From Moana to Suki Waterhouse: your complete entertainment guide to the week ahead
Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga’aia star in the latest Disney animation to get the live-action treatment, and the model-actor-singer proffers more of her signature lush soft rock
Contents
Going out: Cinema
MoanaOut now
The 2016 Disney animation gets the “live action” treatment with a more-or-less remake starring Dwayne Johnson and newcomer Catherine Laga’aia, joined by, as you’d expect, animated versions of various critters, including Tamatoa the coconut crab (once more voiced by Jemaine Clement)
Evil Dead BurnOut nowVenice critics’ week in 2023 closed with a bang courtesy of the French horror Vermin (AKA Infested) by Sébastien Vaniček, who now returns with a new stand-alone Evil Dead movie set at a reunion where a family are coming together to mourn the recent passing of one of their number.Rosebush PruningOut nowIncest, high fashion and other perversities are first and foremost in this scandalous arthouse romp about a rich family with no boundaries. Directed by Karim Aïnouz, it stars possible next James Bond Callum Turner, Pamela Anderson, Elle Fanning and Jamie Bell.Life SupportOut nowDaniele Rugo directs this documentary covering two years of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, from the point of view of doctors on the ground, who bear witness to overwhelming casualties, mainly women and children. Executive producers include Susan Sarandon, Asif Kapadia, Paul Weller and Melissa Barrera. Catherine Bray
Going out: Gigs
Beat-Herder festivalNr Clitheroe, 16 to 19 JulyStarted 20 years ago as a small rave at a farm, the dance-leaning Beat-Herder has slowly blossomed into a much bigger deal. Headliners Faithless, Sigma and Wilkinson are joined by the likes of Roni Size, Mr Scruff and Tiga. Michael Cragg
Black Country, New RoadQueen’s Park Arena, Glasgow, 16 JulyDespite losing their lead vocalist in 2022, Cambridge sextet Black Country, New Road are still going strong, with last year’s typically experimental art-rock opus Forever Howlong reaching No 3. They play this outdoor show as part of a concert series in Glasgow’s Southside. MC
Caccini’s La liberazione di RuggieroPavilion Arts Centre, Buxton, 15 to 21 JulySeventeenth-century composer Francesca Caccini was the highest-paid musician on the payroll of the powerful Medici family and the most prolific female composer of her time. Buxton international festival offers a rare opportunity to see her only surviving opera, performed by a cast of rising stars and the musicians of Vache Baroque. Flora Willson
Henry LowtherAmerican International Church, London, 11 JulyA trumpeter-composer with an exquisite sound and boundless creativity for six decades on the UK jazz scene, the unique Henry Lowther celebrates both his 85th birthday and the launch of Primetime, a new double album of his music with this gig. Lowther joins the talent-packed London Jazz Orchestra for this special show. John Fordham
Going out: Art
Backyard Biennial: EastWhitechapel Gallery, London, 15 July to 6 September
Forget the stuffy, over-curated art biennials you know, this is an eight-week celebration of the creativity at the heart of London’s East End. Among the featured artists is Denzil Forrester, alongside performances, open studios and talks
Ana MendietaTate Modern, London, 15 July to 17 January
Hugely influential, fiercely intelligent conceptualist Ana Mendieta had a major impact on contemporary art in the 70s, with works about the body, identity and feminism. Now the Cuban-American artist, who died in 1985, is getting the long overdue Tate treatment
Debjani BannerjeeThe Bluecoat, Liverpool, 11 July to 6 September
A childhood spent growing up Bengali in 1980s England has inspired this Edinburgh-based artist to create an immersive “sensory space” filled with music and stories where you can encounter figures from Hinduism, Indian history and popular culture
Wysing OpenWysing Arts Centre, Cambridge, 11 SeptemberThe doors to this Cambridgeshire institution are normally kept firmly shut – this is a place for artistic production and education, not for visitors. But once a year they let in the public for a day of open studios, collaborative exhibitions and workshops. Eddy Frankel
Going out: Stage
Ventnor fringeVarious venues, 17 to 26 JulyWith Edinburgh becoming increasingly rammed, umpteen small-scale festivals have swooped in to cater to comedy nerds wanting a sneak peek at the next big thing. Highlights at this Isle of Wight operation include works-in-progress from Rosie Holt, Huge Davies, Molly McGuinness and Lou Wall. Rachel Aroesti
Doorstep DuetsFarnham Maltings, 14 to 16 July; touring to 8 AugustTaking dance to people’s doorsteps, or at least to libraries, parks and town squares, these free public performances by dancers from Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures company are now an annual event. This year’s short piece, The Bench, by choreographer Glenn Graham, is about three people whose lives unexpectedly overlap. Lyndsey Winship
