Unmissable Autumn: Everything you need to book
Unmissable Autumn: Everything you need to book
The best exhibitions, festivals and theatre shows to get in your diary right now…
Main image: Lap-See Lam, The Altersea Opera, 2024
Terrific Theatre
There is no shortage of brilliant shows coming to south west London and Surrey this autumn, so get booking while tickets are still available! Heathers the Musical will be dancing into Richmond Theatre from 8-12 October, and it’s sure to be a sell-out stunner of blazers, croquet and rock numbers. Also at Richmond Theatre will be Murder on the Orient Express from 5-9 November – this adaptation of the beloved book by Agatha Christie featuring her most famous detective Poirot will be brought to life by director Lucy Bailey and starring Michael Maloney in the titular role.
Over at New Wimbledon Theatre, you can see the moving drama War Horse from 5-14 September. Plus, don’t miss the phenomenal smash-hit Hairspray showing from 21-26 October, and from 1-3 November be sure to book tickets to the enchanting Lord of the Dance, back for another UK tour. At the Rose Theatre, don’t miss the brand new stage adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s classic novel Never Let Me Go, showing from 20 September – 12 October. From 5-16 November, you can see Abigail’s Party, the highly-anticipated production of Mike Leigh’s cult classic comedy.
Heathers (c) Pamela Raith Photography / War Horse (c) Brinkhoff Mögenburg / Michael Maloney as Hercule Poirot
Fabulous Festivals
Calling all bookworms! Barnes BookFest returns from 20-22 September, with a full programme of books, talks and lively discussion. Speakers include the beloved Miriam Margolyes, bestselling author Robert Harris on his new thriller Precipice, AI expert Madhumita Murgia and Olympic gold medallist Rachel Morris.
From 6-20 October, you can head to Guildford Book Festival, back for its 35th year and featuring a star-studded line-up, from the bestselling Alexander McCall Smith with his latest book in the hugely popular No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series to Kate Mosse and Alison Weir on their new historical novels. History Day at West Horsley Place will feature Nicola Tallis on her acclaimed biography of young Elizabeth I and plenty more history to discover.
On 12 October, visit Omnibus Theatre in Clapham for Clapham Book Festival, the annual one-day celebration of the literary arts, featuring talks from several speakers and a literary walk around Clapham led by local author Julie Anderson. This year’s speakers include contemporary historian Sir Anthony Seldon, broadcaster and journalist Gavin Esler, Clapham novelist Elizabeth Buchan, children’s and historical author Lisa Evans, crime writer Simon Brett and mystery author Elly Griffiths. Time & Leisure is proud to be media partner for this fabulous event.
Closing out book festival season will be Wimbledon BookFest from 17-27 October. This year’s headliners feature a whopping list, with speakers like the indomitable Richard E. Grant, Clare Balding and Mary Berry sharing the stage with acclaimed novelists like Elif Shafak and Tracy Chevalier. The focus of this year’s programme is big ideas on global affairs, technology and AI, alongside a series of events focused on nature, water and the climate crisis headlined by Caroline Lucas and Kate Humble. The Festival’s celebrated schools programme will also be returning, featuring appearances from Tim Peake and more.
Miriam Margolyes (c) Claire Sutton
Excellent Exhibitions
Make your way to these autumn exhibitions to get your fix of art and culture. In Surrey, you can visit the gorgeous Polesden Lacey to see ‘The Last Tree and the Art of Nature.’ Created in collaboration with artist Luke Adam Hawker, you can rediscover the beauty of nature as you view illustrations from his book ‘The Last Tree.’ The exhibition will be open to visit throughout autumn. Meanwhile, from 26 October you can head to Kew Gardens to see ‘Expressions in Blue,’ a brand new solo exhibition of porcelain sculptures from artist Felicity Aylieff.
Starting from 18 September, visit the innovative Studio Voltaire in Clapham to see a major new exhibition by artist Lap-See Lam called ‘Floating Sea Palace.’ This exhibition continues a cycle of works inspired by the real setting of the ‘Sea Palace,’ a floating Chinese restaurant, which Lam uses to explore themes of cultural heritage and belonging.
Starting from 22 October, visit the Watts Gallery in Guildford to see a major new exhibition. Visitors to the gallery can step into the magical world of Cicely Mary Barker’s world-famous Flower Fairies in the museum’s first ever exhibition for children and families.
