Things To Do Today In London: Friday 6 October 2017

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Feed your mind and your stomach at this Dulwich Picture Gallery late.

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Things to do

ILLUMINATING INDIA: What is India's place in photography's world? Settle in at this Science Museum symposium on India's photographic history with Rahaab Allana, consultant curator of the Illuminating India: Photography 1857–2017, exhibition. Science Museum, free, book ahead, 2pm-7pm,

LATE NIGHT TALES: Get your groove on at Giant Robot, a tree-covered, street food feast, on top of a Canary Wharf rooftop. Every first Friday of the month it's collaborating with Late Night Tales to bring you curated tunes from the likes of Bonobo, Groove Armada, Jon Hopkins, Four Tet, Friendly Fires, and The Cinematic Orchestra. Giant Robot, free, just turn up, 3pm-1am

HANDMADE HIGHGATE: Browse objet d'art from 30 talented designers in the lovely surroundings of the historic Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution. Stop by the artisan food emporium if you're feeling peckish. The Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution, free, 6pm-9pm, until 8 October

MUSEUM LATE: Sniff your way around the Dulwich Picture Gallery collection on an aroma tour, take part in a feast-inspired installation involving candy floss and swap the paintbrush for your smartphone in a food photography masterclass. Dulwich Picture Gallery, £12, book ahead, 6pm-10pm

Rama Combing His Hair Ayodhya Uttar Pradesh India 2015 from the series A Myth of Two Souls 2013 © Vasantha Yogananthan

UNBINDING MAGAZINES: The digital age is in full swing, yet good old fashioned magazines are still going strong. Hear Unbound co-founder John Mitchinson, poet and zine editor Tim Wells and author Karen McCarthy Woolf discuss the appeal of the printed page. Waterstones Gower Street, £5, book ahead, 6.30pm-8.30pm

SWIPE HYPE: The introduction of dating apps has spawned a generation of aching thumbs, fake identities, and disappearing acts. Swap stories and hear the first in a series of discussions which attempt to make sense of contemporary dating culture. Studio 7 Shoreditch, £12, book ahead, 7pm-8:30 pm

PUNK CHRONICLES: Punk isn't dead, in fact in these trying times it's probably more relevant than ever. Get your head bang on to five seasoned punk bags at the first in this series of alternative music gigs. The Unicorn, free, just turn up, 7.45pm-11.45pm

BRIXTOPIA: Brixton's big arty party with a political edge hits Dalston today. See work by This Ain’t Rock’n’Roll, #BodyPolitic and Loulouroll at Acqua 7 gallery. Acqua 7, free, just turn up, until 8 October.  

DANCE FOR REFUGE: See a screening from electronic musician Floating Points, whose short film Reflections, set in the Mojave Desert before dancing for a good cause at War Child Film Festival's closing party, which is going out with a bang. CLE Art Cafe, £10+bf, book ahead, 8pm-5am

Art review: Schematic surprise

© Ian Monroe

This exhibition feels like stumbling into a surreal architecture office. There are blueprints on the wall but they don’t seem to be for anything specific. The same can be said for the constructed objects on the floor that look formal enough that they should have a function, but don’t. This is a playful take on the norms of office life, by presenting abstract concepts as something purposeful. S.I.M: Ian Monroe at Fold, 158 New Cavendish Street, W1W 6YW. Until 14 October, free ★★★☆☆ (Wednesday-Saturday) Tabish Khan

Theatre review: Scottish samurai!

Image: Tristram Kenton
Image: Tristram Kenton

It is unlikely that many versions of Macbeth feature sword-wielding samurai, murderous ninja and a faithful translation of the text into Japanese but this production has them all and more. Yukio Ninagawa was a legendary interpreter of the Bard and this was the first of his productions to travel abroad. It is easy to see why. Set in Scotland, this is as gripping a political drama as any on the small screen with a mesmerising blend of powerful acting, emotive music and a set design that has be seen to be believed. Macbeth. The Barbican, Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS. £16-£50. Until 8 October. ★★★★★ Franco Milazzo

Theatre review: B-movie nerds rejoice

Cult superhero comedy horror movie The Toxic Avenger clearly didn’t tick enough genre boxes back in 1984, so it’s now also a musical. As eye-rollingly ridiculous and slapstick as the original, this adaptation fills virtually every seat with die-hard b-movie geeks. Four actors manage to conjure up a plethora of brilliant characters (sometimes two at once) to tell the story of mega-nerd Melvin who gets shoved into a drum of toxic waste by local bullies and turns into, you guessed it, the Toxic Avenger. The music tends to be a bit repetitive — as do some of the jokes — but the on-stage live band and energetic cast keeps the audience engaged. One for both fans of the film and those who weren’t old enough, or stoned enough, in the 80s to catch it. The Toxic Avenger, Arts Theatre, Great Newport Street, WC2H 7JB, from £19.50. Until 3 Dec ★★★☆☆ Hannah Foulds

Good cause of the day: Support Glass Door's annual Sleep Out  

Glass Door coordinates shelter in churches for London's homeless during winter. Registration is closed to join tonight's Sleep Out but you can do your bit to support the charity by donating to one of the 400 or so individuals who will be setting up camp at Duke of York Square tonight.

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