May Culture Fix: 8 Things To Do, See & Watch This Month

The Floral Event Of The Season: Belgravia In Bloom

Everyone’s favourite flower festival returns to Belgravia this month, offering a week full of florals, colour and giant animalistic installations. 

This year’s theme ‘Into the Wild’ sees Belgravia in Bloom partner with London Wildlife Trust to celebrate all creatures great and small. Nodding to the upcoming Coronation, it will commemorate the ‘Kings’ and ‘Queens’ of the jungle using biodiversity-boosting plants and flowers in the installations. Expect everything from pandas and peacocks to tigers, monkeys and snakes, all recreated as floral figures. 

There’s plenty to get involved with, from botanical-themed food and drink menus to workshops, events and offers across the neighbourhood’s shops and restaurants. Highlights include The Biscuiteers’ floral-themed icing masterclasses; Peggy Porschen’s underwater utopia; wilderness-themed workshops with MasterPeace; and complimentary samples at luxury perfumery Les Senteurs.

Runs 22.05.2023 – 29.05.2023
www.belgravialdn.com

The Film We’re Excited For: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret 

For lovers of a coming-of-age narrative, fall back in love with Judy Blume’s 1970s novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret in this new book-to-screen adaptation. 

Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, known for 2016’s The Edge of Seventeen, this new film tells the story of a new from NYC who moved to New Jersey and her relationship with religion. Played by Abbey Ryder Forster, Margaret feels stuck in the middle with her mother is Christian and her father being Jewish. 

Alongside this, she’s faced with having to reimagine herself as she starts a new school and attempts to make new friends, and forge her identity and adolescence. This film will bring those middle school dramas flooding back and see you rooting for Margaret along the way.

Release date: 19.05.2023
www.picturehouses.com

The Wine Event To Book: Laithwaites Wine Festival 

Fancy brushing up on your wine knowledge? This May sees the return of Laithwaites Wine Festival, the two-day event proving that wine festivals can be more than just a tasting. 

Heading to Olympia, Kensington, this year’s event will be hosted by bestselling author and TV personality, Oz Clarke. He’ll be on hand to guide you through the art of wine tasting. Included in the ticket will be a free tasting guide and complimentary tasting glass, allowing you to travel the world through wine, sampling over 350 wines and chat to more than 100 wine producers and makes form 17 countries.

There’ll be plenty of foodie stops along the way, from artisan food stands to luxury brands and English fizz options if you’re more into your bubbles.

Running 12.05.2023 – 13.05.2023 
www.laithwaites.co.uk

The New Podcast To Listen To: Filthy Ritual 

Who doesn’t love a gripping new podcast to listen to on your early morning commute? We certainly do! Our latest obsession is Filthy Ritual, a brand new scam story diving us into one of London’s wealthiest suburbs. 

Set in Hampstead, the story follows Juliette D’Souza, a filthy-rich neighbourhood woman who quickly became one of the country’s most prolific con women. 

Hannah Maguire and Suruthi Bala, the team behind hit true crime pod Redhanded, speak with reporters who travelled to Suriname to track Juilette down and the victims who came together in search for justice.

Listen on spotify

The New Theatre Show: Under The Kundè Tree

Southwark Playhouse’s is preparing for an exciting new theatre show to take over its Borough branch this month. 

Set in the 50s during the Cameroonian War of Independence, Under the Kundè Tree follows a young woman struggling to find a balance between her heart and the pressures to fulfil traditional obligations. 

Under the Kundè Tree is the only production in the UK to explore the Independence War through a lens of women, highlighting the poignant moment in the decolonisation of Africa and the history of Cameroon and its people.

Running 24.05.2023 – 17.06.2023
www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

The Book Everyone’s Talking About: Yellowface – R.F Kuang 

They say never judge a book by its cover but when it’s this eye-catching how can you resist picking it up to browse the blurb? And rightly so, as R.F Kuang’s Yellowface is set to be this month’s big conversation starter. 

Following the success of Babel, Kuang’s new crime thriller is intoxicating from the outset. Following the death of a literary legend, June Hayward stumbles across her unpublished manuscript and decides to publish it under her own name. With a newfound stolen success, the truth begins to creep in and deadly consequences erupt.

Release date: 25.05.2023
www.waterstones.com

The Series To Binge: Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story 

Head back to the Regency era with Netflix’s new Bridgerton prequel. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story has been developed by the team behind Netflix’s popular show, including series creator and writer Shonda Rhimes. 

Expect just as much scandal, raunchy behaviour and lavish set designs. The series follows a young future queen as she arrives in England and falls for King George.

Release date: 04.05.2023
www.netflix.com