TILO 15 REVISE HIGH RES FOR UPLOADING

65 Years Celebrating the Capital
www.til.com @thisislondonmag

Key bus routes in central London
139
23
Westbourne Park
Ladbroke Grove
Sainsbury’s
Ladbroke Grove
to Golders Green
Abbey Road
Lisson Grove
Lord’s Cricket
Ground
Sherlock
Holmes
Museum
ZSL
London Zoo
ZSL
London
Zoo
Regent’s Park
Madame
Tussauds
Albany Street
for ZSL London Zoo
24
to Hampstead Heath
Camden Lock
Market
Camden Town
148
to
White
City
Notting Hill
Gate
to
Hammersmith
9
10
Paddington
Edgware Road
Queensway
Kensington
Gardens
High Street
Kensington
Science
Museum
Victoria &
Albert Museum
74
to Putney
Royal
Albert
Hall
Natural
History
Museum
205
Albert
Memorial
Lancaster
Gate
274
Knightsbridge
Harrods
Hyde
Park
South
Kensington
Marylebone
453
Wellington
Arch
Victoria
74
159
Marble
Arch
Park Lane
Green Park
Hyde Park
Corner
38
390
Baker Street and
Gloucester Place
Marble
Arch
Bond
Street
Conduit Street
C2
Green
Park
Royal
Mews Buckingham
Palace
Regent Street
Royal
Academy
St. James’s
Palace
Oxford
Circus
25
73
Piccadilly
Circus
Great
Portland
Street
Eros
Pall Mall
St. James’s Palace
St. James’s Park
Telecom
Tower
Warren Street
and Euston Square
Pollock’s
Toy Museum
Goodge Street
and Gower Street
Tottenham
Court Road/
Cambridge
Circus
Shaftesbury
Avenue
Admiralty
Arch
Horse
Guards
Nelson’s
Column
St. James’s Park
Victoria Street Westminster
14
14
to Putney Heath
Chelsea
King’s Road
11
to Fulham Broadway
Victoria
Coach Station
Sloane Square
24
Belgrave Road
Pimlico Grosvenor Road
Westminster
Cathedral
Westminster
Abbey
Houses of
Parliament
to Streatham Hill
to Streatham
Mornington
Crescent
8
C2
to Parliament
Hill Fields
Camden
Road
Euston
National
Gallery
Great
Russell St
British
Museum
St. Pancras
Internationalnal
Bloomsbury Way
to
Archway
York Way
Agar Grove
King’s
Cross
188
390
Russell
Square
Holborn Chancery
Lane
10
59
London
Canal
Museum
Holborn
Viaduct
for City
Thameslink
Caledonian
Road &
Barnsbury
274
Sadler’s Wells
Theatre
Theobald’s
Road
St.
Paul’s
43
Barbican
Centre
Museum
of London
to
Friern
Barnet
Islington Angel
St. John
Street
Moorgate
to Stoke Newington
73
38
Essex Road
Bank
to Clapton
Pond
to Bow
Old Street
Shoreditch
High Street
11
Liverpool St
8
25
205
Aldgate
to Ilford
to Bow
Leicester
Square
59
Covent Garden
Market
London
Transport
Museum
Trafalgar Square
for Charing Cross
15
Cleopatra’s Needle
Embankment Festival
Royal
Festival Hall
London Eye
Westminster
Covent
Garden
RV1
London
Eye
Imperial
War Museum
Kennington Road
Kingsway
Royal Courts
of Justice
Aldwych
9 23
Waterloo
139
Fleet
Street
Royal National
Theatre
Elephant & Castle
Ludgate Circus
for City Thameslink
Blackfriars
Oxo
Tower
St Paul’s
Cathedral
Bricklayers Arms
Walworth Road
Cuming Museum and Library
Mansion
House
Tate
Modern
Tate Modern
Southwark Street
Bermondsey
Market
159
to
148
Camberwell
453
Green
Cannon
Street Monument
St. Paul’s
Cathedral
Globe
Theatre
Bankside
to
Deptford
London
Bridge City
43
Tower
Tower
Gateway
HMS Belfast
London
Bridge
RV1
Tower Hill
Tower of
London
Tower
Bridge
Road
15
to Blackwall
St.
Katharine’s
Tower
Bridge
188
to North
Greenwich
River Thames
Saatchi
Gallery
Charles Dickens
Museum
Route 8
Route 9
Route 10
Route 11
Route 14
Route 15
Route 23
Route 24
Route 25
Route 38
Route 43
Route 59
Route 73
Route 74
Route 139
Route 148
Route 159
Route 188
Route 205
Route 274
Route 390
Route 453
Route C2
Route RV1
© Transport for London Reg. User No. 19/E/3448/P
Key
London Underground interchange
London Overground interchange
TfL Rail interchange
National Rail interchange
DLR interchange
London River Services pier
Transport for London Visitor
Information Centre

