I was excited when I heard that Rosalie Minnitt was headed to Soho Theatre with her excellent comedy character show 'Clementine', because we know just how good it is, after we sent a highly trusted member of our team to see it up at the old edfringe in 2023.
If you love character comedy, then this is definitely going to be something to add to your watch list. But the extra appeal for me, I think, is that the character in question comes from somewhere in the past, because I always enjoy some historical tropes and the odd bonnet.
I arranged a chat to find out more, about both Rosalie and Clementine.
CLICK HERE to read this Caro Meets interview.
Rosalie Minnitt performs 'Clementine' at Soho Theatre Dean Street from 9-10 May, find more info and tickets on the venue website here.
ROBERT KHAN AND TOM SALINSKY: THE GANG OF THREE
When I heard about 'The Gang Of Three' - the latest work from playwriting duo Robert Khan and Tom Salinksy - I was immediately interested, because our ThreeWeeks reviewers have been enjoying their funny, satirical, political plays when they have been staged at our beloved edfringe for more than a decade.
This new piece is about real life politicians Roy Jenkins, Tony Crosland and Denis Healey, and I've no doubt that it will be a show worth seeing.
To find out more about the play, and about their partnership, I caught up with Robert and Tom ahead of opening night.
CLICK HERE to read this Caro Meets interview.
'The Gang Of Three' is on at King's Head Theatre until 1 Jun, head to the venue website here for more information and to book tickets.
TW EXPLAINER: LATEST AI DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT
Copyright and AI will be in the spotlight in the UK Parliament again this Wednesday as MPs try to address some of the creative industries' concerns about the copyright obligations of AI companies when a Data Bill is discussed in the House Of Commons.
They will do that by proposing amendments to the bill. The government doesn't want to pass any new laws about copyright and AI at this stage, so those amendments are unlikely to go through. But it still puts all the copyright and AI debates back in the spotlight and has prompted ministers to make some concessions.
In this TW explainer we recap the debates and update you on latest developments.
CLICK HERE to read this TW Explainer.
FAMILY SHOWS>>
Let's Build! | Polka Theatre | 10 May-29 Jun
I feel like it's been a couple of weeks since we recommended some shows for the small ones (though maybe it's not as long ago as I think), so it's probably appropriate to begin this week's proceedings with a family section. So over to Polka Theatre we go for a show for fairly tiny tots aged two to five featuring two very curious builders who are going to explore a wealth of textures and materials as they produce wonderful creations. See more about it here.
Tales From The Shed | Chicken Shed Theatre | 10 May-19 Jul (pictured)
And now let's head to the Chicken Shed where the always popular 'Tales From The Shed' is back for another summer season. We've recommended this in the past, and with good reason, as these are shows put together by an experienced team, and are designed to support brain development and early learning, inspire creativity and promote social interaction. There are different themes each week, so keep going back. Definitely check out the listing here.
The Paper Dolls | Little Angel Theatre | 10 May-20 Jul
"When a little girl cuts out a string of paper dolls she takes them by the hand and together they go on a fantastical adventure whirling through their home and garden". There are more Julia Donaldson adaptations around these days than you can shake a stick(man) at, but don't get me wrong, her books are all great source material for excellent shows. 'The Paper Dolls', illustrated by Rebecca Cobb, is the one being staged this time, and it looks great. More here.
FESTIVAL STUFF>>
House Party | Theatre Peckham | 9-10 May (pictured)
Yay, a festival section, and it's time for a visit to the lovely Peckham Fringe, where you can see five or so shows this coming week, and 'House Party' is the one I have picked from the line-up. It's about Skip, a young aspiring actor on a mission to bring back house parties, and it explores the themes of the housing crisis, gentrification, the state of Britain today and how, though the future may be bleak, one great party can change the world. All the details here.
Jungle | The Place | 7-8 May
This next show, a physical piece, is by Korea National Contemporary Dance Company and it's on as part of A Festival Of Korean Dance 2025, which takes place up north as well as down south, but the stuff that's relevant to Londoners is on at The Place. 'Jungle' features a sixteen strong troupe who "embody all the elements of the jungle, from the animals, plants, winds and lights, to the humans who navigate it". Find out more here.
