This week's London List covers Jorja Smith, Jon Ronson on masculinity, and a new bar from Norman's co-founder, plus theatre picks and festival season highlights.
Festival season and theatre highlights
With All Points East starting this weekend, the summer in London has been great for culture lovers, though venues' air conditioning remains a gamble. Among the past month's highlights, To Kill a Mockingbird at Wyndham's Theatre (ends 12 September) earns a strong recommendation.
The Oresteia (ends 19 September), backed by five-star reviews, didn't quite live up to that billing. Simon Stone's staging was impressive, following his previous production at the Bridge Theatre, The Lady from the Sea, last year, but the dialogue volume was exhausting from the start, let alone after three and a half hours.
Music and events
On Sunday, local talent played an homage to Elliott Smith at the George Tavern, in aid of Mind. Among the performers were Mary in the junkyard, who Martin Robinson interviewed for The Standard this week.
On Monday, Chicago band Friko toured their second album Something Worth Waiting For at MOTH Club in east London. The south Londoner in attendance noted a rather male-dominated crowd, remarking: “I'm seeing a lot of 6 Music dads.”
Film and exhibitions
The lineup was revealed for the BFI London Film Festival competition, now in its 70th year. The Standard went behind the scenes at the Barbican for Death Note, the musical based on the manga and anime series, which has divided critics. Martin Robinson, a fan, spoke to one of its stars, Grace Mouat.
Finally, the must-see exhibitions with just days left before closing have been rounded up.