My Fair LadyChichester Festival theatre, to 5 SeptemberRachel Kavanaugh (who has great form directing musicals at Chichester) tackles Lerner and Loewe’s lushly orchestrated musical, adapted from Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. Hadley Fraser plays Henry Higgins, the phonetics professor determined to transform flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a lady, with Keziah Ibe making her stage debut. Miriam Gillinson
The Secret GardenTheatre Royal: The Egg, Bath, to 26 JulyTom Wentworth’s modern adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic tale transforms the theatre into an immersive garden filled with puppets and song. The show follows young Mary as she discovers a locked garden hidden in the grounds of a countryside mansion – and develops a transformative friendship with a disabled boy, Colin. MG
skip past newsletter promotion
Staying in: Streaming
Ann DroidBBC One & iPlayer, 17 July, 9.30pm
Sue Johnston plays a struggling widow in her 80s whose son (Motherland’s Paul Ready) hires an outmoded robot (Diane Morgan) to assist her. The result is a slapstick-silly yet poignant sitcom that manages to make AI companionship seem seriously appealing
The Five Star WeekendSky Atlantic & Now, 16 July, 9pmA grieving food writer tries to alleher life to stay at her beautiful Nantucket house – yet despite her insistence on playing domestic goddess, the emotional mess can’t be contained. Jennifer Garner, Chloë Sevigny, Regina Hall and Gemma Chan lead the cast
Ride Or DiePrime Video, 15 JulyOcta hangs for high-speed gunfights when one is revealed to secretly be an assassin in this new comedy drama from British standup Tessa Coates. Expect a subversion of action movie tropes, a meditation on female friendship and an always welcome appearance from Bill Nighy
LuckyApple TV, 15 JulyA slightly grittier take on the female crime caper courtesy of showrunner Jonathan Tropper (Your Friends and Neighbors), who adapts Marissa Stapley’s novel about a scammer who finds herself grifting for her life after being cut loose from her father and husband. Anya Taylor-Joy, Annette Bening and Timothy Olyphant star. RA
Staying in: Games
Denshattack!PC, XSX, PS5, Switch 2, out 15 July
Imagine Tony Hawk’s Pro Skate but you’re a train – that’s the high concept behind this vibrant stunt game, set in a dystopian city riddled with looping rails. Pull tricks, sound your horn and face off against street gangs, but watch out for leaves on the line
D-topiaPC, XSX, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, out 14 JulyIn a futuristic world, human lives are governed by an AI system – and you must solve puzzles in order to ensure its safe running. What could possibly go wrong? Keith Stuart
Staying in: Albums
Suki Waterhouse – LovelandOut nowSince pivoting to music in 2022, actor and model Suki Waterhouse has steadily built a fanbase drawn to her soft focus pop-rock. This third album doesn’t mess with the formula too much, but songs such as Tiny Raisin add a little melodic oomph to proceedings
Kelela – New AvatarOut now
Fusing elements of shoegaze, grunge and lo-fi electronic textures, the third album from Kelela takes its inspiration from her time in the Washington DC indie scene. Songs such as Point Blank and Linknb meld these influences into new shapes, while guest PinkPantheress adds her unique pop sensibility
Adam Lambert – AdamOut nowThe occasional Queen frontman returns with his first album of original material in six years. Having dabbled in disco and glam on 2020’s Velvet, Adam returns to the gloriously OTT electropop of old, as showcased on the singles Eat U Alive and the strutting Under the Rhythm
Rolling Stones – Foreign TonguesOut nowThe Stones are back with their 25th album, and second in a row with producer Andrew Watt (Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga). Opener Rough and Twisted shows they’ve lost none of their ragged rock posturing, while Jealous Lover is slinky blue-eyed soul featuring Jagger’s falsetto. MC
Staying in: Brain food
Creative SparkOnline
US public radio network PBS presents this delightful series interviewing a master of their creative craft in depth each episode. Comic Leslie Jones explores her journey honing her skills, while actor Greg Kinnear talks AI and art
People Make GamesYouTubeThis fascinating YouTube channel goes behind the scenes of video game creation and the skilled artists who make virtual worlds a reality. Highlights include the story of artist Jerry Gretzinger’s project to build an endless, imaginary map
Radio 3’s Essential History of Classical MusicRadio 3 & BBC Sounds, 11 July, 1pmGillian Moore’s series charting 1,000 years of classical music history has reached the 18th century. There’s an engrossing episode on the rise of the violin from an unassuming dance instrument to a key voice in classical music. Ammar Kalia
Explore more on these topicsShare
Reuse this content
