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We commission a new illustrator every month to provide the header image for these emails. This wonderful illustration was created (without the use of AI) by Alex Hiett.
Cog Cultural Calendar – August 2026
Our July Cog Night took us to Bold Tendencies to see Oona Doherty perform Hope Hunt & the Ascension into Lazarus. You can read Alex's reviewin our journal. Read on for our mini-reviews, plus recommendations for this month and beyond.
Out and about with the Cog team
Japanese punk-meets-trad folk band had Kasia dancing with their chaotic energy.
9 to 5 New Theatre PeterboroughNick saw the opening of Landmark Theatre's Dolly- inspired new musical.
Frankie Thompson's lip synching was spot-on. Michael enjoyed it a lot.
Michael enjoyed Robert Lindsay leading a stand out cast as Roosevelt.
Aoife thought the performers, all from the West Bank, were incredibly moving.
The Effect Old Red Lion Pub & PlayhouseA minimal set drew Danny into this play's existential themes. Photo © Ali Wright
Duran Duran BST
Summertime Hyde ParkHeidi sang and danced her heart out to her favourite 80s pop legends.
Felix Barrett directs Russell Tovey in this gripping drama. Michael found it compelling.
Kasia found this production tame, lacking the expected grit of the book or film.
Danny enjoyed this visceral world premiere dance show at Bold Tendencies.
Darkly funny and brilliantly witty, Kasia thought it was a fantastic show.
Michael enjoyed the vocalists embodying Bowie. Nadine Shah & Peaches stood out.
Aoife saw this natural wonder while visiting an island off of Ireland's west coast.
The Market Deeping Model Railway ClubNick was at Nottingham Playhouse to watch this charming new production.
Under the Shadow
Almedia TheatreMichael enjoyed the jump scares of this Iranian horror adaptation.
Ungone
Purcell RoomA superb cast made this read-through compelling. Michael loved it.
Kasia very much enjoyed the beautiful music and high energy backing dancers.
Michael was swept along in this joyous celebration of fluid identity and gender.
Figs in Wigs revisited their mash-up in ways that Michael and Kasia found hilarious.
Michael enjoyed Kathryn Hunter's unique take on this captivating experiment.
Aoife got to see some traditional Irish music whilst visiting this small village.
Capital Theatres have completed the astonishing redevelopment of Edinburgh's historic King's Theatre. Check it out if you're in the city for the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe. We'll al be jealously waiting your reviews, in the meantime, there's plenty of culture to be enjoyed elsewhere... On right now...Cog
fave Auntie Show and Nana Subversion Share Their Biscuits Soho Theatre, until 8 Aug
Canterbury Shakespeare festival returns Gulbenkian Arts Centre, until 15 Aug
Namelessly hung artwork returns to the Summer Exhibition Royal Academy of Art, until 23 Aug
Vibrant figurative paintings Hurvin Anderson Tate Britain, until 28 Aug
The excellent Tracey Emin retrospective, A Second Life Tate Modern, until 30 Aug
M.C Esher's mind bending optical illusions are on display Somerset House, until 6 Sep
Button Up! - a new exhibition from Ai Weiwei Aviva Studios, until 6 Sep
Death Note the Musical returns to London Barbican, until 12 Sep
1996: The wildest year of Britain's wildest decade 30 Years On Barbican Library, until 19 Sep
The Sixteen's The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Lead, Kindly Light Nationwide tour, until 17 Oct
Anish Kapoor's thought provoking sculptures return to the Southbank Centre, until 18 Oct
Gossip and bad behaviour fuel Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare Globe, until 24 Oct
A first, to be made entirely from brick Serpentine Pavilion Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, until 25 Oct
White Rabbit Red Rabbit fills Monday night slots with celebs Duchess Theatre, until 26 Oct
Avant garde couture creations in Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art V&A, until 1 Nov
Attitudes towards ageing explored in The Coming of Age Wellcome Collection, until 29 Nov
Henry Moore, Monumental Nature Kew Gardens, until 31 Jan On this month... Ricky Gervais, Work in Progress Leicester Square Theatre, 17 & 18 Aug
Thrilling production, led by Cate Blanchett Electra / Persona National Theatre, 19 Aug – 10 Oct
Greenwich + Docklands Festival is back and brighter than ever Multiple venues, 21 Aug – 6 Sep
Captivating physical performance Do Birds Dream of Flying? Greenwich Park, 22 & 23 Aug
Adam Garcia stars in the smash-hit musical The Bodyguard The Marlowe Theatre, 24 – 29 Aug
An evening of crime history meets fine dining Crime & Dine Belgrade Theatre, 24 Aug
Playful and witty A Midsummers Night's Dream Old Royal Navel College, 27 Aug
Maria Friedman takes the title role in Kimberley Akimbo Hampstead Theatre, 28 Aug – 7 Sep
Fabulous costumes and great music fills the streets at Notting Hill Carnival, 30 & 31 Aug
Michael Longhurst directs Kimberly Akimbo Hampstead Theatre, 28 Aug – 7 Nov
We're booking early for...
Amy Lennox and Rachel Tucker star in Thelma and Louise Young Vic, 3 Sep – 24 Oct
Ólafur Arnalds's Falling Apart Together Eventim Apollo, 6 & 7 Sep
San Francisco Ballet Mere Mortals Sadlers Wells, 9 – 12 Sep
Shedinburgh is an extraordinary programme of one-offs Young Vic Theatre, 19 Sep – 10 Oct
Gillian Anderson stars in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? @sohotheatre, 21 Sep – 19 Dec
A laughter fuelled afternoon featuring Julia Masli and friends Peckham Playground, 4 Oct
Touring their seventh studio album The Strokes: Reality Awaits London O2 Arena, 6 & 7 Oct
Pearl Mackie performs Baby, the new play by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti Brixton House, 9 – 31 Oct
Ugly Bucket presents an uncompromising show about food banks New Diorama, 13 – 24 Oct
London Philharmonic Orchestra: The Firebird Royal Festival Hall, 23 Oct
RSC's Radiohead crossover: Hamlet Hail to the Thief Barbican Theatre, 31 Oct – 23 Jan
Ben Duke and Lost Dog present The Last Hamlet Sadlers Wells, 4 – 7 Nov
Haruki Murakami's Jazz at Peter Cat: a Japanese Jazz Night Barbican, 21 Nov
Figs in Wigs restage their reimagining of Little WimminSoho Theatre Walthamstow, 2 & 3 Dec
A radical mis-remembering of Nirvana unplugged – No Apologies Brixton House, 2 – 12 Dec
Jim Cartwright's modern classic The Rise and Fall of Little Voice National Theatre, 2 Dec – 23 Jan
Image creditsAlex Hiett created our fantastic illustration.
See more on their website. Where uncredited, other images are provided by members of the Cog team, with due credit to those who created the works we have photographed.
Cog Design Cog Design is a digital design agency. We partner with exceptional arts organisations to inspire audiences. We mostly design branding and websites that ease interactions, demand attention and prompt action. But it's nice to commission illustration and share our cultural recommendations.
CogDesign.com / @Cog_Design
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