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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The War of the Waleses, The Pirate Castle
Sarah Heenan, Alan Maddrell and Andy MarchantDirected by Sarah Heenan★★★★ Pros: Terrific impressions of both John Major and Tony Blair. A polished performance throughout. Cons: Doesn’t go that extra mile, drags a little towards the end. Our Verdict: Impressively refined…
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Forwards and Backwards, Camden People’s Theatre
Presented by Square Peg Theatre★★★★ Pros: Minimalist design, a show where strong performances create the scene. Cons: Few to speak of; perhaps the chemistry between the two leads could be tweaked, but not by much! Our Verdict: Don’t miss this…
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Shakespeare Goes for Gold, The Union Theatre
Produced by Noor Lawson and Liz McMullen for MyLovely Productions★★★ Pros: A good idea, easy to watch and easy laughs. Cons: A tad sloppy in places perhaps, but nothing too severe. Our Verdict: Worth going to see, a fun evening…
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Queen for a Day, Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Hayley AtkinsonDirected by Will Bird ★★★ Pros: A thought-provoking conversation between two intriguing characters, strong performances. Cons: Drags a little bit at points even though it was only an hour long. Our Verdict: An interesting premise that ultimately left me…
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Is Anything Broken?, Tristan Bates Theatre
Dan DaviesDirected by Maja Milatovic-Ovadia★★★ Pros: A sharp and relevant script and a short, punchy performance overall. Cons: A slightly slow first half, possibly due to some slightly mediocre performances. Our Verdict: An enjoyable show on balance, but I left…
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Jack the Ripper’s London, London Bridge
Mike Carter and Lizzie Quinn for Crow TheatreDirected by Natasha Campbell★★★★★ Pros: Brilliant and truly unique immersive theatre in a superb venue. Cons: None whatsoever with the show, but had some problems finding where ‘the meeting point’ was. Our Verdict:…
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An Incident at the Border, Finborough Theatre
Kieran LynnDirected by Bruce Guthrie★★★★ Pros: A short, sweet and very amusing performance with some cracking acting in the beautifully cool Finborough auditorium. Cons: Energy levels dropped in certain places where the dialogue got slightly long-winded and frustrating. Our Verdict:…
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Two-Headed, The Rose Theatre
July JensenDirected by Amy Bonsall★★★★ Pros: A truly fascinating venue hosting a snappy and energetic performance. Cons: Mormon culture is probably not the most riveting subject matter. Our Verdict: Worth the detour – check it out! Courtesy of My Lovely…
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The Maids, Lion and Unicorn Theatre
Jean GenetDirected by Paul Linghorn★★★ Pros: Some powerful moments in the second half and a superb performance from Chris Stevenson. Cons: A weak first half, and it feels like the team hasn’t completely ‘got to know’ the script yet, meaning…