virtual CULTURE EDIT

Get your culture fix from the comfort of your sofa! Exhibitions, books, live theatre and all the television programmes you need on your virtual radar…

FASHION

MCQUEEN CREATIVES

Finding creative new ways to engage with their audience, Alexander McQueen’s newly launched McQueen Creators initiative sets artistic tasks for fans online. Last week the McQueen team asked people to sketch, paint or draw the iconic Autumn-Winter 2019 Rose dress and upload their art to Instagram (hashtagging #McQueenCreators) for a chance to be featured on their feed. Take part here.

@WFHFITS

Marvel at the closets of the creative elite as they get to grips with a whole new category of dressing — WFH. Reportedly co-founded by ELLE's Sara McAlpine, Vogue editor Steff Yotka and GQ's Rachel Tashjian, @wfhfits' grid is dominated by their friends in media and fashion. Submit by DM (at your peril).

DIY DRESSMAKING

Scratch that creative itch with a new fashion-forward pattern from Trend Patterns. Recently discovered on Instagram, they offer a selection of easy to follow patterns that could be straight off the catwalk. In particular, this Rejina Pyo-esque pleated shoulder dress is a delight. Also, with the option to download the pattern as a PDF, there’s no need for a delivery. Great British Sewing Bee, watch out!

STAY HOME WITH ELLE

ELLE magazine brings together a line-up of experts to keep us entertained every weeknight at 7pm sharp. Think mental health chats, Houseparty makeup masterclasses, mixology and book clubs. What more could you ask for? Tune in via their Instagram page.

GANNI TALKS PODCAST

Founders of the cult Dannish fashion brand, Ganni, launch their debut podcast. With guests including OG ManRepeller Leandra Medine and InStyle Editor-in-Chief Laura Brown, this podcast is the perfect companion for WFH.

BOOKS

A THEATRE FOR DREAMERS BY POLLY SAMSON

Set in the 1960s, A Theatre for Dreamers follows the entanglements of poets, painters and musicians on the Greek island of Hydra. It features destructive writer Axel Jensen, his dazzling wife Marianne Ihlen, and a young Canadian poet named Leonard Cohen. Burning with the heat and light of Greece, this is a spellbinding novel about utopian dreams and innocence lost – and the wars waged between men and women on the battlegrounds of genius. Out now.

PRETENDING BY HOLLY BOURNE

The bestselling author of How Do You Like Me Now? returns with a new novel about love amidst the pressures and duplicity of online culture. Protagonist April assumes the identity of Gretel, a ‘perfect woman’ and a figment of her imagination to spice up her online-dating experience. But when the imaginary woman develops real feelings, things get complicated. Out now.

DEATH IN HER HANDS BY OTTESSA MOSHFEGH

From the Man Booker-shortlisted author of Eileen and also My Year of Rest and Relaxation, comes a novel of gothic suspense. While on her daily walk with her dog in the nearby woods, our protagonist comes across a note, handwritten and carefully pinned to the ground with stones. Her name was Magda. Nobody will ever know who killed her. It wasn't me. Here is her dead body. Find out what that’s all about here on 23 April.

IF I HAD YOUR FACE BY FRANCES CHA

Frances Cha’s debut novel explores the perspectives of four young women struggling to survive in Seoul, where extreme plastic surgery is as routine as a simple haircut. 23 April.

EXHIBITIONS

KUSAMA'S INFINITY MIRRORS

If you missed one of the most Instagramable traveling museum exhibits of the past few years, ooh and ahh at a room-by-room rundown of the hypnotic, multi-faceted work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. No need to recreate this in your bathroom mirrors. Viewings here via The Broad Museum.

CURATOR-LED TOURS AT THE TATE

The Tate is to launch free online film tours of Andy Warhol (April 6) and Aubrey Beardsley (April 13) exhibitions on their YouTube channel. The Warhol virtual tour will showcase over 100 artworks from the new exhibition — with commentary from the Director of Tate's Collection of International Art, Gregor Muir. Don’t miss out.

