YOUR GUIDE TO THIS WEEK IN CULTURE
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Children's Shows Circus Dance & Physical Festivals Musicals Opera Theatre ThisWeek In London
Three To See 1-7 Aug: Camden Fringe, Rhythmical Stuff, Theatre and More…
By TW Editorial | Published on Friday 28 July 2023
CAMDEN FRINGE
Flamenco: Orígenes | Etcetera Theatre | 2-6 Aug (pictured)
You’ll no doubt be excited to hear (if you didn’t know it already) that the Camden Fringe is still busily happening, and so – of course – we have another tips section this week devoted to it. When perusing lists of events happening over the next few days, this was one of the first to jump out at me, because it’s a dance show that traces flamenco’s roots, celebrating the different art forms that brought about its evolution. Click here.
That’s Not My Name | 2Northdown | 2-3 Aug
“Is she psychotic or is she a genius? My ex psychiatrist prefers the former, my god complex prefers the latter”. Well, this sounds rather interesting, promising stand-up, sketch and physical comedy and a questioning of psychiatric practice and labels. Be warned, though, it also promises “borderline chaos”, along with strong language, partial nudity, explicit content and distressing themes. Read more here.
Faustine | The Cockpit | 2-5 Aug
An interesting take on Marlowe’s ‘Faustus’, this one, interesting in the sense that here the central character is female, and is on the verge of freeing women from biological oppression. It’s a darkly comic play that looks at gender bias in medical research and endometriosis, and sees Mephistophilis offering Faustine the chance to eradicate female pain in exchange for her soul. Info here.
RHYTHMICAL STUFF
La Cenerentola | Arcola Theatre | 1-5 Aug
We’re beginning this section with another visit to Arcola’s Grimeborn Festival 2023, this time to see Barefoot Opera’s staging of Gioachino Rossini’s ‘La Cenerentola’. You may know this already, but you may also not, so I am going to tell you all that it’s a telling of the story of Cinderella, so it’s got a narrative you’ll definitely be familiar with even if you’re not yet familiar with the music. Click here for info.
Stranger Sings | Southwark Playhouse Borough | 3-26 Aug (pictured)
You may well have heard of this already, because it was previously on at The Vaults, and we definitely tipped it then, but we are so enamoured of this show that we decided we would further celebrate it now that it’s beginning a run at the Southwark Playhouse. Anyway, it’s a spoofy parody musical referencing ‘Stranger Things’ and it’s won much critical acclaim. See the venue website here.
Plastic Paradiso | Greenwich Theatre | 1 Aug
The first two in this section were an opera and a musical. This third pick is a dance piece, so equally rhythmical, but it’s also a show for children aged up to eleven years. It’s based on the book ‘The Tin Forest’ by Helen Ward, and is set on a barren, plastic filled island, where a lone inhabitant makes friends with an injured bird that appears after a storm. Find out more here.
THEATRICAL TREATS
Storm | Southwark Playhouse Borough | 2-5 Aug
A lot of what’s left now is theatre, and it’s all rather good, and all on for a fairly limited amount of time, so make sure you don’t miss it. First up is ‘Storm’ at the Southwark Playhouse, a new play by Juliet Knight that celebrates motherhood and explores how “chaos, conflict and closeness in a single parent unit can affect a mother and daughter’s mental health and future”. Click here.
Skin | Jack Studio | 1-5 Aug (pictured)
“In the prime of her early twenties, Sadie is diagnosed with melanoma. Her quiet life is quickly overshadowed as she learns to navigate life with a chronic illness. When medical staff are all-too-focused on the physical symptoms, Sadie turns to her sister to rediscover her sense of self beyond a diagnosis”. Expect a touching, warm and amusing piece, find out more here.
The Harding Case | Drayton Arms Theatre | 1-2 Aug
Here’s something fun and interactive to finish this section with, a show in which the audience gets to play detective, as they interrogate suspects and attempt to solve a crime. “The year is 2004. Four old friends gather for a meal. They are meeting for the first time in ten years. Each one has their own agenda unknown to the others. What should have been a pleasant reunion will end in murder”. Info here.
MORE GREAT STUFF
Bag Lady | Tabard Theatre | 1 Aug
And finally, the traditional mixed final section, starting with ‘Bag Lady’ at Tabard Theatre, which you have but one chance to see. A comedy play written and performed by Stephanie Manton, it tells the story of a teenage girl who is away at a summer army cadet camp, and involves puppetry, ventriloquism and coming of age stuff. Read more about it on the venue website here.
Transmission | Jacksons Lane | 4-18 Aug (pictured)
This one is a collection of events rather than just one show, because it’s Jacksons Lane’s annual circus residency programme, which sees companies and artists taking over the venue for a week to develop new work, and giving a scratch performance each Friday afternoon at the end of their time. First up is Finnish foot juggler Rosa-Maria Autio, who will perform on 4 Aug. Find out more here.
Long Long Long Live / Locusts | Old Red Lion Theatre | 2 Aug / 5 Aug
And finally, taking place around the same time as the start of the Edinburgh Fringe, are some shows that you will be able to see later in the month at that self same Edinburgh Fringe. I suppose I could have just said these are edfringe previews. Anyway, ‘Long Long Long Live‘ is a “somewhat tragicomedy” and ‘Locusts‘ is about gay conversion therapy, and they both sound great
