Theatre
Two Man Show
An Edinburgh fringe favourite, this two-person show (played by the two women comprising the RashDash theatre company) explores gender identity, the patriarchy and notions of “maleness” with music, dance and a messy energy.
Soho theatre, W1, to 4 March
The Pitchfork Disney
The 1990s are back – particularly on the stage, with revivals in the last couple of years including Shopping And Fucking and Blasted. Whether they’re as shocking as they once were is debatable, but The Pitchfork Disney, Philip Ridley’s dark fable about abandoned kids, is a must-see.
At Shoreditch Town Hall, EC1, until 18 March
Film
The Oscars 2017
Rictus chatshow mainstay Jimmy Kimmel MCs the 89th Academy Awards on Sunday and, as usual, all eyes are on the best picture gong. Among this year’s wad of worthy wannabes are Arrival, Fences, Manchester By The Sea and Lion, though this one smacks of a tug-of-war between La La Land and Moonlight. There can only be one winner …
Certain Women
Adultery, alienation and lust animate this adaptation of a trio of short stories by Maile Meloy. The mood of Kelly Reichardt’s new film is solemn and contemplative but the director elicits startling performances from the likes of Michelle Williams (as an isolated and betrayed wife) and Lily Gladstone (as a frustrated rancher mistaking affection for love). Beautifully understated yet overflowing with yearning.
In cinemas from 3 March
Music
The Winter’s Tale at the ENO
Opening on Monday, this new take on a Shakespeare classic is directed by Rory Kinnear (James Bond’s Bill Tanner) and composed by Ryan Wigglesworth.
At London Coliseum, WC2, from 27 February to 14 March
Dance
Leap 2017
The 25th anniversary of this 12-day dance festival springs into action on Wednesday in Liverpool, turning the city’s MAKE space into a purpose-built celebration of dance. Highlights include COAL, Gary Clarke’s powerful recreation of life in mining communities; Hetain Patel: American Man, a surreal solo comedy piece; Mary Pearson’s FoMO, MOFOs!; and primal eight-hour immersive show, Project O: Voodoo.
At various venues from 1-12 March
TV
Legion
The halfway point of Noah Hawley’s visually stunning, psychologically complex and – most importantly – very Noah Hawley-ish X-Men spin-off finds David (Dan Stevens) in something of a pickle. Few shows dare to tackle mental health or superheroics with such verve, so the fact Hawley does both, while imbuing the tale with warmth and quirkiness, is very commendable indeed. Essential.
Thursdays, 9pm, Fox
Exhibitions
America After The Fall
By photographing and painting the victims of the Great Depression, artists such as Walker Evans and Grant Wood were doing more than documenting their times. This show suggests that their methodology and vision launched changes that culminated in the likes of Pollock.
At Royal Academy, W1, 25 February to 4 June
Bacon To Doig
The modern British art featured in this Cardiff exhibition is typified by the disturbing decadence of Francis Bacon – and his portrait of Henrietta Moraes is among the centrepieces here. Elsewhere, look out for Lucian Freud and David Hockney, whose painting testifies to the unflinching fearlessness of late 20th-century British creativity.
Events
Museum Lates
Late-night openings at museums and galleries have long been a millennial-baiting tradition, but two upcoming events are particularly superb. At Tate Britain, Festival No 6 is having a party, with indie lads Blossoms playing with an ensemble, plus Sara Pascoe, Charlotte Church’s excellent new pop covers band Love Bomb and poetry from John Cooper Clarke. At Stratford Arts Circus, meanwhile, fanzine gal-dem curates with talks, Moonlight screenings, spoken-word performances and much more.
V&A and gal-dem at Stratford Art Circus, E15, 24-25 February; Festival No 6 at Tate Britain, SW1, 3 March
