Friday, 24 February 2012 – Free shows and activities in London

Posted on by London Free Shows (LFS)
Reply

For Friday we have collected 19 free events taking place in and around London.

For the artistic and creative we feature events taking place at the National Gallery:
  • a talk and create workshop where inspired by painter Titian you will have the opportunity to create your own flip book, then add light touches to your dark paper to make Titian’s flickering brush marks come to life. Even materials will be provided for free! (1pm)
  • a poetry workshop where participants will write their own poetry getting the inspiration from Puvis de Chavannes’s “The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist” (6.30pm)
  • there will also be a 10-minute talk on Van Dyck’s painting “Rinaldo conquered by Love for Armida” (4pm, free)
    PLUS  the daily free guided tours of the Victoria and Albert Museum (highly recommended) and  the National Gallery ones; two extra of the latter will be in Italian!
If you like music we feature 3 free gigs:
  • Illustration of a composition with musical instrumentsMoishe’s Bagel (violin, piano, accordion, double bass, percussion) will perform jazz-influenced klezmer and Balkan music (Royal Albert Hall, 12 noon)
  •  jazz guitarist Nicolas Meier and his group will perform a mixture of Methenyesque jazz and spicy Turkish and world music rhythms (Southbank Centre, 5.30pm)
  • Eddie Armer (mandolin, harmonica, vocals) & Nigel Bagge (guitar, vocals) duet will be performing originals and covers folk, blues, country and soul tunes (National Theatre, 5.45pm)

To get the full list of events and all their details for Friday, 24 February 2012, or to make plans for any future dates please scroll down to the calendar.

Have an exciting Friday!

Follow us on Twitter for short texts about free shows and events in London or like us on Facebook. If you have any comments or suggestions please e-mail us at: LondonFreeShows@gmail.com

Thursday, 23 February 2012 – Free shows and activities in London

Posted on by London Free Shows (LFS)
Reply

For Thursday we have collected 16 free events taking place in and around London. Here are some ideas:

    • the daily free guided tours of the Victoria and Albert Museum (highly recommended) and the National Gallery ones
    • there are two extra guided tours at the National Gallery in Italian (11am and 3pm)
    • same place at 1pm there is a free talk titled “The Garden of Love: From Rubens to Boucher” where Karly Allen will examine how artists have responded to the “garden of love” theme in their paintings
    • a free talk on the impact of discoveries in the Victorian period related to geology (how and when the world was made) on individuals with religious conviction (Wellcome Collection, 6pm)
    • straight after there is a BSL-interpreted discussion by a panel of experts who will consider present dilemmas, future hopes for resolving them and advances that may lead to communication with, and even recovery for, those previously thought irretrievably to have lost consciousness. Please note that both events are now fully booked but spaces may become available on the day of the event. Scroll down and find on the calendar more details
    • at 6pm though (still at Wellcome Collection) there is a free no-need-to-book British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted themed tour on how people in different cultures and times have confronted the universal problems of sickness and disease
    • A picture with the accordionist and the violin player of Oh La La!Music wise there is a free  gig with Oh La La band (vocals, accordion, violin, guitar, double bass) performing French Chanson & Jazz songs and music (National Theatre, 5.45pm)

Have a good Thursday!

To get the full list of events and all their details for Thursday, 23 February 2012, or to make plans for any future dates please scroll down to the calendar.

Follow us on Twitter for short texts about free shows and events in London or like us on Facebook. If you have any comments or suggestions please e-mail us at: LondonFreeShows@gmail.com

Wednesday, 22 February 2012 – Free shows and activities in London

Posted on by London Free Shows (LFS)
Reply

For Wednesday we have collected 14 free events taking place in and around London. Here are some ideas:

  • two 15′ introductory talks to painters Hogarth and Jan Steen (The National Gallery, 1pm and 1.30pm respectively)
  • the daily free guided tours of the Victoria and Albert Museum (highly recommended) and the National Gallery ones
  • there are two extra guided tours at the National Gallery in French (11am and 3pm)
  • and a free gig with jazz singer Karen Lane performing ballads (National Theatre, 5.45pm)

To get the full list of events and all their details for Wednesday, 22 February 2012, or to make plans for any future dates please scroll down to the calendar.

Have an inspiring Wednesday!

Follow us on Twitter for short texts about free shows and events in London or like us on Facebook. If you have any comments or suggestions please e-mail us at: LondonFreeShows@gmail.com

Tuesday, 21 February 2012 – Free shows and activities in London

Posted on by London Free Shows (LFS)
Reply

For Tuesday we have collected 14 free events taking place in and around London. Here are some ideas:

  • a free one-hour long themed tour on “Making and Meaning: Brushwork and Canvas” (The National Gallery, 1pm)
  • a free 10-minute talk on Rubens’s painting “The Birth of Venus” (The National Gallery, 4pm)
  • the daily free guided tours of the Victoria and Albert Museum (highly recommended) and the National Gallery ones
  • specially today, there are two extra guided tours at the National Gallery in Italian (11am and 3pm)
  • and a free gig with jazz singer Gill Manly performing jazz songs from the songbooks of Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan (National Theatre, 5.45pm).