3
CONTENTS
Events 4
Exposure: Lives at Sea
Winter Commission at Tate Britain
Music 6
St John’s Smith Square Christmas
Spitalfields Music Festival Online
Active London 8
Afterglow - Sustainable Activewear
Exhibitions 10
London’s Transport at War
Online Exhibitions
Theatre 12
Tall Stories: Gruffalo Online
Revival of Constellations
Dining 14
Winter Warmer Cocktail Recipes
Proprietor Julie Jones
Associate Publisher Beth Jones
Editorial Lucie Henry Eleanor Collett Harry Osborn
© This is London Magazine Limited
This is London at the Olympic Park
Stour Space, 7 Roach Road,
Fish Island, London E3 2PA
Telephone: 020 7434 1281
www.til.com
www.thisislondonmagazine.com
Whilst every care is taken in the preparation of this
magazine and in the handling of all the material
supplied, neither the Publishers nor their agents
accept responsibility for any damage, errors or
omissions, however these may be caused.
All information listed in the magazine is correct at the
time of writing, but is subject to change. Please check
before you travel.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Emergencies 999 Police Ambulance Fire
24 Hour A & E 020 8746 8000
National Health Service 111 Help Line
Dentistry 0808 155 3256
Visit London 020 7234 5833
REUNITED SERIES OF CONCERTS
More than 2 dozen stars of the UK stage will perform in the Reunited Series
of four filmed ensemble concerts, premiering weekly from 3 – 21 December
on theatre discovery platform Thespie, developed by Thespie’s Creative
Producer Aimie Atkinson.
The concerts are designed to inspire global theatre audiences, by bringing
the UK’s best musical theatre talent directly to their homes this holiday
season. The artists collectively represent over two and a half centuries of
experience on UK stages; their recent credits include The Prince of Egypt,
Pretty Woman, SIX, & Juliet, Come From Away, Wicked, The Phantom of the
Opera, Les Misérables, and Kinky Boots.
The series begins with the premiere of Unlimited: The Songs of Stephen
Schwartz on 3 December at 20.00 GMT, a celebration of the famed composer’s
works including Wicked, Pippin, Godspell, Children of Eden, and The Prince
of Egypt, Schwartz’s newest musical. The nine artists in the concert (Nikki
Bentley, Sophie Evans, Alice Fearn, Alexia Khadime, Melanie La Barrie, Carl
Man, Dianne Pilkington, Liam Tamne, Oliver Tompsett) all starred in Wicked
during its first 14 years in London, and two (Khadime, Tamne) are in the
current cast of The Prince of Egypt.
Oops!... I Streamed It Again... premieres on 10 December, a high-energy
concert of favourite classic pop, rock, and musical theatre songs. The concert
is performed by five artists who met as part of the original company of the UK
musical & Juliet: Jordan Luke Gage, Tim Mahendran, Grace Mouat, Oliver
Tompsett, and 2020 Olivier Award Winner Cassidy Janson.
Next, is the return of the artists from The Reunion, with an empowering
concert of songs by famous girl bands through the decades: Girl Power
premieres 17 December. Expect the tight harmonies and true sisterhood vibes
that these artists have come to be known for since they first met as the
original West End queens of the musical SIX.
Finally, the fourth instalment of the Reunited Series arrives on 21 December.
All I Want For Christmas Is Theatre is a love letter to the tradition of seeing
theatre with those you love during the holiday season. More than three dozen top
UK theatre artists are lending their talents to this special concert, featuring classic
Christmas songs of all styles.
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g

4
EXPOSURE: LIVES AT SEA AT
THE NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM
We rely on our oceans for food,
ecosystem services, energy and
transportation, yet it is a world rarely seen.
In the new visually-led exhibition at the
National Maritime Museum, the experience
of work and play at sea will be displayed
through the lens of six seafarers and
researchers, bringing together photography
taken around the world, from the reefs of
Mexico to the isolation of Antarctica, to
document the myriad ways life can be
spent at sea. Perceptions of the sea often
recall historical rather than contemporary
realities. Through photographs taken by
people employed in the maritime world,
Exposure: Lives at Sea offers a snapshot
into life at sea today, seen through the
seafarers’ lens. It will cover isolation and
camaraderie, science and survival, climate
change and conservation.
Exposure: Lives at Sea is the first
exhibition curated by Laura Boon, the
Lloyd’s Register Foundation Public Curator:
Contemporary Maritime at RMG. She said
Exposure: Lives at Sea – Handstand. © Corey Arnold.
‘The importance of seafarers has been
brought into sharp focus during the
pandemic, seafarers are keyworkers and
helped keep our supermarkets stocked, and
yet hundreds of thousands of them have
been stranded at sea. This exhibition will
hopefully help bring recognition to the
important role seafarer’s play.’
DIGITAL WALKTHROUGH OF
BARBICAN EXHIBITION
The Barbican Centre have created a
digital walkthrough of Toyin Ojih
Odutola: A Countervailing Theory, which
offers an insight into the exhibition while
it is not possible to attend in
person. Narrated by Toyin Ojih Odutola,
the video reveals an epic cycle of new
work that unfurls across the 90-metre
long Curve gallery, exploring an
imagined ancient myth conceived by the
artist. An immersive soundscape by
renowned conceptual sound artist Peter
Adjaye fills the space in response to
Ojih Odutola’s drawings.
Executed in pastel, charcoal and
chalk, the installation features a series of
40 drawings, each work acting as an
individual episode within an overarching
narrative. Ojih Odutola encourages the
viewer to piece together the fragments of
the stories she presents. Drawing on an
eclectic range of sources, from ancient
history to popular culture, Ojih Odutola
investigates the power dynamics at play
within a community in central Nigeria.
ZSL LONDON ZOO
ZSL London Zoo has had to close
its doors for the second time this year.
They now urgently needs to raise
£1million to feed and care for their
20,000 animals this November. Every
donation makes a difference: £10 could
provide a meaty meal for the Asiatic
lions or £50 could feed the hungry
Humboldt penguins their favourite fish.
ZSL London Zoo hopes to begin
sharing some much needed Christmas
magic with visitors at their outdoor
location at the heart of Regent's Park
once they reopen on 2 December.
www.zsl.org
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g

