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Off West End

Ah, the Off West End. For those not familiar with the term, this is where the real magic of the London theatre scene happens. Great shows are born here, in pubs, in 50-seat theatres, in tunnels. Recommended for the adventurous – we can’t get enough of it, and you’ll save a quid or two as well!

Spill: A Verbatim Show About Sex, Camden People’s Theatre – Review

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Pros: Hilarious, touching, revelatory and perfectly performed Cons: Three songs isn’t enough, especially when they’re of this quality Performed by a cast of eleven young actors, Spill is a verbatim enactment of interviews with dozens of young people about their experiences of sex. Devised by the cast, it’s part of Hotbed, the Camden People’s Theatre’s season of plays about sex. Spill is set during a so-called “sex party”, at which the guests arrive sometimes singly and sometimes in groups, each relating their stories ...

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Refugee Boy, Chickenshed Theatre – Review

Pros: Some great performances and a pitch-perfect design Cons: The main storyline seemed less subtle than its tributaries I know Chickenshed Theatre for its big, glorious, all-ages Christmas shows, and for being pretty much the only thing that sweetens the bitter end of the Piccadilly line, at Cockfosters. But Chickenshed is so much more than that: it’s an industry leader in inclusive theatre, with a full professional programme of devised and scripted work, alongside a drama school, a popular cafe/bar, ...

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Life By The Throat, Theatre 503 – Review

Pros: Eve Steele’s performance is raw, funny and unforgettable, capturing every side of her complicated character throughout his life. Cons: Final sections of the play could spend more time referencing how the main character’s actions affected everyone around him, and what the future might hold for them. You’d be forgiven for thinking a one-woman play about a thief in the grip of drug and alcohol addiction wouldn’t be a laugh a minute. You might assume that this character, James Joseph ...

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Threads, The Hope Theatre – Review

Pros: Samuel Lawrence’s powerful and committed approach to an intense character. Cons: The play maintains an exaggerated level of tension which prevents the audience from truly relating to the characters, and makes for quite uncomfortable viewing. I’m all for a good love story. Especially if it’s tricky and passionate and full of drama. Threads is the story of Vic (Katharine Davenport) and Charlie (Samuel Lawrence), two exes reunited in the flat that they used to share. Over the course of an ...

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