Culture Beat: 1 January

The popular Brussels English Comedy Night celebrates its first show of 2016 with a knee-slapping double feature. Headliner Tom Wrigglesworth hails from Sheffield, where his quirky appearance (he’s a dead ringer for Frank Zappa) and observational humour have earned him work as a stand-up comedian and radio personality. He has toured the UK, New Zealand and Canada. Dutch-Greek comedian Soula Notos, a member of Utrecht collective Comedyhuis and co-founder of Comedy Kitchen, is also performing. Irish comedian David Hayden hosts the evening. 5 January, 20.00 at Black Sheep, Chaussée de Boondael 8, Ixelles

While modern composers like Philip Glass have given classical music a contemporary facelift, the image of opera remains resolutely old school. But under the surface, there’s much more to 21st-century opera than fat ladies singing. The Very Alive Composers festival showcases the adventurous work of fresh, young European opera composers like Péter Eötvös, Luca Francesconi, Balázs Horváth and András Almási-Tóth – all of whom collaborate on an adaptation of Polish playwright Slawomir Mrozek’s absurd one-act play Out at Sea. Also on the programme is French composer Pascal Dusapin’s pioneering 1992 opera To Be Sung. 6-10 January at Flagey.

Photographer Hannes Coudeyns presents a new exhibition called Ugly Belgian Houses, based on his popular blog and Facebook page of the same name, filled with the country’s biggest “architectural flaws”, accompanied by wry captions. 4-26 January, Recyclart, Rue des Ursulines 25, Brussels.

Once a month, the Bruxella 1238 archaeological museum under the old Stock Exchange is open to the public. Purchase a ticket (€4) for a guided tour in English at the Museum of the City of Brussels on Grand-Place. 6 January (and every first Wednesday) 10.15-11.30, Bruxella 1238, Rue de la Bourse, Brussels.

The second edition of the River Jazz Festival sees 14 concerts spread over three stages across the city, featuring Bai Kamara Jr, Tutu Puoane and Laurent Blondiau and many more. 8-23 January, Jazz Station, Espace Senghor & Theatre Marni, Brussels.

The English Comedy Club presents a humorous, energetic version of Dick Whittington and His Magical Cat, the well-loved British tale based on the legend of the 15th-century Lord Mayor of London (in English). 8-10 January, Auderghem Cultural Centre, Boulevard du Souverain 183, Auderghem.

Bozar Cinema Days features 25 films in five days, including new independent and avant-garde cinema, low- and no-budget films, art house, animations, biopics and documentaries. 6-10 January, Bozar, Rue Ravenstein 23, Brussels.