Have a happy Tuesday!

To get the full list of events and all their details for Tuesday, 21 February 2012, or to make plans for any future dates please scroll down to the calendar.

Follow us on Twitter for short texts about free shows and events in London or like us on Facebook. If you have any comments or suggestions please e-mail us at: LondonFreeShows@gmail.com

Monday, 20 February 2012 – Free shows and activities in London

Posted on by London Free Shows (LFS)
Reply

Illustration of children

Good morning! For Monday, we have collected 15 free events taking place in and around London. Here are some ideas:

  • At the Imagine Children’s Festival at Southbank Centre (10.15am) there is a free event for toddlers where DJ and poet Charlie Dark takes you on a poetical adventure deep beneath the sea. Expect starfishes, octopi, mermaids, and poetry, beatboxing and a 20-minute DJ set at the end
  • Free lunchtime talk on Poussin’s painting “Cephalus and Aurora” (The National Gallery, 1pm)
  • Free, 10-minute talk on Holbein’s painting “Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan” (4pm, The National Gallery)
  • The daily free guided tours of the Victoria and Albert Museum (highly recommended) and the National Gallery ones are a good option too
  • Specially today, there are two extra guided tours at the National Gallery in Italian (11am and 3pm)
  • Go to a free gig with jazz singer Shireen Francis performing jazz songs with flavours of Gospel, Blues, Calypso and Reggae (5.45pm, National Theatre)

Have a good Monday and a great week!

To get the full list of events and all their details for Monday, 20 February 2012, or to make plans for any future dates please scroll down to the calendar.

Follow us on Twitter for short texts about free shows and events in London or like us on Facebook. If you have any comments or suggestions please e-mail us at: LondonFreeShows@gmail.com

Sunday, 19 February 2012 – Free shows and activities in London

Posted on by London Free Shows (LFS)
Reply

For Sunday, we have collected 19 free events taking place in and around London. It could be quite a day for families with young children! Here are some ideas:

  • Illustration of childrenThe Imagine Children’s Festival at Southbank Centre (10.30am-4.30pm) features several free activities for children (please scroll down and have a look at the calendar) including storytelling, quizzes, aerobics and colouring
  • Free workshops (paper mechanics) and storytelling sessions for children at the National Gallery (various times)
  • If you are still there at 4pm don’t miss the free 10-minute talk on Constable’s painting “Stratford Mill” (Room 34)

    View of Medicine Man exhibition

    View of Medicine Man exhibition - Image Credit: Rama Knight/Wellcome Images

  • At 2.30pm, at Wellcome Collection there will be a guided tour related to medicine and health (historical objects)
  • If you would like a free gig, Klezmania Klezmer band (fiddle, piano and double bass)  will play Jewish, Gipsy and Eastern European folk music at 1.30pm (National Theatre)
  • The daily free guided tours of the Victoria and Albert Museum (highly recommended) and the National Gallery ones are a good option too; two extra of the latter will be in Italian!

Have a fantastic Sunday!

To get the full list of events and all their details for Sunday, 19 February 2012, or to make plans for any future dates please scroll down to the calendar.

Follow us on Twitter for short texts about free shows and events in London or like us on Facebook. If you have any comments or suggestions please e-mail us at: LondonFreeShows@gmail.com

Saturday, 18 February 2012 – Free shows and activities in London

Posted on by London Free Shows (LFS)
Reply

The weekend is already here and for Saturday we have collected 20 free events taking place in and around London. Here are some ideas:

  • Start your day with a free 5K parkrun at 9am taking place in various parks in London and beyond. It’s very refreshing! The weather should be ok (about 9°C with perhaps some light rain)
  • Illustration of childrenBetween 11.15am – 4pm there will be lots of free activities (“Imagine Craft Pavilion”) for children (5-12 year olds) at Southbank Centre (Yellow Room, Spirit Level at Royal Festival Hall): book reading, creative demonstrations, storytelling sessions and many other things related to children’s books and their popular characters

Image of a votive

  • At Wellcome Collection (11.30am),  you could attend a free guided tour of the “Infinitas Gracias: Mexican Miracle Paintings” gallery
    [Votive on perforated tin, 1831 (Image Credit: Museo Regional de Puebla / INAH)]
  • While you are there you could join another free guided tour (“Medicine Now” at 2.30pm)
  • For the lovers of art there is a free talk on Caravaggio’s painting “Boy bitten by a Lizard” (1pm, The National Gallery) and a 10′ introduction to Manet’s painting “Eva Gonzalès” (4pm)
  • There will also be a free screening of the film ”The Last Art Film” (Jake Auerbach, 2011, 90 mins); in the film journalist and art scholar William Feaver meets leading artists and discusses with them how and why things are made and why the maker became an artist in the first place
  • The daily free guided tours of the Victoria and Albert Museum (highly recommended) and the National Gallery ones (two extra of the latter will be in French!) are a good option too
  • If you like music, Nicetoy (accordionist-singer Katherine Toy and cellist Andy Nice) will play two free gigs (National Theatre 1pm & 5.45pm) performing tangos, waltzes and ballads

Have a wonderful Saturday!

