From Enid Blyton’s treasured imaginative tale to arena-filling Australian rock acts, this week’s entertainment calendar offers an option for all tastes. The Magic Faraway Tree brings the beloved children’s book to the big screen with a impressive ensemble including Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, whilst 5 Seconds of Summer launch a UK tour that kicks off in Glasgow on 30 March ahead of visiting major cities including Birmingham and London. Whether you’re after cinema thrills, live music, theatre, or cultural events, our comprehensive guide highlights the unmissable events taking place throughout the week ahead. Read on to find out what’s worth your time and money this week.
Movie Releases Worth Your Time
This week’s cinematic offerings span a wonderful variety of categories, from family-friendly fantasy to challenging horror and thought-provoking documentary. The Magic Faraway Tree shines as a engaging rendition of Enid Blyton’s beloved story, capturing the classic tale with impressive casting and countryside cinematography. Meanwhile, Those Will Kill You delivers a darkly comic examination on wealth inequality through a horror framework, whilst Splitsville provides a pleasantly distinctive film examining modern relationship dynamics. For those seeking intellectual stimulation, Raoul Peck’s Orwell film offers contemporary analysis of how the writer’s prophetic observations remain disturbingly relevant today.
The variety on display this week guarantees that no matter what films appeal to you, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re seeking family-friendly content that works for all ages, adrenaline-pumping scares, irreverent comedy or serious documentary filmmaking, cinemas are well-stocked. These releases showcase different corners of contemporary cinema, from major studio releases to independent films. The calibre of acting across these films—particularly Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy’s work in The Magic Faraway Tree—lifts the week’s selection beyond typical releases, making it an outstanding time to venture out to your neighbourhood cinema.
- The Magic Faraway Tree: Enid Blyton-inspired production featuring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy
- They Will Kill You: Horror satire about wealth and supernatural apartment inhabitants
- Splitsville: Offbeat comedy series examining consensual non-monogamy and contemporary romance
- Orwell: 2+2 = 5: Documentary film on George Orwell’s enduring relevance to politics
Live Music and Entertainment Performances
Arena Tours and Prominent Musical Performances
Australian boyband 5 Seconds of Summer are taking their arena tour to the UK this week, with dates in Glasgow, Birmingham, and London spanning from 30 March to 5 April. The four-piece have evolved considerably since their initial period of pop-rock influenced by One Direction, venturing into darker dance experiments across their six studio albums. These performances are set to condense their extensive catalogue into an energetic 90-minute spectacle, providing fans a thorough exploration through their career trajectory and musical highlights.
For those with a fondness for punk rock mayhem, the Manchester Punk Festival taking place 3 to 5 April offers an unmissable chance to explore the style’s raw energy. With over 140 bands performing across seven venues throughout the city, the festival caters to every shade of punk enthusiasm imaginable. Headliners include the unflinching hardcore noise merchants Fucked Up and San Francisco’s Dead to Me, confirming that the festival lineup combines established acts with rising talent across the punk spectrum.
Classical and Specialist Music
The Barbican Hall in the capital hosts The Bad Plus on 30 March, celebrating the lesser-known American Quartet led by pianist Keith Jarrett during the 1970s. Whilst Jarrett’s Standards Trio have achieved iconic standing amongst jazz aficionados, this ensemble merits equal recognition for their groundbreaking additions to the genre. Saxophonist Chris Potter and pianist Craig Taborn have come together to honour that group’s memorable music, providing listeners with a rare opportunity to experience this significant period of jazz history delivered by musicians who understand its significance intimately.
This classical and specialist music programme offers a sophisticated counterpoint to the week’s mainstream leisure offerings, appealing to discerning music enthusiasts looking for artistic richness and historical context. The Barbican’s intimate environment offers the perfect venue for appreciating the nuanced interplay between Potter and Taborn as they navigate the quartet’s intricate compositions. For jazz enthusiasts and those curious about exploring past standard popular music, this show constitutes a genuine standout of the weekly entertainment programme.
- 5 Seconds of Summer: Australian pop group arena tour throughout UK cities during the week
- Manchester Punk Festival: 140 acts across 7 different venues celebrating punk rock heritage
- The Bad Plus: Barbican Hall homage to Keith Jarrett’s landmark 1970s American jazz ensemble
Theatrical Productions and Dance Performance
The week’s theatrical offerings offer a diverse range of entertainment options for London’s theatre-goers, ranging from smaller West End shows to innovative works in smaller venues. Dance enthusiasts will find similarly engaging options, with innovative movement design expanding artistic horizons combined with more traditional ballet presentations. Whether you’re seeking challenging theatrical pieces, musical theatre spectacle, or innovative movement-based work, this week’s performance calendar delivers something to enthral every artistic inclination. The capital’s theatrical spaces continue to showcase recognised artists and up-and-coming performers, guaranteeing that the city’s arts scene remains vibrant and varied for those pursuing live entertainment.
