I've always had a soft spot for one person plays and monologues - I feel as though the connection between audience and performer becomes so intimate with productions of this kind - which means I'm always interested when I hear about new and promising ones.
That being the case, I pricked up my ears when I heard about 'Headcase', a solo show from writer and performer Kristin Mcilquham, which is on this week as part of the Essex On Stage showcase that is taking place at the Bush Theatre this month.
I spoke to Kristin, to find out more about the show and about the performer herself.
CLICK HERE to read this Caro Meets interview.
'Headcase' is on as part of the Essex On Stage strand at the Bush Theatre from 11-16 Apr. For more information and to book tickets, see this page here.
THE SOUND + VISION COMEDY CONFERENCE: SEE YOU THERE!
Don't forget, ThisWeek Culture is teaming up with the Sound + Vision festival and conference in Cambridge this April to curate and host a day of conversations and panels all about the business of comedy in 2022.
We'll be joined by brilliant people from across the comedy community to discuss how you go about pursuing a comedy career today - plus we'll put the spotlight on the key trends, developments and debates in the sector.
Topics set to be covered include:
- Pursuing A Career In Comedy In 2022
- Podcasts, Patreon, YouTube, TikTok And Beyond - Making Comedy Online
- Comedy And Livestreaming - What Next?
- The Future Of The Edinburgh Fringe
Confirmed speakers so far include: Hils Jago from Amused Moose, Lee Griffiths from Soho Theatre, Darrell Martin from Just The Tonic, Lola Oyewole from TikTok, John Harris from Acast, Tom Brandt and Jason Wolfe from NextUp Comedy, Kaiya Milan from The Floor, comedy PR experts Gaby Jerrard and Flick Morris, media and entertainment lawyer Raffaella De Santis, and comedy creators and performers Jay Foreman, Robyn Perkins, Pete Heat and Kate Smurthwaite.
Sound & Vision is a multi-venue festival and conference taking place in various venues across Cambridge from Thursday 21 Apr to Saturday 23 Apr. The festival will feature over 70 acts - both new and established - from the worlds of music and comedy, while the conference programme will put the spotlight on the music, comedy and creative industries.
CLICK HERE to find out more about the TW curated comedy conference.
CLICK HERE to get tickets for Sound + Vision 2022.
THREE CHILDREN'S SHOWS>>
The Gruffalo | Greenwich Theatre | 13-14 Apr
It's still the Easter holidays of course, so yes, we have lots more small person shows to recommend for you this week, this whole section, and two more down below in the mixed bag section. We're starting over at Greenwich Theatre, where this adaptation of the hugely popular children's favourite is visiting for four performances over two days. If you're a parent or carer, you'll know exactly what story this book tells - that of a clever mouse who conjures up a scary creature to help him evade a grisly end, but ends up discovering his 'made up' creature is in fact real - and you can be assured that this is a fun (and musical) retelling of it, suitable for ages three and up. For more information and to book your tickets head to this page here.
Margo & Mr Whatsit | Greenwich Theatre | 15-16 Apr (pictured)
"Sophia's imaginary friend is called Mr Whatsit. No matter where Sophia finds herself living, he's always there with a new joke to tell and a new game to play. But when Sophia moves into her new foster home, Mr Whatsit finds himself unimagined! Now Sophia has a new imaginary friend - the glamorous, grown up Margo. Can Mr Whatsit's childish playfulness keep him from being unimagined for good? And with her imaginary friends competing against each other, will Sophia manage to find her forever home?" Another short stop at Greenwich Theatre, an interactive make-believe tale from PaddleBoat Theatre Company, suitable for children from the age of four. There are post and pre show workshops too, if you're interested. Click here for more.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar | Brixton House | 13-17 Apr
Another adaptation of a well loved children's classic picture book - and one that's been around since 1969, so the adults attending the show will probably have enjoyed it in their own childhoods as well as with their charges. Yes, it's 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' at Brixton House. So, as you probably all know, it's about a caterpillar who eats lots of interesting food before curling up for a nice sleep, then turning into a butterfly. Gosh, I'd rather like to do that myself. But enough about me, this production is critically acclaimed, features a grand total of 75 puppets, and is said to be suitable for all ages. To book your tickets head to the venue website right about here.
THREE DIGITAL EVENTS>>
Sam & Hana's Cabaret | online | 13 Apr
Now some shows for those of you who can't get out to venues, or who live too far away from the sort of in-person things we're tipping, or who would like to see stuff at home as well as going out to venues. This is a cabaret event created by Sam & Hana - aka science communicators Sam Langford and Hana Ayoob - and will see comedians, musical acts and sketch artists "share a little bit of wisdom" on 13 Apr. The list of those appearing comprises Rachel Williams, Jon Chase, Charlotte Mykura & Leo Polchar, Belle Taylor, Emily Howling, Phil Bell-Young, KeShawn Ivory and Emer Maguire. For more information and to book yourself in, see this page here.
The Hound Of The Baskervilles | Original Theatre Online | 14 Apr-31 Jul
"World-renowned detective Sherlock Holmes and his colleague Dr Watson are asked to unravel the mystery surrounding the untimely death of Sir Charles Baskerville. With rumours of a cursed giant hound loose on the moors, they must act fast in order to save the Baskerville family's last remaining heir". This highly celebrated comic adaptation of Conan Doyle's most famous Sherlock story, created by Steven Canny and John Nicholson for Peepolykus, offers an ingenious, farcical take on the much loved classic, and, here's the good news: you can see this production of it online for a good few weeks to come. See the Original Theatre Online website here for more info and to book.
