There's a show starting this week at the Omnibus Theatre that really called out to me when I heard about it, and that's because I'm always interested in stuff by, about or for neurodivergent people, not least because I spend a lot of time around neurodivergent people.
Plus, this show, produced by Futures Theatre, has been written by acclaimed poet, performer, playwright and producer Sabrina Mahfouz in collaboration with Thrive Creatives, a group of young autistic women. To find out more about the play, and about Sabrina, I spoke to her ahead of opening night.
CLICK HERE to read this Caro Meets interview.
'Argos Archives' is on at Omnibus Theatre from 25 Feb to 15 Mar. For more information and to book tickets see the venue website here.
JUDI BEVAN: TOO MANY BOOKS
Coming up this week at Upstairs At The Gatehouse is the opening night of 'Too Many Books', a play that tells a story set in the 1990s about adopting a child from overseas.
It's a first play by award winning journalist Judi Bevan, better known for her business journalism and books, and is inspired by her own experiences of adoption.
It's not something I know a lot about, and I was interested in what the play might have to say about adoption and the politics surrounding it. I spoke to Judi to find out more.
CLICK HERE to read this Caro Meets interview.
'Too Many Books' is on at Upstairs At The Gatehouse from 26 Feb-16 Mar, see the venue website here for more information and to book tickets.
TW EXPLAINER: UK GOVERNMENT'S AI CONSULTATION
Today a new album has been released called 'Is This What You Want?' involving more than a thousand musicians. It consists of recordings of empty studios and performance spaces. Meanwhile many UK newspapers are leading today with a big coordinated campaign under the banner 'Make It Fair'.
Both initiatives are a response to the UK government's proposals around copyright and AI, and coincide with the deadline for a consultation on those proposals.
In this TW Explainer we run through the key questions posed by that consultation and explain why the government's top level proposal is so controversial.
CLICK HERE to read this TW Explainer.
KID STUFF>>
Snow White And Rose Red | Studio at New Wimbledon Theatre | 28 Feb-2 Mar
Shall we begin this week with some family stuff? For yes, half term's over now, but that's no reason to starve the kids of culture, is it? Especially when there are so many delightful things they could be going to see. Like this show from the Let's All Dance Ballet Company, which is loosely based on the original Grimm tale, and is suitable for two to twelve year olds. See this page here to book tickets.
The Littlest Yak | Jacksons Lane | 2 Mar (pictured)
"Gertie is great at being the littlest yak, with the curliest, whirliest wool and the grippiest of hooves for clip-clopping up cliffs. Only, Gertie doesn't want to be the littlest. She's in a rush to grow up and be just like the big yaks. But what if there are some things that only a Gertie can do?" A musical adaptation of the award winning children's book with the primary theme of self-acceptance. More here.
Puffling Percy | Half Moon Theatre | 1 Mar
Well, perhaps you already knew this, but I am thrilled to have just discovered that a baby puffin is called a puffling. And this show, as you've probably gathered, is all about one such puffling, who is under pressure to learn to fly before he has to migrate south for the winter. He doesn't want to do it, but meets a field mouse who makes him feel braver and together they end up having a scary adventure. Info here.
FUNNY WOMEN>>
Stevie Martin: Clout | Soho Theatre | 3-5 Mar
Three funny shows for you, but they're also all by women so I thought we might highlight that, because you know, women rock. I've known that Stevie Martin rocks for a while now, probably since she caught our attention as one of sketch troupe Massive Dad. But that was ages ago and at this point you're no doubt aware of her highly successful online stuff and TV appearances, and probably this edfringe 2024 hit. Book here.
Alice Fraser: A Passion For Passion | Omnibus Theatre | 1 Mar
And talking of comedians who are women that we first discovered up at the Edinburgh Festival, here's another, the brilliant and cerebral Alice Fraser. And she's headed to the Omnibus Theatre with her latest show, which is about writing a book about romance, and is clearly connected to the fact that she recently wrote a book about romance. A safe bet for a deliciously fun evening. Read the book, too. Click here for the show.
Main Character Energy | Soho Theatre | 25 Feb-15 Mar (pictured)
Stevie Martin and Alice Fraser are acts you'd find in the comedy section. 'Main Character Energy' is from theatre, a one-woman performance by writer-performer Temi Wilkey, and it stormed last year's edfringe. It's a "high camp cocktail of comedy and cabaret", a send up of the one woman show, with tangible points to make about the progress of black performers working in a white-dominated world. More here.
