Things To Do In London This Weekend: 12-13 January

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All weekend:

IMPRO: The annual Improvathon takes place at Hoxton Hall. That's a "50-hour non-stop improvised comedy soap opera in twenty-five 2-hour episodes" set in Cairo, 1926. Most of the participants will see the whole thing through without sleep, which will make for some extraordinary performances, plot twists and insanity. Do the marathon with them (tickets £55) or go for a 1 hour 45 min episode (£10). There's even a child friendly episode on Sunday from 11am-1pm. Starts Friday at 7pm and finishes Sunday at 9pm.

ICE: Canary Wharf will be full of ice with competitive ice sculpting, masterclasses (pictured), a snow pit and ice graffiti wall all free to see from Friday till Sunday. Check the website for timings.

MIME: London International Mime Festival has begun. This weekend, see unusual aerialistes Ockham's Razor at the Platform Theatre or the surreal circus of My!Laika in the Purcell Room at the Southbank Centre.

ANTIQUES: Nose round the Mayfair Antiques & Fine Art Fair at the Marriott Grosvenor Square. Admission £10 on the door or print a complimentary ticket here. Open 10.30am-6pm Saturday, 5pm Sunday.

STRANGE MUSIC: The Stranger the Better is a three-day mini-festival showcasing new "existential songwriting" at Kings Place. Online tickets from £9.50. Concerts are on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at 7.30pm.

COOKERY: Learn to cook Anglo-Saxon style at the Museum of London on either Saturday or Sunday. Costs £28, prebook by calling the box office, sessions run 12-4pm.

BOATS: The London Boat Show's at ExCel. Tickets from £10, prebook or just turn up. Open 10am-7pm.

SHORTS: It's the last weekend of the London Short Film Festival with new shorts in Hackney, documentaries at Roxy Bar & Screen, windows on the world at Ciné Lumière, film and cabaret at the Horse Hospital and more. Check the website for programme and booking info.

Saturday 12 January:

FIDDLE: Try a free starter violin lesson at Chappell of Bond Street, Soho. Prebook - refundable £10 booking fee. Various times.

CINEMA: Watch short films with live scores with Making Tracks at Rich Mix. Tickets £8 advance, £10 on the door. Starts 7.30pm.

DANCE: Resolution! the annual festival of new choreography is on at The Place, opposite Euston station. Watch three short works (with intervals between) and see if you can spot emerging talent. Tickets £14, curtain up 8pm.

SKATING: Watch contemporary ice show, Le Patin Libre at Brixton Ice Rink and have a go yourself after. Prebook, tickets £14. Show starts 8.30pm.

Sunday 13 January:

MANGA: Learn the secrets of manga comic artists at the British Museum with free workshops for ages 7+ at 11am and 2pm.

LAST CHANCE TO SEE: Space Station Sixty-Five's exhibition Music & Liberation: Women’s Liberation Music Making in the UK, 1970 -1989 closes today with a special event, featuring an "in conversation" with the curator of the South London Black Music Archive at 2pm and a documentary screening about all female group The Gluts at 4pm. Free, just turn up. Open 12-6pm.

BLESSING: The Thames gets its annual blessing from Southwark Cathedral from London Bridge. Free, just turn up, 12.30pm.

SHOP PARTY: Finchittida Finch celebrate the opening of their shop on Boxpark with an afternoon launch party open to all, with a preview of the designs and Thai and Lao Street food. Free, just turn up from 1-4pm.

POEMS: Hear readings from poets shortlisted for the 2012 TS Eliot Prize on the eve of the judges decision at the Royal Festival Hall. Tickets £15/£12, starts 7pm.

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