We explain the relation between the holomorphic anomaly equations in topological string theory and the loop equations in matrix models. We explain a strategy for their solutions using modular forms, which applies to open and closed topological string theory on (non) compact Calabi-Yau manifolds. (A description how to find Lecture Theatre 1 is given on http://brahms.mth.kcl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/main.pl?action=triangle)