As the summer season of beach tennis and blockbuster concerts in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park fades into fond memory, things are about to get deliciously dark for the autumn.

The immersive, touring, shipping container-based theatrical experience, Darkfield, is popping up for a very limited run, from 7th Oct – 2nd Nov.

Innovators in 360-degree audio tech-meets-performance shows, Darkfield utilise striking sets, complete darkness, binaural sound and sensory effects to place each audience member at the centre of intense and evolving narratives.

You can pick from four distinct experiences that have already toured the world to great acclaim. FLIGHT sees you board a new airline which explores many worlds and realities; COMA has you slipping into a collective dream; EULOGY is all about a descending into the labyrinth of a dreamlike hotel, and in ARCADE, you’ll choose a path through a war-torn world.

The small Darkfield team is based out of Mainyard Studios, meaning this special London residency is also on home turf, so they will be running special initiatives for local community groups and facilitating creative workshops, too.

Use the code WICK10 to get a special reader discount on ALL tickets

🌌 The latest free exhibition in the First Floor Galleries of UCL Mashgate is Space Tangle, featuring a series of works by artist, Dr Sarah Fortais, using outer space to change our perspective on waste and materials here on Earth. Among the pieces, Cosmic Debris is an installation of 280 cast hands arranged like a meteor shower, to spark discussion about managing space junk, while Cosmic Flock repurposes debris from East London into spacesuits for sheep. Open daily 3rd Oct – 2nd Nov.

🩰 New at Sadler’s Wells East this Thurs 2nd - Fri 3rd Oct, BOGOTÁ draws from Colombia's political and spiritual heritage to inspire a magnetic, transgressive work where death is only the beginning.

🎭 Hackney Wick-based French-Algerian actor and playwright, Amine Salmi, brings his new play, Kill The Dinosaur to the stage this month. It’s a surrealist dark comedy about fractured relationships, the lies we tell ourselves, and the search for meaning in the void, as told through a Groundhog Day-style time loop where every morning at the bus stop, an old man dies. Catch it at The Courtyard Theatre in Hoxton 30^th Sept – 5^th Oct.

🏳️‍🌈 Local inclusive collective, Queer Edge, host community club nights on the first Friday of every month at Hackney Bridge’s Block C, and this time around, Fri 3rd Oct, they’re bringing DJ sets from Michelle Manetti, Meg Ward, and Jake Reed, with hosts Chiyo and Janni and even gogo'in from Amber Cayasso.

🍺 Oktoberfest continues at the Beer Merchants Tap (runs to 5th Oct) with a full range of Festbiers from Germany and beyond. Expect Paulaner, Spaten, Geisinger, Hofbrau and Lowenbrau just for starters. Then there’ll be classic German food and snacks, and oompah tunes pumpin' in our decked out beer hall.

🎛️ Eat Your Own Ears presents Étienne de Crécy, the iconic French electronic producer and DJ, to celebrate dropping his brand new album at Colour Factory on Thurs 9th Oct.

🔥 DeepDig is back for another night of slow-burning, vinyl-led sets at Grow, where DJs get the time and space to really explore their record collections, this Sat 4th Oct with Stu Clark (Wolf Music).

❎ Vote now for local heroes Arbeit Studios, who have been shortlisted in the Meanwhile Activation category at NLA’s New London Awards 2025 for their work transforming Trowbridge Gardens. The Awards recognise projects which demonstrate the positive social impact of high-quality design, planning and construction. Deadline is this, Fri 3rd Oct, so do cast your vote now.

💤 It’s Hackney Night Shelter’s Sponsored Sleep Out on Fri 10th Oct, back for a third year to raise vital funds, amplify awareness and build community. Sign up to sleep out or donate now.

Shot a few weeks back, this high quality drone footage gives you a sweeping panoramic overview of the local area as it stands today, complete with the forest of cranes at the Wickside and Hackney Yards developments, plus the main stage and big top infrastructure of All Points East festival being built in Victoria Park. You get a really good idea of how the A12 and multiple train lines scythes through the neighbourhood, and how the towers are climbing at pace…