JANUARY 23. THE ART OF NATURE. Bruce Pearson, president of the Society of Wildlife Artists, hosts a Royal Institution discussion evening. Free at the Royal Institution, 21 Albemarle Street, London W1. Everyone welcome, tea at 5.30pm, talk at 6pm.
JANUARY 25-APRIL 6
WILLIAM MORRIS RE-VISITED: QUESTIONING THE LEGACY
Touring exhibition at the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester University, to mark the centenary of the death of William Morris. It examines the reasons for the survival and revival of the craft aesthetic in the industrialised 20th century. Free admission. Details: 0161 275 7450.
JANUARY 25-APRIL 14
DIAGHILEV: CREATOR OF THE BALLETS RUSSES
Works from public and private collections in Russia and the West, charting Diaghilev’s career up to his exile from Russia in 1914, at the Barbican Art Gallery, Silk Street, London EC2. Among illustrations from contemporary magazines and books, and photographs, original costumes and related theatre designs from Diaghilev’s productions, are: a full-size backdrop from Swan Lake which was designed by Konstantin Korovine and exhibits from the operas Sadko, Prince Igor and Boris Godunov and the ballets The Firebird, Scheherazade, Petrushka and The Rite of Spring. Tony Palmer’s hour-long documentary film Igor Stravinsky on the composer’s interviews and memoirs of his work with the Ballets Russes accompanies the exhibition. Details: 0171 382 7105.
JANUARY 28, FEBRUARY 4, FEBRUARY 11
DIAGHILEV AND THE CINEMA
A season of Bolshoi Ballet films, along with Spartacus, Ivan the Terrible and Romeo and Juliet, classic Russian silent films, and Powell and Pressburger’s classic ballet story The Red Shoes, will be shown at the Barbican Cinema to complement the Art Gallery’s Diaghilev exhibition. Details: 0171 382 7000.
FEBRUARY-JUNE
BIG NOISE
Live music gigs designed specifically for nine to 13-year-olds to be held on the first Saturday of every month at Birmingham Town Hall. The series will include the sounds of samba, reggae and jazz, Rhythms of Africa with Kokuma Dance Theatre, and Dance Crazy with dancers from the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Tickets are Pounds 3, Pounds 5 (adults) or Pounds 10 for all five sessions, Pounds 15 (adults) from: 0121 605 6666.
FEBRUARY 8-MARCH 2
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Benedict brandishes his wit in a “merry war” of words with Beatrice, but plots are afoot to bring them together. Bristol Old Vic’s spring season kicks off with Shakespeare’s lively comedy directed by Andy Hay and designed by Mick Bearwish. Details: 0117 987 7877.
