6 ways to stay entertained this January

Few people would brand January their favourite month of the year, especially this year as England faces tighter Covid restrictions. To make the month ahead a little less bleak, we've rounded up the best online theatre, television and podcasts to keep you entertained at home.

Trans writer Travis Alabanza tackles the heated, complex issues faced by trans women in relation to public bathrooms in Overflow. The monologue is performed by trans actress Reece Lyons, who spends the duration of the play from inside a toilet cubicle, deftly exploring acceptance, danger and tolerance in a topical, thought-provoking production. Overflow was originally hosted at Bush Theatre, but current restrictions mean it is now available to watch digitally.

Livestream Overflow from 18-23 January at bushtheatre.co.uk

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Immersive theatre company Les Enfant Terribles has teamed up with virtual-reality company LIVR to create an imaginative whodunnit experience inspired by Sherlock Holmes. The 80-minute 'online adventure' uses 360° technology to take players back to Victorian England to investigate a gory homicide. Branded "a fun and engaging alternative to the traditional board game", it offers a way to connect with friends and family in a lockdown-friendly way.

From 27 January, book at sherlockimmersive.com

The Serpent delivers a grisly distraction from current events with its dramatisation of the 1976 arrest of Charles Sobhraj, who killed numerous hippy travellers in the '70s. Tahar Rahim stars as the icy serial killer, while Jenna Coleman plays his delusional girlfriend and accomplice, Marie-Andrée Leclerc. Although the show's glamorous portrayal of Sobhraj's life is questionable, the series does offer a gripping, atmospheric viewing.

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Revisit one of the greatest musicals of all-time with Curve Theatre's adaptation of Sunset Boulevard, now available for online streaming after the production run was cancelled in December due to tier three restrictions. Based on Billy Wilder’s classic movie, his tragic tale about a faded Hollywood star is told with a 16-piece orchestra. The musical version loses some of the cynicism of the film original, which given the current time might not be an entirely bad thing.

Until 9 January, visit curveonline.co.uk

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London Art Fair will unsurprisingly take place online this year, and while it once again offers an excellent array of art to peruse and to buy (50 leading modern and contemporary galleries will present digitally), its the selection of virtual workshops that have really caught our eye. Try your hand at different art techniques, from print-making to hand embroidery, with the fair's new programme which caters for all abilities.

From 20-31 January, visit londonartfair.co.uk

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True crime podcast The Missing, hosted by Pandora Sykes, was first launched in December with the aim of asking listeners for help in finding the long-term missing. In the UK alone, a person is reported missing every 90 seconds, yet only one per cent of those will be investigated beyond the short term. Every week, The Missing explores a different case, talking to family and friends about where their loved one went and what happened to them.

Download at podcasts.apple.com

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