Fashion week has arrived in the capital and if you’re not chained to the shackles of its schedule then see below for a whole load of things to fill your weekend with that have nothing to do with clothes, enjoy!

Also, the latest issues of HERO and HEROINE are out now, so get to the shop and buy a copy or ten.

Whodunit?
Kenneth Branagh’s third and final instalment of the Poirot trilogy, A Haunting in Venice, brings the cinematic series to an opulent end. Translating Agatha Christie’s tale of murder and mystery in post-World War II Venice, a retired Poirot is living in his own exile before reluctantly attending a Halloween seance at a haunted palazzo. In true Christie fashion, of course, a murder takes place and Poirot is tasked with investigating (never go to a party with Poirot). The suspect list is A-list and extensive with a cast consisting of Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Emma Laird, Tina Fey, Kelly Reilley and Branagh himself.

A Haunting in Venice is out in cinemas now. 

Childhood best bits
The Milky Bar Kid was Strong and Tough is an exhibition of new paintings by Ben Levy contextualised alongside a key etching from Grayson Perry. Building a narrative around themes of aspiration, obsession and childhood, Levy’s paintings often reference artefacts evocative of growing up in Britain, such as Fat Frogs, Hubba Bubba and Toys ‘R’ Us. Exploring materialist concerns and family life, The Artist Room’s latest showcase is a trip down memory lane reminiscent of an 80s summer spent by the British seaside.

The Milkybar Kid Was Strong And Tough by Ben Levy and Grayson Perry will run at The Artist Room until September 30th, more info here. 

One last dance, go on
Just when you thought you’d seen the back of festival season, the calendar has one last hurrah up its sleeve. Waterworks, from the Percolate and Team Love crews, is heading to Gunnersbury Park once again for its third edition to see off summer. An all-dayer of the finest electronica and dance music, the line-up consists of  Shanti Celeste, Eris Drew, Palms Trax, Eliza Rose and plenty more.

Waterworks will take place at Gunnersbury Park on September 16th, more info here. 

Dreamscapes
Japanese fine art photographer Miho Kajioka’s work explores nature, ancient traditions and seasonal change. Her latest exhibition at The Photographer’s Gallery, How Long is Now? uses delicate surfaces to experiment with memory, half-remembrances and liminal imagery. The showcase follows the journey of a solitary figure transported through dreamlike terrain, resulting in a whimsical series toeing the line between the familiar and the ethereal.

Miho Kajioka: How Long is Now? runs at Print Sales Gallery at The Photographers’ Gallery until November 19th, more info here. 

A classic revisited
One of the most anticipated theatre shows of the year arrives at Duke of York’s Theatre this weekend as Vanya makes its debut. Gracing the stage for the first time since his role in the revival of Noël Coward’s Present Laughter at the Old Vic in 2019, Andrew Scott stars in this one-man adaptation of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. The BAFTA award-winning actor is best known for his roles in Pheobe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag and as Jim Moriarty in Sherlock, this production sees Scott take the audience on an eccentric trip into the work of Russia’s most famous playwright.

Vanya runs at Duke of York’s Theatre until October 21st, more info here. 

Petal
Female-led gallery Have A Butchers in Dalston is welcoming British photographer Bex Day for her latest solo exhibition, Petal. Accompanied by a photobook, Day’s series of 70 photographs meditates on female anatomy and demystifies the reality of being a woman. Capturing close-up images of people’s most private parts and artfully distorting them with the petals of hydrangeas, peonies and tulips, Day is questioning misconceptions around female genitalia that have long been propped up by cultural censorship, typecasting in porn and mainstream media.

Petal by Bex Day will run at Have A Butchers Gallery until October 6th, more info here. 

No one’s gonna save u
Former frontman of The Carnabys, Jack Mercer now exists under the guise of VC Pines, having found a space somewhere between alternative soul, poetry and punk. Taking to the stage at Lafayette on Friday, the musician will be performing tracks from his latest alum MRI, which takes listeners on a trip inside his self-described ‘unusual’ psyche.

VC Pines will play at Lafayette on September 15th, more info here. 

Small plates and vino
Half Cut Market consists of a lot of halves; half shop and half restaurant, half beer and half wine, half food and half drink. But, that means it basically has it all. A bottle shop by day stocked with low-intervention wines and craft beers you’ve probably never heard of but most definitely should try, and in the evening the Kentish Town hotspot opens for dinner. Armed with a menu of small plates consisting of hot and sour tomatoes with grilled peaches (a fave), squid and prawn toast, tamarind glazed short rib and burrata with beetroot – we’d also advise leaving some room for an ice cream sandwich because it would be extremely rude not to.

Half Cut Market is located at 396 York Way, N7 9LW, more info here.