FRIDAY 12th November – SUNDAY 14th November 2021

Lust in the Home Counties
Mothering Sunday, adapted from Graham Smith’s 2016 novella of the same name and directed by Eva Husson, is set for theatrical release this weekend with Odessa Young taking on the lead role of housemaid Jane Fairchild alongside a host of first-class British talent including regular HERO contributor Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth and Olivia Colman.

Taking the form of a post-war social drama set in the Home Counties, its commentary across classes at a time when mass devastation and social divide ruled the public’s emotions is not uncommon for a period drama but Husson gives Young’s character the free reign to tell a story of female self-discovery alongside it. Steeped in survivor’s guilt, Paul (O’Connor) is the only of his friends to return from the Front, a certain set of expectations arise due to his social status but none of them allow for his forbidden romance with the neighbour’s housemaid Jane (Young).

Mothering Sunday is out in cinemas now.

Challenging perceptions
Berlin-based artist Rindon Johnson’s first solo exhibition in the UK, Law of Large Numbers: Our Selves is an intriguing intro to his work, treading the line between CGI and sculpture work for this showcase at East London’s Chisenhale Gallery.

The space allows the artist to work both inside and outside of the four-walled exhibition space. Transporting visitors to the ever-changing climate of the Atlantic ocean through a rigorously curated set of weather data, dive through a year-long portrait of the North Atlantic “cold blob” – the approximate geographical midpoint between Chisenhale Gallery and co-commissioners SculptureCenter, New York, where the work was shown earlier this year. Elsewhere, a large-scale sculpture reminiscent of the silhouette of Transamerica’s Pyramid in Johnson’s hometown of San Francisco is installed in the Hertford Union Canal.

Rindon Johnson’s Law of Large Numbers: Our Selves runs at the Chisenhale Gallery until February 6th 2022. 

Chaucer in the 21st century
It’s acclaimed author Zadie Smith’s first time writing for the stage as her debut play The Wife of Willesden arrives at Kiln Theatre, bringing a refashioning of Chaucer’s medieval Canterbury Tales to modern-day North London. Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath takes the form of a woman living in Willesden (the borough Smith calls home) who’s been married five times and is ready to share her tale with anyone who will listen. As a writer, Smith is no stranger to adapting classic work for a modern audience, her 2005 novel On Beauty saw her take E.M. Forster’s Howard’s End into the 21st Century – and to the same North London stomping ground this latest host of characters are strutting around.

The Wife of Willesden runs at Kiln Theatre until January 15th 2022.

Cornish tales
A cult leader, a Lothario, a step-father and a false prophet: these are just some of the diverse characters that make up artist Danny Fox‘s latest London exhibition at Saatchi Yates. Titled Brown Willy, the series sees Fox take inspiration from his Cornish roots as he blends his vivid portrait approach with folk art traditions to create a community of characters you simply have to meet.

Read our 2014 interview with Danny here.

Danny Fox: Brown Willy runs at Saatchi Yates until January 2022.

Iceage courtesy of Pitchfork
Pitchfork has landed in London for its inaugural music festival, and needless to say, it’s a belter. Running until the 14th, the festival puts over 50 new and established artists on various stages and spaces in the British capital.

As part of this five-dayer, this Friday we’ll be making our way to Hackney’s Moth Club, where Copenhagen’s finest, Iceage, will be headling a night alongside The Umlauts and Deathcrash. If you still don’t recognise the joy of seeing Iceage frontman Elias Bender Rønnenfelt croaking and crooning his way through a set, tearing his vocal chords a new one, don’t worry there’s still hope for you… buy a ticket for this Friday and redemption will be joyous.

Iceage play at Moth Club on Friday 12th November.

Clear your wardrobes
Beloved by Rihanna, Jodie Comer and Jourdan Dunn alike, tulle-tastic designer Molly Goddard is hosting a sample sale in East London over the weekend. Held across two days, fashion fans and the general public will be able to sift through Goddard’s colossal archive and uncover an array of killer trousers, chunky knits and audacious accessories. Prices start at £50, masks are mandatory and all sales are final, see you there.

The Molly Goddard sample sale takes place at 223 Cambridge Heath Road, E2 0EL on the 13th and 14th November.

Looks so good you could eat it
You’ve probably seen Norman’s Cafe while scrolling through your Insta feed, and it undoubtedly made your belly rumble in delight. Up in Archway, Norman’s ain’t your standard caf’. Or actually, maybe that’s exactly what it is. Offering up a menu of classic British scran – fry-ups, ham, egg & chips, fish & chips, breakfast sarnies – Norman’s niche is in the way they present these traditional dishes: on pristine white plates with the sort of artful mise-en-scène Martin Parr would go weak at the knees for.

What’s more, visit in the evening and you’ll discover Norman’s after-hours alter-ego: a cosy wine bar with comfort food on the menu; think chicken and leek pie, cheese on toast and a pear and custard for pudding. Yum.

Norman’s Cafe is located at 167 Junction Rd, Archway, N19 5PZ