A vibrant image composed of the 100 past cultural calendar illustrations comissioned for Cog. Laid over this 10 x 10 grid of images, in translusent yellow lettering, is the number 100.

It's our 100th Cultural Calendar

This is our 100th edition of this monthly email. Our special thanks go out to the incredible illustrators who have provided us with 99 exceptional illustrations.

November's Cog Night took us to the ICA, to watch Geumhyung Jeong's live performance art piece Under Construction. Lily's written up a review in our journal on our website.

Read on for mini-reviews of gigs, fireworks, theatre, exhibitions, Cog performances and more. Beneath those you'll find our recommendations for Christmas and beyond.

Out and about with the Cog team

A stage dressed with ornate period furniture. A white skinned woman in a long gown sits on a cream chais longues, looking towards a white skinned man dressed in a formal long-tailed coat, who is standing with his mouth open in speech towards the woman.

Lady Windermere's Fan
Guildhall Arts Centre

Nick took to the stage in a production of Oscar Wilde’s first play at his local theatre.

A man dressed in white shorts and a white short sleeved shirt is falling back onto a white armchair. His skin is stained blood red. A white rug is beneath the chair, the floor beneath which is red. A row of audience members dressed in transparent waterproof ponchos can be seen watching on in the background.

The Blood Show
Battersea Arts Centre

Michael marvelled at Chillingworth’s show: comic violence & buckets of blood.

Three actors san for curtain call.Two of them are covered with what looks like blood splatters. In the centre of them is a brown skinned woman. On either side of her are white skinned men with short hair. Behind the tree the aidence can be seen clapping. The three figures are smiling.

BRACE BRACE
Royal Court

Nazma and Lily were mesmerised by this gripping narrative.

A photograph taken from the crowd's perspective, of a live music performance on a stage with golden curtains in the background. Musicians (The Blossoms) are visible under bright stage lighting. The venue has a curved, golden ceiling and there are large speaker systems on both sides of the stage.

Blossoms
Manchester Apollo

Seeing Blossoms finish their UK tour in Manchester was a real treat for Nazma.

The interior of a church with internal stone arches. Strings of fairy lights cross the arches. In the main arch a choir dressed in purple stand, performing. Above them, a crucifixion scene hangs suspended.

Tottenham Community Choir

Laura, Lily and Emma had a heartwarming evening watching Justin perform.

An image of the London sky at night, glowing with yellow smog. In the sky drones float in butterfly formations of different colours.

Fireworks
Alexandra Palace

Emma was blown away by the drones, but the fireworks almost burst her eardrums.

Two men dressed in white stand on a stage, each in front of a microphone, and each with both arms raised in front of them, perpendicular to their bodies. The stage is dark, but light is shining on the men's white clothing. Their toned midriffs are showing.

Los Bitchos & Faux Real O2 Forum

A mix of indie, rave & punk pop, Laura thought Faux Real were the definition of fun.

A white skinned woman wearing a long, high necked white gown stands on a dark stage, clutching a large bouquet of flowers. Behindher are a red arm chair, and a lamp giving off a soft warm glow.

Gazelle Twin
Br itish Library

Michael marvelled as enigmatic Elizabeth Bernholz performed her new album.

Two men dressed in smart black trousers and white shirts stand together on a stage, both of them with both arms raised slightly above their heads, towards an out of shot audience. On the stage behind them is a square table covered with cloth and tissues, and a wooden chair.

L’Additon
Battersea Arts Centre

Bert & Nasi directed by Tim Etchells. Michael loved this absurdist wine-waiter farce.

The Scottish, white skinned band King Creosote stand on stage inside the Union Chapel in London. The hold an array of different instruments, including a violin, an accordion and a guitar. In the centre of the stage a man dressed in a white t-shirt gestures forward with one arm, singing into a microphone.

King Creosote
Union Chapel

Lily was front pew for this emotional performance from the prolific Kenny Anderson.

A dancefloor illuminated by neon signs suspended from the ceiling. The floor is filled dancing figures.