ART BASEL ONLINE VIEWINGS

Before the pandemic, Art Basel launched a new digital initiative offering exhibitors a virtual platform to showcase artworks to their network of patrons, as well as new collectors and buyers. The first iteration of the Online Viewing Rooms launched in March, and is set to continue this month. Watch this space.

FILM & TELEVISION

NORMAL PEOPLE

Based on Sally Rooney's award-winning novel, Normal People explores the complex relationship between two people from school to university. Told over 12 episodes between Dublin, Sligo and Italy, this modern love story follows the pair as they weave in and out of each other’s lives and prove just how complicated intimacy can be. 26 April on BBC Three.

LOVE WEDDING REPEAT

While trying to ensure that his sister's wedding day goes smoothly, Jack finds himself juggling an angry ex-girlfriend, an uninvited guest with a secret, a misplaced sleep sedative, and the girl that got away — as alternate versions of the same wedding unfold, Jack seeks his own happy ending with chance dictating his future. Starring Olivia Munn, Sam Clafin, Frieda Pinto, Aisling Bea and Eleanor Tomlinson. 10 April on Netflix.

RUN

Ruby, a married woman drops everything after receiving a single text message “RUN”. This dark comedy-thriller about texting your ex from writer Vicky Jones, backed by her best friend, Phoebe Waller-Bridge as exec producer, follows the adventures and fallout when Ruby’s old flame Billy (Domhnall Gleeson) invites her to leave her humdrum life and travel across the US together, revisiting their past. Drama and hilarity ensue. 15 April on Sky.

KILLING EVE— SERIES 3

Villanelle is back! And, word on the street, she’s wearing Batsheva. 13 April on BBC Three.

#BlackAF 

Black-ish creator Kenya Barris and Rashida Jones star in this new sitcom loosely based on Barris’s own family in the style of a documentary filmed by one of Barris’s on-screen daughters. 17 April on Netflix.

THEATRE

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE

Craving a trip to the West End already? Then you’ll be delighted to hear that the National Theatre is bringing the stage to your screen — streaming its past productions to YouTube every Thursday night. This ‘National Theatre at Home’ initiative will take place over the next two months, starting with One Man, Two Guvnors and Twelfth Night. Tune in here.

FLEABAG LIVE

Remember when Fleabag tickets sold out in mere hours? Well, you can now stream the live production via Soho Theatre’s On Demand streaming site. Viewers are asked for a minimum £4 donation, with the recording then available to them for 48 hours — all proceeds go to helping those most affected by the pandemic. Thank you PWB!!

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER MUSICALS

One for the musical theatre fans — Andrew Lloyd Webber is opening up his archive to the public. The West End maestro has launched a YouTube channel (appropriately) called The Shows Must Go On! where he'll stream a different musical for free every week. Each musical will be available for 48 hours from 7pm on Friday evenings. What a superstar!

OPERA AT THE MET, NEW YORK

Get dressed up in your finery and live out your Gossip Girl fantasy with a front row seat to the Metropolitan Opera. They are putting on nightly opera streams, which are only available until 3:30 p.m. ET the next day. Very civilised. Check it out here.

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, LONDON

Once a place for teen makeup tutorials, YouTube has emerged as the purveyor of high culture. The Royal Opera House's channel has a selection of incredible performances from famous operas and ballets. Think Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet— worth a watch for the incredible costumes alone.

FOOD

MILK BAR TUTORIALS

Christina Tosi the founder of cult NYC bakery, Milk Bar, has launched a series of live tutorials. Every day at 2 pm EST, Tosi takes her culinary expertise live on her Instagram page for "Virtual Baking Club," guiding us mere mortals on how to transform our kitchens into 5* bakeries.

BREAD AHEAD TUTORIALS

Borough Market bakery Bread Ahead is live streaming baking tutorials on their Instagram page. Get that bread and tune in here!

GET COOKING!

Check out my “Quarantine Recipe Guide” for some inspiration here.