What's On: Entertainment Previews

GIG
Elouise, Stratford Circus

You might have no idea who Elouise is right now. And frankly the music industry is so fickle it might stay that way.

On the other hand the girl with the retro fringe might be able to convert her early live successes at the Astoria and the Indigo2 into a profitable recording career.

She's set to play the main stage at Pride next month, and with influences such as Shirley Bassey and Dusty Springfield, she could be set for the big time.

Or the masssive lumps of glitz and glamour she brings out for her show might just fade away like so much fairy dust.

June 20, 8pm, £12 (£8), 020 8279 1015, stratford-circus.com, DLR/Jubilee: Stratford

GIG
Pet Shop Boys, The O2 arena

If parody is a form of praise, then the Pet Shop Boy can count on a hefty chunk of musical respect.

Spoof band Flight Of The Conchords paid homage to the synth duo with their track Inner City Pressure, a stylistically accurate version of West End Girls.

So when your music has pushed its tendrils of influence into sitcoms and the actor playing the Doctor took his stage name from your lead singer (David McDonald was already an actor apparently), what more is there to do?

Well if you're Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant you keep on plugging away.

June 19, 6.30pm, £30, 0844 856 0202, theo2.co.uk, Jubilee: North Greenwich

TALK
In Conversation With, Museum Of London Docklands

In 1987 Diane Abbott made history by becoming the first black women ever elected to the British Parliament.

In her 21 years as an MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, Abbott has served on the Treasury Select Committee and the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

More recently she set up a special parliamentary committee investigating gun crime and she chairs the All Party Parliamentary British-Caribbean Group.

She is interviewed here about her life by writer and broadcaster Robert Elms. Booking is advised.

June 24, 7pm, FREE, 020 7001 9844, museumindocklands.org.uk, DLR: West India Quay

COMEDY
More Bums On Seats, Hackney Empire

Performing in aid of Cardboard Citizens, a charity that offers homeless people training, the list of acts appearing in More Bums On Seats reads like an abridged Who's Who of alternative comedy.

Stewart Lee, pictured, and Richard Herring will be joined by Brendon Burns, Simon Amstell, Josie Long and Jarred Christmas.

With demand likely to be high, early booking for this show is recommended.

Wharfers can also catch Herring doing a solo show next week at The Albany on June 25 for the venue's regular GSOH night.

June 20, 8pm, £16.50-£22.50, 020 8985 2424, hackneyempire.co.uk, Rail: Hackney