A brand new musical has its premiere at The Playground Theatre this month, and I think it sounds very promising indeed. 'Fanatical', set at a Sci-Fi convention, is the work of Matt Board and Reina Hardy, and features a rather talented cast.
One member of said cast is comedy, theatre and TV stalwart Steve Frost. I know you all love him, so I arranged to have a quick chat to find out more. Read the interview here.
'Fanatical' is on at The Playground Theatre from 8 Nov-9 Dec, head to this page here for more information and to book your tickets.
TUESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2018 >>
Not I | The Albany | 6-7 Nov
If you've seen the award-winning 'Backstage In Biscuit Land', you'll be aware that its star Jess Thom has Tourettes, which you'll also know is a condition that means she makes movements and noises she can't control, called tics. Here, she performs Samuel Beckett's 'Not I', which provides the perfect text through which to explore neurodiversity and ask "who is allowed to perform what and who gets the final say?" More info here.
On Missing | The Cockpit | 6-8 Nov (pictured)
The Voila Europe! Festival has begun, with events taking place at three venues - The Cockpit, Etcetera Theatre and Applecart Arts. There's loads of attractive offerings to choose from, and we are starting with this one, a meditation on the experience of migration, combining traditions of Polish and Nigerian Theatre. "Is leaving your home like leaving a piece of your body behind? For some of us absence is what we long for, for others it is fleeting, but for all of us it is unavoidable". Head this way for details.
Best Of The Fest - Zoo | Theatre503 | 6-10 Nov
"When a hurricane heads straight for Miami, zoo keeper Bonnie hurries to keep her animals safe. Across the pond in Yorkshire, bat expert Carol feels the repercussions. However, the danger for both is deeper and darker than the weather". As you can probably tell from the heading, this is part of Theatre503's season of edfest imports, and this one is very much a goodie, which our reviewer liked rather a lot. See this page here for more.
WEDNESDAY 7 NOVEMBER 2018>>
Emerge Festival 2018 | The Space | 6-17 Nov
The Emerge Festival returns for its seventh year, to create a platform for emerging dance and physical theatre work, staged over a two week period. In week one you can see work from David Evans, Sam Pardes and Orley Quick, Amy Foskett, Raymond Sweetman and Kerrie Doyle & Harry Fulleylove ; week two sees contributions from David West, Follow Through Collective, Kate Haughton and Nicoletta Bonanni. Head this way for more.
Lest We Forget | Greenwich Theatre | 7 Nov (pictured)
"From pre-war Britain in 1914 to the race riots of 1919 we follow the lives of William James, a black British soldier and Edith Booth, a Northerner new to London. When William and Edith fall in love during one of Britain's most devastating periods in history they thought their hardest battle would be surviving the war but fighting prejudice on the home front proves almost as challenging". A tale of race, love and war in this brand new play. Details here.
No Direction Home - Heard | Camden People's Theatre | 5-7 Nov
We ran a Q&A with the duo behind this last week, so you may already have it on your hit list (because you go to see everything we tell you to, obv) but if you don't, here's a handy reminder. The play highlights problems with the current UK Immigration system, and the ongoing campaign to end indefinite detention and the detaining of vulnerable people. For information and to book, see this page right about here.
THURSDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2018 >>
Vessel | Battersea Arts Centre | 6-24 Nov (pictured)
"Vessel is about how we gain and maintain stability in the unstable world of contested narratives, alternative facts and irreversible consequences. The text, offered through a polyphony of four diverse voices, provokes contemplation of agency, privilege and representation by placing the domestic within the global and the private within the collective". Fascinating sounding piece from the much acclaimed Sue MacLaine. See the venue website here for details.
No Direction Home - Refuge Woman | Camden People's Theatre | 6-10 Nov
A spoken word performance inspired by real life events, which examines government cuts to domestic violence services, life in refuges and the way the media portrays working class women. Cash is a self-confessed "refuge connoisseur" who knows which refuges have the best counsellors, and clothing donations and which ones are closest to the best all you can eat buffets. "6 years, 13 refuges, 12 productions of the Vagina Monologues - because if you live in a women's refuge you will be invited to see the Vagina Monologues. And it will star Linda Robson". Info here.
The Pit And The Pendulum | Omnibus Theatre | 6-24 Nov
"A political prisoner wakes in a pitch-black cell, unable to see what terror hides in the darkness. As tension and fear escalate, the chances of survival grow slim". A new adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe's classic tale, a one man show offering an immersive experience and an exploration of sensory deprivation and isolation. Head this way for more.
FRIDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2018 >>
Tony Law - A Lost Show | Soho Theatre | 6-17 Nov
I didn't manage to catch this show up in Edinburgh in the summer, but I have caught many of Tony Law's shows in the past, and every one of them was a perfectly good reason to recommend this one unseen. The blurb describes it as his "most meaningful show to date" and promises a "mind-changing, comedy-art, laugh-affirming experience you'll never forget". I don't doubt it for a moment, see this page here for info.