Bubble Schmeisis | Soho Theatre Dean Street | 6-10 May
So as often happens, this one actually has absolutely nothing to do with festivals, apart from that it's been definitely performed at the old edfringe in the past, and that's why it ended up in this section. We saw and loved 'Bubble Schmeisis' there, and we've interviewed its creator Nick Cassenbaum about it, too. It's a quirky and interactive show about bath houses and Jewish identity, and Cassenbaum is retiring it after a decade of performances: do not, I repeat, do not, miss this last chance to see it. Click here.
SHORT STOPS>>
Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time | Bloomsbury Theatre | 10 May (pictured)
Okay, onto a mixed bag of short stops, beginning with another act that you surely must know we first laid our collective TW eyes on a long time ago in Edinburgh. And there's another another here too, because Ed Byrne is headed to Bloomsbury Theatre for a final performance of this insanely well reviewed and critically acclaimed show in which he "mines the most tragic event in his life for laughs". Expect him to do that brilliantly, obv. All the info here.
Remythed | King's Head Theatre | 9 May
We've tipped this one before, I'm pretty sure, and with good reason, not least because it won a Show Of The Week accolade at the 2023 Vault Festival. As you might guess from that title, it's a show that uses myths and legends, in this case from the backgrounds of its performers, reshaping and reforming them. Expect "a show full of insight, dreams and wisdom that'll leave you joyful, a bit tearful and questioning every story you've ever been told". Click here.
The Last Eye Contact | Golden Goose Theatre | 9-11 May
"Having recently accepted a job offer which would take her to Paris, Elizabeth decides to have a farewell party in her flat. This attracts an uninvited guest, her ex-boyfriend Adam, who being too in love with her to let her go, ensures this is a party she would never leave". Writer and performer Maria-Vittoria Albertini Petroni lets Elizabeth take ownership of her story and tell you her truth: "from their first eye contact, to their last". Details here.
LONGER RUNS>>
The Mad Ones | The Other Palace | 7 May-4 Jun
So, some longer runs for you now, meaning you don't have to rush, but don't put it off and then forget to book and miss them altogether, because that would be sad. 'The Mad Ones' is in London following a very successful run at the Old Joint Stock in Birmingham, and is a contemporary pop musical focused on Samantha, a young woman who is trying to work out whether to follow the dreams her mother has for her, or to turn away and forge a different future. Click here.
Overshare | Greenwich Theatre | 6-25 May (pictured)
Another edfringe success, an award winning one in fact, by Eleanor Hill, who uses live streaming and real-time audience messaging in an exploration of the "hilarious and heartbreaking" realities of mental health and trauma in the age of social media. "Together we'll scroll through reels to find what's 'real', and maybe stumble across the answer to the ultimate question: do we consume social media or does it consume us?" More here.
Saria Callas | Camden People's Theatre | 6-17 May
"Sara's already a bottle of red in, reminiscing about her experiences of childhood to womanhood. How does a woman who has experienced firsthand repression of her body and voice react as her child struggles with their own gender identity?" A new multimedia play about aspiring to be a singer while growing up in a place where it is forbidden for women to sing, which promises to be "sexy, camp and pop-filled". Find out more about it here.
MORE GREAT STUFF>>
Four Weigh Ins And A Funeral | Lion & Unicorn Theatre | 6-10 May (pictured)
And finally, a last handful of recommendations, and as ever, they are all going to be fab. First up is the latest play from a TW favourite, Emma Burnell. This one depicts a found community, celebrating the bonds that form at a SlimmingWorld group between women of different ages, classes, races and sizes, supporting each other as they go through the ups and downs of life together. Head to the venue website here for info and to book.
Pavement Shark | Canal Cafe Theatre | 12-13 + 16-17 May
"Two best friends' lives are changed forever when they discover that sharks have evolved legs and are stalking our very pavements, feasting on innocent pedestrians". Well, I can't say that I'm not intrigued by this premise and the idea of an absurd comedy in which a pair of pals fight together to save the world from these apex predators. Expect chaos, PowerPoint presentations, a training montage and dance numbers. See the venue website here.
Feminal | The Space | 7-10 May
And we're finishing with a dance theatre production, a double bill of pieces that look at how women's bodies are objectified, and the impact of stereotypes, history and expectations on women. 'Initial Dissent' investigates the psyche of a woman on the verge of transformation, while 'A Girl' challenges its audiences to confront their own role as spectators, exposing the expectations, biases and judgements that shape our perceptions. Find out more here.
 |
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 |