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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Love Lies Bleeding, Print Room at the Coronet – Review
Pros: An excellent cast of familiar faces give the play a much needed boost. Cons: A beautiful venue in serious need of refurbishment and a script requiring similar tender loving care. I feel quietly reassured when a Grade II listed…
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Rendezvous in Bratislava, Battersea Arts Centre – Review
Pros: Rendezvous is inventive and immersive, with catchy songs and great performances. Cons: The comic interludes can be frustrating, as they distract from an otherwise compelling story. Laughter is a powerful response to oppression. Comedy has a long history of speaking…
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vessel, Battersea Arts Centre – Review
Pros: Let’s talk about an intriguing piece of abstract art Cons: Let’s talk about intense inscrutability Let’s talk about conceptual theatre. This is not a play in any conventional sense, jettisoning character and plot in favour of something almost entirely…
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Haunting Julia, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch – Review
Absence of atmosphere and a weak ensemble result in a production that fails to conjure any spirit.
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Bury the Dead, Finborough Theatre – Review
Pros: Irvin Shaw’s 1936 expressionist play about the futility of war is brilliantly brought to life by director Rafaella Marcus. Cons: This excellent staging does its best with a slightly uneven work, though the last third feels very much of…
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Still No Idea – Royal Court Theatre, Jerwood Theatre Upstairs – Review
A hilarious take on human foibles and the stories we tell ourselves about the world, Still No Idea will jolt you out of complacency just when you are crying with laughter.
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Mirabel, Ovalhouse – Review
Pros: Mirabel is a highly original and emotionally affecting tale of loss and learning. Cons: The abstract narrative can be challenging and sometimes hard to follow. The end of the world has rarely been a cheerful affair. In films, television,…
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Fans, Canada Water Theatre – Review
Pros: Theatre and live music gig for the price of one! Cons: The show is on tour with only short stops, so you’ll have to be quick off the mark to see it! Nina Berry’s show Fans is described as a…
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The Memoir Club, Bloomsbury Hotel – Review
The Bloomsbury Group was known for its wit and sparkle, both of which are sadly missing here.
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Shrödinger’s Dog, White Bear Theatre – Review
Pros: This is a full-throttle production by a contemporary theatre company oozing with confidence. Cons: The action is distractingly far-fetched, to the point of total implausibility, while the characters are never developed much beyond surface-level. It’s also about 45 minutes…