Spiral Notebook: Lutfur Rahman - here comes the new boss, same as the old boss?

COMMENT

By Giles Broadbent

Racked by weariness and relief, the new Mayor of Tower Hamlets wept. He was hurt, he said, by accusation that he was racist, that he was a disciple of division.

Stage review: Incognito, Bush Theatre

Incognito
Bush Theatre
★★★★✩

The image repeats itself throughout Nick Payne's engrossing new play: a ribbon of starlings flocking together, flashes of silver on the wing, creating apparent order from a frenzy of dots.

Exhibition: Comics Unmasked, British Library

The novel is dead, declared Will Self recently. Really dead this time, he said, certainly as the prince of artforms.

So what will take its place as the pre-eminent, written narrative structure of the new century?

Film review: The Two Faces Of January (12A)

WHAT'S ON

The Two Faces Of January
(12A) 96mins
★★★✩✩

Film-maker Hossein Amini confesses this, his directorial debut, is a labour of love, a project he has nurtured for years ever since he first read Patricia Highsmith's difficult novel of guilt, secrets and self-destruction.

Book review: The Madness Of July, by James Naughtie

The Madness Of July
James Naughtie (Head Of Zeus)
★★★✩✩

James Naughtie, via his Radio Four Today programme, has spent years prowling the corridors of Whitehall, sniffing out discord, examining motive and exposing double-dealing.

His love of dark politics conducted in low voices in secret nooks over finest brandy finds voice in this slow-burning spy thriller that owes much to the master himself, John Le Carre.

Film review: Plastic (15)

WHAT'S ON

Plastic
(15) 102mins
★★✩✩✩

"Hollyoaks meets Hustle" is what springs to mind as this glossy, crime caper - based on a true story - begins to reveal its twisting tale of twentysomething wheeler dealers.