Dear Hampsteadians,

I hope none of you were blown off Parliament hill by storm Goretti this week… Looking forward to the week ahead, I’ve put together some happenings that I hope will interest you and give you an opportunity to support our local culture and businesses.

Amongst others, David Walliams is in town for a live event to raise money for a local theatre, 2 new exhibitions are opening, there’s fun looking music evenings on and some free drop in sessions for kids to get creative. A few local venues are still closed for January as we ease into the year…. but a pretty full week none the less in our fine area.

David Walliams — An Evening with David Walliams (evening show) — Circle & Star Theatre, Hampstead (NW3)
A special live event with comedian, author and storyteller David Walliams, mixing readings, reflections and humour in an intimate theatre setting above the Horseshoe pub. Sat 17 Jan (20:00–21:30).
Link: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/circleandstar/1926254

A Ghost in Your Ear (immersive horror play) — Hampstead Theatre Downstairs (NW3)
A headphone-led, binaural ghost story set in a recording studio. Mon 12–Sat 17 Jan (evenings).
Link: https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/whats-on/2025/a-ghost-in-your-ear/

Sing For A Cure (one-night cabaret) — Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate (N6)
Musical-theatre favourites in support of The Brain Tumour Charity. Fri 16 Jan (19:00).
Link: https://www.londonpubtheatres.com/whats-on-upstairs-at-the-gatehouse

The Innocents (film screening) — Tufnell Park Film Club @ The Vine (NW5 1PB)A classic, atmospheric British ghost story (Deborah Kerr; adapted from The Turn of the Screw) — perfect if you like your cinema elegant and genuinely unsettling. Tue 13 Jan (20:00). 

Link: https://www.tufnellparkfilmclub.com/forthcomingattractions/2025/12/21/the-innocents-jack-clayton-uk-1961

Royal Ballet / cinema: La traviata — Everyman Belsize Park (NW3)
Event cinema night locally. Wed 14 Jan (18:30).
Link: https://www.everymancinema.com/belsizepark/

Indian Ink (play) — Hampstead Theatre (NW3)
Tom Stoppard’s sweeping, witty story spanning 1930s India and 1980s England. Mon 12–Sat 17 Jan (evenings).
Link: https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/whats-on/2025/indian-ink/

Art exhibitions

Nat Faulkner: “Strong water” — Camden Art Centre (NW3 area)
New solo exhibition. Opens Fri 16 Jan
Link: https://camdenartcentre.org/whats-on/nat-faulkne

“The Colours of Echo” (Radha Binod Sharma) — OmniDe++ Gallery, Belsize Lane (NW3)
Neighbourhood gallery show running until late Jan.
Link: https://www.omnideplusplus.com/blog/tag/current/

Ryan Gander — Camden Art Projects
Exhibition continuing through this week.
Link: https://camdenartsprojects.com/exhibition/ive-fallen-foul-of-my-desire

LYRIC Exhibition 2025 — Lauderdale House, Highgate (N6)
Local-history themed work (runs through winter).
Link: https://www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk/whats-on/a-walk-back-in-time

Karimah Ashadu: “Tender” — Camden Art Centre
Winter contemporary exhibition.
Link: https://camdenartcentre.org/exhibitions

Local open mics at the King William, Hampstead (Monday) and the MAP cafe, Kentish town (Thursday) are always brilliant. For a sense a community I recommend the ‘Piano sing alongs’ at the Kind William (Thursdays). But for ticketed gigs and concerts check out the below:

MOJO 2 (one-night show) — Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate (N6)
Jeremy Sassoon’s MOJO 2. Sun 18 Jan (18:00).
Link: https://www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com/

KURTÁG 100: Kafka Fragments — Hampstead Parish Church (NW3)
Hampstead Collective concert marking Kurtág’s centenary. Mon 12 Jan (19:00).
Link: https://www.thehampsteadcollective.com/concerts

Superheaven — O2 Forum Kentish Town (NW5)
Alternative rock. Fri 16 Jan (doors 19:00).
Link: https://www.academymusicgroup.com/o2forumkentishtown/events/superheaven-tickets-ae701896

Belsize Baroque (concert) — St Peter’s Church, Belsize Park (NW3)
Corelli, Geminiani, Bach and Telemann. Sun 18 Jan (18:30).
Link: https://wegottickets.com/

Crawdaddy Club Night — The Fiddler’s Elbow, Kentish Town (NW5)
Northern soul / mod / Motown (vinyl). Fri 16 Jan (21:00).
Link: https://www.thefiddlerselbow.co.uk/whos-playing/crawdaddy-club-night1612026

Punk Carnival in London — The Fiddler’s Elbow, Kentish Town (NW5)
Live punk night. Sat 17 Jan (19:30).
Link: https://www.thefiddlerselbow.co.uk/whos-playing/yyw3q6lzu0btknh9mhnackxxd3b2961712026

Hampstead heath hosted a ski jump competition in 1950 & 1951! find out more on our new instagram page - https://www.instagram.com/p/DTX1usRDbwM/

Under 5s Drop-in Sessions — Hampstead Community Centre (NW3)
Easy morning plan for parents/carers. Mon/Wed/Fri (09:15–11:15).
Link: https://www.hampsteadcommunitycentre.co.uk/

Sunday Fun-Day Family Workshops — Lauderdale House, Highgate (N6)
Free, drop-in family workshops. Sun 18 Jan (11:00–15:00).
Link: https://www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk/whats-on/sunday-fun-day

Wild about Hampstead Heath: Big Birdwatch — Hampstead Heath (NW3)
Free drop-in session with wildlife interpreters. Sun 18 Jan (13:00–15:00).
Link: https://www.heath-hands.org.uk/whatson/hampstead-heath-big-birdwatch-18jan26

Nature Journaling Workshop — Hampstead Heath (NW3)
Guided walk + journaling prompts. Sat 17 Jan (12:30–14:30).
Link: https://www.heath-hands.org.uk/whatson/naturejournaling-17jan26

Tiny Girl Big Show (circus + comedy) — Jacksons Lane (Highgate/Archway)
High-skill circus with smart comedy. Sat 17 & Sun 18 Jan (times vary).
Link: https://www.jacksonslane.org.uk/events/tiny-girl-big-show/

That’s all for this week. Thank you for supporting this newsletter and in turn, supporting local culture and people. It would mean so much if you could help grow this community by telling your friends and neighbours about us…

All the best,

Tom

www.thehampsteadian.co.uk