A 2020 poll claimed that more than a quarter of people suffer from the phenomenon known as the “January blues”, the slump many of us experience in those bleak few weeks after Christmas. Really, it’s no surprise that we feel this way, when the festive decorations are being taken down, there are no more presents to be unwrapped, and our bank balances are looking woeful. On top of that, the days are dark and the weather is frequently miserable.
As quiet and drab as things might seem, though, there is a wealth of films, TV shows, books, plays and music to lift your spirits and keep you entertained while you hide away from the cold. You could dance your troubles away at Abba’s critically acclaimed Voyage show , or watch others dance for you at the raunchy Magic Mike live experience . Curl up and tune into the long-awaited third season of BBC’s The Traitors, or switch over to some comfort viewing on Netflix with its fantastic series, The Makanai – Cooking for the Maiko House.
If you’re looking for something that touch more refined, the BFI is hosting a season dedicated to Italian director Luchino Visconti, while Tate Britain’s powerful photography exhibition, The 80s: Photographing Britain , is open to visitors. One of America’s finest actors, Sterling K Brown, stars in Disney+’s glossy new thriller Paradise, while Adrien Brody is a strong favourite for a Best Actor nomination at this year’s Academy Awards, thanks to his performance in Brady Corbet’s The Bru.