| Production | Details |
|---|---|
| West End Musicals | Long-running shows continue performances across major London theatres throughout the week |
| Contemporary Dance | Innovative choreography presented at Sadler’s Wells and other specialist dance venues |
| Drama Productions | New plays and classic revivals running at various London theatres and smaller studio spaces |
| Ballet Performances | Classical and neo-classical ballet offerings at the Royal Opera House and regional venues |
- West End musicals provide immersive theatre experiences for theatre enthusiasts seeking impressive staging and design
- Contemporary dance pushes artistic boundaries through innovative choreography and avant-garde physical expression
- Classic drama revivals provide audiences with timeless stories staged by accomplished theatrical ensembles
Art Shows Around the UK
The nation’s galleries are filled with compelling exhibitions this week, offering art enthusiasts a range of cultural experiences to discover. From contemporary installations reshaping perceptions of modern life to retrospectives celebrating established masters, Britain’s museums and galleries present the breadth of artistic achievement. Whether you’re keen on innovative contemporary pieces or traditional artwork, the week ahead offers numerous opportunities to experience visual culture at venues spanning London’s renowned museums to regional galleries outside the capital. These exhibitions deliver stimulating insights on everything from contemporary concerns to artistic technique, ensuring there’s something to captivate and engage every visitor.
Major exhibitions throughout the week span diverse artistic movements and mediums, with curators offering thoughtfully curated selections that promote new readings of familiar themes and adventurous investigations of unexplored ground. Photography, sculpture, painting, and mixed-media installations all feature prominently across the British gallery scene, showcasing the rich variety of modern and classical artistic practice. Many venues maintain extended access and dedicated evening programmes to accommodate varying schedules, whilst educational programmes and interpretive walks provide deeper insights into the pieces exhibited. This week offers a prime chance to find rising voices, return to cherished pieces, or experience completely fresh artistic perspectives that might stimulate and deepen your understanding of visual culture.
- Contemporary art installations examining cultural themes and modern identity across major galleries
- Retrospective exhibitions celebrating established artists’ careers and artistic evolution over decades
- Photographic and multimedia displays examining landscape, portraiture, and conceptual themes
- Longer operating times and curator-led visits on offer at museums and galleries taking part nationwide
Streaming, Gaming and Audio Entertainment
Television Debuts
This week’s streaming services deliver compelling viewing for those who prefer staying indoors. Several anticipated series are launching across major services, delivering fresh narratives that range across genres from gripping drama to feel-good comedies. Whether you’re in search of character-focused narratives or plot-heavy spectacle, the week ahead provides diverse options to match distinct preferences and preferences. Many platforms are launching complete seasons simultaneously, allowing viewers to watch at their own speed, whilst others are staggering episodes weekly to sustain viewer engagement and discussion among audiences.
Original productions remain dominant across streaming schedules, with considerable investment and acclaimed creative teams behind many releases. International material is growing in visibility, delivering diverse perspectives and storytelling traditions to British viewers. Documentary programmes exploring contemporary issues sit alongside fictional dramas engaging with complex themes, ensuring there’s substantive value alongside pure entertainment value. These releases reflect considerable spending in quality production, with visual direction, acting and dialogue often matching theatrical releases in ambition and execution.
New Music Releases
The upcoming week brings fresh musical offerings across diverse categories, from recognised performers releasing expected releases to emerging talents making their first release. Streaming services are showcasing carefully selected playlists featuring the week’s most significant releases, making finding new music easy for audiences looking for fresh material. Whether you favour pop, rock, hip-hop, electronic or alternative music, there’s considerable new music to listen to. Artists are adopting unique release methods, with some delivering special content to individual services or releasing physical formats alongside online releases, catering to varied listening preferences.
Music journalists and critics are offering perspectives on the week’s standout releases, with reviews helping listeners navigate the substantial amount of new material. Podcasts focused on musical analysis offer deeper analysis of notable works, exploring artistic intent and cultural context. Playlists on digital platforms curate thematic collections, helping people discover songs they might not otherwise encounter. Social media campaigns tied to launches foster audience participation, with fans exchanging thoughts and suggestions, encouraging discussion around new music across digital platforms.
Gaming and Podcasts
Gaming titles this week cover multiple platforms, providing everything from indie titles with creative mechanics to major franchise entries. Podcasts remain popular as audio entertainment, with new episodes covering entertainment news, cultural analysis, comedy and investigative journalism. Whether you’re drawn to esports, character-led adventures or casual mobile entertainment, there’s substantial content to explore. Podcast networks are expanding their catalogues with varied perspectives and perspectives, ensuring listeners can find shows that genuinely resonates with their interests and intellectual curiosity.
- New independent games offering fresh game mechanics and original artistic direction
- Podcast episodes featuring interviews with media industry professionals and cultural commentators
- Major franchise gaming launches accessible on console, PC and mobile platforms
