Things to do in London this week

What to do and see in London this week, 17th to 24th September 2014: the coolest cultural current events, as selected by the Culture Whisper team

Ming at the British Museum

1. RETRO MUSICAL: Evita, Dominion Theatre

Critics love this new production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic, first put on in 1978, which stars Marti Pellow of Wet, Wet, Wet as Che and transfixing newcomer Madalena Alberto as Evita Peron. Read our preview

2. RADIO HIGHLIGHT: Steve McQueen, Desert Island Discs

The director of 12 Years a Slave is this Sunday’s guest on Radio Four’s best-loved show to talk about his marooned musical choices and luxuries.

3. BLOCKBUSTER EXHIBITION: Ming, British Museum

Devoted to the 50 years between 1400 and 1450 'that changed China’ and proving there was more to Ming than blue vases, this is a masterly survey of an extraordinary cultural blossoming. Read our preview

4. PHOTOGRAPHIC TREAT: Bob Willoughby, Beetles & Huxley

Willoughby went behind the scenes to photograph the golden age of Hollywood, capturing icons from Audrey Hepburn to Billie Holiday. Read our preview

5. SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES: The Riot Club

Based on Laura Wade’s hit play Posh, which was itself based on the real life goings on at Oxford’s notorious Bullingdon Club, this film features handsome young men doing horrible things. Read our preview

6. ART HOUSE FILM: 20,000 Days on Earth

Unmissable for Nick Cave fans, this left-field documentary profiles the Oz indie rock god with the help of friends including Kylie Minogue. Read our preview

7. RUSSIAN MASTERS: LSO with Matsuev: Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev, Barbican

Russian piano prodigy Denis Matsuev accompanies the London Symphony Orchestra in a lush romantic programme of classical music. Read our preview

8. FOODIE POP-UP: Summer Comes to Struie Road, Clerkenwell

Workshop Coffee and the Wild Game Co continue to team up to produce some of the most delectable Scottish-inflected food in London. Best of all it has been extended into autumn. Read our preview

9. COMIC OPERA: The Barber of Seville, ROH

Rossini’s opera was apparently composed in only 9 days – but we don’t think it shows. American baritone Lucas Meachem plays the titular barber. Read our preview

10. LAST CHANCE: Bruegel to Freud – Master Prints, the Courtauld Gallery

500 years of exquisite draftsmanship and printmaking from some of the most famous artists of their or any age. Read our preview

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