Must see: London Jazz Festival
Various locations, November 15 to 24, efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk
Haven’t you heard? Jazz is cool again — think Ezra Collective winning the Mercury Prize last year, Victoria Monét bigging up Berlioz and Olivia Dean’s soulful ballads inspired by the genre. And here’s the chance to really dive into the jazz world as some of the biggest hitters come to London this month. There are more than 300 shows in 60 venues; impress your friends by taking in Ganavya, Marisa Monte, Roberto Fonseca and many more.
Art fix: The Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize
National Portrait Gallery, until February 16, npg.org.uk
This prestigious prize and accompanying show, which celebrates the very best in photo portraiture, such as the below, is back for its 17th year with 62 portraits from photographers around the world — a mix of talented amateurs and professionals. And visitors will be able to judge for themselves whether Steph Wilson deserved to walk off with the £15,000 first prize out of a total of 4,847 entries.
Hot table: Claro
Open now, 12 Waterloo Place, SW1, claro-london.com
Claro is a new eastern Mediterranean restaurant in St James’s, serving frena bread with labneh and spicy zhug, yellowtail sashimi with tabbouleh and a show-stopping lamb platter with pickled vegetables. Launched a decade ago by four friends in Tel Aviv, Israel and led by chef Shadi Issawy, the restaurant is the group’s first venture in Europe and, alongside all that seasonal produce is an extensive list of wines, cocktails and Champagnes.
Screen Gems
Bad Sisters season 2
Apple TV+, available November 13
Sisters are doing it for themselves … again. The plotting Garveys return after several years’ absence, but they’ve moved on from the events of season one — which dealt with the murder of Grace’s husband John Paul — in favour of new drama.
With the wickedly talented Sharon Horgan front and centre, alongside Anne-Marie Duff, Eve Hewson and others, the end result is sure to offer up more of the same glorious chaos.
Gladiator II
In cinemas from November 15
There’s no place like Rome as Ridley Scott returns to the bloodthirsty ancient world that made Russell Crowe a star some quarter of a century ago (yes, really). This time the buff chaps running sand through their fingers portentously and clashing swords in the Circus Maximus are Paul Mescal, as Lucius son of Crowe’s Maximus, and Pedro Pascal, as a disaffected general.
The Big Read: The Proof of My Innocence, Jonathan Coe
Viking, £20
After the election of Donald Trump, the tide is going out on all things “woke”. That means hard-Right types have it all their own way, which makes Jonathan Coe’s latest novel all the more well timed. This is his version of Britain’s experiment in Trumpist weirdness — Liz Truss’s 49 days. It’s a political satire (some characters are to be found in a pub called The Fresh Lettuce) mixed with a whodunnit. Sharp, apposite fun.
Listen: Todos Nacen Gritando, St Vincent
Out November 15
To learn a language some people hire a tutor, others move to the desired country, but for St Vincent, below, who always likes to break the mould, she has translated her album All Born Screaming, released earlier this year, into Spanish. Annie Clark, St Vincent’s real name, said she wanted to do something for her Spanish-speaking fans and felt it would help her become fluent, so drew on her high school Spanish, Duolingo and her pal and collaborator Alan del Rio Ortiz to create Todos Nacen Gritando.
Don’t miss: Stunt Saturday
BFI Southbank, November 16, whatson.bfi.org.uk
Has the rise of CGI killed off the stuntman? No way, and now is your chance to meet the unsung stars of the film world and learn their secrets. The programme doesn’t just offer talks on subjects from fire stunts and fight choreography to stunt women, screenings and panel events, there is even talk of a professional stunt taking place on the South Bank. Lights, camera, action indeed.
Book now: The Importance of Being Earnest
National Theatre, November 21 to January 25, nationaltheatre.org.uk
It’s time to go Wilde at the National as Ncuti Gatwa, Doctor Who’s current Doctor, is set to tread the boards in The Importance of Being Earnest. The much-loved 1895 classic, subtitled “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People”, is sure to be a riot with a cast that also includes W1A’s Hugh Skinner and the national treasure who is Sharon D Clarke as the imperious Lady Bracknell.
