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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The Decorator, The Space
Donald Churchill Directed by Franko Figueiredo ★★★ Pros: Ingenious farce set-up, vibrant comedic performances and a fun sixties setting. Cons: The actors’ accents can difficult to understand, making it easy to miss jokes. Our Verdict: The difficulty in understanding the…
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Dr N. H. Service, Ms Surveillance and Dame Lansley May, Etcetera Theatre
Written and directed by Paul Martin ★★★ Pros: A strong opinion piece with a definitive voice, unafraid of the provocative and outrageous – everything a good piece of political theatre should be. Cons: The strong, definitive ‘voice’ waxes didactic and…
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Fuente Ovejuna, CLF Art Café
Lope de Vega Adapted by Tangram Theatre Company Directed by Daniel Goldman ★★★★★ Pros: Has theatre ever been this fun?! Cons: I don’t know the meaning of the word. Our Verdict: Theatre at its best, simply do not miss it.…
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The Incredible Adventures of Clown Slut, Old Red Lion Theatre
Joanna Griffin Directed by Lauren Bracewell ★★★ Pros: Fun, dynamic and entertaining. Superb delivery from Joanna Griffin recounting her adventures as the Clown Slut. Cons: The concept of the play seems to be directed to only a certain group of people, young…
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IAMTWENTYFOUR, Tollington Park Studios
An interesting dance that explores the different shapes and faces that language can give your identity. It was truly fascinating to watch.
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The Comedy of Oedipus, Lion and Unicorn
Ali SalemDirected by Ahmed El-Alfy★★★★ Pros: An entertaining and dynamic comedy. Cons: Due to lots of movement and excessive volume, the stage became overcrowded at times. Our Verdict: A well-executed, politically charged adaptation of a classic play. Some very good acting…
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Casualties, Park Theatre
Written by Ross EricsonDirected by Harry Burton ★★★ Pros: Excellent direction of a world premier with an outstanding central performance and realistic dialogue. Cons: Somehow the tension just seemed to be lacking at key moments and I never really felt…
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Four Farces, Wilton’s Music Hall
Various Playwrights Directed by Jonathan Kemp★★★ Pros: A spectacle in the best sense. Cons: Sometimes not quite funny enough. Our verdict: Possibly the best performance of these farces ever given. Courtesy of European Arts Company The program promises a hilarious…
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Early Days, Finborough Theatre
David StoreyDirected by Tim Newns ★★★ Pros: A rarely performed play that carries itself with gentle humour and poise. Cons: The play doesn’t quite pull the heart strings as you would expect about from such a subject. Our Verdict: A poignant…
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Romeo and Juliet, Old Red Lion Theatre
William Shakespeare Directed by Grassroots Shakespeare London ★★★★ Pros: Say what you like about Shakespeare, but he knew how to write a play. Romeo is excellent and Juliet lends a bit of spice to a role that can be bland…