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Helpful Spirit
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Winner of best film at the Cannes Critics’ Week, this story of a woman reborn as a washing machine takes you to many unexpected places, even if you take away the unexpectedness suggested by the premise. Part Marxist thriller, part spiritual romance, and a play on curmudgeonly monks and a drama with their mother-in-law along the way, Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s debut novel is a delight.
On the Sea
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Made largely outside the traditional channels of UK film funding, the second independent feature from Helen Walsh is a beautiful, graceful portrait of oppression and longing in a Welsh snail-harvesting community. Barry Ward gives a good performance as a married man who falls for a traveling salesman (Lorne MacFadyen).
Aardman Retrospective
Movies all over the country
In preparation for the release of Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, look out for summer holiday re-releases of a number of Aardman classics, including A Matter of Loaf and Death, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and the film that first introduced furry hero Shaun, Close Shave.
Pinocchio Unstrung
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Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield was also behind Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey and the sequel. The new installment, which the filmmakers are calling The Twisted Childhood Universe, stars Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger) as the voice of Jimminy Cricket. Catherine Bray
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Camp Bestival
Lulworth Castle, and Wareham, 30 July until 2 August
Rob da Bank’s long-running family-friendly festival returns with children’s activities – beekeeping has been added this year, along with skateboard ramp and trampolining lessons – and music from Bastille, Fatboy Slim, Self Esteem and more. Michael Cragg
First name Elgar
Royal Albert Hall, London, July 29
The English singer’s triumphant Symphony No 1 was a big hit, but the concert also features the world premiere of the BBC Proms. The World’s Wife by Brett Dean sets the poems of Carol Ann Duffy and is performed by soprano Claire Booth and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ryan Wigglesworth. Flora Wilson
Luke Combs
Edinburgh, July 25; London, 31 July until 2 August
The The US singer, who won the UK with a cover of Fast Car in 2023, took to the stadiums. With six albums under his belt, including this year’s deep single The Way I Am , he’s expecting a lineup full of self-proclaimed artists. MC
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival
Various locations, 25 & 26 July
This event always includes international and Scottish artists. Its closing weekend includes the sax-led quartet Harben Kay (25 July), Joni Mitchell-inspired singer Michelle Willis (25 July) and multi-winning jazz/hip-hop sax star Soweto Kinch (26 July). John Fordham
Exit: Art
Richard Ada
Royal Academy of Arts, London, 25 July until 25 October
Enter the world of fantasy and legend in Beyond Bedlam, explore the works of a Victorian artist. He remained largely forgotten until the 1960s, when his life in a Victorian asylum became a source of inspiration for many artists.
Michael Pinsky
Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, 25 July until 4 October
For The Final Bid, Pinksy has filled the house with vintage furniture, all hanging from the ceiling, which guests are invited to come up to. Each ad moves the seat up to the ceiling, in a strange capitalistic ballet of value and detritus.
Clare Woods
Pitzthanger Manor, London, July 29 until 8 November
The exhibition, called Garden Without Seasons, sees meditative paintings and natural paintings in the house designed by Sir John Soane, each work pushing the boundaries between simulation and simulation and asking the viewer to slow down and think.
Susan Hughes
MAC, Belfast, 30 July until 18 October
The Belfast artist and fiddle player traveled around Ireland collecting stories about the mysteries, legends and all the power of folk music. The result is a show full of objects, music and a stage for ad-hoc shows. Eddy Frankel
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The World is Full of Married Men
The Yard Theatre, London, until 1 August
The Great Yard Theater reopens its doors after extensive renovations. Its opening season also includes King Lear starring Ian McKellen and a stunning adaptation of Jackie Collins’ satirical novel, set in several dollhouses – and made by puppets. Miriam Gillinson
Mike Reiss
25 July to 6 August; The journey begins in London
As part of the original writing team for The Simpsons — and a co-showrunner of the show during its early 1990s glory days — no one is more likely to have chosen the cartoons more wisely than Reiss. The tour sees him spill all his secrets about Springfield and answer questions from the audience. Rachel Aroesti
Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man
Sheffield Lyceum, 25 July; Sadler’s Wells, London, July 28 until 29 August
One of Bourne’s best dance moves is one of his best performances. Loosely based on Bizet’s Carmen, but transported to a small town in the 50s in the US, a group of brilliant mechanics disrupts their tight-knit, closed world when a stranger comes to town. Desires, betrayal, revenge, everything has arrived. Lyndsey Winship
Cherry Orchard
The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until 29 August
Helen Hunt, Bill Pullman and Kenneth Branagh star in Chekhov’s final play. This new version is written by Laura Wade (Posh, Rivals) whose work is always very entertaining but shot through with real darkness and political bite. MG
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Angry
Disney+, July 27
Elizabeth Meriwether (New Girl, Death by Sex) contributes to the thriller about an FBI agent whose first case involves the rarest of monsters: a female murderer. Emmy Rossum – who also came up with the idea for the show – stars as a detective who sympathizes with a satanic criminal.
