From a reinvented monster classic to a chart-climbing pop star’s newest release, this week’s entertainment offerings span the gamut of film, concerts, stage productions and more. Director Lee Cronin brings his horror credentials to The Mummy, whilst ex-One Direction star Zayn returns with new R&B tracks. Whether you’re seeking a night out at the cinema, a live gig or a theatre production in the West End, or choosing to stay in with the newest streaming content and new game releases, our detailed guide has you covered. Read on to discover the essential entertainment moments heading your way over the coming seven days, curated to ensure you won’t overlook a beat of the week’s best cultural offerings.
Cinema: Latest Horrors and Bold Adaptations
Lee Cronin, the Irish filmmaker behind the critically acclaimed indie horror The Hole in the Ground and the box office hit Evil Dead Rises, brings his unique creative perspective to a fresh take on The Mummy. Rather than a direct remake, Cronin’s vision follows a journalist and his wife as they are reunited with their child after eight years missing in the desert, with distinctly nightmarish consequences. Jack Reynor and Laia Costa star in what promises to be a gripping reinvention of the classic creature feature, showcasing Cronin’s skill at crafting genuine dread and suspense.
Beyond Cronin’s horror film, this week’s movie selection presents a broad selection of engaging dramatic films and character studies. Olivier Assayas’s The Wizard of the Kremlin showcases an daring dramatic piece starring Jude Law as Vladimir Putin, paired with Paul Dano as a made-up communications strategist, based on a acclaimed literary work. Meanwhile, Christian Petzold’s Miroirs No 3 offers a more intimate affair, with Paula Beer giving a finely-tuned acting as a concert pianist in training recovering from trauma in rural seclusion. Brian Cox also steps behind the camera for the first time with Glenrothan, a humorous examination of family reunion and healing located in Scotland.
- Lee Cronin’s The Mummy reunites a family with sinister supernatural repercussions in the desert.
- Jude Law takes on the role of Putin in Olivier Assayas’s audacious political thriller drama.
- Christian Petzold’s Miroirs No 3 traces a pianist’s path to recovery across rural landscapes.
- Brian Cox directs his debut feature about Scottish estranged brothers seeking redemption.
Live Music and Performances: Spanning Afrobeats to Experimental Jazz
This week’s upcoming music calendar offers something for every refined listener, from engaging Afrobeats performances to experimental classical reimaginings. The American-Ghanaian singer Amaarae brings her unique fusion of Afrobeats, alt-pop and techno to London’s Roundhouse on 23 April, promising a completely immersive audio experience. Those going should be aware of the strict all-black dress code requirement, creating an additional sense of theatrical excitement to what looks set to be a memorable evening of modern music.
Classical music devotees will find equally engaging offerings this week. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment presents a collection of English early twentieth-century masterworks by Vaughan Williams, Elgar and Peter Warlock, reconceived through state-of-the-art technology. Working alongside immersive experience specialists Squidsoup, the leading period-instrument ensemble will play with a custom-built Concrete Voids 3D sound system, reshaping the Queen Elizabeth Hall itself into an instrument and producing an wholly unique listening experience.
Outstanding Performances This Coming Week
- Amaarae at Roundhouse, London, 23 April: Afrobeats, alt-pop and techno fusion with strict black dress code.
- Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment at Queen Elizabeth Hall, 22 April: Early-20th-century classics with immersive 3D sound.
- Dry Cleaning performing until 25 April: Unconventional art-rock with mesmerising vocal delivery and post-punk sensibilities throughout performances.
- Post-punk revivalist groups present gloriously unconventional takes on noise and experimental musical storytelling this week.
Dry Cleaning sustains their gruelling tour programme, bringing their gloriously off-kilter art-rock to locations across the UK through 25 April, beginning in Dublin. Their January-released Secret Love showcases the band’s characteristic combination of post-punk’s unfiltered noise intensity with Florence Shaw’s mesmerising vocal performance, crafting an completely singular sonic landscape that defies standard classification and rewards repeated listening.
Visual Arts: Immersive Experiences and Gallery Premieres
This week’s visual arts landscape offers a rich mix of engaging installations and significant institutional debuts that promise to engage viewers seeking innovative artistic experiences. From cutting-edge digital installations to conventional painting shows, galleries across the country are showcasing works that question established understandings of space, materiality and audience participation. These shows demonstrate the range of modern artistic expression, spanning renowned artists pursuing fresh approaches to new artists making their gallery debut for the first time.