Unbelonger | Cockpit Theatre | 9-12 Nov (pictured)
As you may recall from previous tippage, the Voila Europe! Festival is back and ongoing, so here's another tip from it. This is a physical peice, devised and directed by Erika Eva, which explores discrimination through "physical language, object puppetry, handheld lights and a touch of humour", and is accompanied by live music from Xavier Velastín. See the listing here for more.
Gilded Butterflies | The Hope Theatre | 6-24 Nov
"A 6ft x 9ft cell in Florida, USA. A young woman, Maggie. She loves her husband, enjoys painting and hopes to do more cooking at home - once she gets out. In US prisons an estimated 80,000 people are living in solitary confinement. Existing in a small, sterile room for 23 hours a day. What would keep your hope alive?" This one won acclaim previously at the Brighton festival. See the venue website here for details.
SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2018 >>
Plink And Boo | Stratford Circus Arts Centre | 10 Nov
Hurrah, it's Saturday. But what are you going to do to entertain your teeny tots? Well here's an interactive circus theatre adventure for your two-to-fives. "Some might be Plink and others are Boo, why does it matter, what's the to-do? Jumbled up people and boxes too small, Come play in our den and discover it all..." We are on our way. All the information is right about here.
The Moors | Tara Theatre | 7-24 Nov (pictured)
"Two spirited men arrive in London looking for Shakespeare. They say they are from Balaika, Africa. They have passed through fire to be here and are determined for the great man to hear their stories. Alas, Shakespeare is dead! However, his theatre still stands. Soon they find themselves swept up and placed on stage in front of an expectant audience. Fame, fortune, and two smitten actresses await. But, can they survive the hostile environment?" I am very intrigued by this, and I think everyone else is too, because tickets are going quickly. Hie ye hence asap if you want to get one.
A Small Place | Gate Theatre | 8 Nov-1 Dec
"You emerge from customs into the hot, clean air: immediately you feel cleansed, immediately you feel blessed (which is to say special); you feel free". An adaptation of Jamaica Kincaid's 1988 book about her experiences of growing up in Antigua, an exploration of colonial exploitation. "Fly with us to Antigua and take a closer look at the past, the present and where we really are". Head this way for all the details.
SUNDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2018 >>
The Wallflower And Other Stories | Drayon Arms Theatre | 11-12 Nov
An evening of dance, music, comedy and theatre centred around a one woman piece, 'The Wallflower'. "The Wallflower is on the edge of the dance floor. Waiting. In the age of social media, is it getting harder to make real human connection? Why is it so hard to be alone but even harder to reach out? Why will no-one ask me to dance? Will you?" See the venue website here for more.
Untold Stories New Writing Festival | Pleasance Theatre | 10-11 Nov
A showcase of new writing, previously seen selling out at Arcola. The diverse line up includes pieces from Rebecca Jones, Mark Lindow, Shobu Kapoor, Tom Collinson, Jeff Stolzer, Becca Robin, Emma Zadow, and Kirsty Osman. They tackle a fair variety of themes, of course, and you can find a list of all the plays and a short synopsis for each if you head to this page right here. So I suggest you do.
No Direction Home - Pizza Shop Heroes | Camden People's Theatre | 9-11 Nov (pictured)
"Four young men working your average shift in your average pizza shop take us on a journey across time and continents to show how extraordinary they are. From leaving their homelands of Eritrea, Albania and Afghanistan to seek asylum as children, they explore how they got here, where they're going, and what they've learnt along the way". Last chance to see this tonight, and it looks great. See this page here for info.
MONDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2018 >>
Lands | Bush Theatre | 6 Nov-1 Dec (pictured)
"Leah and Sophie have been together, here, for a long time. They are happy here. But there's a problem. There's a fucking massive problem and soon they're going to have to talk about it". Two performers, a mini trampoline, a 1000 piece puzzle and an exploration of a relationship on the edge of collapse. This was a great success at the last but one Edinburgh Festival Fringe and has recently been touring UK venues. Head this way for all the info.
LoOk-At-Me | Cockpit Theatre | 10-12 Nov
Another offering from the lovely Voila Europe! Festival, and this one is the work of London based Greek theatre company Monomas. The show explores "issues around gender, bodies, freedom and human existence in an attempt to destroy the stereotypes about what women and men should look like," and sees its central character, a woman working herself into a frenzy, trapped by social convention and descending into existential breakdown. See this page here for more.
"Does This Work?" With Sara Barron | The Bill Murray | 12 Nov
We absolutely loved Sara Barron when we first found her up at the old edfringe this summer, so of course my ears well and truly pricked up when I got wind of this new material night with her name stamped on it. Not sure what the line up is, but you know, I was, um, reassured by the hugely informative show blurb - "Great acts. New stuff. Come join". - that they will indeed be great. Anyway, Sara alone is probably worth the effort of going. So here are the details.
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