Incoming: Edinburgh previews, cinema walks, Shakespeare on the sand

Rosa Garland is bringing her four and five star adorned show Primal Bog to Olby’s in Margate on Thursday, June 26. One of the buzziest shows at last year's Edinburgh Fringe, the comedy show explores sexuality and desire through slime, nudity and live tattooing. No, she won’t be on Live at the Apollo any time soon. Tickets £15. 

That was last year’s Fringe. Looking ahead to this year, Ramsgate Arts Club will be hosting four consecutive nights of double bill previews in July. The line up is Tom Houghton and Phil Nichol (July 15), Sara Barron and Sophie Duker (July 16), Hasan Al Habib and Dee Allum (July 17), and Lenny Sherman and Patrick Monahan (July 18). Tickets £15 per night. 

If that’s not enough Edinburgh previews for you, Ramsgate’s Alley Bar has also announced it’ll be hosting ten over the coming months. First to be announced is Kitty Cassis performing her new show Kitty’s Salon of Dreams at the venue on Thursday, June 11. Tickets £15. 

The Palace in Broadstairs is bringing back its Cinema Walks around the three Thanet towns this summer. Exploring local film history from the 1980s to the present day, the tours will take you around the many buildings in the district that were once picturehouses. Take a stroll around Ramsgate on June 7, Margate and Cliftonville on June 14, and Broadstairs on June 28. Walks start at 10.30am and last around 90 minutes. Tickets £10. 

If all you can remember about the Battle of Hastings is that in 1066 the Queen picked her knicks, it’s probably time for a refresher. Good for you, the Bayeux Tapestry is going to go on display at the British Museum in London later this year - returning to England for the first time since it was made nearly 1000 years ago. It’ll be on show from September 10 to July 11 2027. Tickets go on sale on July 1. 

Poet Kit Griffiths hosts a queer writing workshop at their new venue The Romantic in Cliftonville on June 7. Themed on the act of pride - as it’s being put on as part of Margate Pride’s tenth anniversary celebrations - there will be exercises on self love, tenacity, and the desire to be shameless. Tickets £3.

Yoga teacher Elise Carter will host a full day retreat at Gather& in Ramsgate on Saturday, July 11. The day will include vinyasa yoga, qi flow, somatic dance and journalising. There will also be a seasonal lunch and snacks prepared by natural chef Naomi Grady. Places £120. 

Free guided bat walks through Dane Valley Woods in Margate return over the summer months. Taking place once a month from May 29 until October 25, the 45 minute dusk walks will trail quietly through the bats’ habitat as they emerge for the evening. Bat detectors will be provided to tune into their ultrasonic calls. DM on Instagram to join the WhatsApp group for more info. 

This year’s Music Day at the Garden Gate Project in Northdown Park will take place on Saturday, July 18. Always an absolutely delightful day of music in a beautiful garden, there will be local acts across two stages, wood fired pizza, beer and cocktails and more. All proceeds go towards the charity’s social and therapeutic horticultural work with adults with learning disabilities. Tickets £16. 

Changeling Theatre will be staging Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing on Margate Main Sands on Saturday, July 25. Yes, mate. Culture. And based on my experience, Shakespeare is always best in venues with no roof. This one has no walls either, so who knows what will happen? Tickets £22.

Moot Brewery will be taking over the taps at the Fermentorium in Ramsgate on Sunday, June 7. Attendees will get to try six of the company’s beers and meet the brewer. Tickets £25. 

London’s Hayward Gallery has announced a major solo exhibition of work by American artist and activist Nan Goldin. Titled You Never Did Anything Wrong, the show will take place from November 24 to March 7 2027. Having recently caught The Ballad of Sexual Dependency at Gagosian, we’re excited to see this larger scale show, which will be Goldin's first institutional exhibition in the UK since 2002. Full details. 

Acclaimed writer Olivia Laing discusses her new novel The Silver Book with Carl Freedman gallery director Robert Diament at Where Else in Margate on Wednesday, June 3. Tickets £5. 

All of you of a certain age will remember poster shop Athena and the photograph L’Enfant, which became the biggest selling poster in British history. The image of a man cradling a newborn baby was everywhere for a few years, and also came to embody the emerging cultural archetype of the ‘New Man’. Photographer Spencer Rowell is marking L’Enfant’s 40th anniversary with an exhibition of the original image and 25 others from the shoot. Find it at the Westminster Bank Building on Ramsgate High Street until May 31. More details.