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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Tartuffe, Canal Café Theatre
Molière, adapted by Sarah E. Pitard Directed by Cat Robey ★★ Pros: Great choice of era (1920s) to set this 17th century French classic. The lavish and indulgent background feeds perfectly into the title character’s greed and his champion’s blind…
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Trash, White Bear Theatre
Tom HuntDirected by Timothy J Howe★★★ Pros: A wonderful atmosphere and a few laughs. Cons: Lack of development or evolution of the characters. Our Verdict: Light and amusing, but it could be more engaging. Courtesy of LittleBerry Productions With curtain…
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Jumpers for Goalposts, Watford Palace Theatre
Tom Wells Directed by James Grieve ★★★★ Pros: A superbly well-written, well-acted, and well-designed production. Cons: While charming, the script occasionally borders on cliché. Our Verdict: A truly outstanding production with a fine balance of humour and heart. Courtesy of…
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My Favourite Madman, Tristan Bates Theatre
Elchin AfandlyevDirected by Matthew Gould★★★★ Pros: Elchin Afandlyev is a world-renowned writer. He has the ability to condense a lot of thinking into a 90 minute play, and some of his musings are inspired. Cons: The script is very literary…
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The Seagull, Theatro Technis
Anton Chekhov Directed by Gavin McAlinden ★★★ Pros: A terrific Chekhov script with some interesting performances. Cons: This show has plenty of moments which fall flat and are not quite believable. Our Verdict: An unusual production of a classic play…
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A Month in the Country, Theatro Technis
Ivan TurgenevDirected by Gavin McAlinden★★★ Pros: An interesting and entertaining story performed by an energetic and well-balanced ensemble. Cons: The lengthy Russian classic suffered some dull ruts. Our Verdict: An enjoyable and refreshingly simple period piece that succeeds despite some…
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Alice Diamond and The Forty Thieves, The Bell Pub
Madelaine BeeversDirected by Emma Williamson★★★★ Pros: A unique and fascinating venue with compelling performances from all the cast. Cons: At the end of two hours you may have a stiff neck if you sit on the front row, as it…
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You and Me, Blue Elephant Theatre
Roger SimeonDirected by Bryony Shanahan★★★★ Pros: Demonstrates character acting at its best. Chameleon-like performances by Patricia Rodriguez and Mercè Ribot take you on an unpredictable and whacky ride through the love and hate of sisterhood. Cons: This is a very…
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Before the Party, Almeida Theatre
Rodney AcklandDirected by Matthew Dunster★★★ Pros: Some very funny characters, and excellent performances. Cons: The comedy was much more brilliant than the deeper character moments. Our Verdict: Certainly worth the trip for a fun evening out. Credit: Keith Pattison Having…
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The 8th Wave, The Space
James ErnestDirected by Don Mc Camphill and Luke Lutterer ★★★ Pros: A solid play in a great little venue. A particularly strong performance from Francis Adams. Cons: The start was a little slow and the ending a bit contrived. Our…