The week ahead offers particularly robust prospects for those drawn to unconventional strategies to pictorial narratives. A number of spaces are prioritising interactive and immersive elements, reshaping passive gallery-going into active participatory engagements. Whether through expansive large-scale pieces, intimate solo-artist exhibitions or thematic group presentations, the present programme demonstrates a significant curatorial turn towards designing settings that activate various senses and encourage reflective, sustained viewing rather than fleeting gallery encounters.
| Exhibition | Venue & Dates |
|---|---|
| Digital Futures: Contemporary Installation Art | Barbican Centre, London; Through 30 April |
| Colour and Form: Abstract Explorations | Whitechapel Gallery, London; 19 April – 2 June |
| Emerging Voices: New Institutional Commissions | Serpentine Galleries, London; Opens 22 April |
| Spatial Narratives: Photography and Place | The Photographers’ Gallery, London; Through 25 May |
Gallery-goers should prioritise booking timed slots in advance for the more popular exhibitions, especially the interactive exhibits which function within restricted numbers to ensure optimal viewing conditions. Many galleries are offering later opening times this week to accommodate demand, enabling visitors to combine gallery visits with other evening entertainment options across the city’s lively arts scene.
Theatre and Dance: Honest Accounts and Accessible Dance
This week’s dramatic presentations present a compelling mix of close-up character portraits and large-scale ensemble works that promise to captivate audiences throughout London and the wider region. From darkly humorous examinations of family dysfunction to emotionally resonant tales examining contemporary social anxieties, the theatre is filled with pieces that highlight authentic storytelling and emotional impact. Directors are increasingly crafting work that invites audiences into profoundly intimate spaces, creating theatre that appears vital and timely to current living.
Dance programming continues to be equally vibrant, with companies advocating for inclusive physical vocabularies and multiple choreographic viewpoints. Several productions this week present partnerships involving seasoned and developing artists, encouraging artistic exchange that expands possibilities and questions traditional ideas of physicality and expression. Whether you’re seeking innovative work that transcends genre definitions or conventional stories told via new viewpoints, the week ahead delivers theatre and dance that prioritises artistic integrity and meaningful audience engagement.
Stage Shows You Should See
- An intimate family drama exploring reconciliation and unspoken truths with nuanced performances and sharp dialogue throughout.
- A physical theatre piece combining dance, verbal narrative and multimedia elements to produce an immersive sensory experience.
- A fresh adaptation of a traditional work featuring an all-female ensemble and bold directorial choices.
Streaming, Gaming and Music: Entertainment in Your Home
For those choosing to remain cosily indoors this week, the streaming and gaming ecosystem offers worthwhile choices across streaming platforms, gaming libraries and music releases. From high-quality television series to smaller studio game titles, there’s considerable variety catering to varied tastes and moods. Video platforms maintain their aggressive release schedules, whilst gaming platforms showcase both flagship games and innovative indie projects that merit your time. This blend of high-calibre material means home entertainment needn’t feel like a lesser alternative—it’s genuinely competitive with standard social outings.
Music drops this week span genres and generations, with established artists and emerging talents alike unveiling projects that merit your time. The week also delivers new gaming content ranging from story-focused games to competitive multiplayer offerings, guaranteeing gamers of all preferences find something engaging. Meanwhile, streaming services present new drama, comedy and documentary programming that’s been building significant excitement. Whether you’re settling in for a gaming session over the weekend, uncovering new artists or streaming the most recent quality dramas, home entertainment provides authentic excellence and diversity.
Latest Releases Across Platforms
- Zayn’s latest R’n’B album delivers smooth, romantic songs showcasing the ex-One Direction star’s musical evolution.
- A leading digital service releases an acclaimed drama series featuring ensemble cast performances and sharp scriptwriting.
- Indie gaming studio launches anticipated puzzle-adventure title combining story complexity with creative gameplay features.
- Documentary series examining modern-day societal challenges premieres on leading streaming service with critical acclaim.
- Established musician releases surprise EP with unexpected collaborations and bold musical explorations throughout.
This week’s entertainment at home highlights that remaining at home no longer means losing access to quality cultural experiences. The extensive range of new releases—from Zayn’s sultry R’n’B album to innovative gaming projects and prestige television—ensures something resonates with every viewer, listener, and player. Whether you’re after escapist content or intellectually stimulating material, online platforms offer excellent reasons to stay comfortable at home.