Going out: Cinema
Queer
Out now
Daniel Craig continues to shake up his post-Bond image, here playing an American expat in Mexico City who falls hard for a young ex-Navy guy (Drew Starkey), in this adaptation of William Burroughs’ 1985 autobiographical novella from Luca Guadagnino (Challengers, (Call Me By Your Name).
Lord Of The Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
Out now
Set 183 years before The Lord of the Rings, and fleshed out from details about the history of Rohan in the margins of Tolkien’s epic, this animated adventure has assembled a classy voice cast (Miranda Otto, Brian Cox) to tell the story of Helm Hammerhand and his daughter in a conflict that threatens to obliterate Rohan.
Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum Presents …
The Barbican, London, 14 and 18 December
In response to her exhibition at the Barbican’s Curve Gallery, artist Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum has picked two films to play in the cinema: Alfred Hitchcock’s classic Rear Window; and Woman of the Dunes, Hiroshi Teshigahara’s masterful mix of suspense, sex and social commentary.
Kraven the Hunter
Out now
Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as the titular hunter, historically part of Spider-Man’s rogues’ gallery, in the first Marvel movie from Sony to garner an R rating in the US. Directed by JC Chandor (Margin Call), the pitch here is a darker, more grown-up type of comic-book adventure. Catherine Bray
Going out: Gigs
Theo Bleak
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, 19 December
Scottish singer-songwriter Theo Bleak makes the kind of music that feels like it should soundtrack a gritty British drama set on the moors. Recent singles In My House and Like a Thorn are swathed in eerie backing vocals and a chill wind that should make her captivating live. Michael Cragg
Claire Martin’s Cool Yule
Pizza Express Soho, London, 14 & 15 December
A gift for making familiar lyrics sound like spontaneous insights have always marked out the enduring class and hipness of British vocalist Claire Martin. Martin’s annual remix of standard-song classics and Christmas faves returns to Pizza Express, with guitar master Jim Mullen in attendance. John Fordham
Baroque Christmas
St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, 17 December
The renowned early-music specialist Christoph Rousset takes over the Monteverdi Choir and the English baroque Soloists for their seasonal programme, which pairs music from France and Germany, such as Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s exquisite Messe de Minuit pour Noël and Bach’s Advent Cantatas. Andrew Clements
AG Cook
15 to 20 December; tour starts Glasgow
It’s been quite a year for AG Cook. Having co-produced the majority of Charli xcx’s pop-culture swallowing Brat, and its recent remix opus, he also found time to chuck out his own 24-song, three-part album Britpop. Expect the latter to be celebrated in all its gonzo glory. MC
Going out: Art
Jim Dine
Cristea Roberts Gallery, London, to 18 January
The veteran American artist is still making prints at 89. This show explores his fascination with handtools from the 1970s to now, in images of hammers, handsaws and other everyday, down-to-earth equipment. Dine paradoxically marries a pop concentration on simple objects with a delight in complex technique.
Romance to Realities
Laing Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, to 26 April
Northern landscapes inspired the Romantic movement, from poets in the Lake District to Turner taking a steamboat to see Fingal’s Cave. This exhibition looks at how artists have depicted the landscapes of the north of England and Scotland from then to now, starring John Martin, Joan Eardley and more.
William Morris and Art from the Islamic World
William Morris Gallery, London to 9 March
The world of the Victorian designer and socialist visionary William Morris can often seem tinted by Gothic stained glass, Arthurian romances and other echoes of medieval Britain. But this pioneering show reveals how he also drew on the symmetry and splendour of Islamic tiles, carpets and ewers in his creations.
Jakkai Siributr
Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester to 16 March
This Thai artist uses textiles to communicate historical and political perspectives and tell his own stories. His exhibition doesn’t so much “embroider the truth” as tell truths with embroidery. Tales of the pandemic and private grief sit alongside There’s No Place, a complex continuing project about the plight of refugees. Jonathan Jones
Going out: Stage
The Little Prince
DanceEast, Ipswich, 14 & 15 December; The Place, London, 18 to 24 December
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic story comes to life in the hands of Protein Dance and choreographer Luca Silvestrini. The show weaves dance, song, spoken word and humour into its sweetly surreal tale of friendship and love. Made for children but enjoyable for adults too! Lyndsey Winship
Sheeps
Moth Club, London, 16 & 17 December
The superlative sketch trio, who have long specialised in ingeniously stupid songs, are releasing a Christmas album; if lead single My Baby Looks a Lot Like Santa Claus is anything to go by, it might be the funniest festive soundtrack around. Join them plus guests Rose Matafeo and Emma Sidi. Rachel Aroesti
Sh!t Actually vs Sing-a-Long-a Muppet Christmas Carol
Camden People’s theatre, London, to 21 December
A festive double bill from cult favourites, Sh!t Theatre. Sh!t Actually sees the pair’s anarchic takedown of the film, while Sing-a-Long-a Muppet Christmas Carol celebrates the greatest Christmas film of all. Kate Wyver
The Suggestibles’ Impro Pantso
Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne, 19 & 20 December
Most pantos have a few ad libs. This has nothing but. Made up on the spot, The Suggestibles’ Impro Pantso turns audience suggestions into dazzling drama and haphazard hilarity. Leave the kids behind and buckle up for a festive treat where you never know what’s going to happen next. 18+ only. KW
after newsletter promotion
Staying in: Streaming
Strike: The Ink Black Heart
iPlayer & BBC1, 16 December, 9pm
Having dismissed a desperate cartoonist who is being harassed online by an ominous anonymous figure, private detective Robin Ellacott has a murder on her hands. Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger return for the sixth instalment of the reliably knotty detective drama, adapted from JK Rowling’s books.
