NW11 Area Guide

"I believe that we are at this moment sleeping on a volcano. Do you not feel, by some intuitive instinct that the earth is quaking once again in Europe Alexis de Tocqueville, Chamber of Deputies, Jan 29th, 1848 1848 has been called the European Spring. Starting in Italy, a wave of revolution swept across the continent and, for three days in February, it engulfed Paris. The culturati debated, made speeches and looked on from the salon and first-floor drawing-rooms, while in the street below the barricades were building and blood was being shed. In that same moment, Louise Farrenc celebrated concert pianist, composer, scholar and Professor of Piano at the Paris Conservatoire was quietly conducting her own revolution of gender and class in conventional musical form. How important was the one to the other For 150 years after her death, the world chose to ignore this composer. Only recently has the work received the attention it deserves. Join us, Tekla Arts and the Marcel Chamber Ensemble, on her birthday, May 31st, as we celebrate in concert the life, times and music of Louise Farrenc, as seen through the lens of Three Days in February when "Madame Farrenc Goes to the Revolution" Supporting REFUGE: the charity For women and children Against domestic violence

Sir Robert Chiltern is a successful government minister, well-off and with a loving wife. All this is threatened when Mrs Cheveley appears with evidence of a past he would rather hide. Sir Robert has to decide whether to yield to blackmail or risk exposing the origins of his wealth and position. The themes of this play, which revolve around blackmail and political corruption, are as relevant now as they were when Oscar Wilde wrote the play 130 years ago.

Stand-up comedian Farah Sharp is a mixed-race, middle child of divorce who's just turned thirty. Shes also having an identity crisis - but thats surely unrelated. Inspired by TV show Who Do You Think You Are, Farahs embarking on a voyage of self discovery to figure out whose fault her personality is. Expect an analytical break-down of her family tree, or perhaps just a breakdown... Join Farah as she attempts to solve all her problems by digging to the root. Named 'One to watch' in the Funny Women Awards 2023, Farah has been making a name for herself on the UK Comedy scene; she has been featured on BBC Radio 4 and performs regularly all across the country, even gracing the stages of The Royal Albert Hall, Latitude Festival, Leeds Festival and The Comedy Store. Be amongst the first to watch Farah chisel her much anticipated debut solo work-in-progress show into being. "Farah Sharp is very funny. I saw her first!" - Seann Walsh

Brainfools are back at Jacksons Lane with an electrifying three-night scratch night extravaganza! Experience themed performances: 'Poetry Slam,' 'Body Music,' and 'Clowns are in the House.' Witness bold, innovative work as artists push creative boundaries — expect surprises, inspiration, and a buzz that will last long after the final curtain.

Head into Waterlow Park and help us search for the Haft-sin eggs! Celebrated around the spring equinox, Nowruz heralds the transition from winter to spring in the northern hemisphere. This moment of equilibrium between night and day signifies a fresh start. Preparations for Nowruz commence weeks ahead, involving an extensive cleaning of homes— from carpets to windows, with every family member contributing. This thorough spring-cleaning serves as a symbolic act, washing away the remnants of the past year to make room for positive changes in the upcoming one. During the joyous celebration, families gather around the Haft-sin table, decorated with with seven foods and spices which represent renewal and prosperity. Each item begins with the letter ‘s’ and has a unique meaning which combine to create a tapestry of wishes and aspirations for the year ahead. Other items, such as a mirror, goldfish, painted eggs, candles, are frequently added, as they also represent life, love, health, and prosperity. Join us in the park and follow the trail to find our hidden eggs, whilst learning about the ingredients for the Haft-sin! Each egg represents an item, and can be discovered by following the clues on the trail map, which will be available online and for pickup at Lauderdale House at the end of February. Good luck!

MYRIAM GENDRON is a Montreal-based songwriter, guitarist and singer. Mayday is the third LP by Gendron, it follows her earlier, critically acclaimed albums, Not So Deep As A Well (2014) and Ma délire Songs of love, lost & found (2021). Prior to her debut album, Myriam's primary musical focus was busking in Paris Metro stations, performing the songs of Leonard Cohen and others, accompanying herself on guitar. Through her day job, working at a Montreal bookstore, Myriam discovered the poems of American writer, Dorothy Parker, who was better known for her cutting wit than her verse. Inspired by Parker's words, Myriam wrote music to accompany a suite of them, then recorded the results in her bedroom. These recordings were issued as her debut LP, and continue to delight listeners who discover them, with their freshness, clarity and humor. After a brief hiatus, Myriam began exploring the complex folk traditions of Quebec (and beyond), recording the 2LP, Ma délire, which combines traditional and original songs (largely in French) with arrangements that make space for avant-garde musical interludes by such folks as guitarist Bill Nace (Body/Head) and renowned jazz percussionist Chris Corsano. Mayday is an even more syncretic fusion of these elements. Most of the songs are original, in both English and French, and blend traditional and avant elements with abandon. Additional players this time include drummer Jim White (Dirty Three), guitarist Marisa Anderson, Montreal bassist Cédric Dind-Lavoie (a fellow fan of trad/avant dynamism), Bill Nace and saxophonist Zoh Amba (whose horn actually gets the final word). Mayday is a thoroughly thrilling effort that manages to create new vistas of sound while maintaining a feel that is both intimate and familiar. Beautiful work. https://myriamgendron.bandcamp.com/ THE MEMORY BAND have been navigating its own path through the folk music landscape of the digital age since 2003. Led by producer Stephen Cracknell with a fluid cast of collaborators The Memory Band blend songs and instrumentals, the traditional with the modern and the sacred with the profane. Their two decade adventure has produced six studio albums as well as side projects such as The Balearic Folk Orchestra and The Accidental. They have a long history of performing music from Paul Giovanni's soundtrack to The Wicker Man as well as other film and archive related projects. In 2024 The Memory Band released 'Never The Same Way Twice and 'A Common Treasury' two volumes of unreleased archive recordings on their own Hungry Hill label and in 2025 make their return to live performance. https://thememoryband.com/