Following Boris’s speech last night, it seems lockdown is still very much on the agenda for now. However, there are plenty of virtual activities to get you through the week! From Shakespeare, Picasso, to a pool party DJ set, here are some of the virtual activities you need to check out this week…

 Shakespeare: ‘The Show Must Go Online’ 

When?

Wednesdays 7pm 

#FLODown: Tune in every Wednesday for a reading of a full Shakespeare play done by a global cast on Zoom. Created by Robert Myles in response to the coronavirus crisis, this offers a educational and theatrical escape from your weekly routine. Previous’ weeks performances are currently available and include The Two Gentlemen Of Verona, The Taming Of The Shrew (which is one of our favourites), and Richard III.  The group intend to perform each of Shakespeare’s masterpieces in the order that is believed to have been written in.

Visit the website to watch. And if you’re feeling particularly brave, you can sign up to join the cast. 

The Virtual Market: The South London Craft Fair 

When?

Saturday 12pm - 2pm

#FLODown: The South London Craft Fair is now bringing its market stalls to your living room with their weekly virtual market. Every Saturday between noon and 2pm, they will be sharing crafts and gifts from independent traders on their Instagram stories. 

See below for instructions on how to get involved and how to purchase your favourite items. 

Dance at Home: English National Ballet (ENB) 

When?

Anytime

#FLODown: The English National Ballet is hosting weekly workshops and online activities at the moment. Why not immerse yourself in the world of ballet with some of their professional classes, watch renditions of Rome and Juliet,  or listen to extracts and interviews from the ENB’s 70th Anniversary Gala. 

Some of our favourite classes that are currently available include the ‘Family Swan Lake Ballet Workshop’ with Sarah Golightly and the BalletFit Classes with Lucy Lowndes – these will definitely mark a change to your usual home workouts.

Join the ENB on Wednesdays for their weekly #WednesdayWatchParty with a performance available on Youtube or Facebook for 48 hours only! This Wednesday (13th May) the ENB’s invites you to watch Fantastic Beings. Aszure Barton’s neo- classical ballet staring ENB’s Lead Principals Erina Takahashi and Issac Hernandez.  Not one to be missed!

Visit their website for more classes and activities.  

Picasso at Home: The Royal Academy of Arts 

When?

All day

#FLODown: Head to the Royal Academy of Arts website to see a virtual tour of their critically acclaimed exhibition Picasso and Paper.  The exhibition brings together more than 300 works on paper, spanning the artist’s incredible 80-year career. Get lost in Picasso’s world of paper and explore the amazing work he created with this everyday, and often overlooked, material. 

Samantha Ronson DJ set 

When?

Friday – Monday @ 10pm

#FLODown: Tune into Samantha Ronson’s weekly pool party DJ set. Taking place live from her Los Angeles home, with a few guest performances, expect nothing but good time music and cool views of her incredible deck set up. If you’re missing the club then this could be the perfect substitute. Pour yourself a drink, connect your laptop to your speakers, and have a good stress releasing groove.

 Visit her Instagram to join the live show.

Andy Warhol at the Tate

When?

All Day

#FLODown: The Tate is currently hosting a virtual tour of the first ever Andy Warhol exhibition. You can now explore some of his most famous works, including his images of Marylin Monroe (1967), his Ladies and Gentlemen Series (1975) and the classic Campell’s Soup Cans (1962).

The exhibition tour includes speeches from the curators Gregor Muir and Fiontán Moran, with particular reference to his LGBTQI identity and his concerns with death and religion. This virtual exhibition will give you an opportunity to learn more about the man that everyone has heard of.

 Visit the Tate website to begin the tour now.