I Am Everything
Known as one of the godfathers of rock ‘n’ roll, Little Richard’s unparalleled influence on the genre is being immortalised in a feature length documentary directed by Lisa Cortés. Blazing a trail for the likes of Elvis, Prince and David Bowie, Cortés compiles a wealth of archival footage to bring to life the Black, Queer origins of rock ‘n’ roll, dismantling the white-washed narrative present in popular culture today. Alongside original footage, interviews with family, friends and musicians such as Mick Jagger, Tom Jones, Billy Porter and Nile Rodgers aid in painting a comprehensive portrait of Little Richard’s pioneering career.

Little Richard: I Am Everything is out in cinemas now. 

Abstract vision
British artist and founder of A-COLD-WALL* Samuel Ross is taking over White Cube in Bermondsey for his latest solo show. Titled LAND, the vsionary has crafted a series of abstract works for the exhibition using imagery of collapsed landscapes and supine bodies to navigate the idea of the Black experience. Traversing mediums and materials, Ross examines industrial substances in a new manner as utility cloth, metal and masonry paint are fashioned into fluorescent yellow structures and neutral toned large scale paintings.

LAND by Samuel Ross runs at White Cube Gallery until May 14th, more info here. 

Behind the curtain
Written by Jack Thorne and directed Sam Mendes, the National Theatre’s latest production meditates on the politics of a rehearsal room and the relationship between art and celebrity. The Motive and the Cue tells the story of the complex relationship between Richard Burton and John Gielgud when Burton – newly married to Elizabeth Taylor – took on the title role in the stage legend’s 1964 Broadway production of Hamlet. Charting the trials and tribulations from inside rehearsals, the relationship between actor and director begins to unravel under Thorne’s witty penmanship. British actor Johnny Flynn takes on the role of Burton and Sherlock star Mark Gatiss is Gielgud with Tuppence Middleton completing the leading trio as Taylor.

The Motive and the Cue runs at The National Theatre until July 15th, more info here. 

First time retrospective 
Janette Beckman may have photographed the likes of Joe Strummer, Boy George and Salt-n-Pepa but believe it or not she’s never had a solo exhibition in London until now. Currently taking over The Pilgrm Hotel, Beckman’s portraits offer a snap shot of generations gone by as her four-decade long career has been spent documenting underground subcultures from punk to hip-hop and everything in between. Although predominantly a documentary photographer, Beckman’s lens has also turned to campaigns for brands such as Dior and Levi’s as well as publications including The Guardian and Interview Magazine.

Janette Beckman runs at The Pilgrm Hotel until May 31st, more info here. 

Wild West
Having premiered at TIFF last year, Gabe Polosky’s narrative debut Butcher’s Crossing is finally hitting cinemas. Based on John Edward Williams 1960 novel of the same name, the story follows the journey of a young Harvard student who leaves his life behind to explore the American West against the backdrop of 19th-century USA. Nicholas Cage stars in the lead role alongside Xander Berkley and Rachel Keller, before heading to the cinema check out our conversation with Keller to get some insight into the filming process.

Butcher’s Crossing is out in cinemas now. 

Bottle of vino, please sir!
For the fourth instalment of their wine rave series, Nouveau Wines are teaming up with pop-up Scottish kitchen Auld Hag and All Good Beer. Taking over Hackney Downs Studios, Nouveau’s low-intervention wine will be free flowing all night alongside Auld Hag’s signature smash burgers filled with Scottish lamb shoulder, rolled flat steak and roasted cauliflower in a vegetable haggis crumb for the veggies among you. Even though it runs until 2am, fear not because you’ve Monday to recover, remember? Ah, the beauty of a bank holiday.

Nouveau Wine x Auld Hag x All Good Beer takes place on April 30th from 7:30pm – 2am at Hackney Downs Studios, 17 Amhurst Terrace, E8 2BT, get tickets here.