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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Hamlet’s Fool, The Cockpit
Written and performed by Peter Cutts Directed by Mandy Fox ★★★★ Pros: An exceptional all-round play designed for the stage with imagination, creativity and talent. Fascinates from start to finish. Cons: A rushed latter half and unnecessary musical interludes. Our…
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The Love Bites Plays: Apartment, Etcetera Theatre
Craig Donaghy, Ziella Bryars, Jack Fiehn and Daniel Frankenburg Directed by Sophie Davies, Ziella Bryars, Nikita Strange and James Veitch ★★★★ Pros: Clever, short, sharp scripts performed by a solid cast. Leaves you wanting more. Cons: A little unpolished at…
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The Gut Girls, The Space
Sarah Daniels Directed by David England ★★★★ Pros: A funny, hard-hitting and incredibly well written play. Cons: The large space made for a tricky acoustic meaning some speech is lost every so often. Our Verdict: A seriously…
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The Government Inspector, Ovalhouse Theatre
Nikolai Gogol Directed by Lucy Richardson ★★★ Pros: An interesting take on a familiar classic. Cons: Everyone was so interesting to watch on stage that it was hard to decide who to focus on at any one time. Our Verdict:…
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Don Pasquale, The Sun Tavern in Covent Garden (site-specific)
The actors bring the story to life with humour and the space and minimal props are used well. Definitely worth seeing if you are new to opera and I’m sure that seasoned opera-goers may enjoy the change.
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All I’ve Known, Chickenshed Theatre
Written and directed by Rachel Yates ★★★★ Pros: A lovely set design. Deeply moving performances from all of the cast. Cons: Somewhere around the middle I felt it went a little slower than necessary. The show covers a lot of…
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The Burial, The Albany Theatre
Bola Agbaje Directed by Franko Figueiredo★★★★ Pros: Fantastic, polished design and an excellent script with a great balance of drama and comedy Cons: The chemistry of the cast was at times a bit inconsistent Our Verdict: A well-produced and unique…
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Wyrd, Secret Location in Southwark (site-specific)
Clancy Flynn Directed by Rosanna Mallinson ★★★★★ Pros: The best immersive theatre I’ve seen in a very long time. Cons: The murder mystery style acting isn’t to everyone’s tastes. Our Verdict: Be inside a horror film: a fabulously fun evening…
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Gentlemen, Please, White Bear Theatre
Sean Michael Welch Directed by William E.P. Davis ★★★ Pros: Very funny with plenty of wordplay and physical comedy. Cons: A few jokes wore out their welcome. Our Verdict: A hilariously infuriating short piece that features its actors well and…