Opening this week at Park Theatre is 'The Gift', a fast paced comedy by acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Dave Florez. I'm sure it will have an excellent script, and it's also got a brilliant creative team involved, including director Adam Meggido.
I wanted to find out more about what to expect from the show – which stars an impressive cast, by the way – so I spoke to Dave ahead of opening night.
CLICK HERE to read this Caro Meets interview.
'The Gift' is on at Park Theatre from 22 Jan-1 Mar, head to the venue website here to find out more and book tickets.
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TW EXPLAINER: SHAMBLES COPYRIGHT JUDGEMENT
A judge has ruled against comedian Harry Deansway in his copyright dispute with Steve Coogan's Baby Cow Productions. He accused the production company of copyright infringement, claiming that its Dave TV show 'Live At The Moth Club' ripped off his YouTube series 'Shambles'.
In this TW Explainer, we explain how Deansway's legal claim depended on demonstrating that the format to 'Shambles' constituted a 'dramatic work' in copyright terms, and why the judge decided that wasn't the case.
CLICK HERE to read this TW Explainer.
FUNNY STUFF>>
Catch Your Breath: The Secret Life Of A Sleepless Anaesthetist | ArtsDepot | 25 Jan
Well, it's still grim January, isn't it? So shall we start with the sort of thing that will take your mind off it? Laughy stuff? Let's head up north to ArtsDepot first off, for a date with Ed Patrick, whose work we have seen and loved at the old edfringe in bygone times. He's an NHS anaesthetist as well as a comedian and author, and this funny show is all about stuff related to that. Click here.
Demi Adejuyigbe Is Going To Do One (1) Backflip | Soho Theatre | 27 Jan-15 Feb (pictured)
Another Edinburgh Fringe conqueror for you now, the recipient of a host of nods and nominations at the 2024 Festival, but to be fair, you may well be as familiar with this US-based creative's writing and broadcasting. In any case, it's a highly acclaimed show, from which you can expect "original comedic songs, presentations, bits, and one (1) single backflip". Book your tickets on the venue website here.
The Funny Side Of Earlsfield | Tara Theatre | 25 Jan
One last comedy thing and I thought it might be nice to pick a stand-up night, especially when I saw that the line up for this one is topped by a TW favourite of long standing, the excellent John Robertson. But that's not all: there's another TW-endorsed act, Alice Frick, plus Hazel Donovan and Norman The Dapper Rapper, both of whom I have heard good things about, and fab compere Gareth Kane. More here.
FESTIVAL STUFF>>
Blue Ka Wing, Lily Kind and Orla Hardie | The Place | 25 Jan
Yay, festivals, they're a cheery thing too. Though, full disclosure: not everything here is actually on at a festival, but we will get to that later. This one, on the other hand, is our latest pick from The Place's Resolution Festival. There are lots of different events, by the way, and I urge you to take a look here and browse them all, but I liked the look of this one because the themes of the different pieces appealed to me. Read about them all here.
An Average Family | Old Red Lion Theatre | 24-25 January
And now for another festival show, on as part of Freshfest 2025 over at the Old Red Lion Theatre. It's a one woman interactive show that invites its audiences to step into the world of nine year old Ella, and follow her funny dark and vulnerable inner thoughts from childhood through to her twenties. See the venue website here for lots more on the content of the show and the nature of the interactive elements.
James Rowland Dies At The End Of The Show | Camden People's Theatre | 23-25 Jan (pictured)
This is the one that's not actually on as part of a festival, but every time I see James Rowland's name I think of Edinburgh, his brilliant Fringe shows, and the fact that we once gave him one of our highly prestigious, Oscar-rivalling ThreeWeeks Editors' Awards. Anyway, this show is entirely brilliant, a 5/5 according to our reviewer, and you would be a fool to miss it, honestly. Get ye hence and book tickets here.
CLASSIC STUFF>>
A Midsummer Night's Dream | The Cockpit | 24-26 Jan (pictured)
Thought we'd have a section on time honoured, well loved texts/adaptations. Starting with Mr S, of course, and a staging of one of his most performed and well loved plays. Love the look of this particular production partly because it's performed by an all female company, but also because it reimagines the play into a frozen, wintry wonderland, and is described as "Shakespeare meets Narnia". Hurray, click here.
On The Road | The Space | 21-25 Jan
"In 1946, Sal Paradise is done with college, marriage and the East Coast. Bop is exploding across the country. Dean Moriarty is the wild definition of the West whose friendship will lead Sal's way to the end of America". Yes, this time it's an American classic, Jack Kerouac's seminal novel 'On The Road', adapted for the theatre by The Broadcast Studios. Head to the venue website here for more info and to book.
1984 | Omnibus Theatre | 27 Jan-2 Feb
Wow, it's forty years since 1984 which makes me feel extremely old indeed. And the anniversary is being marked by this physical theatre adaptation of George Orwell's novel of the same name, which is performed by slavic actors against the backdrop of Belarus and Russia, where the book is still banned. This contemporary setting proves that it's still relevant. "War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery". Click here.
LONGISH RUNS>>
Pig Heart Boy | Unicorn Theatre | 26 Jan-22 Feb
I think we're largely looking at theatrical stuff from here on in, and here's a section of stuff that's running well into February so you've got quite a bit of time to see these if you can't manage it this week. Let's start with a show that's aimed at younger audiences (aged nine to thirteen years) but which accompanying adults will definitely enjoy: a staging of the book by Malorie Blackman, adapted by the excellent Winsome Pinnock. Info here.
The Double Act | Arcola Theatre | 23 Jan-22 Feb
"In a crumbling coastal town, a fading comedian is forced to confront his estranged ex-partner – a deranged recluse fixated on their distant heyday – in a tale of guilt, ambition and the ghosts of British show business". Well, that whole premise has me very much piqued, of course. Who wouldn't want to see a dark comedy exploring the price of ambition and not being able to outrun our demons? Quick, book here.
Santi & Naz | Soho Theatre | 21 Jan-8 Feb (pictured)
Another show that our reviewer loved in Edinburgh back in 2023, an exploration of female friendship, coming of age and coming out in a country on the verge of massive change: Santi and Naz are best friends living in pre-partition India, living out their childhoods as Sikh and Muslim in blissful ignorance of how religion will ultimately divide them – until the threat of separation looms. See the venue website here for more.
SHORTER STOPS>>
Under The Table | Barons Court Theatre | 21 Jan-1 Feb
Well, I've called this shorter stops, but they're not that short, really. I mean, they're shorter than the ones in the previous section but they're not on for, like, just one night or anything. Anyway, this one appealed to me because it's a set of four plays that are loosely connected and weave together, and I love that kind of thing. Expect a "caustic reflection of contemporary Britain", and find out more right about here.
Toy Soldier | Waterloo East Theatre | 21 Jan-2 Feb
"The Falkland Islands, July 2002. Jane has been keeping a secret for 20 years, and amidst the grip of patriotism as the islanders celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee, she returns to pack up the family home following the death of her mother". Reflecting on the past, she takes the audience on a journey through the Falklands conflict of 1983, and its effects. Head to this page here for more details.
Lover's Vows | Jack Studio | 21 Jan-1 Feb
Right, that's nearly your lot, but this is a goodie to finish on, not least because it's a really old play that has rarely been produced over the last couple of hundred years. The work of trailblazing actor and writer Elizabeth Inchbald, it was first performed in 1798, and is referenced in Jane Austen's 'Mansfield Park', and I love to see stuff like this getting an airing. Find out more about what to expect on the venue website here.
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