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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 Lena Yokoyama.
Cog Cultural Calendar – July 2026
Our June Cog Night was to Soho Theatre for Lucy Hopkins & Lexi Strauss: Auntie Show and Nana Subversion Share Their Biscuits. You can read Aoife's review in our journal. Read on for our mini-reviews, plus recommendations for this month and
beyond.
Out and about with the Cog team
Aoife very much enjoyed the film as part of the Q-IFTUK Pride Film Festival 2026.
A gender swap restaging of Mamet's sweariest play. Michael thought it was great.
Knole
National Trust, KentAlex and son enjoyed the house trail and deer spotting at their local NT property.
Michael was immersed in this spatial sound reworking of Gazelle Twin x NYX.
Kasia was blown away by the phenomenal puppetry and heart wrenching plot.
Relics
Lyric Theatre Siblings dividing their mother's estate. Both Danny and Michael found it funny.
Gorillaz
Tottenham Stadium Michael was awed by the band's first stadium gig, and many guest performers.
The tank displays were incredible which made it a great day out for Mark.
Michael was at Underbelly Boulevard for this hilarious, nuanced show.
Kasia liked the music and discovering she could 'dead hang' for over a minute.
Michael enjoyed Rosie Holt a beleaguered and spiralling politician, talking to a toilet.
Take That
The Circus Live 2026 Heidi was blown away by the effects and production of the concert.
Danny enjoyed a Twister next to one of Concordes jet engines.
Somewhat chaotic and raw. Kasia laughed the most at the ludicrous handmade props.
Michael was attracted and repelled by these casual vignettes of online harm.
On right now...It's Pride in London this week, various locations, 4 Jul
Derby's Fringe Theatre Festival Departure Lounge Derby Theatre, until 4 Jul
Nell Gwynn takes 1660's London by storm Shakespeare North Playhouse, until 4 Jul
Joshua Harmon's We Had a World Hampstead Theatre, until 4 Jul
Lindsay Posner directs a revival of Equus Menier Chocolate Factory, until 4 Jul
Ron is a violent, genre-bending queer odyssey Riverside Studios, until 5 Jul
The story of Grimethorpe Colliery Band Brassed Off Leeds Playhouse, until 11 Jul
World premiere of Ben Ockrent's comic family drama Relics Lyric Hammersmith, until 18 Jul
Teresa Deevy's Wife to James Whelan Jermyn Street Theatre, until 25 Jul
Delve into Wes Anderson’s extensive archive The Design Museum, until 26 Jul
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
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 Mucha 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... (D)ynamic! (Y)oung! (K)nowledgeable! (E)ntrepreneur! Nottingham Playhouse, 9 Jul
Figs in Wigs present a special night of Astrology Bingo Soho Theatre, 10 Jul
Playful indie rockers Wet Leg perform as part of the Summer Season Alexandra Palace, 10 Jul
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, reimagined Southbank Centre, 11 Jul
Family friendly Mullets, Quiffs and Quirky Haircuts recital, Discover Children's Story Centre, 11 Jul
Philosophy of the World from In Bed With My Brother Yard Theatre, 14 Jul – 1 Aug
Psychiatrist by day, comedian by night Madsplaining The Pen Theatre, 16th & 29th Jul
Greenwich Comedy Festival returns for another year Old Royal Naval College, 15 – 19 Jul
Rifco Theatre presents Surinderella Belgrade Theatre, 16 – 19 Jul
Global talented musicians return for BBC Proms Royal Albert Hall, 17 Jul – 12 Sept
Hannah Patterson: Undone – the Play Southbank Centre, 18 Jul
A rare opportunity to view Nosferatu with live score Wiltons Music Hall, 29 Jul
Frankie Thompson: Horrible Things Edinburgh Preview Soho Theatre, 20 – 22 Jul
Fawlty Towers The Play will have you laughing out loud Marlowe Theatre, 21 – 25 Jul
For the kids – the all new Luna Loves London Discover Children's Story Centre, opens 25 Jul
Daniel Kitson curates an incredible line-up of stand-up Stanley Arts, 25 & 26 Jul
We're booking early for...
Michael Longhurst directs Kimberly Akimbo Hampstead Theatre, 28 Aug – 7 Nov
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
Touring their seventh studio album The Strokes: Reality Awaits London O2 Arena, 6 & 7 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
Lost Dog's The Last Hamlet Sadler's Wells East, 4–7 Nov
Haruki Murakami's Jazz at Peter Cat: a Japanese Jazz Night Barbican, 21 Nov
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 creditsLena Yokoyama created our fantastic illustration.
See more on their website. 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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