Australian speech therapist who helps him. As the second son of King George V, Prince Albert (Colin Firth) was not expected to inherit the throne. Prince Albert did not want the role because his nervous stammer made public speaking almost unbearable. Despite the efforts of physicians and other therapists, his condition persisted, and Prince Albert (Bertie) had given up hope until he met radical Australian speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush) whose methods were as unconventional as his lack of regard for royal protocol. After the shock abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936, the Duke of York had to succeed his older brother and inspire his nervous country at a time of great upheaval. The King’s relationship with his eccentric speech therapist proved to be crucial as a nervous Britain prepared for war. http://bit.ly/fSWBaS
Music
JLS
One of the most successful new boy bands to emerge in recent times, JLS have come a long way since auditioning for the X Factor in 2008. The band were one-time favourites to win the hyped-up karaoke competition, but ultimately lost out to Alexandra Burke in the final. That was not enough to stop JLS, however, as they quickly signed to Epic Records and enjoyed immediate chart success with their Number 1 singles ‘Beat Again’ and ‘Everybody in Love’. BRIT and MOBO awards followed, and not content with simply conquering the UK charts, the lads set out in the summer of 2010 on a crusade to slay the teen daughters of our American cousins with their dangerously catchy R’n’B-pop hits. Now back in the UK with a new album and arena tour, don’t miss JLS as they continue on their path to the dizzy heights of pop superstardom, back-flipping all the way. http://bit.ly/h0asEW
Film
The Disney 50
To celebrate Walt Disney Animation Studios making its 50th feature film, BFI Southbank will be screening each film every weekend for the whole of 2011. Starting with new film ‘Tangled’ they will then show every film in order of release date starting with ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’. This will be a great opportunity to see some favourites, alongside rarer earlier films such as package movies ‘Fun And Fancy Free’, ‘Make Mine Music’, and ‘Melody Time’ to name a few. Released during the 1940s, package films consisted of several short cartoons woven together through music. Disney went for this format because during World War Two many of the animators who were working on films were called up for service, and they were left with partially finished ideas. Package films were the solution to keep their feature film department alive. Disney films are notorious for releasing their films in “cycles” so that they can keep the market fresh, with certain films being released for a limited time only on DVD and then being taken off the market for several years. This is the perfect way to see the films all over again and see classics such as ‘Cinderella’, ‘The Aristocats, ‘The Jungle Book’, ‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘The Lion King’, plus 45 other films that have been entertaining us all for over 80 years. http://bit.ly/eOmGDR
Comedy
Jerry Sadowitz
Jerry Sadowitz is a well known comedian, having been going since the 1980s. He’s from Glasgow and is a dab hand at magic, having invented a wide selection of sleight-of-hands. He also isn’t afraid of flaunting all social conventions and taboos, like any good comedian. http://bit.ly/f0uekt
Event
London Ice Sculpting Festival
The weather still has a chill in the air, so it is apt that the London Ice Sculpting Festival is being held soon. Over the course of three days some of the finest sculptors will create stunning objects out of ice. There will be singles and doubles competitions held with the themes of ‘Pedal Power’ and ‘Love London’, and there will also be the opportunity to get involved and learn how to sculpt a polar bear from ice. Don’t forget to vote for your favourite sculpture in the Public Choice Award where you have the opportunity to win a holiday to the Icehotel in Sweden. Chilly stuff. http://bit.ly/gehbmC
Event
The Moscow State Circus: Legenda
The Moscow State Circus has chosen ‘Legenda’ as its theme, which is based around the life of Russian figure Rasputin, who was a mystical character who had much influence over Russia in the early 20th century. Circuses nowadays lack lion-tamers and elephants, and opt for more friendly acrobatic performances, however it doesn’t mean that this show is lacking a couple of clowns. Be amazed as trapeze artists fly through the air, magicians perform tricks and jugglers juggle to the extreme. http://bit.ly/gJ2Sik
Theatre
FELA!
This provocative hybrid of dance, theatre and music – relayed live from London’s National Theatre – explores the extravagant, decadent and rebellious world of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Using his pioneering music – a blend of jazz, funk and African rhythm and harmonies – the show reveals Kuti’s controversial life as an artist and political activist. Originating on Broadway, FELA! won three 2010 Tony Awards including Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones). http://bit.ly/i7YYih
Tourist Attractions
What’s so Funny: The Languages of Laughter
This is a day of talks and performances that will dissect the key aspects of comedy. There will be discussions such as ‘Queering The Pitch’ on how gay people are used in comedy, ‘How Do Jokes Work?’ where a panel will discuss the best way to form jokes for the ultimate laugh, ‘Beyond the Pale’ pondering whether there are limits to comedy, and ‘A Universal Language?’ discussing different styles of humour across the country. There will be bags of famous comedians here including, Arthur Smith, Barry Cryer (pictured), Tim Vine, Suan Murray and Richard Herring. Budding comedians take note. http://bit.ly/eAF97c.
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