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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What the F*minist?!, Katzpace – Review
With music, dance and comedy, a group of LAMDA fresh grads hit the most common feminist-related arguments right on the head.
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Free Solo, Drayton Arms Theatre – Review
What looked a good concept on paper never really comes to life, the story lost in its efforts to be a musical.
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Little Eyolf, The Print Room at the Coronet – Review
An Ibsen play successfully transported to the present day by some of Norway’s finest actors, in a near-flawless production. Norwegian language with surtitles sounds daunting, but it isn’t.
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The Bekkrell Effect, Roundhouse – Review
A humorous and entertaining display of acrobatics by skilled performers who make it look deceptively easy.
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The Misanthrope, Theatro Technis – Review
Acting Gymnasium deserves top marks for their commitment to inclusion and diversity, but the performance lacks skill and structure.
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Island Song, Nursery Theatre – Review
Five young lives intertwine in the streets of New York. Our characters long for love, independence and self-affirmation in this musical production that is palatable but not memorable.
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Eurohouse and Palmyra, Battersea Arts Centre – Review
Pros: The original and effective approach to two well known political situations. Both actors can be truly hysterical with their clownish acting. Cons: Although successful at exposing situations, there’s no real analysis and the shows don’t go into much detail…
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Twang!!, Union Theatre – Review
Pros: Fun choreography, daft puppetry, huge energy. Cons: Heavy on smut, light on good songs. When Much the Miller’s son gets lost in Sherwood Forest, salvation comes at a price: the ragtag bunch of men who come to his rescue…
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Cream Tea and Incest, The Hope Theatre – Review
A masterpiece of inventiveness where a visionary comic style is complemented by an out of the box design.
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Gauhar Jaan – The Datia Incident, Omnibus Theatre – Review
Shining a light on India’s pre-Bollywood queen of entertainment, Gauhar Jaan is an original, funny and exciting debut play, albeit with a rushed ending and some scene change issues. It has rightly sold out its entire run already.