November 2021's must-sees

The first important European exhibition in 20 years to be devoted to the American-Japanese artist Isamu Noguchi reintroduces British audiences to his remarkable life and career. A protégé of Brancusi, Noguchi is now best known for his iconic paper lanterns and sculptural coffee table, but his work ranged from ballet designs for Appalachian Spring to a Japanese-style garden for UNESCO in Paris. The latest excellently curated show at the Barbican Art Gallery, it runs to 9 January 2022.

After last year's online-only jamboree, the London Jazz Festival welcomes live audiences back from 12 to 21 November, with an electrifying line-up, ranging from global stars to special collaborations and new commissions, along with the finest and freshest music from the UK. Highlights from London's biggest annual music festival include 83-year-old free-jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp with pianist Jason Moran, and trailblazing trumpeter Yazz Ahmed joining forces with the BBC Concert Orchestra, plus hundreds of other events.

Behind the scenes on the set of Steven Spielberg's blockbuster movie Jaws, all is not well. Bruce the animatronic shark keeps breaking down, and the film's three big-name stars are stuck on a boat together for days on end, drinking, bickering and telling tales. Funny, clever and surprisingly touching, The Shark is Broken was the breakout hit of the 2019 Edinburgh Festival, and now it comes to the West End, playing at the Ambassador's Theatre until 15 January 2022.

The River Thames might not freeze in winter these days, but Londoners still love to skate, and the capital boasts some beautiful skating rinks, which mainly open in mid-November. Perhaps the prettiest is the rink in the grand 18th-century courtyard of Somerset House (from 17 November), though the Natural History Museum ice-rink (open all month) comes close second. But the biggest and closest rink can be found at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park; it opens on 19 November.