Societies, Events and Entertainment

THE CHAP OLYMPIAD 2009. London, 11th July. The annual decathlon of decadence returns to its rightful home in the verdant gardens of Bloomsbury. Warm up your trouser press, top up your hip flask and fill your briar to get yourself in shape for this mighty tournament for the well-trousered. Olympiad

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS. London, June, date TBC. Following the huge success of December's event, the X-Foundation are repeating their Victorian pugilism and entertainment extravanza in June this year. Ten complete amateurs are trained for three months in the art of boxing, then pitted against each other for three rounds. The organisers are looking for Chaps to take part in June's event. To find out more, visit Thexfoundation.org

FITZROVIA RADIO. These sterling coves perform live readings from vintage radio scripts, with all the sound effects and advertisements, immaculately attired in vintage black tie. For further details, visit Fitzroviaradio.com

LA CLIQUE. Ongoing, London. A curious blend of cabaret, burlesque, circus sideshow and contemporary variety, La Clique fills Leicester Square’s Hippodrome with contortionists, naked ladies, gentlemen doing handstands in three-piece suits and grotesque puppets. The venue has not boasted such strange hosts since the 1980s, when Peter Stringfellow ran it as a nightclub. Lacliquelondon.com

THE LAST TUESDAY SOCIETY. Monthly, London. Where may chaps and chapettes of a decadent stripe ply their mysterious epigrams and eloquent non-sequiturs? Why, The Last Tuesday Society of course!

LOLA. On tour. Trestle Theatre presents a new touring production telling the true story of Lola Montez, the infamous 19th century Spanish dancer whom Harry Flashman exposed as an Irishwoman in Royal Flash. "Lola" blends theatre, dance and live Flamenco music to deliver a spirited production on the life of this maverick lady. On tour in the UK, starting off at Trestle Arts Base, St Albans, and including a 2-week residency at London’s Riverside Theatre. Trestle.org.uk

THE 39 STEPS. A new production of John Buchan's classic thriller, adapted for the stage by Patrick Barlow of the National Theatre of Brent, whose whimsical style injects even more Chappishness into an already extremely Chappist story. Love39steps.com

BRIEF ENCOUNTER. This brand new production by Kneehigh Theatre may not be for the David Lean purists, but nevertheless offers a rollicking 1940s extravaganza, staged in the original cinema where Brief Encounter was first screened. Seebriefencounter.com

THE RUBBISHMEN OF SOHO. A highly eccentric band of individuals with an addiction to gin, cream cakes and other gentlemanly substances. They make music of questionable virtue, but must be supported because they are keeping the spirit of Vivian Stanshall alive and kicking. Therubbishmen.com

HANDLEBAR CLUB. If you are about to embark upon the spiritual journey that is the cultivation of an enormous moustache, you might care to seek advice from Handlebarclub.org.uk

THE PIPE CLUB OF LONDON. If pipes are your pleasure and nothing thrills you more than the sound of quality tobacco being rubbed and scorched, then you'll find everything you need at Pcol.co.uk

OOM PAUL SOCIETY. An entire society devoted to the Oom Paul pipe, named after South Africa's first Boer president, "Oom" Paul Kruger, who favoured a particular style of pipe which stands up on its own when placed on a level surface. OomPaul.com