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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Shackleton’s Stowaway, Cervantes Theatre – Review
A moving and informative experience that gave me a new found respect for the amazing explorers that have travelled the dangerous seas.
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Circa’s Peepshow, Underbelly Festival – Review
Big league acrobatics in a small-top tent at Southbank’s Underbelly Festival.
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Locked Up, Tristan Bates Theatre – Review
Flawed, but thoroughly entertaining.
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Earthquakes in London, Bridewell Theatre – Review
Sedos somehow manage to pull off the impossible in making this play as unique and unmissable as the original National Theatre production.
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Artificial, Hen and Chickens Theatre – Review
Pros: Some witty and perceptive writing, with a strong supporting cast Cons: A lacklustre central performance from the writer/director Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home and Apple’s HomePod have become a regular feature in our lives, ordering our Ubers, playing our music and…
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Romeo & Juliet, Waterloo East – Review
Pros: Much deserved applause for all actors that can recite Shakespeare without a breath. Cons: These performers need a bigger stage! Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet is one of my favourite pieces of writing, so I was hugely excited to be watching a…
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For King and Country, Southwark Playhouse – Review
Pros: The cast can sustain tension and passion; it is genuinely moving to watch this less-discussed side of WWI history. Cons: A stiflingly hot venue makes several audience members lose concentration; due to the thrust stage, some lines are hard…
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The Diana Tapes, Stockwell Playhouse – Review
Pros: The design is well polished. Cons: Everything else. In 1991, tabloid columnist Andrew Morton was approached by one of Princess Diana’s closest friends with a daunting request that he couldn’t refuse. He was asked to write her biography. Tired…
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A Lesson from Auschwitz, New Wimbledon Theatre – Review
Pros: By honing in on Höss, Hyland’s play doesn’t choose the obvious Holocaust perpetrators (Hitler, Himmler, Mengele et al). Cons: Crescendos in Höss’ speech become distracting; likewise, proximity to the audience and prolonged emphasis of gestures can overkill the intensity.…
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Sardines, Drayton Arms Theatre – Review
Pros: Sharp writing and good performances characterise this collection of scenes set in a tube train Cons: The lack of connection between the stories means we’re constantly having to get to know new characters “Make sure you take your belongings with you…