(c) Jane Hobson

Award-winning bunraku puppet show The Table returns to the Soho Theatre this month. Bunraku, for those without a degree in theatre studies, is a form of Japanese theatre that makes use of visible puppeteers. Recent examples include Avenue Q, the opener for last year’s LIMF and the Complicite/Blind Summit collaborations A Dog’s Heart and Shun-Kin.

We reviewed it during its last run and were amazed by how well the main character Moses was brought to life. A cardboard creation powered by three members of Blind Summit, Moses is physically confined to his table but is more than happy to share his views on life with the audience.

Now that he is back in London, we spoke to Moses about Soho, the Olympics and what he thinks of Boris and Ken.

The Table continues at the Soho Theatre until 26 May. More information can be found here.

If you want to learn about how to be a bunraku puppeteer, there is a course this Friday run by Blind Summit and War Horse puppeteet Henry Maynard.

See Wednesday.

London events for people with curious minds.

Monday 21 May

CURSES: According to long-held popular daftness, one of the British Museum’s mummy cases is cursed. A talk at the Petrie Museum in UCL examines the folklore surrounding the artifact. FREE, 6.30pm

SURROUNDINGS: The second floor bar of The Driver in King’s Cross is the place to be for a Same.As event about surroundings, from the very local (Londonist editor M@ on the hidden landscape of the King’s Cross area) to the very big (cosmology from Andrew Pontzen). FREE, 7pm

GEEK FUN: The latest Festival Of The Spoken Nerd is almost sold out, but limited seats and standing room are available for the shows tonight and tomorrow. Expect the usual mix of “comedy, science, maths, geeky songs, special guests, interactive experiments, maybe some things that go bang…”. £12/£10/£8, 7.30pm

Wednesday 23 May

VIRTUAL MUSIC: The Science Museum’s making a lot of noise about its new temporary installation. A ‘virtual Philharmonia orchestra‘ will be unveiled today, allowing you to conduct, play or compose along with a projected version of the ensemble. Interesting idea, and we’re curious to see how it works with multiple people entering the space. FREE

RADIATION: One year on from Fukushima, Wellcome Collection explores the effects of radiation on human health. FREE, 1pm

SPACE BEER: A talk about the compounds and chemistry of space might seem a little dry to some tastes. So Imperial’s astrophysics group bring things down to Earth by using beer as a guide to interstellar molecules. FREE, 6.30pm

MEDICINE: This year’s Roy Porter lecture on the history of Parkinson’s Disease is delivered by Dorothy Porter at the Wellcome Library. FREE, 6.30pm

TUBE WALK: Join author of Walk The Lines Mark Mason for a trivia-filled walk along the route of the Piccadilly Line through central London. Along the way, learn how Michael Portillo escaped the paparazzi, which US president had a wife with the middle name Kermit, and why there are no flowerbeds in Green Park. £8/£6, 7pm

HERDING: Flockings, migrations, herding and animal-human movements are the unlikely order of the day at a new pop-up cinema in Stratford. Sugarhouse Studios comes from the same stable as the Cineroleum and Folly for a Flyover and will screen a series of films about migrations, followed by talks from zoologists and sociologists. £5, 7.15pm

Thursday 24 May

GEOCACHING: Go on a treasure hunt around Greenwich using the latest handheld GPS technology. This geocaching event forms part of the London Mapping Festival. FREE, 3pm

MEDICINE: It’s 50 years since the drug thalidomide was withdrawn after it was found to cause death or impairment of foetuses. Wellcome Collection has a panel event to discuss the drug and its impact on families. FREE, 7pm

SPORTY STUFF: The excellent (and we’re not using that word lightly) Played in Britain series of events in Clerkenwell’s Gallery moves on to discuss the swimming pools of London, with a particular focus on Olympic pools. Turn up early for an accompanying exhibition about the history of sport in London. £8, 7pm

Friday 25 May

LATES: The Natural History Museum puts on its monthly Lates evening, with a chance to enjoy the museum into the evening. FREE, but some exhibitions are on a pay ticket, until 10.30pm

DOUGLAS ADAMS: Celebrate Towel Day, commemorating Douglas Adams, with an evening of Vogon poetry at Hackney Picturehouse. £5/£3 in costume or with towel, 7.30pm

COMICS: London Comic Con runs at Excel until Sunday. Guests include Anthony Daniels (C3P0) and Danny DeVito. Ticket prices vary

Saturday 26 May

HERITAGE TRAIN: A chance to ride a steam train along a lost part of the Tube network, as the section of line between Epping and Ongar reopens for a special heritage weekend. Ian has all the details. Prices vary.

TECH: Spend Saturday afternoon contemplating the future of technology at Birkbeck College. FREE, 2pm

ANIMATION: Yet another event at Wellcome Collection in a busy week for the venue sees a screening of the recent film Tchaikovsky and a discussion of the stop motion animation used to create it. FREE, 7pm

Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments or tip us off about future events via matt@londonist.com

The Magnetic North

Tonight is a good night for synth pop. San Francisco group Still Flyin’ is at the Lexington while the disco inspired Joyce is at Sebright Arms.

Tuesday, Canadian garage duo Japandroids is at the CAMP Basement. Psych rockers Pond are at Cargo.

Wednesday, the Magnetic North, featuring Erland Cooper and Simon Tong of Erland and the Carnival and Hannah Peel, bring their symphony about Orkney to Wilton’s Music Hall.

Thursday, Arrows of Love ends their residency at the MacBeth.

Friday, electro poppers Portasound are at Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes.

The latest instalment of ATP’s I’ll Be Your Mirror runs Friday to Sunday at Alexnadra Palace. Performances include Slayer performing Reign in Blood, Mogwai, and the Afghan Whigs. Tickets are still available for individual days as well as the weekend.

Sunday, country singer Suzy Bogguss is at Bush Hall.