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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Hear a Pin Drop Here, Battersea Arts Centre
Holly Rumble★★★★ Pros: An interesting topic is used to explore the sights and sounds of London living. Cons: Only a small cog in the wheel of a much larger project. Our Verdict: A lovely project that has taken a very…
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Adventure/Misadventure, Ovalhouse
Written and directed by Nick Field ★★ Pros: Poetic writing, memorable original music and the theatre even lay on sushi and saki. Cons: The performance lacks polish; aspects of the show felt gimmicky and I felt the play’s message to…
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Happy New, Trafalgar Studios
Brendan Cowell Directed by Robert Shaw ★★★ Pros: This play has it all: comedy, drama, ups and downs. It will have you laughing at one moment and in tears the next. It is impossible to be bored. Cons: It takes…
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Blair’s Children, The Cockpit
Anders Lustgarten, Paula B Stanic, Georgia Fitch, April De Angelis, Mark Norfolk Directed by Charlotte Westenra ★★★ Pros: The characters are well written and varied with good performances by the cast. The parallel recollections provide a textured view of the…
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A Picture of Dorian Gray, The White Rabbit Cocktail Club
Rob JohnstonDirected by Andy McQuade★★★★ Pros: A truly original, deliciously dark and modern reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s gothic novel, with top-notch performances to boot. Cons: Dark lighting and less than ideal sightlines made it sometimes difficult to get the most…
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Mandrake, The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre
Machiavelli, adapted by Howard Colyer Directed by Scott Le Crass ★★ Pros: A fun romp of a story. Cons: Limited depth of thought in this production. The script is played comically rather than as comedy. Verdict: Loosely enjoyable but ultimately…
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Don’t Wake Me: The Ballad of Nihal Armstrong, The Cockpit
Rahila GuptaDirected by Guy Slater★★★★ Pros: The play gives the subject of caring for the disabled a personal dimension. Cons: The show may not sound like everyone’s cup of tea, but appearances are deceiving. Our Verdict: A one-woman show that…
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LineUp, Greenwich Theatre
Vertical Line Theatre Company ★★★★ Pros: A very enjoyable series of short plays to both amuse and entertain. Provides us with glimpses into our current world issues. Cons: A bit short on the production value, with a few kinks to…