Tudo Bem, Todo Bien | The Space | 12-16 Apr (pictured)
As you may be aware, the Space shows that we tend to recommend for digital viewing are usually also showing at the actual venue, and that's absolutely the case with this one - so don't hesitate to head over to the theatre to see it live. But for the rest of you there's a one night opportunity to see this fab sounding show digitally. It's a story of friendship and identity about two outsiders on the music scene: "Thiago is a bedroom music producer from Goiás, Brazil. He is battling his feelings about taking a step outside of his shell, and bringing his music further than Harlesden, where he lives. But will his obstacles hold him back? Lima, recently returned from Barcelona, is trying to find her place in the London music scene, juggling new commitments back in London, along with figuring out her complex cultural identity". Click here.
THREE COMEDY SHOWS>>
Factually Inaccurate Stand Up | Hoopla At The Miller | 12 Apr
Now, this week's tips have a lot of stuff for kids in them, it's true, but that's because it's the holidays, and I promise, grown up people with no interest in children's shows, we are thinking about you too. Which is why we have this section of comedy, involving lots of shows that won't appeal to children, feature children, or have children in the audience. Let's start with a comedy night with a quality line up courtesy of Factually Inaccurate Stand Up - which promises "silly lectures, character comedy and alternative stand-up also featuring occasional owls" - not least because it's one brimming with TW favourites. There's Isy Suttie, Sam Nicoresti, Joz Norris, Aruhan Galieva, Maddi Sainsbury, The Awkward Silence and Ada Player, and the event is hosted by James Walsh. More info here.
Alison Spittle: Wet WIP(e) | The Bill Murray | 17 Apr
"Alison loves to do star jumps in the water. She also likes to watch people fight in chip shops. Her two worlds collide as a fight breaks out in aqua-aerobics and she's never felt so alive. When the foam settles, Alison realises she's an outwardly nice person who lives for confrontation". Everyone's doing works-in-progress at the moment, and it felt like a good time to embrace those, with not one, but two of them in this section. Well, I am assuming that's what the title meant. Of course, it doesn't matter either way, you'll be in safe hands with this critically acclaimed act who you may already have seen live, or perhaps heard on the 'Wheel Of Misfortune' podcast on BBC Sounds. Or 'The Guilty Feminist'. Either way, this should be one for your list. Read about it here.
Tiff Stevenson: Sexy Brain | 2Northdown | 18 Apr (pictured)
Another WIP from another favourite, the excellent Tiff Stevenson. And if you can't make this show at 2Northdown, she's on again with it at the Pleasance Theatre in May. Here's what to expect: "A study in trying to see all sides and driving yourself slowly mad. From arguing about feminism with her mother to trying to understand a parent's natural position of fear. From trying to be eco friendly with a moon cup to realising that dolphins are sexual predators. From trying to accept ageing gracefully but acknowledging our looks based currency. From wanting men to understand consent but knowing that women owning their sexual power is as important. You know...NUANCE. Tiff goes in depth to explore the modern conundrums that keep us awake at night. Discourse on social media is no way to have a conversation. Much better to spend an hour with a woman who overthinks it all". Click here.
THREE MORE GREAT EVENTS>>
Miss Moore Thought Otherwise | Deptford Lounge | 13 Apr
And finally, we reach the aforementioned mixed bag section, in which you'll find two more children's shows and an interesting theatrical work. First up are the children's shows, beginning with 'Miss Moore Thought Otherwise', a new and interactive musical aimed at young ones aged three to eight years. "Come and meet Anne Carroll Moore, the trailblazing librarian born in 1871 who pioneered the creation of the children's library. Find out about the time when children were banned from libraries and how Miss Moore imagined and built a space filled with music, stories and art, welcoming children into a special library room created just for them". For more info and to book tickets head to the venue website right about here.
Oi Frog and Friends | ArtsDepot | 12-16 Apr
"Cats sit on mats, hares sit on chairs, mules sit on stools, gophers sit on sofas and frogs sit on logs. It's a new day at Sittingbottom school and FROG is looking for a place to sit, but CAT has other ideas and DOG is happy to play along! Who knew there were so many rhyming rules and what will happen when FROG is in charge?" Another adaptation of a bestselling book, and one that features songs, puppets, laughs and "more rhyme than you can shake a chime at" in a show that promises to be action packed. It's critically acclaimed, and Olivier Award nominated, so I suspect you can expect good things. Head to the venue website here to find out more.
Springboard: Why I am An Avocado | King's Head Theatre | 12-13 Apr (pictured)
You may remember that the King's Head Theatre is currently staging its Springboard Festival - which involves shows previously stymied by pandemic restrictions and cancellations - not least because we recommended a show from its line up a couple of weeks ago. This is one of those shows, a devised piece from Elephant In The Closet, a theatre company making interactive queer comedy. "Fragments of queer narratives, characters, and confessions tie together with the question we all ask: What makes me an avocado? Am I ripe? Do I come in a pair with unnecessary plastic protecting me from squeezing hands? Or am I just soft, single, left in the corner, destined to be part of the never-ending food waste? There might be an answer. There probably won't be". Intrigued? Head this way.
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At TW:CULTURE we champion the best in fringe theatre, comedy and culture. Year round, we pick the best shows happening in London and online each week, providing handy Three To See recommendations and interviewing the people behind those productions. Plus each summer we also cover the biggest cultural event in the world: The Edinburgh Festival. © UnLimited Media, a division of 3CM Enterprises Ltd UnLimited Media, Kemp House, 152 City Road, London EC1V 2NX t: 020 7099 9050 (editorial) 020 7099 9060 (sales) Send London press releases to TWlondon@unlimitedmedia.co.uk Send Edinburgh press releases to TWedinburgh@unlimitedmedia.co.uk You can read our Privacy & Data Policy here publishing@unlimitedmedia.co.uk | complaints@unlimitedmedia.co.uk |
