The best things to do in Shanghai this week
Image: Maya Kramer, courtesy Capsule Gallery
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Hopefully you're out of your mooncake coma by now, because it's shaping up to be another great week of things to do in Shanghai. Read on for our picks of the best things to do.
Things to Do
Photograph: Yang Xiaozhe
Clowning workshop with Björn Dahlman
The clowning workshops with Swedish clown Björn Dahlman of charity organisation Clowns Without Borders will help people discover what type of clown they are, learn how to perform to both adults and children, learn about clowning in a theatrical sense and also how to be funny and deal with being on stage in front of an audience.
📍 Real Shanghai, 429 Yanan Xi Lu, near Zhenning Lu. Until Tue 16 Oct (every Tue). 7-9.30pm. 500RMB. Contact 'daxiongruidian' on WeChat for more information.
People's Republic of Comedy improv
The People's Republic of Comedy create a never before seen show using the help of suggestions from the audience, featuring China International Comedy Festival winner Josh Tyas.
📍 Kung Fu Komedy Club, Fourth Floor, 1 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Julu Lu. Thu 27. 9-10.30pm. 50RMB. Extract the QR code to book.
Music & Nightlife
Photograph: courtesy Arkham
Arkham x SPINNIPS presents: Shanghai Aliens Meet-up Point
Arkham teams up with new promoter SPINNIPS for a night of otherworldly entertainment. As for the lineup, DJs L~N, Ankar and Ale Pay & Sanky are going to lead the night's music, playing a bit of everything with synth-pop, new wave, techno and acid beats. While SPINNIPS presents 'the latest luxury model of UFO over the dance floor'. We're not sure what that means, but there will be 'popular vehicles for aliens' Bouncing Balancing Balls on the dance floor.
📍 Arkham, Found 158, 168 Julu Lu, near Chengdu Nan Lu. Thu 27. 10pm-5am. 60RMB (includes free shot before 11.30pm).
Electric Circus Presents Blacklist No 4 ft DJ Maseo (De La Soul)
Electric Circus is taking you on another journey with a key figure in hip hop history – DJ Maseo aka Plug 3 from iconic hip hop group De La Soul. Maseo’s DJ'ing, while rooted in hip hop, weaves in disco, funk, soul, '80s, old school and more.
📍 Electric Circus, Seventh Floor, The Shanghai EDITION, 199 Nanjing Dong Lu, near Henan Lu. Sun 30. 10pm-3am. Free.
NTS Radio Live from Shanghai
NTS Radio is back for its monthly session with another strong lineup of local talent. China Social Club invites Dee, Illsee and Yeti Out to the broadcast. Head along for a beer and hang out for four hours of Sunday bliss. Schedule: 3-4pm China Social Club; 4-5pm Dee; 5-6pm Illsee; 6-7pm Yeti Out.
📍 Uptown Records 'n' Beer, 131 Yongfu Lu, near Fuxing Xi Lu. Sun 30. 3.30-7pm. Free.
Eating & Drinking
Photograph: courtesy Shake
Young Master Tap Takeover and Brewers Night
Young Master Brewery, one of Hong Kong's biggest breweries, will be taking over the tap and hosting a brewers session at Stone Brewing Tap Room. Ten of Young Master's unique beers will be on tap, including the tart and saline gose brewed with local salted lime and inspired by Hong Kong's beloved cha chaan teng.
📍 Stone Brewing Tap Room Shanghai, 1107 Yuyuan Lu, near Jiangsu Lu. Thu 27. 11pm-2am. Free.
Shake's Tribute to the Kings of Soul
Shake pays tribute to eight kings who changed music history forever. Singer REDIC, Tony Hall and Courtney Knott join Shake's six-piece band for a night of music by James Brown, Luther Vandross, Ben E King, Wilson Pickett, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding and Ray Charles.
📍 Shake, Third Floor, 46 Maoming Nan Lu, near Jinxian Lu. Sat 22 and Fri 28-Sat 29. 10pm-late. 80RMB.
Film
Video: via QQ
Shadow
Acclaimed Chinese film director Zhang Yimou is back with the formula that made him famous – with a heavily stylised martial arts period drama set during China's Three Kingdoms era and somehow involving doppelgangers. The film stars Deng Chao, Sun Li, Zheng Kai and Guan Xiaotong.
📍 On general release Sun 30.
Ash Is Purest White
Video: via QQ
Top Chinese auteur Jia Zhangke’s still got it, it seems. His latest effort, a story of troubled romance that deftly winds its way through the last 20 years of change and modernisation in China, was chosen to compete for the Palme d’Or in May.
📍 On general release.
Destiny: The Tale of Kamakura
Adapted from a manga series, this Japanese film is an intriguing blend of magical, weird, mysterious, romantic and suspenseful. It follows a woman and her husband who solve crimes by consorting with fantastical gods and creatures. Fans of the Harry Potter world and Guillermo del Toro films will enjoy the film. The film is in Japanese with Chinese subtitles, call ahead to cinemas to check for English subtitles.
📍 On general release.
Pelé: Birth of a Legend
Last chance to catch this biographical drama released in 2016 following football legend Pelé on his rise from the slums of Sao Paulo to the field of the World Cup.
📍 On general release.
Art
American artist and Shanghai resident Maya Kramer explores the discord between humans and nature with this exhibition of sculpture work. Her surreal installations are all made with pollutants such as detergent, coal and acid.
📍 Capsule Gallery, First Floor, Building 16, Lane 275, Anfu Lu, near Wukang Lu. Until Thu 25 Oct. 10am-6pm (Tue-Fri), 12-5pm (Sat-Sun).
David Shrigley: Lose Your Mind
Expect wit, wordplay and absurdity from British artist David Shrigley’s premiere solo exhibition. A selection of his signature sculptures and installations are on display, including a replica of acclaimed ‘Really Good’, a surrealist sculpture of a thumbs-up.
📍 Power Station of Art, 200 Huayuangang Lu, near Miaojiang Lu. Until Wed 14 Nov. Free.
Interstices by Dubravka Vidović
ArtCN hosts Dubravka Vidović’s third solo exhibition in Shanghai. Expect unique reflections on urban culture from her photo and video installations, influenced by her background working and exhibiting in Croatia and Italy as well as China.
📍 ArtCN Gallery, 876 Jiangsu Lu, near Huashan Lu. Until Sun 14 Oct (everyday except Mon). Free.
LGBT
Photograph: courtesy SHQFF
Shanghai Queer Film Festival 2018
The six-day film festival returns for its third year with the theme ‘Generation Q’. Aimed at discussing the development of queer film characters through different generations, the festival will see various events and screenings from all cultural backgrounds.
📍 SAS Art Space, M50 Art District, Third Floor, Building 1, 50 Moganshan Lu, near Suzhou Xi Lu. Various times. Until Wed 26. Free. Extract QR code for more information.
More from Time Out Shanghai
We tried the absurd new 888RMB caviar pizza at Mercato
From açaí to charcoal-infused: Shanghai's best smoothie bowls