To get the full list of events and all their details for Saturday, 18 February 2012, or to make plans for any future dates please scroll down to the calendar.

Follow us on Twitter for short texts about free shows and events in London or like us on Facebook. If you have any comments or suggestions please e-mail us at: LondonFreeShows@gmail.com

Friday, 17 February 2012 – Free shows and activities in London

Posted on by London Free Shows (LFS)
Reply

For Friday we have collected 20 free events taking place in and around London.

Illustration of childrenThe Imagine Children’s Festival at Southbank Centre (10.30am-4pm) features several free events for children (please scroll down and have a look at the calendar) including crafty activities and readings by the authors of popular children’s books (suitable mostly for 5-12 year olds)

If you like music we feature 3 free performances:
  • a free gig with jazz singer Caroline Loftus and her band (National Theatre, 5.15pm)
  • jazz vocalist Lea DeLaria and her band – Mark Fletcher (drums) Tom Mason (bass) and Musical Director Janette Mason (piano) – will be playing hits from Lea’s jazz albums (Southbank Centre, 5.30pm)
  • a free concert with soprano Kristi Bryson and pianist Hannah Harnest performing a programme inspired by the paintings in Room 18 of the National Gallery (6pm)
For the artistic and creative we feature events taking place at the National Gallery:
  • a talk and draw workshop where inspired by Bassano’s painting “The Way to Calvary” you will have the opportunity to create your own masterpiece. Even materials will be provided for free! (1pm)
  • there will also be a 10-minute talk on Van Dyck’s painting “Rinaldo conquered by Love for Armida” (4pm, free)
  • two British-Sign-Language interpreted introductory talks to painters El Greco and Bassano (6pm and 6.30pm respectively, free and open to everyone)

PLUS  the daily free guided tours of the Victoria and Albert Museum (highly recommended) and  the National Gallery ones; two extra of the latter will be in French!

To get the full list of events and all their details for Friday, 17 February 2012, or to make plans for any future dates please scroll down to the calendar.

Have an exciting Friday!

Follow us on Twitter for short texts about free shows and events in London or like us on Facebook. If you have any comments or suggestions please e-mail us at: LondonFreeShows@gmail.com

Thursday, 16 February 2012 – Free shows and activities in London

Posted on by London Free Shows (LFS)
Reply

For Thursday we have collected 16 free events taking place in and around London. We have included:

    • Illustration of childrenthe Imagine Children’s Festival at Southbank Centre (10.30am-4pm) features several free events for children (please scroll down and have a look at the calendar) including writing workshops, storytelling, mask-making, drawing, pirate-things and design & colour activities inspired by popular children’s books (suitable mostly for 5-12 year olds)
    • the daily free guided tours of the Victoria and Albert Museum (highly recommended) and the National Gallery ones
    • specially today, there are two extra guided tours at the National Gallery in French (11am and 3pm)
    • Image of a votivea free guided tour of the “Infinitas Gracias: Mexican Miracle Paintings” gallery led by Dr Susanna Rostas (Wellcome Collection, 5pm)
    • while you are there you can experience for free the Pilgrimage event (6pm-10pm), which will explore several aspects of pilgrimage through hands-on activities, films and discussions
    • Music wise there is a free  gig with with sax player Tommasso Starace Trio who perform jazz standards and originals (National Theatre, 5.45pm)

Picture of violinist Ben Bakerand a free recital with by winner of the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund violinist Ben Baker. He will perform a sonata by Beethoven and a sonata by Richard Strauss (Southbank Centre, 6pm); a rare opportunity to attend a free event taking place in the Royal Festival Hall itself.

Have a good Thursday!

To get the full list of events and all their details for Thursday, 16 February 2012, or to make plans for any future dates please scroll down to the calendar.

Follow us on Twitter for short texts about free shows and events in London or like us on Facebook. If you have any comments or suggestions please e-mail us at: LondonFreeShows@gmail.com

Wednesday, 15 February 2012 – Free shows and activities in London

Posted on by London Free Shows (LFS)
Reply

For Wednesday we have collected 15 free events taking place in and around London. Here are some ideas:

  • Illustration of childrenthe Imagine Children’s Festival at Southbank Centre (10.30am-4pm) features several free events for children (please scroll down and have a look at the calendar) including performances, crafts and collage inspired by popular children’s books (suitable mostly for 5-12 year olds)
  • two 15′ introductory talks to painters Renoir and Boucher (The National Gallery, 1pm and 1.30pm respectively)
  • the daily free guided tours of the Victoria and Albert Museum (highly recommended) and the National Gallery ones
  • specially today, there are two extra guided tours at the National Gallery in French (11am and 3pm)
  • Illustration of a keyboardand a free gig with classical pianist Ian Buckle playing pieces by Mozart, Beethoven, Ravel and others (National Theatre, 5.45pm)

To get the full list of events and all their details for Wednesday, 15 February 2012, or to make plans for any future dates please scroll down to the calendar.

Have an inspiring Wednesday!

Follow us on Twitter for short texts about free shows and events in London or like us on Facebook. If you have any comments or suggestions please e-mail us at: LondonFreeShows@gmail.com