Off West End
Much like fringe theatre, trying to define what Off-WestEnd venue really means is a debate that would take us long into the night. So for our own sanity, we define it as those venues that are slightly bigger than the fringe venues (so roughly 100+ seats), but not the big West End or similar venues that form part of the Society of London Theatre (SOLT). Like fringe venues, Off-WestEnd are eligible for consideration for awards via the Fringe Theatre Awards.
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Review: Birdsong, Alexandra Palace Theatre
A strong ensemble performance and arresting use of sound design make for a moving, immersive take on Sebastian Faulks’ classic text
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Review: Pandora, Coronet Theatre
An hour of entertaining physical theatre that never quite rises above the scatological shock value of its grimy subject matter.
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Review: Mariposa, The Place
A queer retelling of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, Mariposa brings a timeless story into the modern mindset with creative and dramatic storytelling through movement.
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Review: The Magic Flute, Wilton’s Music Hall
You’ll leave whistling the tunes and admiring the singers, but a perfunctory libretto and some wayward production choices won’t quite win your heart.
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Review: Otherland, Almeida Theatre
A play that is about so much more than being trans, Otherland is a celebration of female unity as it explores the struggles faced by anyone presenting as a woman.
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Review: Gangbang, Seven Dials Playhouse
A strong send up of mob movies. If you're a fan of the genre, Hughie Shepherd-Cross's play will make you laugh a great deal.
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Review: Sh!t Theatre: Or What’s Left Of Us, Soho Theatre
A surreal and singular creative triumph that develops slowly, gripping you with its macabre approach and witty humour, and culminates in a poignant ending that sticks.
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Review: East is South, Hampstead Theatre
East Is South promises a thrilling deep dive of our lives in the face of AI, but what it delivers feels more like a glitch in the system.
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Review: Fontanelle, Soho Theatre
Bizarre and brilliant Fontanelle comes to Soho Theatre from the Edinburgh Fringe - tongue-in-cheek musical theatre paired with clever but weird comedy from award-winning Jordan Brookes.
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Review: Count Dykula, Soho Theatre
A stand-out show that champions the beauty of being different.