Camberwell Fair ★★ FREE


There was a Camberwell Fair from 1279 till 1855 when it was closed by local authorities for “immoral and riotous behaviour.” The Fair returned in 2015. There is a market, two stages and lots of food and drink. Craft stalls and local organizations showcase their wares and their works.

 Reviewed by J.C.

 Our Score:  ☆☆ 

WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Last Reviewed: August 2020
Camberwell Green
Nearest tube: Denmark Hill
www.camberwellfair.co.uk
Map & Location: Camberwell Green, Camberwell, London SE5, UK

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St. Martin in-the-fields: Lunchtime Concerts ★★★★ FREE

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Summer Exhibition 2026 ★★★★ Royal Academy of Arts | Jun 16 - Aug 23, 2026

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The theme of the 258th Summer Exhibition, “Interconnectedness,” makes tracing links between the works on display both a fascinating and at times overwhelming experience. While this year’s works on view appear to contain less overt political commentary and fewer instances of humour than is often typical of such events, both are still present in striking moments. Tim Shaw’s powerful portrayal of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Pin It On Them (Associated Artwork From the Installation: Shut It Piggy) (555) can be juxtaposed with the playful absurdity of Joey Rutherford’s Pickle With a Pearl Earring (1110) , reminding viewers of the range of tones running through the exhibition. Alongside these, there are the usual charming animal representations, including our favourite, the highly realistic cat in Thus Regard Palmerston (793) , as well as the standard attempts to shock and provoke, such as Tracey Emin’s There Is An End To Everything (674) . The collection continues to move between cur...
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Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait ★★★★ National Portrait Gallery | Until September 6, 2026

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To mark what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, the National Portrait Gallery has mounted an exhibition exploring the actress’s enduring place in popular culture. While tracing the chronology of Monroe’s life, the exhibition interweaves her story with the ways in which artists and photographers have interpreted and presented this most elusive of icons. Photographs by Cecil Beaton, Richard Avedon and many others attempt to capture the fascination she exerted, while works by Willem de Kooning and Andy Warhol demonstrate how her image transcended Hollywood to become the raw material of modern art. Mesmerising clips from her films provide a reminder of the charisma that first made her a star. More than six decades after her death in 1962, Monroe remains a singular presence in the collective imagination. Other celebrities have enjoyed their moment in the spotlight and faded, but her allure endures. There is the classic rags-to-riches narrative, shadowed by an inability to find...
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War Horse ★★★★★ National Theatre | Until July 30, 2026

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Driftwood ★★★★ Kiln Theatre | Jun 4 - Jul 4, 2026

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Set in Trinidad on the eve of independence from Britain, Driftwood explores a society in transition. Change is everywhere, not least at ALMA, the gentlemen's club run by Pearl and her daughter Ruby. The club is owned by Mansion, an Englishman preparing to return home, and his departure coincides with the arrival of a mysterious young stranger whose secrets threaten to upend the lives of everyone around him. The performances are uniformly excellent. Ellen Thomas delivers an outstanding portrayal of Pearl, a resilient survivor forced to disavow her own child in order to endure. Thomas completely inhabits the role, creating a formidable exterior whose rare moments of vulnerability carry real emotional weight. Equally compelling is Martins Imhangbe, who brings swagger and intrigue to the enigmatic newcomer whose arrival compels Pearl to confront the consequences of her past choices. Cat White is also impressive as Ruby, the pragmatic seductress determined to navigate a rapidly changin...
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Black Comedy ★★★ Orange Tree Theatre | May 16 - Jul 11, 2026

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Inspired by a real historical incident, the new musical Redcliffe tackles an issue that remains relevant today: the criminalisation of consensual homosexual relationships, which still exists in many countries. Between 1752 and 1753, William Critchard and Richard Arnold were accused of sodomy, an offence punishable by death in Britain at the time. Their story survives through contemporary newspaper accounts and a rare witness statement uncovered in the Bristol archives in 2023. In bringing this material to the stage, Jordan Luke Gage, who wrote the book, music and lyrics, takes considerable liberties with the historical record. Arnold was a publican in his sixties and Critchard a twenty-four-year-old footman when the two men were observed together in a private room at a Bristol alehouse. Dramatic licence is not in itself a problem, but while the details have been reshaped, the characters at the centre of the story never become fully realised individuals. The principal weakness of Redcl...
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Are You Watching? ★★★ Royal Court Theatre | Until July 4, 2026

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Georgie Dettmer’s debut work assembles a mosaic of stories centred on society’s obsession with images: their creation, consumption, manipulation and abuse. Many of the narratives carry a sexual charge. At its heart is a story clearly modelled on the Gisèle Pelicot case, in which a husband drugged his wife and filmed her repeated sexual abuse by other men. Around it swirl other tales: an actress appearing in a film about that case while becoming the victim of deepfake pornography herself; a kidnapped child narrative that inevitably recalls Madeleine McCann; a supposedly scientific study of sexual response dependent on video technology; and a father using AI to alter images of his son. Framing everything are two young girls whose fascination with the material mirrors the audience's own uneasy attraction to such content. The acting is superb throughout. Maimuna Memon and Lucy McCormick display astonishing versatility, moving effortlessly between characters and emotional registers. The...
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