Willesden and surrounding areas Area Guide

'Jon Allen is a British singer, songwriter and producer whose retro blend of rock, folk and soul recalls the grit of Free and The Faces with echoes of Van Morrison and Elton John. Known for his whiskey-soaked lived in voice and finely crafted songs, his debut Dead Man's Suit earned critical acclaim and a spot on BBC's Later... with Jools Holland, leading to film, TV and ad syncs as well as collaborations with artists like Mark Knopfler. With seven albums and over 60 million streams worldwide, Allen continues to reach global audiences-now touring his latest record Seven Dials with his band.'

Journey of Light is a solo exhibition of recent works by London-based artist Özlem Sorlu Thompson whose vibrant paintings embody the Mediterranean sun of her native Turkey. The centre piece in the show was directly inspired by a recent visit to Şeytan Sofrası, a volcanic hilltop on the Aegean coast known for a mythical lava pond that, according to legend, marks the spot where the devil left his footprint as he was expelled from heaven. What started as a sketch on a small canvas grew into a polyptich and the artist’s largest painting to date. As each section blends into the next and layers of imaginary florals cover the dreamlike landscape, Thompson takes us on a visual journey that merges ancient folklore with hopes for the future. Initially approaching flora and fauna, and exotic plants in particular, with scientific curiosity, Thompson’s art is led by intuition and an interest in the less tangible qualities to express her love for nature. Carrying the sun within them, her work has been exhibited internationally and is held in collections as far afield as Dubai and the Americas. Journey of Light marks the tenth anniversary of Özlem Sorlu Thompson moving to North London and acts as a symbolic link between her motherland and her chosen home.

Each month a whole bunch of ace stand-ups show off their capabilities in a blend of tried and tested material and new stuff.

Afternoon session at the Tabard Theatre. Panel 4: 2.30pm-3.30pm The Golden Age of Childrens Theatre Panellists: Vicky Ireland (formerly Polka Theatre ) and David Wood (writer, director and producer, The National Childrens Dramatist The Times ). Chaired by Janet Ellis.

'As long as you only have one sort of person telling the stories, well then our world will end up looking very like that one sort of person. It makes sense, doesn’t it?’ Mary Ann Evans is of marriageable age - just. Her father, Robert, has recently moved with her to Bird Grove House, with the sole purpose of finding her a suitable husband through the local church. But Mary Ann’s remarkable intellect and growing self-confidence are formingprogressive new ideas in her mind; ideas that challenge her father’s most strongly held beliefs. Fuelled by every new book she reads and a burgeoning friendship with local radicals, Mary Ann finds it increasingly difficult to accept the rules of the world around her - bringing her into direct and bitter conflict with the father she adores. But perhaps that is the only way forward: to break every societal convention expected of her, find her voice, and become the writer she has always dreamt of being. After all, who can suppress the astounding gifts of future literary titan, George Eliot? Alexi Kaye Campbell’s witty and topical new play questions how we can live alongside those we disagree with, and places centre stage the untold story of one of England’s greatest writers, in a poignant exploration of family ties and self-determination. Alexi’s previous work includes the Olivier Award-winning The Pride (Royal Court/West End), Apologia (Bush/West End) and Sunset at the Villa Thalia (National Theatre). Anna Ledwich returns to Hampstead, where her previous credits include The Billionaire Inside Your Head, Labyrinth and the Olivier nominated productions of Dry Powder and Four Minutes Twelve Seconds. CAPTIONED: Tuesday, 17th March, 7:30pm AUDIO DESCRIBED: Saturday, 21st March, 2:30pm