SANTA’S GROTTO LIVE
Video calls with Santa have seen a surge in demand in recent days, as parents
prepare for a Christmas with a difference this year. As more venues are forced to
postpone traditional grottos, one online provider has seen bookings increase by
more than 1,000% this month. The brand-new online Santa experience promises to
be the most magical video call of the year, with children and families able to chat to
Father Christmas over Zoom, all from the comfort of their own homes. Multiple
people can join the call, which means grandparents and other family members are
able to share the festive joy with their loved ones, no matter where they are in the
world. santasgrotto.live
7 OVER 7 LUXURY CHRISTMAS
GIFT IDEAS
7 Over 7 is a new lifestyle brand
which helps people feel more grounded
and connected. Inspired by the
resurgence of new-age meditative
practices and the way in which fragrance
can elevate one’s state of mind, 7 Over 7
seeks to aid transformational selfdevelopment.
Their new range of candles
are a perfect Christmas treat for yourself,
or a gift for someone else.
The 7 Over 7 brand ethos is dedicated
to help the alignment of The Chakra
System, which are the 7 sacred energy
centres that run across the centre of the
neurological system; and life force
energy centres, set along the spinal
cord. When in balance, each of these
centres enhances our physiological,
mental and spiritual wellbeing. 7 Over 7
is about more than just feeling good. It’s
about feeling grounded and centred, no
matter what is going on in the world.
There are seven different aromas to
choose from, all of which have different
properties to balance the mind and body.
Examples include Grounding Woods,
which has an earthy character, whilst the
Wilful Tonic has a more Spicy citrus smell
– there is something to suit every taste.
Their new range of candles are
available to view on the website, as well
as other products in the range.
Visit www.live7over7.com
WINTER COMMISSION 2020 AT
TATE BRITAIN
Chila Kumari Singh Burman has
created a stunning technicolour
installation for Tate Britain’s iconic
facade. The commission references
mythology, Bollywood, radical feminism,
political activism and family memories,
bound up in a celebration of neon light
and swirling colour. This is the fourth in
Tate Britain’s series of outdoor
commissions to mark the winter season.
Born in Liverpool, Burman’s practice
is often inspired by her childhood. In
this new commission Indian myths and
customs are combined with memories of
family visits to the Blackpool
Illuminations and her parents’ ice cream
van. The façade is resplendent with neon
sculptures including Hindu deities such
as Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and
purity, and Ganesh, the god of
prosperity. The installation also includes
the figure of Rani (queen) of Jhansi, a
fierce warrior and symbol of Indian
resistance after she led a battle against
the British in 1857.
The opening of the Winter
Commission coincides with Diwali, the
Festival of Light, celebrating new
beginnings and the triumph of good
over evil. Remembering a brave new
world draws inspiration from personal,
social and mythological histories, while
offering a sense of hope for the future.
© Tate (Joe Humphrys).
5
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g

6
ST JOHN’S SMITH SQUARE
35TH CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
The 35th Christmas Festival at
St John’s Smith Square commences
on 10 December and runs through to
23 December. All concerts will be
appropriately socially distanced and on
many occasions repeated, to ensure
that as many people as possible can
experience the joy of live music at
Christmas. The festival opens with
Olivier Messiaen’s monumental
outpouring of faith, his solo piano
odyssey ‘Vingt regards sur l'enfant-
Jésus’, played by Rolf Hind.
There is then the first of two
participatory concerts featuring
Koor with conductor Simon Capet
(11 December). The first of the regular
artists who appear each year at the SJSS
Christmas Festival will be The Choir
of Clare College Cambridge on
12 December, with a programme built
around Britten’s ever-popular ‘A
Ceremony of Carols’. Previous SJSS
Young Artists, The Gesualdo Six, give
a pair of concerts on 13 December
evoking the mystery and joy of the
season whilst on 14 December, David
Titterington continues the exploration of
the Christmas music of Messiaen.
The London Choral Sinfonia will
perform at the Christmas Festival on
16 December with a programme
including Bach’s joyous ‘Magnificat’.
Ex Cathedra return to the Christmas
Festival, celebrating their 50th
anniversary season on 17 December.
As is long-established
tradition, Stephen Layton directs his
choir Polyphony for the climax of the
festival on the 23 December in a pair of
concerts celebrating the great mystery of
Christmas through the ages.
Visit the website for full listings at
www.sjss.org.uk
TICKETS FOR QDOS PANTOMIMES
GIFTS TO NHS WORKERS
All tickets for the first performance
of pantomimes produced by Qdos
Entertainment in Manchester, Bristol,
Milton Keynes, Stoke-on-Trent and
Birmingham will be gifted to NHS
workers and their families.
Mark Cornell, CEO at Ambassador
Theatre Group said: ‘The Ambassador
Theatre Group is delighted to be
showing pantomimes in five of our
venues in Bristol, Manchester, Milton
Keynes, Stoke and Birmingham this
Christmas, thanks to the support of The
National Lottery. ATG and its staff are
also inviting our magnificent NHS and
their families to the first performance at
each venue free of charge. We hope that
this small gesture shows how incredibly
grateful we all are for what the NHS has
done for this country.’
The productions are able to go ahead
thanks to the support of The National
Lottery, giving thousands of theatregoers
in each city and across the country the
chance to enjoy pantomimes this
Christmas. By making it viable for
theatres to open their doors, up to
250,000 tickets will be available, with
more than 20,000 free tickets available
for National Lottery players and the rest
to go on sale.
Llandi Oshinowo.
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g