Wham! Last Christmas Unwrapped
iPlayer & BBC2, 14 December, 8.35pm
What better way to enter into the festive spirit than with this doc celebrating George Michael’s Christmas-themed anti-love song on its 40th birthday. With contributions from Wham! colleagues Andrew Ridgeley, Pepsi and Shirlie – plus peers Bob Geldof and Neil Tennant – expect a bittersweet paean to a pop genius.
The Story of Panto With Gyles Brandreth
Now & Sky Arts, 15 December
A slightly less tasteful (but similarly camp) Christmas cultural artefact goes under the microscope in this one-off documentary. Knitwear king Brandreth delves into this British curio’s influences – commedia dell’arte, Victorian music hall – and component parts (slapstick, dames), with help from Julian Clary and Gary Wilmot.
Tapped Out: Prank Stars
Channel 4, 19 December
Since their early-00s peak, prank shows have failed to capture the public imagination – could a fresh spin revive its fortunes? This special edition of YouTube hit Tapped Out – which challenges contestants to hold their nerve in humiliating tasks – recruits rapper ArrDee, comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri and JLS singer Aston Merrygold for a celeb-adjacent cringe-off. RA
Staying in: Games
Monument Valley 3
Out now, smartphones via Netflix
Shifting Escheresque architecture, a calming colour palette and pleasing geometry form the core of this puzzle sequel’s considerable appeal. It’ll warm your heart as well as fire up your brain in a cold December.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 + 2 Remastered
Out now, all platforms
The unexpected resurrection of a long-lost pair of fantasy-adventure games about a vengeful vampire. They always were way ahead of their time, so if you never played these in the 90s, this is your chance to suck ’em dry. Keza MacDonald
Staying in: Albums
Snoop Dogg – Missionary
Out now
More than 30 years since the release of his classic debut Doggystyle, Snoop Dogg reunites with that album’s producer Dr Dre for the knowingly titled Missionary. Initially teased in 2022, this 20th album finds the sometime sports commentator focusing on music again, anchored by the MIA-sampling banger, Outta Da Blue.
Stray Kids – Hop
Out now
The South Korean boy band phenomenon follows up this summer’s US No 1 album, Ate, with their first mixtape. Or rather a “SKZhop Hiptape”, with its 12 new songs mixing the Stray Kids sound of big K-pop melodies and electronic flourishes with a more prominent lean towards hip-hop.
Daniel Blumberg – The Brutalist: OST
Out now
Director Brady Corbet’s forthcoming film The Brutalist is already being tipped as an Oscar favourite, anchored by a storming performance from Adrien Brody. Expect a nomination, too, for former Cajun Dance Party and Yuck member Blumberg, who has crafted a muscular and stirring soundtrack that flits between jazz filigirees and cacophonous drama.
The National – Rome
Out now
This double live album, recorded this summer at the Italian capital’s stunning venue Parco Della Musica Ennio Morricone, acts as a career retrospective for the Ohio soft-rockers (below). Crowd favourites such as Fake Empire and Bloodbuzz Ohio rub shoulders with songs from all 10 of their albums. MC
Staying in: Brain food
Reclaimed
Podcast
Journalist Charly Edsitty hosts this urgent and illuminating series exploring the issue of water security for the Navajo nation. We hear how the Indigenous community is fighting to gain access to a sacred and scarce resource.
Virtual St Peter’s Basilica Experience
Online
The Vatican’s Papal Basilica of St Peter is now the subject of an immense Microsoft-powered AI experiment, aiming to produce a detailed virtual map of the 17th century site.
Julia’s Stepping Stones
Netflix, Wednesday
Best known for her Oscar-winning 2020 documentary, American Factory, the late Julia Reichert finds herself as the subject of this final film charting her remarkable journey from working-class New Jersey to 50 years of activist film-making. Ammar Kalia
