February 2023's must-sees

Considered by some historians to be the greatest sculptor who ever lived, the Florentine artist Donatello was certainly among the most inventive, working in an astonishing range of materials, from marble and bronze, to wood, clay, stucco and wax. The Victoria & Albert Museum has the largest collection of Donatello's sculptures and reliefs outside Italy, and this month sees the opening of the first-ever major British exhibition devoted to his work, which includes major loans from other collections. From 11 February.

Described in the national press as 'an astonishing dive into the future' and 'full of wit and an astonishing amount of wisdom', Age is a Feeling was a sell-out smash hit at the 2022 Edinburgh Festival, and transfers to the Soho Theatre for a limited run from 14 February to 11 March. Haley McGee's thoughtful, funny and moving monologue is inspired by hospices, mystics and trips to the cemetery, and explores our endless chances to change course while we're alive.

Designed as a sister space to the much-admired Bridge Theatre, Lightroom is London's newest arts venue, and opens in King's Cross in late January with a spectacular multimedia installation by David Hockney, which will run until 23 April. His show, Bigger and Closer (Not Smaller and Further Away), uses large-scale projections and state-of-the-art sound to take visitors on a 60-year journey through the artist's life and art, with specially composed music by Nico Muhly and a commentary by Hockney himself.

One of the most popular comedies in all opera, The Barber of Seville returns to the Royal Opera House in a classic production by Moshe Leiser and Patrick Caurier. Rossini's madcap prequel to Mozart's Marriage of Figaro revels in mistaken identities and thwarted desires, with some of the silliest scenarios and most singable tunes in musical history. Rafael Payare makes his ROH conducting debut, with Lawrence Brownlee in the title role and Bryn Terfel as the singing teacher Don Basilio.