Fringe/ OffWestEnd
We could argue for hours what makes a fringe theatre venue, and even then we doubt we’d come to a satisfactory definition. So to keep it simple, fringe here simply means the wonderful little venues, generally less than 100 seats, often located above or below or next to pubs, and very much at the heart of our theatre world, where all the magic usually starts.
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Review: Venus in Fur, Camden People’s Theatre
A sharp, layered two-hander where a simple audition spirals into a gripping battle of power, performance, and control.
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Review: Riot Street, Peckham Fringe
A retelling of a tragic event that shook a Welsh community.
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Review: Shelter, Barons Court Theatre
A combination of War of the Worlds and Look Back in Anger, this production leaves one wondering who exactly the real monster is.
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Review: Imaginary Friends, Soho Theatre
Disruptive, meandering and unengaging.
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Review: The Gang Of Three, Kings Head Theatre
The friendships and rivalries of the three big beasts of Labour in the 1970s are vividly brought to life through great performances and sharp writing, which illuminates a crucial period in political history
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Review: The Mikado, The Drayton Arms
A whimsical, irreverent, slightly chaotic reimagining of The Mikado that successfully swaps outdated tropes for unlikely magic.
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Review: In Other Words, Arcola Theatre
An intimate, heart-wrenching portrait of love and Alzheimer’s, where music becomes memory, and silence says everything.
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Review: The Last Incel, Pleasance Theatre
A terrifying reflection of a new radicalism, softened by gay anthems and campy fuchsia hues.
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Review: Alright, Alright, Alright, Bridge House Theatre
At a loose end and need cheering up? Then go down memory lane with Matthew McConaughey - who else? - as he gets involved with a nerd in a video store in south London and helps him find his true…
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Review: The Sociable Plover, Old Red Lion Theatre
This revival of Tim Whitnall’s 2005 play proves that you don’t always need something brand new to keep an audience on its toes.