SPITALFIELDS MUSIC FESTIVAL
ONLINE THIS WINTER
Due to the ongoing situation,
Spitalfields Music Festival 2020 festival
has been reimagined as a series of
digital events which will be broadcast
via the Spitalfields Music website from
Saturday 5 December.
Recorded as live using state-of-theart
filming techniques, this online
edition of the Festival will place women
composers front and centre with world
premieres, singer-songwriters and early
choral music sitting side by side.
Featuring concerts reworked for online
broadcast, and brand new events, the
2020 Festival will continue to bring
artists, audiences and communities
together, during these unprecedented
circumstances, to celebrate the extensive
range and transformative power of
classical music.
Dunedin Consort, one of the world’s
leading Baroque ensembles, will present
Lagrime mie: Songs of Prayer and
Solitude recorded at Christ Church
Spitalfields, East London, the site where
the festival originated over 44 years ago.
The programme will feature sublime
works by early Baroque composers such
as Schutz, Monteverdi and his assistant
at St. Mark’s, Venice, Alessandro Grandi,
and works by lesser-known but equally
exciting female composers, Barbara
Strozzi and Francesca Caccini.
Eight short commissions by
contemporary women composers will
receive their world premieres as part of
Fast Food, Fast Music, written for and
performed by the Miller-Porfiris Duo and
Siwan Rhys, part of the festival’s pledge
to Keychange, the international initiative
to empower women to transform the
future of music.
Author and historian S. I. Martin, a
specialist in black British History, has
joined forces with the Chineke! Junior
Orchestra to reimagine a walking tour of
East London which will feature the first
ever recording and broadcast of
composer Amanda Aldridge’s work,
Three Arabian Dances.
Completing the festival line-up is a
curated song writing showcase lead by
Errollyn Wallen and Katie Melua. They
will be joined by video by singersongwriter
friends with their original
songs.
Sarah Gee, CEO of Spitalfields Music,
said: ‘Music – and the feelings of joy,
comfort and solace it brings – has
become ever more important in 2020. In
shaping this special online edition of
Spitalfields Festival, we wanted to
highlight the diversity of the music
world, and shine a light on some lesserknown
pieces alongside strong new
works by women.’
Visit the website for full listings at
www.spitalfieldsmusic.co.uk
SPOTLIGHT ON THE FUTURE LIVE!
DRIVE IN CONCERT
Following the success of the
streamed online concert Spotlight on
the Future LIVE!, Louis Rayneau and
The Drive In London are to present the
return of Spotlight on the Future LIVE!
at The Drive In. Taking place on
6 December at 18.00, the concert sees
stars from leading West End shows
including Mamma Mia!, Wicked, The
Phantom of the Opera, Book of Mormon
and Kinky Boots join forces with this
year’s most talented musical theatre
graduates to perform musical theatre
classics and pop hits direct to your car.
The concert, hosted by Britain’s Got
Talent’s Michael Auger and Charlotte
Jaconelli takes place at The Drive
In at Troubadour Meridian Water, raising
money for Make A Wish Foundation,
Acting For Others, Stop Hate UK and
Lebanon Red Cross.
Joanne Clifton, Steph Parry, Lucinda
Lawrence, Jason Leigh Winter, Jade
Davies and Michael Pickering are among
the musical theatre stars taking part,
performing a mix of solos, duets, trios
and quartets with 2020 graduates. The
creative team is headed by creator and
producer Louis Rayneau, with musical
director and keyboardist Ed Court.
For further details on the schedule for
the winter season, visit the website.
Tickets for Spotlight on the Future LIVE!
At The Drive In are available at
www.thedrivein.london/whats-on
7
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g

