Your Complete Entertainment Guide: From Nouvelle Vague to Mock the Week
This week's entertainment landscape offers a rich tapestry of cultural experiences, blending cinematic homages, musical performances, artistic explorations, and streaming delights. Whether you're planning a night out or a cosy evening in, our comprehensive guide highlights the must-see events and releases across multiple creative disciplines.
Going Out: Cinema
Nouvelle Vague presents Richard Linklater's latest cinematic venture, where the acclaimed director turns his attention to French film history. This mellow dramatisation explores the transformative period when critics like Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, and Claude Chabrol evolved into legendary filmmakers, capturing the essence of cinematic revolution.
Is This Thing On? brings Hollywood comedy inspired by British comedian John Bishop's life story. Will Arnett portrays a man navigating marital troubles who unexpectedly finds success in open mic comedy, with Laura Dern playing his wife in this Bradley Cooper-directed project.
Primate delivers quirky horror as a family's tropical holiday descends into chaos when their chimpanzee pet contracts rabies, creating an unconventional antagonist in this unusual survival story.
Shelter features Jason Statham in an action-packed survival thriller where a former assassin must protect a young girl rescued during a storm, with his dangerous past threatening to complicate their precarious situation. The supporting cast includes Bill Nighy, Naomi Ackie, and Daniel Mays.
Going Out: Gigs
Anna of the North brings her emotionally charged Scandi-pop to London's Islington Assembly Hall on 5th February. The Tyler, the Creator collaborator continues to showcase her distinctive sound, with audiences anticipating new material from her ongoing Girl in a Bottle EP project.
Manchester Collective: Sky With the Four Suns embarks on a national tour from 3rd to 12th February, starting at Bristol Beacon. Their immersive classical performances juxtapose John Luther Adams's Canticles of the Sky with works by Purcell, Britten, and Arvo Pärt, alongside new commissions from emerging talent Jasmine Morris.
Dana Masters/Viva Cuba Late Show marks the reopening of Ronnie Scott's refurbished Upstairs venue on 6th February. The soul-jazz artist and former Van Morrison vocalist performs alongside a Cuban-jazz Late Late Show, celebrating both the venue's historic legacy and its commitment to showcasing rising stars.
Xiu Xiu tours from 31st January to 7th February, showcasing their experimental rock interpretations. Their recently released compilation features unsettling cover versions, including a particularly memorable take on Robyn's modern classic Dancing on My Own.
Going Out: Art
Samurai exhibition at the British Museum from 3rd February to 4th May explores Japan's warrior elite through masks, armour, and ceremonial swords. The display traces western fascination with Samurai culture from King James I's 1600s acquisitions to contemporary cinematic representations.
Jenny Holzer exhibition at Scunthorpe's 20-21 Visual Arts Centre from 31st January to 13th June showcases the radical American artist's provocative text works. From printed matter to neon installations, Holzer's messages continue to resonate in contemporary discourse.
People Watching at Dorset Museum and Art Gallery until 10th May presents a survey of British portraiture featuring works by Dod Procter, Elisabeth Frink, and Barbara Hepworth. The exhibition examines how 20th-century artistic movements challenged traditional concepts of likeness while continuing to explore human representation.
New Contemporaries at South London Gallery until 12th April features emerging artists fresh from education, offering fresh perspectives on contemporary issues from artificial intelligence to political developments through innovative artistic approaches.
Going Out: Stage
Tom Rosenthal tours his new show Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I Am from 1st February to 25th September, starting at Exeter Phoenix. The Friday Night Dinner star explores identity themes including celebrity status, Jewish heritage, and autism while drawing parallels with indie music culture.
The Tempest at Shakespeare's Globe Sam Wanamaker Playhouse until 12th April sees Tim Crouch directing and starring alongside Naomi Wirthner in a production promising storytelling innovation and self-reflection.
Macbeth co-production from Hull Truck, Octagon, and Derby theatres runs from 5th to 28th February, touring until 18th April. This modern war zone adaptation aligns with GCSE curriculum requirements, featuring Oliver Alvin-Wilson and Jo Mousley in the lead roles.
The Monocle dance production tours to Arc Stockton, Westlands Yeovil, and Ocean Bournemouth from 31st January to 6th February. Choreographer Mathieu Geffré recreates 1930s Paris lesbian cabaret culture through Rendez-Vous Dance's sensual, jazz-accompanied performances.
Staying In: Streaming
Secret Genius on Channel 4 at 9pm on 1st February pairs Alan Carr with Countdown's Susie Dent to uncover Britain's most extraordinary yet underappreciated intellectual talents.
Mock the Week returns on TLC at 9pm on 1st February with Dara Ó Briain hosting familiar panellists including Hugh Dennis, Katherine Ryan, Russell Howard, and Sara Pascoe in a newly extended 60-minute format.
Long Story Short on BBC Three and iPlayer at 9pm on 1st February showcases emerging talent through imaginative mini-dramas about contemporary themes, featuring established actors including Corey Mylchreest and Anjana Vasan.
The Pushover on Channel 4 at 12.15am on 2nd February presents new Nordic noir following Danish journalist Nora Sand's investigation into a mysterious swimming pool death with potential connections to fraudulent activities.
Staying In: Games
I Hate This Place delivers 1980s-camp survival horror across multiple platforms, blending graphic novel aesthetics with classic Resident Evil gameplay mechanics involving daytime preparation and nighttime demon survival.
Cairn offers beautiful yet challenging mountain climbing simulation where players carefully navigate individual limb movements to puzzle out safe ascents up treacherous cliff faces.
Staying In: Albums
Sébastien Tellier's Kiss the Beast marks the French electro pioneer's return after six years, featuring collaborations with Nile Rodgers and Kid Cudi alongside production from Oscar Holter, resulting in slinky dancefloor-focused tracks.
AG Cook's The Moment (The Score) provides the soundtrack to Charli xcx's Brat summer mockumentary, transforming pop classics into creeping horror scores that subvert musical expectations.
The Soft Pink Truth's Can Such Delightful Times Go on Forever? showcases Drew Daniel's evolution from house music experiments to beautiful chamber pieces within this long-running side project.
Labrinth's Cosmic Opera Act I precedes Euphoria's return with moody, cinematic compositions blending expansive string arrangements with pounding hip-hop beats.
Staying In: Brain Food
The Working Songwriter podcast continues its exploration of creative practicalities through interviews with musicians including Eurythmics' Dave Stewart discussing Bob Dylan collaborations and dobro master Jerry Douglas.
WikiFlix online archive offers free streaming access to over 4,000 public-domain films including early cinema masterpieces like Metropolis, Battleship Potemkin, and Nosferatu.
Queen of Chess on Netflix from 6th February presents Rory Kennedy's documentary examining Hungarian prodigy Judit Polgár's rise to world number one at age twelve and her ongoing mission to encourage female participation in competitive chess.