Guys & Dolls
Bridge Theatre

Laura felt like she was late to see this production of Guys & Dolls. It was worth the wait!

An image of an indoor stage, illuminated with blue strips of lasser-like light radiating from its centre upwards. The silhouettes of three people standing on the stage interrupt the lines of the lights.

Say She She
Albert Hall Manchester

Nazma first heard Say She She playing in the Cog studio. She had a fabulous night.

A large, courful and cartoonish sculpture of a human, laying on a bed. Both are scaled considerably larger than life. The figure is white skinned, however covered in colourful tattoos. The figure is also wearing a super-hero mask which covers the top portion of their face.

Jason and the Adventure of 254

Emma loved these characters created by Breakfast Briefing guest Jason Wilsher-Mills.

A large wooden structure with an open top. It is filled with orange, yellow white and pink balls. There is a white skinned woman with spectacles partially submerged in the balls.

Boogie, Casinot
Luxembourg

When is a ball pit a work of art, and when is it just a ball pit? Laura still doesn't know.

A Tracy Emin painting hung on a white wall. The painiting is abscract, and on a horizontal rectangular canvas. The main colours used are pale pink, blue and black.

Tracey Emin
White Cube Bermondsey

Justin loved the paintings but was less fond of her sculptures & videos.

An image of a stage from a high angle. Five musicians are on stage, with instruments including a double bass, a guitar and n accordion.

Moscow Drug Club Ashburton Arts

Luke thought this beautiful converted church coupled ideally with jazz cabaret.

A stark concrete room with a low raised rectangle in its centre. A figure lies on the raised rectangle in the foetal position, their back facing out view.

Quiet Songs
Barbican Pit

Michael was moved by cellos played with swords depicting the pains of adolescence.

Three women stand on a stage during curtain call. The stage is dressed with a bathtub, a mirror and a bed. A large cross is on the back wall, and it looks as if the mark has been scratched on.

St Maud
Live Theatre

Michael thought this stage version of the Rose Glass horror film was excellent.

A stage, with people making globes arranged on it. A screen above them shows a close up of a woman painting in the detail of a globe.

The Art of Globemaking
Kensington

Justin was intrigued by this talk and live demonstration of traditional craft techniques.

An illuminated manuscript with aged yellow pages filled with rows of drawings of women's heads.

Medieval Women
British Library

There were outstanding items in this exhibition, once Laura fought through crowds.

A display of colourful japanese replica food, including a raw, unrolled dupling with raw mince at its centre, and spring onions.

Looks Delicious!
Japan House

Lily thought this exhibition was fascinating and fun (it's also free!).

A masked figure in long robes stood on a stage, playing an electric guitar. The stage is dark, but lit from an angle with red and green lighting.

GOAT
O2 Academy Bristol

Luke loved this Swedish experimental wall of sound and their fabulous headgear.

Two women stand on a stage. Behind them a cinema screen reads 'London Korean Film Festival'.

It's Okay! London Korean Film Festival

Justin heard director Kim Hye-young introduce her heartwarming debut film.

A busy indoor market, full of people eating and drinking. A french flag hangs from the ceiling.

Luxembourg International Bazaar

Christmas for Laura is trip around the 50+ stands, each celebrating it's own country.

A head and shoulders image of Tim Etchells, a white, bald man with spectacles, who makes up the main window in a Zoom video call.

40 Years of Forced Entertainment via Zoom

Michael was privileged to celebrate four great decades with members & friends.

Two artworks mounted in frames, handing next to each other on a wooden panelled wall. Both art works read 'Black Rage' beneath which a section of old print is mounted. The old sheets of print have been annotated with black pen.

Glenn Ligon
All Over The Place

The concept of this exhibition is great, but Lily didn't think it reached its full potential.

Four people stand in a line, inside the British Museum. From left to right: A brown skinned man with short dark hair, a brown skinned woman with long curly dark hair, a white skinned woman with tied up blond hair, and Cog Design's Nazma Noor, a brown skinned woman with curly dark hair and spectacles.

