Invite

Artist James Ireland manipulates natural and industrial materials to expand their possibilities through sculptures. His work examines the materiality of the world and often makes use of mundane, everyday items that we consider simultaneously ubiquitous and worthless. His sculptures create a polarity between the care that goes into his work with the disposable attitudes of our society. James will be at the exhibition on Sunday, May 22 at 3pm with artist Sigrid Holmwood.

Zabludowicz Collection, 176 Prince of Wales Road, Chalk Farm, NW5 3PT, Thursday to Sunday, noon to 6pm until Sunday, June 12. Details: 020 7482 8940

Boy

Written by Leo Butler, a modern-day political playwright, who picks out a young boy from the millions of people in the city of London for us to follow as he comes of age. The play, which explores life in austerity-era London, is brought to you by director-designer team Sacha Wares and Miriam Buether as well as an award-winning creative team and an exciting young company of actors.

Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, Islington, N1 1TA, until Saturday, May 28. Details: 020 7359 4404

Hampstead Garden Opera

The group will present a double bill of Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, with the Hampstead Garden Opera Orchestra. This is the first production in the operatic group's new home, Jacksons Lane, with two productions set in Italy in the late 19th century.

Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Road, Highgate, N6 5AA, until Sunday, May 22. Details: 020 8341 4421

DARE

This Discover Art in Recovery Exhibition (DARE) showcases artwork by more than 30 people who use NHS mental health services in Barnet. Service users who took part in the inaugural exhibit last year reported of the benefits they experience through being involved in the project, which allowed for focus on their artistic talent over that of their experiences with mental health difficulties.

artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA, until Sunday, May 22. Details: 020 8369 5454 

Unseen London, Paris, New York 1930s – 1960s

This exhibition brings together three 20th century photographers to present three cities across different the decades. Wolfgang Sushitzky fled the Nazis in Vienna in 1935 having already trained as a photographer and so took to the streets of his new city, London, to capture the destitution and wealth he discovered side-by-side. Dorothy Bohm was born in East Prussia, now Kalingrad, went to school in Sussex, trained in photography in wartime Manchester and then settled in London but it is photographs she took on holiday in Paris in 1947 that are on display here, showing the dualism of hope and sadness that followed World War Two. Neil Libbert was born in Salford and worked for the New York Times as a photojournalist. His work captures the social divides and tensions of the time including the 1964 race riots.

Ben Uri Gallery & Museum, 108a Boundary Road off Abbey Road, Hampstead, NW8 0RH, Friday, May 20 until Saturday, August 27. Details: 020 7604 3991