What’s on in London – November 2016

The annual celebrations on November 5, historically known as Guy Fawkes Night, are becoming bigger and better by the year in London. This organised display in one of London’s most picturesque green spaces is set against the backdrop of the glittering new buildings of Nine Elms and the imposing presence of Battersea Power Station.

Clear vision is crucial to a good firework display, although the nearby River Thames will play its part by acting as a giant mirror reflecting the giant splashes of colour that are set to illuminate the night sky. Choreographed to popular classical music and thumping dance hits, the pyrotechnics are designed to inspire awe and wonder in kids of all ages. Stalls will be providing mulled wine, craft beer and warm snacks so visitors cankeep their energy levels up. www.enablelc.org/fireworks

This event is not as gruesome as it might sound. The Wahaca group of upmarket Mexican restaurants started by Thomasina Miers is celebrating a much-loved day in the Latin American calendar. It’s a time when ancestors are honoured and remembered with food, dance and music.

There will be live Mexican music and drawing demonstrations that feature the distinctive art that has been made famous by film director Guillermo Del Toro. Special cocktails will also be on offer over the weekend of 3 – 5 November and of course there is the spicy freshness of Miers’s inventive take on the culinary traditions of Mexico. www.wahaca.co.uk/dotd

As a hair stylist, Sam McKnight is as far away from the cut and blow dry as Lewis Hamilton is from your local bus driver. As the rise of the 90s supermodels saw magazine sales soar, so did demand for dramatic fashion shoots and McKnight was the go-to guy for Kate, Naomi et al.

This exhibition is a retrospective of his career and consists of blown-up posters of his magazine work and also examinations of his technique and influence on other stylists. From the reinvention of Princess Diana to album covers for Madonna, McKnight has set trends and shaped careers. He continues to work with top models and can be seen picking up awards alongside Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and other bright young fashionistas.www.somersethouse.org.uk

The Underbelly crowd who have been so effective on the Southbank are set to bring their distinctive brand of cutting-edge circus skills to the heart of the West End. The Yuletide set-up in Leicester Square has been due for a revamp and although space is limited, the organisers have done a great job in booking the right kind of acts.

The general theme is that of a traditional European Christmas. Instead of the Disney-esque glitter of past years, there will be wooden chalets housing a traditional Santa’s Grotto, craft markets and traditional food stalls. Pride of place will be occupied by La Soirée, the ever-popular alternative circus. Christmas In Leicester Square aims to be an event where parents can take their children without having to take a sedative first. www.christmasinleicestersquare.com

This extensive private collection is being made available for public viewing for the first time from mid-November. Belonging to Sir Elton John it draws mainly from the classic Modernist period of the mid-20th century and features over 150 vintage prints.

Modernists used the stark monochrome effects of the day to turn photographic portraiture into a separate art form. Leaders of the genre include Brassai, Dorothea Lange and Alexandr Rodchenko. Heavily influenced by avant-garde works of Picasso as well as European cinema, they pushed the boundaries of their art in terms of how it was made and how it was perceived. www.tate.org.uk

In terms of power and influence, the reigning monarchs of history always had to respect the independence of the City of London. The king and the Lord Mayor were careful not to step on each other’s toes and each had their own supporters who liked to express themselves with the odd display of pageantry. The Lord Mayor’s parade may no longer be a direct answer to the Crown but it still pulls a large enthusiastic crowd.

On Saturday November 12th, a large procession will move from Aldwych to Bank to celebrate the annual installation of the Lord Mayor. Shadowed by a massive regatta on the River Thames, it promises to be an all-inclusive affair and probably has more in common with a vibrant street carnival than with a stuffy old march past. Seven thousand participants will occupy 150 floats as a global party atmosphere lights up the comparatively formal streets of the Square Mile with dancing, revelry and a massive firework display. www.lordmayorsshow.london

This annual exhibition reviews what the brightest and best in global design have been up to over the last twelve months. The items range from the immediately useful, such as the solar table that can charge phones, to the imminent sensations like the Google self-drive car. Split up into separate categories, the awards cover architecture, digital, fashion, graphics, product and transport.

The aim is to promote designs that galvanise their respective fields while also promoting access and inclusiveness – no obscure concepts here. The exhibition particularly welcomes students of design and seeks to encourage them with the catchphrase: “Someday, the other museums will be showing this stuff”. After all, looking to the future while enabling the present is what design is all about. www.designmuseum.org

This has been called the “Everest of Acting” owing to the sheer amount of script and stage time that the lead should put in. Written by Shakespeare for a man in his later years, it is usually played by legends of stage and screen and this production is no different. Anthony Sher takes on the role of a king who out of foolishness or vanity splits his kingdom between his children thereby hastening his own decline.

His daughters take power and cast him out into the wilderness with only his court jester as his companion. This is meant as a slight, but becomes a blessing as the jester is the only one traditionally able to speak truth to his master. Energised, Lear comes roaring back, only to meet a tragic end as he and all his offspring are killed. Anthony Sher masterfully covers all the emotions of an impossibly proud man that is also full of deep regret. https://www.barbican.org.uk/theatre

An opportunity for entry-level property investors, this show is just the kind of ideas shop that anyone with an interest in property could have started. Over 90 exhibitors will be available to advise on everything from vetting tenants to building a network of reliable tradespeople.

Thirty seminars will analyse the current trends in the buy-to-let market and industry professionals including furnishing providers and property management companies will be updating investors in regard to any changes to London’s ever-evolving property scene . www.landlordinvestmentshow.co.uk

The legendary Tommy Steele famously carried a film version of this story with nothing but a wide smile and a big heart. The seemingly ubiquitous Julian Fellowes has gone to work on the script and the result is a much more balanced account of the endearing ‘rags to riches’ life of Arthur Kipps. Plucked from his humble draper’s shop and plonked down in the heady atmosphere of high society Edwardian England, Kipps initially tries to fit in with his cheeky grin and nimble musicianship.

He is eventually ground down by a combination of oppressive rules and social politics and longs for his old friends and companions. However, when he finds out that he is being set up by a family of wealthy schemers, Arthur, help by his childhood sweetheart stays the course and wins the day. Unlike the film, the famous signature tune “Flash Bang Wallop” is saved till the final scene, so don’t leave early! www.halfasixpence.co.uk