What’s on in Hackney this weekend

Friday

Watch the Focus Youth Theatre group perform new play Letter to Lacey about domestic violence by Catherine Johnson, known for her hit musical Mamma Mia! From 2pm and 4pm, at Chats Palace, Brooksby’s Walk, E9. Free, email tony@immediate-theatre.com.

Attend a private view of an exhibition exploring themes around enslavement, which features jazz from Dafydd Williams’ Bigtet and a talk from art historian Prof Geoff Quilley, who will be speaking about painting during the slave trade. From 6pm, at St Mary’s Old Church, Stoke Newington Church Street, N16. Tickets £4.95 (concessions £2.50), visit www.dissenterslondon.org.

Listen to a stellar live music line-up ranging from hip-hop to folk to jazz. From 8pm, at The Others, Manor Road, N16. Costs £3, call 07756 343 810.

Saturday

Perfect stop-motion animation using anything you like as props. Develop a storyboard and character by using film-making software to add visual effects, voiceovers and a soundtrack to bring your story to life. From 10am, at Rio Cinema, 107 Kingsland High Street, E8. Free, email sara@riocinema.org.uk.

Bag a bargain at a jumble sale and enjoy some homemade refreshments. From 1pm, at Trowbridge Senior Citizens Club, Lavington Close, E9. Free, email gordonfryer78@gmail.com.

Listen to hip-hop collective Shop Floor Sessions at a Stop the Arms Fair benefit. From 7pm, at The Waiting Room, 175 Stoke Newington High Street, N16. Costs £4, email rnlallen@hotmail.com.

Pick a side in Prince vs Michael Jackson battle of the bands. From 8pm, at 270 Mare Street, E8. Costs £5, email massivearmspromotions@gmail.com.

Sunday

Check out St Augustine’s Tower – Hackney’s oldest building – and climb its 135 stairs for the best view of the borough. From 2pm, at Mare Street, E8. Free, email l.elks@btconnect.com.

Learn about tree-pruning, woodland ecology and specimen trees. From 10.30am, at Stamford Hill Gates, Abney Park Nature Reserve, Stoke Newington Street, N16. Free, email workshops@km551818.demon.co.uk.

Join SNUG (Stoke Newington Common Users’ Group) for Common Connections – Creative Conversations, which will feature workshops asking, What do we have in common? and What binds us together? From 2pm, at The Boiler House Community Centre, George Downing Estate, Cazenove Road, N16. Free.