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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Luck Penny, Lion and Unicorn Theatre
Aisling Foster Directed by Cherry Cookson ★★ Pros: Some great accents and beautiful scene change music produced a lovely sounding show. Cons: The actors were very wobbly on their lines and the show didn’t run straight. Our verdict: Sadly, an…
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The Nighmare Dreamer, Blue Elephant
Devised TheatreDirected by John-Michael MacDonald★★ Pros: Unusual and visually intriguing, with some innovative stylistic direction.Cons: The improvised nature meant the piece fell flat at times – it might be too weird for some people.Our verdict: A strange and unnerving production,…
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Tonight Is Your Answer, Theatre Royal Stratford East
Sarah Rutherford Directed by Dawn Reid ★★★★ Pros: A play about women, with an A-list cast, female director and author, that asks important questions about race. Cons: Perhaps the play could have gone further in certain areas, but more of…
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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…