8
UK BRAND AFTERGLOW TAKES
SUSTAINABILITY TO NEXT LEVEL
With the latest trend of brands trying
to be more sustainable in 2020, British
start-up Afterglow had already
commenced work on a new concept in
spring 2019 well before Greta Thunberg
hit the news, and being eco-friendly
became popular. The name ‘Afterglow’ is
inspired by the euphoric buzz following
a great training session, and the good
feeling of giving something back.
Founder Jay Barratt designed his
sportswear clothing from the ground up,
taking over one year to develop and
integrate new sustainable technologies
into the production process. Taking a no
compromises approach, Afterglow uses
exclusively 100% recycled components
for every single element of the clothing,
even down to the zips, cords and logos
– a completely new approach.
The sportswear uses ‘Recover’ fabric,
comprised exclusively from textile waste
and old clothing. The yarn is then woven
into Afterglow’s innovative Diagonal
Fleece Fabric, which is used to make the
hoodies, shorts and joggers. ‘Recover’ is
the most eco-friendly recycled poly
cotton fabric in the world, according to a
leading environmental impact rating; the
Higg Materials Sustainability Index.
Taking the concept even further,
Afterglow also uses 100% recycled YKK
‘Natulon’ zips and organic cotton
drawstring cords, with recycled plastic
tipping throughout the collection.
A feature unique to Afterglow is the
100% recycled ink logos. Using the
leftover ink in the factory’s logo-press
machines, they mix the ink waste in
batches and repurpose it for their own
logos. This zero-waste technique
combined with a randomised galaxy
swirling effect logo colour creates
unique Afterglow garments.
Afterglow’s Synapse Hoodie Jacket
has been created with sport and training
in mind, from its slim fit cut
accentuating toned physiques and
allowing a full range of motion without
being overly baggy, to the comfortable
double-lined hood, designed to protect
you from the outdoor chill.
Beyond the garments, Afterglow has
also looked to embed a circular
end-to-end approach and offers
customers eco-friendly options on
everything from ordering and delivery to
the individual garments. The company
uses ‘RePack’, an innovative zero waste
reusable packaging solution and also
provide customers with a DHL ‘GoGreen’
carbon off-set delivery option.
For more information visit the website
at www.afterglowlondon.com
OOFOS SHOES RELEASE FIRST
CLOSED TOE SHOE
Ground-breaking creators of
iconically designed footwear with
function, OOFOS (www.oofos.co.uk) was
masterminded by passionate veterans of
the athletic shoe boom of the 1970s. It’s
a brand that cuts across sports
performance, active lifestyle and fashion.
It is now building its autumn and winter
collection with the launch of a new
closed toe shoe option, OOmg eeZee,
giving today’s tastemakers a new reason
to experience.
Recognised for its statement slides
and flip flops (the OOriginal and
OOahh), the eeZee is made with a
unique four-way stretch canvas-like
material that hugs the foot and each pair
is made from the brand’s proprietary
OOfoam technology and biomechanically
engineered footbed that
absorbs 37% more impact than
traditional footwear foams. The
technology is scientifically proven to
reduce stress on the body by reducing
energy exertion in the ankles by up to
20%. Available in neutral shades, ideal
for the colder seasons, for women the
eeZee is a low top option in either white
taupe, black or platinum and for men,
the new style is a mid-top available in
black or green. Both are priced at £110.
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g

WINTER RUNNING KIT FROM NEW BALANCE
As runners head into the Winter season and temperatures
start to drop, there are many options for keeping warm
through those chilly months. New Balance have released their
new winter running edit, which uses NB HEAT technology
developed to keep to cold at bay.
9
FESTIVE WREATH MAKING AND
MEDITATION MASTERCLASSES
Discreet luxury brand 7 Over 7 and
floral engineers Blooming Haus have
partnered with the Treehouse Hotel
London to host a series of intimate,
socially distanced masterclasses
bringing the best of mindful movement
and creativity to help guests enter their
own state of flow.
Attendees will flow into the spirit of
Christmas with this festive masterclass
combining the best of floral artistry
from Blooming Haus and mindful sense
gratification with the understated
elegance of 7 Over 7 scented candles.
Led by the brand founders and
surrounded by breath taking views of
the London Skyline at the iconic location
where Treehouse Hotel London is
perched, guests are invited join in with
a small group of people to move
together through a guided flow
meditation and wreath making
masterclass, customising their creation
with an array of natural and sustainable
ornaments. They will enjoy the festivities
with a flurry of seasonal treats, followed
by brunch at Madera, Treehouse Hotel.
These workshops will be conducted in
small groups of up to 15 people who will
be guided through the Blooming Haus
approach of using artisanal methods while
flowing together as a collective via the
transportive power of scented candles and
a unique guided meditation. Guests will
learn the techniques needed to enter into a
natural state of genius whilst also picking
up some great tips for evocative winter
décor. www.bloominghaus.com
Kick-start your workout in style with
the New Balance Velocity Jogger, that
features asymmetric cut-lines and bold
branding to invigorate your athletic wear.
Built for outstanding performance, these
men's running pants also feature NB
DRY tech for moisture control and have
an athletic fit for easy movement whether
you're out on a run or warming up.
The elastic waistband, French Terry
material and tapered cuffs offer a close,
comfortable fit. RRP £45.
The Fresh Foam 1080v10 is the
premium expression of runner’s data,
supreme comfort, and cutting-edge
design. Part of the New Balance Fresh
Foam X collection, this running shoe
features an updated Fresh Foam midsole
that delivers enhanced softness and a
more energetic rebound than its
predecessor. Experience 360 degrees of
comfort with a soft fitting knit upper
and Ultra Heel in a stylish new look.
RRP £135.
This Printed Impact Run Light Pack
Jacket was designed to help runners
stay prepared on a run. The water
resistant polywoven fabric has built-in
NB Water Defy technology that helps
protect from the rain without weighing
athletes down. When things heat up, this
women's running jacket can be packed
away in the zippered back pocket and
worn as a waist pack for easy carrying.
RRP £70.
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g

