ON DEMAND
Love
(Netflix, from Friday)
Judd Apatow is the latest big name to be taken in by the siren call of Netflix: he’s the executive producer of this 10-part sitcom, which follows a faltering romance between two dysfunctional LA singletons Mickey (Community’s Gillian Jacobs) and Gus (stand-up comic Paul Rust). Love ambles along at a pace some might find lethargic, but packs an understated comic punch and features some moments of real pathos. Gwilym Mumford
EXHIBITIONS
Performing For The Camera
(Tate Modern, London, Thursday to 12 June)
The so-called “truth-claim” of photography – that the medium is a faithful replicator of reality – has long been debunked. Yet most of the emphasis has been placed on the photographer as manipulator, as they set the frame and conditions, and control the edit (that’s before even considering the effect that Photoshop has had). This exhibition sets out to remind us that, so long as the subject is aware they are in front of a lens, their actions will change. A pose will be thrown, an image projected, a performance made. The curators display an array of artists who have acted up for the camera, from the early experiments of the 1800s to 20th-century pioneers of identity politics such as Cindy Sherman and Hannah Wilke, to the much-hyped “Instagram artist” Amalia Ulman. Oliver Basciano
All this week’s best new exhibitions
FILM
A Bigger Splash
An unstable foursome assemble at a Mediterranean villa for a strained, sexually charged holiday. It’s the type of film where something might happen but we’re perfectly happy if nothing does, if only because the characters and location are so captivating. Ralph Fiennes steals the show as a party animal; Tilda Swinton is his opposite: an imperious, practically mute rock star. There’s history between them; possibly less of a future. Steve Rose
All this week’s new film releases
COMEDY
Richard Herring: Happy Now?
(London, Sheffield, Leeds, Salford)
The default position for a stand-up comedian is that of a surly complainer: from Billy Connolly to Josh Widdicombe, griping has always been an effective way of generating gags. On the other hand, it is possible to find stand-up that’s much more upbeat: acts as diverse as Josie Long and Rob Beckett have found that a sunny disposition is no barrier to comedy success. Richard Herring is struggling to adjust to being happy; he’s now living in relative financial security with a wife he loves and a one-year-old daughter he dotes upon. So this latest solo show sees him asking whether all this contentment is really compatible with his role as a stand-up. On the face of it, he shouldn’t have too much of a problem. While Herring has dealt with weighty topics in the past, the hallmark of his comedy has always been a gloriously infantile delight in mischief, provocation and inspired rudeness. It’ll take more than domestic comfort to stop him. James Kettle
All this week’s best new comedy
TV
The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story
(Monday, 9pm, BBC2)
If you are under 30, you may not recall how American footballer-turned-film star OJ Simpson’s trial for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole gripped the public on both sides of the Atlantic. This is a rather earnestly dramatised revisitation of his case, culminating in its infamous conclusion. A starry cast features Cuba Gooding Jr as Simpson, David Schwimmer and John Travolta, who turns in a waxy, sinister performance as lawyer Robert Shapiro. David Stubbs
MUSIC
Sunflower Bean
(Edinburgh, Manchester, London, Brighton)
Many bands get drawn into the grungey quiet-loud dynamic now and then. Interestingly, Sunflower Bean’s material so far suggests a more deep-seated and impressive fluctuation between cute and mean. Certainly, the Brooklyn trio excel at a decent noise blowout. Interestingly, though, they don’t see volume as obligatory and can transfer their skills into less explicitly cathartic indie rock, the likes of recent single Wall Watcher characterised by a slightly troubling quirkiness. That said, given their past heaviness, there’s also a tension in knowing that the mask of civility could slip at any moment. John Robinson
All this week’s best live music
THEATRE
Hand To God
(Vaudeville Theatre, London, Monday to 11 June)
For fans of puppet-sex theatre – who will have been missing this particular genre since Avenue Q was in the West End – Hand To God is a must-see. Written by Robert Askins, the play is set in a small Texan town and concerns the church puppet club, a place designed to teach children about Christianity. Tyrone is a foul-mouthed, out-of-control and possibly demonic sock puppet assigned to a teenage boy called Jason, and the driving force behind a show that tackles faith and morality. It has been described as an irreverent black comedy with a big heart and “a welcome breath of foul air”, drawing comparisons with both Avenue Q and The Book Of Mormon (so not for the faint-hearted, then). Director Moritz von Stuelpnagel repeats his Broadway stint here, and the cast includes Janie Dee, Neil Pearson and Jemima Rooper. Mark Cook
All this week’s best new theatre
TALKS
An Evening With Marian Keyes
(Nottingham, London)
Her novels boast romantic plotlines, comic touches and whimsical cover art, and she’s a diehard fan of middle England TV staples including Strictly and Bake Off. Despite all that, Limerick-born, Dublin-based Marian Keyes is not your average chick-lit novelist: she has denounced the fluffy term so often ascribed to her bestsellers, and is as likely to engage her Twitter following in a conversation about mental health as she is a showstopping bake. Described by Zadie Smith as one of the more important modern literary feminists, Keyes has woven difficult themes including domestic abuse, addiction and bereavement into her 14 novels, and has been open about her own experiences of depression and alcoholism. Her fifth non-fiction work is Making It Up As I Go Along, a collection of essays on the challenges of being a modern woman, from growing older to breaking up with your hairdresser. Expect her trademark mix of sass and seriousness as she speaks about her new book.
CLUBS
Essence
(60 Million Postcards, Bournemouth, Saturday)
Ultra HD TV is the technology industry’s latest attempt to get you to watch telly on a box in the corner rather than a laptop, aspirationally sitting on a couch rather than hiding under a blanket. It probably won’t work, because the onslaught of crystalline pixels feels slightly unpleasant. Musically, though, the effect is totally awesome, and DIY-produced, starkly digital high-definition music is the best thing in club culture at the moment. Headlining here is Kamixlo, a blue-haired south London DJ who plays grime, reggaeton and trap, and makes music that’s minimal, riotous and spooky. He’s part of London’s Endless and Bala Club crews, and has emerged in the last year as one of the most exciting producers in a really exciting scene. Charlie Jones
All this week’s best club nights
FILM EVENT
Secret Cinema
(Secret location, Wednesday to 20 March)
Last summer’s Secret Cinema was such a success, it singlehandedly put The Empire Strikes Back back into the UK box office top 10 for 11 weeks. More than 100,000 visitors passed through its vast Star Wars-themed world (actually a derelict factory in Southwark) replete with a Tatooine bazaar and a nightly blowing-up-the-Death Star re-enactment featuring a full-size X-wing fighter. What will their next trick be? Well it’s a secret, obviously. Half the fun at this stage is attempting to decipher Secret Cinema’s cryptic promotional clues on Facebook, Twitter and elsewhere – we’re getting a noir-ish, codebreaker-y, cold war kind of vibe so far. Ticket holders might get more of an idea once they’re given costume instructions. Tickets aren’t cheap (starting at £67), but four extra dates have been added and, as usual, it’s selling out fast. SR
All this week’s best film events