Rapture
iPlayer & BBC One, 26 July, 9pm
The drama follows playwright Bryony Kimmings from the novel by Liz Jensen, a psychiatrist who treats a girl with a knack for predicting nightmares. If that doesn’t sound stressful enough, the whole thing happens in a heatwave. Ruth Madeley, Iwan Rheon and Ruth Jones star.
Spirits Australia
iPlayer & BBC Three, 25 July10.30 pm
Many British games are lost in translation when exported, but this classic version is no exception. Following the US, French, Greek and German versions, the Aussie spin sees a young family involved with an aerobics instructor, a cyclist, a gold miner and a socialite.
Gomorrah: The Beginning
Now & Sky Atlantic, July 28at 9 pm
Roberto Saviano’s classic Italian mafia drama was described as way darker than The Sopranos when it aired a decade ago. This original simulation returns to the streets of 1970s Naples to tell the origin story of Camorra boss Pietro Savastano. RA
Living in: Sports
Halo: The Campaign Has Changed
PC, Xbox, abroad July 28
A quarter of a century after the first Halo, the game was revived with new graphics and the original voice actors were rewritten. There aren’t many competitors but you can play cooperatively with one local friend on console, or up to three online.
Mistfall Hunter
PC, PS5, Xbox, abroad July 29
Time to learn a new word, Gyldhunter. PvPvE (player-v-player-v-environment) dark ARPG (action game) has you (and your optional friends) perfect your weapons and combos to slay giant monsters in an ever-changing battlefield under the Gyldenmist. Gyld luck! Jordan Erica Webber
Living in: Album
Nia Archives – Emotional Junglist
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The Brit-nominated “Jungle Lover” follows 2024’s Top 20 hit, Silence Is Loud. Produced by him together with James Ford (Arctic Monkeys) and Ethan P Flynn (Fka twigs), songs like Boys in Blue expand his sonic palette, pushing towards 90s electronica and indie.
Baby Queen – I Hope You Don’t Remember Me
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Inspired by a tumultuous relationship that ended with a ghost, South African-born, London-based Bella Latham returns with a second album that navigates emotional turmoil to make sense on Feel Something, and something more difficult on Word Vomit.
The Strokes – Reality Awaits
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After leaving behind a surprising and surprising rebirth in 2020’s The New Abnormal, the Strokes return with this seventh album. Reproduced by bearded Zen master Rick Rubin, Going Shopping’s latest thriller continues Julian Casablancas’s obsession with Auto-Tune.
Charli xcx – Music, Fashion, Movies
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Despite the recent pivot to acting, Charli is back with his second album 2026. Following February’s excellent Wuthering Heights, he plays guitars – check out Rock Music’s top tracks – while maintaining Brat’s potent mix of hedonism and existential dread. MC
Living in: Brain food
Armchair Explorer
Podcast
Just in time for the summer holidays, this beloved travel series takes a deep dive into world cultures and travel dreams. Highlights include a trip to Australia’s Northern Territory and a safari in the Botswana wilderness.
60 Second Docs
Instagram
Packing interesting and interesting stories into one-minute shorts, this Instagram page is a treasure trove of great interest. Topics range from spoon musicians to the clay art of “hugging pots” and green paintings.
James Turrell: Master of Light
BBC World Service, July 284.32 am
American artist James Turrell’s Skyspaces are large installations that play with natural light. In this edition of In the Studio, Julian May catches up with Turrell in Denmark as he prepares for one of his most ambitious to date. Ammar Kalia