10
LONDON’S TRANSPORT AT WAR
A new permanent gallery, London’s
Transport at War, has opened to the
public in Covent Garden at London
Transport Museum. The new gallery,
which has been completely transformed,
reveals the crucial role London’s
transport has played in global conflicts,
from keeping civilians safe on the home
front to supporting efforts on the front
lines. It introduces visitors to the people
behind these stories and features new
posters, photographs, safety notices and
wartime objects from the Museum’s
collection.
To make these important historical
stories about life in wartime more
accessible for visitors of all ages,
including children and young people,
the gallery features new interactive
displays. An atmospheric and immersive
sheltering experience reveals what life
was like for Londoners seeking refuge in
Underground stations during wartime air
raids and visitors can make their own
Tube station shelter ticket to take home
with them. People can rotate a real bus
steering wheel to learn about the London
buses that went to the Western Front to
transport troops.
The wheel is engraved with slang
terms used by the Army that reveal the
experiences of soldiers, including the
London bus drivers who served with
their vehicles. The word ‘Maconochie’
appears on the wheel – referring to a
type of tinned stew of turnips, carrots
and potatoes that was eaten in the
trenches. It was said that ‘warmed in the
tin, Maconochie was edible; cold it was
a mankiller.’
In both world wars Tube station
platforms and de-electrified tracks
provided refuge for civilians escaping
from the horrors of falling bombs.
Conditions were basic; people took their
own bedding Underground and there was
a ‘Tube Refreshments Special’ delivering
food, but at least people felt safe.
‘Blackouts’, when all the city’s lights
were turned off or hidden during air
raids, including on trains, became part
of daily life. Visitors to the gallery can
see archive safety notices and a 1943
poster by influential graphic designer
Hans Schleger, originally from Germany,
who produced many posters for London
Transport.
A striking photo on display in the new
gallery captures children being
evacuated via Paddington station in
1939. Around 1.25m people fled to the
countryside in August and September
1939. London Transport vehicles were
used to carry children and vulnerable
civilians to mainline railway stations so
they could live in safer locations.
Sam Mullins OBE, Director for
London Transport Museum, said:
‘During these challenging times for all
museums, I am especially proud to be
able to launch our new London’s
Transport at War gallery.
‘From sheltering in Tube stations to
escape the Blitz, to the buses and drivers
who went to the Western Front, visitors
will be able learn about the vital role our
world-famous transport system played in
two world wars.’
FINAL SELF-PORTRAIT DRAWING
OF STANLEY SPENCER ACQUIRED
The last known self-portrait drawing of
Stanley Spencer, executed a few months
before his death in 1959, has been
acquired by the gallery dedicated to his
work in his hometown, Cookham,
Berkshire. The work was conceived as a
work in its own right before he painted a
version in oil, now owned by Tate
Britain.The drawing is showcased as part of
the Stanley Spencer Gallery’s current
exhibition, LOVE, ART, LOSS: The Wives of
Stanley Spencer at the Stanley Spencer
Gallery (until Autumn 2021), which
explores the relationship between arguably
two of the most important figures in the
artist’s life – his two wives, Hilda Carline
and Patricia Preece.
The oil painting was commissioned by
friends of the artist, Joy Smith and her
husband, and is the ultimate expression of
the Spencer’s talent in that it not only a true
likeness, but also hints at the uneasy
dialectics which must have been at the
forefront of a dying man’s mind.
Courtesy of Stanley Spencer Gallery
© Estate of Stanley Spencer.
All Rights Reserved.
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g

Nina Karasek (Joële): Freude
(Happiness), 1944. graphite & coloured
pencil on paper 35.5 x 25.5 cm
NINA KARASEK AT THE GALLERY OF
EVERYTHING
Nina Karasek (Joële) 1883 - 1952
(Austria), was a viennese genre painter
who drew and painted on behalf of the
greats of art history, from Leonardo da
Vinci to Francisco Goya. As her
extraordinary opus evolved, Karasek
assumed the name of a primordial alterego
– Joële – to author a private
mythology, made only more obscure by
impenetrable notes scrawled on the back
of each drawing. An exhibition of 28 of
her works is at: privateviews.artlogic.net
LEILA ALAOUI ‘RITE OF PASSAGE’
VIRTUAL TOUR
A virtual tour at Somerset House offers
the opportunity to discover Leila Alaoui’s
moving work. It introduces three of her
defining series featured in Rite of
Passage, including an unfinished video
project L’Ile du Diable (Devil’s Island)
on which she was working at the time
of her untimely death at the age of 33.
Audiences can enjoy an online
talk between the broadcaster Ekow
Eshun and photographer Hassan Hajaj,
as they reflect on Rite of Passage and
the great sensitivity Alaoui applied to
her practice.
‘BEING HUMAN’ AT WELLCOME
Wellcome is a free museum and
library exploring health and human
experience. Soon to re-open after the
November break, ‘Being Human’
explores what it means to be human in
the 21st century. It reflects our hopes
and fears about new forms of medical
knowledge, and our changing
relationships with ourselves, each other
and the world.
Featuring 50 artworks and objects,
the gallery is divided into four sections:
Genetics, Minds & Bodies, Infection,
and Environmental Breakdown. Visitors
can discover a refugee astronaut
carrying their belongings to an unknown
destination, sniff a perfumed bronze
sculpture that smells of breast milk,
listen to an epidemic jukebox, and watch
a fast-food outlet slowly flood.
Jackie Hawken
© Yinka Shonibare, CBE, Refugee Astronaut, 2019.
Leila Alaoui: Tamesloht, 2011.
ROCKY HORROR SHOW IS BACK
Since it first opened in London in
June 1973 at the Royal Court's Theatre
Upstairs, Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror
Show has become the world’s favourite
Rock ‘N’ Roll musicals. This criticallyacclaimed
new production is now back
by huge public demand and will tour the
UK from March to October 2021.
Directed by Christopher Luscombe,
the show features all the famous musical
numbers which have made The Rocky
Horror Show such a huge hit for over
four decades, including ‘Sweet
Transvestite’, ‘Science Fiction/Double
Feature’, ‘Dammit Janet’ and, of course,
the timeless floor-filler, ‘The Time-Warp’.
Rocky's creator, Richard O'Brien,
said: ‘I am as thrilled, as the parent of an
irrepressible child must be when they
see their offspring skipping and dancing
with abandon regardless of the when,
where or why of the reason for doing
so, to tell you that The Rocky Horror
Show will be allowed out to play again
in 2021’.
The Rocky Horror Show tells the story
of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two
squeaky clean college kids who meet
Dr Frank’n’Furter by chance when their
car breaks down outside his house
whilst on their way to visit their favourite
college professor. It’s an adventure
they’ll never forget, with fun, frolics,
frocks and frivolity, bursting with
timeless songs and outrageous outfits.
The Rocky Horror Show is a guaranteed
party, which famously combines
science-fiction, horror, comedy and
music while encouraging audience
participation – meaning, of course,
getting dressed-up in the most
outrageous fancy dress.
11
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g