What have we here
British Museum

Nazma was back for another view, this time with her South Asia Gallery collaborators.

An image of two asian women standing on a stage with a black backdrop. They are smiling, and stood in front of a scaffold-like structure.

Ancestral Time Travel Agency CPT

This work-in-progress show kept Nazma immensely engaged throughout.

A row of people stand on a stage during a curtain call. They are holding hands in a line, and have their connected arms raised above their heads.

Exit Above
Sadler's Wells

Rosas's new work is based on The Tempest. Michael couldn't really see that.

A row of people stand on a stage, holding hands and facing the audience during a curtain call.

Look Back in Anger
Almeida Theatre

Having studied it at school, Michael was amazed by just how good this play was.

A blackboard inside the Soho Theatre. In pink chalk, the name 'Natalie Palamides' in written in pink chalk, preceeded by the time '7.30 pm' in white chalk. Behind the sign the soho bar is visible.

Natalie Palamides
Soho Theatre

The team at Soho Theatre recommended WEER, and Emma wasn't disappointed.

Two males stand on a stage with their arms behind their backs. The male on the left is white skinned and wearing a grey jumper. The male on the right is brown skinned and wearing a white button down shirt.

Statues Bush
Theatre

Nazma enjoyed this show and has big praise for writer and performer Azan Ahmed.

Two figures sit in chairs at the centre of a stage. Their chairs are slightly tilted towards eachother. Behind them is a large screen which reads 'Randal Munroe, what if?'.

Randall Munroe
Barbican

Michael enjoyed this chat with the ex-NASA scientist and xkcd comic creator.

Things to do in December

On now...

Michael Craig-Martin fills the halls with colour Royal Academy, until 10 Dec
Cryptocurrency deep-dive Wolves on Road Bush Theatre, until12 Dec
Donmar's Macbeth with David Tenant and Cush Jumbo Harold Pinter Theatre, until 14 Dec
Ben Whishaw and Lucian Msamati in Waiting for Godot Theatre Royal, until 14 Dec
The Imaginary Institution of India: Art 1975–1998 Barbican Art Gallery, until 5 Jan
Haegue Yang: Leap Year multisensory installations Hayward Gallery, until 5 Jan
Spend Spend Spend Royal Exchange Theatre until, 11 Jan
Julia Masli's exceptional: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha is back Soho Theatre, until 11 Jan
Stewart Lee vs The Man Wulf Leicester Square Theatre, until17 Jan
Francis Bacon Portraits National Portrait Gallery, until 19 Jan
Scran! A history of Food & Drink Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, until 25 Jan
The Importance of Being Earnest with Ncuti Gatwa National Theatre, until 25 Jan
National Trust commission Heartwood (Sycamore Gap)  Baltic, until 26 Jan
Anne-Marie Duff is in The Little Foxes Young Vic, until 8 Feb
Towards New Worlds is a large-scale exhibition at MIMA, until 9 Feb
Social history project Tape Letters Museum of Edinburgh, until 23 Feb
Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London Fashion Textile Museum, until 9 Mar
Inside/Outside and All In Between  Migration Museum, until 15 Mar
The World of Tim Burton Design Museum, until 21 Apr
The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture and Opulence until 5 May
Photographing 80s Britain: A Critical Decade Tate Britain, until 5 May
Self-Made: Reshaping Identities Foundling Museum, until 1 Jun

On this month...

Sundance-winning moth documentary Nocturnes Bertha Dochouse, 6 Dec - 12 Dec
Sigourney Weaver plays Prospero in The Tempest Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 7 Dec – 1 Feb
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof directed by Rebecca Frecknall Almeida Theatre, 10 Dec – 1 Feb
Virginia Gay’s gender-flipped retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac Park Theatre, 11 Dec – 11 Jan
Le Gateau Chocolat: Musicals Mayhem Soho Theatre, 11 Dec – 11 Jan
Window Wonderland, a satirical group installation The Bomb Factory Marylebone, 12 Dec – 5 Jan
Circa's Duck Pond: Swan Lake x circus skills... Royal Festival Hall, 19 – 30 Dec

Some Handel’s Messiahs...