MORE LADY STUFF>>
The London Mothers | The Space | 25 Feb-1 Mar
Obviously I am using the word lady in a flippant way here, I call them women, as a rule. Anyway, when I realised that I had a few more shows to recommend with women right at the heart of them, I thought we'd continue the theme. This one's about three pregnant women in wartime, two of whom are evacuated to the countryside and one of whom has to stay in London. Find out more about the show right about here.
Son Of A Bitch | Southwark Playhouse Borough | 26 Feb-15 Mar
Work from another accomplished comedy lady, this one, actually, but it is a play, and a Fringe First winning one too. Written and performed by Anna Morris, 'Son Of A Bitch' is about a woman who is caught on camera during a bout of air-rage, saying something rather unpleasant to her four year old son. The video goes viral and her life begins to fall apart… See the venue website here for all the info and to book.
The Bungalow | Theatre503 | 25 Feb-15 Mar (pictured)
"Agatha returns to her childhood bungalow to care for her vulnerable mother and have that chat where all the unsaid things are finally said. However, little does Agatha know that bungalow, groaning under the weight of the secrets it has witnessed, has a mind of its own". An intriguing first full length play from Anglo-Indian writer Ruth D'Silva that explores the duty of care and the burden of shame in a contemporary Anglo-Indian family. Click here.
SHORT STOPS>>
It's Gonna Be Me | Old Red Lion Theatre | 25-26 Feb (pictured)
Okay some short stops, but of course this show is actually part of a big stop, which is Old Red Lion's FreshFest. Sadly, this is our final visit to this celebration of new theatre. Amongst the many compelling options this week is 'It's Gonna Be Me', which is about Keira and Rory, reunited after a decade, and looks at love, loss and limerence (yes, that's a useful new word for me too). Find out more here.
Trainwreck | Theatre Deli | 28 Feb + 1 Mar
And talking of compelling - and I'm going to throw the word intriguing in again here too - here's a very interesting show from TomYumSim aka Tom Halls and Simone French, that promises a laugh out loud immersive experience. It's inspired by the famously terrible meme-inspiring 'Willy's Chocolate Experience' up in Glasgow, and looks at the very pertinent question of what happens when we try to replace creativity with machines. Click here.
Whale | Lion & Unicorn Theatre | 3-4 Mar
"Sam's afraid of whales. Absolutely terrified of them. But there's something that scares him even more…" Another very interesting proposition for you, this is a multimedia comedy piece combining clowning with stand-up and haiku. The aim is to explore how far we go in order to avoid being honest about our feelings, as Sam does everything he can to distract us from a dark secret. Details here.
LONGER RUNS>>
One Day When We Were Young | Park Theatre | 26 Feb-22 Mar (pictured)
Aaand finally, some longer runs for you all. So, you don't have to see them this week, if you'd rather save them for later, but you know, don't forget, because I probably won't remind you later. This is another play set in wartime - well, it begins then, and continues over a period of sixty years - and focuses on the bond between two people as their lives play out in a constantly changing world. Head to the venue website here for more.
A Special Relationship | The Tabard Theatre | 26 Feb-22 Mar
"It is the morning of the wedding of their children and British dad Monty is hosting American dad Pete, and the two dads have been left alone to put up a gazebo in the garden. Can these two headstrong men from opposite sides of 'the pond' forge an alliance and get it up? Or will the thin veneer of international detente collapse with the first gust of wind?" A promising transatlantic comedy by Tim Marriott and Jeff Stolzer, info here.
The Magic Flute | Wilton's Music Hall | 25 Feb-8 Mar
One last tip and, as ever, it's a goodie, because it's over to the lovely Wilton's Music Hall to see the fabulous Charles Court Opera's excellent production of the somewhat talented WA Mozart's rather good 'The Magic Flute'. This staging is set in the heart of the jungle and is sung in a "refreshing translation" by CCO AD John Savournin. And of course it will be selling out very quickly, so head over to the venue website right now to book.
 |
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. Published by and © UnLimited Media | unltd@unlimitedmedia.co.uk Send London press releases to caro@unlimitedmedia.co.uk Send Edinburgh press releases to TWedinburgh@unlimitedmedia.co.uk You can read our Privacy & Data Policy here |