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.
-
Gibraltar, Arcola Theatre
Alastair Brett and Sian Evans Directed by James Robert Carson ★★★ Pros: A brave and ambitious attempt at tackling a contentious and complex subject, with a delightful performance by Karina Fernandez as the astute Rosa. Cons: At the end of…
-
The Early Bird, Lion and Unicorn Theatre
Leo Butler Directed by Zoe Thomas-Webb ★★ Pros: Strong, intense performances from a small cast; a minimal but thoughtful set design. Cons: An incredibly confusing script made the show nearly impossible to follow. Our Verdict: Despite a true effort, the…
-
Peanuts, The Last Refuge
Ashleigh Packham Directed by Adam Reeves ★★★ Pros: A very enjoyable journey following a delightfully quirky character. Cons: The scatty nature of the protagonist is just as prevalent in the play as a whole. Our Verdict: Very enjoyable and worth…
-
I Didn’t Always Live Here, Finborough Theatre
Stewart Conn Directed by Lisa Blair ★★★★ Pros: A poetic script, inspired casting and high production values make this show most enjoyable. Cons: The script works well in terms of dialogue, but loses its way as far as the plot…
-
Sing Something Simple, The Cockpit
Written and directed by Vanessa Brooks ★★★★ Pros: Beautifully written and very well performed with a great design and excellent music. Cons: I can’t think of any real drawbacks. There is a very clichéd plot twist at one point but…
-
No Man’s Land, Blue Elephant Theatre
Presented by Glass-eye Theatre ★★★ Pros: A wonderful story line full of humanity and imagination. Cons: Alexandra Krassa’s depiction of ten year old Ailsa Thomas was unconvincing at times, preventing much of an attachment to the character. Our Verdict: A…
-
Rutherford and Son, Watford Palace Theatre
KG SowerbyDirected by Jonathan Miller★★★★ Pros: An important play, powerfully directed by Jonathan Miller, with excellent dramatic leads. Cons: Some of the secondary male characters seemed far too shallow – but then in many ways this adds to the anger…
-
My Robot Heart, Battersea Arts Centre
Devised and performed by Molly Naylor★★★★ Pros: A sweet, honest and funny show. A very pleasant and engaging production.Cons: Although the music was a nice personal touch, it would have been great to see more interaction with the folk duo.…
-
The Street, Ovalhouse (site-specific in East Dulwich)
Ovalhouse Creative Youth★★★★ Pros: A beautifully written and compiled piece of theatre performed with heaps of energy throughout.Cons: After a fantastic build up, the finale was disappointing and felt like it needed more substance. Our Verdict: This was a fantastic…
-
The Café, Old Red Lion Theatre (site-specific at The CoffeeWorks Project)
Ben AitkenDirected by Josh Roche★★★★ Pros: An all-round, very strong piece which deftly explores the harmony (or lack of) between self-identity and circumstance. Cons: I couldn’t see the benefits of making this show site-specific. Our Verdict: A very absorbing, intriguing…