12
NEW COMMISSION BY ORIGINAL
THEATRE COMPANY
Original Theatre Company, the
production company behind the critically
acclaimed lockdown productions of
Sebastian Faulks's Birdsong Online,
Louise Coulthard’s Watching Rosie and
the new commission by Torben
Betts, Apollo 13: The Dark Side of The
Moon, is to present its fourth original
online production since theatres were
closed by the Government in March this
year. The Haunting of Alice Bowles is a
new supernatural thriller by Philip
Franks adapted for the first time from
M R James’ chilling short ghost
story, The Experiment.
In 1918, the recently widowed Alice
Bowles is left destitute as she seeks to
solve a mystery left by her late husband
Francis. Moving to 2020, YouTube urban
explorers Matt and Caitlin uncover a
mysterious grave in an abandoned
churchyard. What starts as harmless
entertainment soon turns darker when their
discovery begins to unwrap a mystery
which has lain dormant for over a century.
The Cast of The Haunting of Alice Bowles.
Philip Franks said: ‘I’ve loved M R
James ever since I was terrified by
‘Whistle and I’ll Come To You’ on the
BBC in 1968. A series of brilliantly
subtle and scary adaptations of his
ghost stories were a highlight of
Christmas viewing for many years. Now
it’s my turn. I’ve taken a very short story
of his – as far as I know never
dramatised before – and given it a
modern twist for our troubled times.
I hope audiences find it pleasurably
terrifying.
‘It’s a real pleasure to be announcing
our fourth major project for Original
Theatre Online. The brand new
adaptation provides a new twist on a
classic ghost story in time for
Christmas. The Haunting of Alice
Bowles continues our work innovating a
new form of creating and sharing work
online, a cine-theatrical event for dark
December nights.’
The Haunting of Alice Bowles will
be available to watch via the website at
www.originaltheatreonline.com from
17 December until 28 February.
THE FIRST LONDON REVIVAL OF
'CONSTELLATIONS'
Nick Payne’s ‘Constellations’ is about
free will, friendship, quantum multiverse
theory, love and honey. It explores how
even the smallest change in our lives
can dramatically alter the course we
take, and is a spellbinding exploration of
love, science, heartbreak and hope. One
relationship. Infinite possibilities.
Premiering at the Royal Court in
2012, ‘Constellations’ went on to receive
critical acclaim in the West End and on
Broadway. It returns to London for the
first time since then at Southwark
Playhouse with a thrilling cast and a
critically acclaimed director.
Telephone the box office for tickets
on 020 7407 0234.
Leda Douglas plays Holly in The Snow Queen.
IRIS THEATRE IN THE SNOW QUEEN
Iris Theatre is to present The Snow
Queen: An Online, Storytelling
Adventure, adapted and directed
by Natasha Rickman. Stories get
delivered to Holly’s door and then... she
tells them. Easy! Right? Except today a
new story has been delivered but it’s
freezing cold, so cold in fact that Holly
can't even open the pages. She's going
to need a bit of help with this one... and
that's where you come in!
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g

