pick of the week

THE OPERA

Rusalka

A welcome revival of one of the great ENO productions. David Pountney and designer Stefanos Lazaridis turn Dvorak's romantic tale of a water sprite into a dreamlike tale of sensual awakening.

From tonight, The Coliseum, London WC2 (0171-632 8300)

THE PLAY

An Ideal Husband

Wilde's delicious comedy, unnecessarily overshadowed by his other, more famous, plays, re-opens the Salisbury Playhouse after a prolonged period of darkness and dispute. Actor and comedy specialist Nicholas Le Prevost directs.

From Thursday, Salisbury Playhouse (01722 320333)

THE EXHIBITION

Africa: The Art of a Continent

This gigantic show, aiming to survey the artistic achievements of so huge and diverse a continent from 1.6million BC to contemporary work, cannot fail to raise political as well as artistic hackles.

From Thursday, Royal Academy of Arts, London W1

(0171-439 7438)

THE FILM

Land and Freedom

Ken Loach, back on the ascendant after Ladybird, Ladybird and Raining Stones, turns his penetrating gaze upon the Spanish Civil War and an idealist young Liverpudlian (the ubiquitous Ian Hart). Winner of the International Critics Prize at Cannes.

On release