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Barbican Bitesize: Short and affordable events from January to March 24

New Year blues, short on time, strapped for cash? At the Barbican, it’s easy and affordable to experience what the programme has to offer. See highlights below for a selection of quick and low-cost events and activities to get audiences out of the house this winter. 
 

THEATRE & DANCE

  • MimeLondon: Hour-long mini spectacles of the weird and wonderful, featuring animation, puppetry and visual treats. Shows include

MUSIC

  • London Symphony Orchestra Half Six Fix, Shostakovich 4 with Sir Simon Rattle (28 Feb, 6.30pm): Start the evening with a perfectly honed, hour-long concert performance from one of the greatest orchestras in the world.
     
  • ECHO Rising Stars: Barbican showcases the hottest new talent on the Classical Music scene with hour-long concerts for just £12 in the magical setting of LSO St Luke’s. Shows include: 

VISUAL ARTS
 

  • Julianknxx: Chorus in Rememory of Flight (until 11 Feb): Free immersive video installation at Barbican’s Curve gallery by poet, artist and filmmaker Julianknxx.
     
  • Barbican Conservatory x Ranjani Shettar: A free spectacular site-specific commission by Indian sculptor Ranjani Shettar. Cloud songs on the horizon features large-scale, suspended sculptures across the entirety of the Conservatory space. Open Friday evenings and Sundays all day. 
     
  • Re/Sisters: A Lens on Gender and Ecology, Pay What You Can Fridays (until 14 Jan): Entry to this major group exhibition of eco-feminist photography every Friday evening on a pay what you can afford basis.
     
  • Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art, Pay What You Can Thursdays (from 13 Feb— 26 May): A major group exhibition of 50 international, intergenerational artists using textiles to communicate vital ideas about power, resistance and survival. Entry starting from £5 on Thursday evenings.

 

CINEMA
 

  • Cinema Magic Mondays: Every Monday, every seat for a cinema new release for just £6. 
     
  • Cinema Pay What You Can Fridays: Specially selected new films screened on a pay what you can afford basis every Friday in the Barbican Cinemas. 
     
  • Family Film Club, Every Sat, 11am: The best in new releases, international gems, archive classics and specially curated programmes for families every Saturday morning, with tickets starting at £2.50. 
     
  • Relaxed Screenings (£6): One Friday daytime and one Monday evening per month, Barbican Cinema welcomes cinema goers to an environment that is specially tailored for a neurodiverse audience, as well as those who find a more informal setting beneficial.
     
  • Senior Community Screenings (£6) every other Monday, 11am: New releases curated for 60yo+ cinema goers with upcoming films including Justine Triet’s Cannes 2023 Palm D’Or winner Anatomy of a Fall and Bradley Cooper’s Maestro, a heartfelt cinematic biographical homage to American composer Leonard Bernstein. Full programme Jan-Mar: 
    • Anatomy of a Fall (Mon 8 Jan)
    • Maestro (Mon 22 Jan)
    • On the Adamant (Mon 5 Feb)
    • Peeping Tom (Mon 19 Feb)
    • Mami Wata (Mon 4 Mar)
    • Girl (Mon 18 Mar)

 

AROUND THE CENTRE

  • Architecture Tours: A fascinating and informative tour around the bold and brutal Barbican estate for £10 only in January and February. 
     
  • Young Barbican: 14-25yos can join the Young Barbican scheme for free and get access to discounted tickets for themselves and a guest, including all new release films and gallery exhibitions for £5 with no booking fees.

 

EATING & DRINKING

  • Martini Bar: Happy hour from 5-6pm Mon-Sat offering two cocktails for £15.
  • Kids Eat Free: Children under 10 can get a free kid’s meal from Barbican Kitchen’s kids’ menu with every adult meal over £10.
     
  • Barbican Kitchen: My Neighbour Totoro-inspired Ramen and Bubble Tea for the duration of the run.

 

BARBICAN MEMBERSHIP – see more art, music, film and theatre for less in 2024

Barbican Memberships start from £59 and benefits include a year's worth of exhibitions, with unlimited entry, for less than the cost of 4 standard tickets. Plus, Members save 20% on tickets for themselves and a guest for many Barbican events and pay no booking fees. See barbican.org.uk/membership for full T&Cs.

                       

BARBICAN SHOP – independent designs for culture lovers 
From gifts, books and accessories to exclusive commissions from emerging designers and makers, discover the latest Barbican Shop ranges instore on Level G of the Centre and online.

To tie in with the smash hit family show My Neighbour Totoro running in the Barbican Theatre until March 2024, there will be accessories and a curated selection of books about Studio Ghibli, Manga & Japanese Folklore. Barbican Shop is also collaborating with the Japanese Gallery in Kensington to showcase genuine Studio Ghibli & Manga film posters and animation cells that will be on display and for sale instore.

Inspired by the exhibition RE/SISTERS: A Lens on Gender and Ecology, currently in the Barbican Art Gallery, there are hand crafted natural soaps by BrambleWood, homeware items made from recycled plastic waste by Mull Club, and a collection of exclusive art pieces handmade by the founding members of performance art group The Neo-Naturists, who are featured in the exhibition.