The Sixteen St Martin-in-the-Fields, 6 Dec
Wild Arts Smith Square Hall, 7 Dec
Philharmonia Orchestra Southbank Centre, 13 Dec
Academy of Ancient Music Barbican, 16 Dec
Polyphony & the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Smith Square Hall 23 Dec
Brandenburg Choral Festival of London Holy Sepulchre Church, 28 Dec

Some fun panto alternatives…

Well Done, Mummy Penguin The Albany, until 24 Dec
The Gruffalo’s Child Artsdepot, until 5 Jan
Hansel and Gretel reworked by Simon Armitage Globe Theatre until, 5 Jan
Napoleon: Un Petit Pantomime Jermyn Street Theatre, until 5 Jan
Alice in Wonderland Shakespeare North Playhouse, until 11 Jan
The Jungle Book Theatre By The Lake, until 12 Jan
The Rock 'n' Roll Rapunzel Liverpool Everyman, until 18 Jan
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe Leeds Playhouse, until 25 Jan
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical The Other Palace, until 2 Mar
Gwyneth Goes Skiing Pleasance 11–21 Dec
Mice Pies - The Musical Applecart Arts 11–29 Dec
The Mystery of Fellstone Manor The Questors Theatre 13–30 Dec

Some (Dickensian) Christmas Carols...

Nick Mohammed A Christmas Carolish @sohoplace, until 31 Dec
Joe Murphy’s Cardiff redo Sherman Theatre, until 4 Jan
Mike Kenny’s reworking Derby Theatre, until 4 Jan
Jack Thorne’s reworking with John Simm Old Vic, until 4 Jan
A Christmas Carol: The Musical Lowry, until 5 Jan
Dickens and Doyle combine in A Sherlock Carol Marylebone Theatre, until 5 Jan
Count Arthur Strong is Charles Dickens Bloomsbury Theatre 7 & 8 Dec
Guy Masterson’s internationally acclaimed solo performance Theatre Royal Bath 16 & 20 Dec
Northern Ballet’s version Leeds Grand Theatre 17 Dec – 4 Jan
A Christmas Carol – with the great great grandson of Charles Dickens! Stoller Hall 20 Dec
As Told By Jacob Marley (Deceased) Upstairs at The Gatehouse 22 Dec

We're booking early for...

Roy Williams’ wonderful adaptation of The Lonely Londoners Kiln Theatre, 10 Jan – 15 Feb
Antigone [on strike] Park Theatre 30 Jan – 22 Feb
Cate Blanchett and Tom Burke star in Chekhov’s classic, The Seagull Barbican, 26 Feb – 5 Apr
Dennis Kelly's Girls & Boys Nottingham Playhouse, 8 Feb – 1 Mar
Drag artist Wet Mess's new show Testo Battersea Arts Centre 11–22 Feb
Lynette Linton directs Michael Abbensetts’ Alterations National Theatre, 20 Feb – 5 Apr
James Graham's excellent Punch transfers to London Young Vic, 1 Mar – 12 Apr
Absurdist Satire Rhinoceros Almeida Theatre 25 Mar – 26 Apr
Hamlet x Hail To The Thief Aviva Studios, 27 Apr – 18 May; RSC 4–28 Jun
Rachel Jones - solo contemporary show in the main space of Dulwich Picture Gallery 10 Jun -19 Oct
4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane Royal Court, 12 Jun – 5 Jul
Penn & Teller 50th Anniversary Tour London Palladium, 13–24 Sep '25

Image credits

Our image is a compilation of the brilliant work of all the illustrators who have collaborated with us across our first 100 editions of this Cultural Calendar.

Other images are provided by members of the Cog team, with due credit to those who created the works we have photographed.

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