© Tall Stories.
TALL STORIES TO LIVESTREAM
THE GRUFFALO
Following a hugely successful virtual
tour of ‘The Snail and the Whale’ over
October half-term, leading family theatre
company Tall Stories will present a
special live-streamed version of their
much-loved stage adaptation of
‘The Gruffalo’ from 11-13 December.
Based on the classic book by Julia
Donaldson and Axel Scheffler and
presented in association with The Lowry
in Salford, the monstrously fun
production will be broadcast live from
the brand-new Tall Stories Studio in
Islington Central Library, into homes
and schools around the world.
Directed by Olivia Jacobs and Toby
Mitchell, this live-streamed version will
feature exciting additional audience
interaction and a free printable activity
pack filled with ways to make your
at-home theatre experience extra special.
This wonderful adventure is suitable for
everyone aged three and up.
Schools can book to watch the show
on Friday 11 December with weekend
performances for families on 12 & 13
December. The full cast includes Ashley
Sean-Cook (The Gruffalo), Rebecca
Newman (Mouse), Jake Addley
(Predators) and Steve McCourt.
The broadcast will include an exclusive
video introduction from the author Julia
Donaldson and a special afterword from
illustrator Axel Scheffler. Tall Stories are
partnering with TicketCo TV who will be
providing the booking system and
streaming platform. These performances
will replace the run of the live production
that was due to take place on stage at The
Lowry over Christmas.
Julia Donaldson says: ‘It’s very sad
that at the moment it’s harder for people
to see loved ones and to go out to
places like theatres. So, I hope that
audiences will enjoy visiting the Deep
Dark Wood from the comfort of their
own home or school.’
Join Mouse on a daring adventure
through the deep dark wood in Tall
Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of
the classic picture book by Julia
Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Searching
for hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning
Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the
high-spirited Snake. Will the story of the
terrifying Gruffalo save Mouse from
ending up as dinner for these hungry
woodland creatures? After all, there’s no
such thing as a Gruffalo – is there?
Tall Stories was founded in 1997
by joint artistic directors Olivia Jacobs
and Toby Mitchell and last year
celebrated its 21st birthday. Since 1997,
Tall Stories has co-created and staged
30 productions, in 5 languages, in
15 countries, over 6 continents.
For tickets, visit the website at
www.gruffalolive.com
VANESSA REDGRAVE STARS IN
TWO AUDIO DRAMAS
British actress Vanessa Redgrave is
to play the role of Russian poet Anna
Akhmatova in two audio dramas
produced by ERC/ Ensemble for the
Romantic Century. These audio dramas
are the first in a series aimed at keeping
the ERC special brand combining
classical music and theatre before the
public during restrictions.
Akhmatova The Heart is not made of
Stone spans the years 1945 to 1965 and
centres around Anna's meeting with
British philosopher Isaiah Berlin in
Leningrad in 1945. Berlin was part of the
British delegation to the Soviet Union in
the aftermath of the Allies WWII defeat
of Hitler. The play features Akhmatova's
incomparable poetry and the romantic
drama between her and Berlin amidst
the repressive Stalinist regime.
Real Writing is a work about
Akhmatova by British playwright
Maureen Lawrence. Real Writing takes
place from 1938-1992. It is about the
relationship between the poet and Lydia
Chukovskaya, a young Russian
journalist and translator. In the play
Lydia remembers her meetings with
Anna as they tried to free their respective
loved ones from imprisonment in
Stalin's gulag, Anna her son, Lev and
Lydia her husband, Dmitri. Through the
harrowing ordeal the two became
lifelong friends.
Lydia is played by Daisy Bevan. Eve
Wolf is the Music Director and the
production features music by Prokofiev
Sofia Gubaidulina. The completed work
is expected early in December 2020.
Vanessa Redgrave.
13
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g

14
COCKTAILS FROM HOME
THIS WINTER
The build up to Christmas might be
slightly unusual this year but there are
still plenty of ways to have fun. This is
London has found a selection of
festive-themed cocktail recipes for you
to try at home this winter. For some of
these recipes you will need a Boston
Shaker and Hawthorn Strainer.
NON-ALCOHOLIC MULLED WINE –
WILFRED’S
This non-alcoholic creation by
Wilfred's is an interesting alternative to
the traditional mulled wine recipe this
festive season.
Ingredients (serves 2):
300ml Wildred’s Aperitif (0% ABV)
30ml Honey or maple syrup
Freshly sliced oranges
Earthy spices from your cupboard
(cloves, cinnamon, aniseed, etc)
Method: Place all of the ingredients into
pan and warm up until simmering. Leave
to rest with a lid on for 5 minutes and
serve with a ladle into mugs.
wilfredsdrinks.com
AFTER EIGHT MARTINI BY
SKYLIGHT AT TOBACCO DOCK
This is a sweet creamy concoction
that can be made at home or sipped at
Skylight Christmas at Tobacco Dock,
launching on 3 December.
Ingredients:
30ml Vodka
20ml Creme De Menthe
50ml Baileys
Dark Chocolate
Method: Shake all of the ingredients
well with ice, then fine strain them into
a martini glass (also delicious over ice
in a rocks glass). Garnish with grated
dark chocolate.
skylightlondon.com
DAMSON AND CRANBERRY COLLINS
– 6 O’CLOCK GIN
Made using hand-made British
damsons, the 6 O'clock Damson Gin is
a great addition every festive cocktail
cabinet. Not only is it delicious to sip
solo, but it is also great for making fruity
cocktails such as this Damson and
Cranberry Collins.
Ingredients:
50ml 6 O’clock Gin Damson
50ml Cranberry juice
15ml Lime juice
½ tsp Caster sugar
Soda Water
Lemon twist
Method: Add all of the ingredients
except the soda water to a cocktail
shaker. Strain into a highball glass and
top with the soda water. Garnish with a
twist of lemon.
6oclockgin.com
HOT COLLINS FROM
BROCKMANS GIN
Brockmans Gin has provided a recipe
for a delicious winter warmer, proving that
gin is no longer just a summertime tipple.
The recipe for the Hot Collins is taken
from the Black Book of Gin Cocktails.
Ingredients:
50ml Brockmans Gin
25ml Lemon juice
15ml Agave syrup or honey
100ml Boiling water
Grapefruit zest studded with cloves and
a cinnamon stick
Method: Mix all ingredients and pour
into small mug or thick, heat-proof
glass. Garnish with the clove-studded
grapefruit zest and cinnamon stick.
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g

Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind
by William Shakespeare
Blow, blow, thou winter wind
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most freindship if feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.
Freeze, freeze thou bitter sky,
That does not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As a friend remembered not.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.