The Worst Little Warehouse might be the most energetic performance I’ve ever seen. I genuinely don’t know how Lala Barlow and Robbie Smith do it, pirouetting around the stage while singing, playing keyboard, actually telling the story of their year in the warehouse…
‘A worthy showcase of the short play form’: FEAST FROM THE EAST – Tristan Bates Theatre
Feast from the East is a series of eight short plays from INK Festival, showcasing the playwriting talent from East Anglia; they’re on the road and in London.
‘One of my favourite shows this year so far’: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD LIVE! – Pleasance Theatre ★★★★
Night of the Living Dead is an instantly recognisable title; George Romero basically kick-started the zombie genre in his 1968 flick, though they were just ‘ghouls’ then, a moniker adhered to in this: Night of the Living Dead Live.
‘Funny, touching, fearful’: THE NOISES – Old Red Lion Theatre ★★★★
The Noises is about a dog, played by Amy McCallister, whose physicality of performance is unwavering and really serves to underline the canine nature of the character she is playing. She embodies Luna as a textured, multi-faceted character (and dog), and it’s very impressive.
‘Raucous, ridiculous fun’: Shit-faced Showtime’s Oliver With a Twist – Leicester Square Theatre
The only thing that strikes me when I watch Shit-faced shows – it’s not my first – is that sometimes the off-kilter fun can feel a little forced.
‘An explosive, relevant production’: LORD OF THE FLIES – Greenwich Theatre ★★★★
I really can’t overstate how insanely great the choreography is in this production; it is such an incredible bonus that I know if I ever see another performance of Lord of the Flies without it, I will actively mourn its absence.
‘Shame to be dropped out of a giggle so fast’: QUEEN C*NT: SACRED OR PROFANE? – Touring ★★★
Queen C*nt: Sacred or Profane? It’s a great, intriguing title, and the strapline promises even more: to let us watch Deborah Ward and China Blue Fish leave their husbands, practice witchcraft, and destroy capitalism.
‘An essential piece of theatre done stunningly well’: RATTLED – Old Red Lion Theatre ★★★★
Something that always impresses me is when a play manages to get the line between tragedy and comedy exactly right; Rattled is disturbing and gripping, but it’s also very, very funny.
‘There’s no artifice here’: NO SHOW – Soho Theatre ★★★★
No Show is no usual circus act – the strength and skill are there, in spades, but not so much the glitz and glamour.
‘The absurdity of it all is where the play shines’: IN CONVERSATION WITH GRAHAM NORTON – Hope Theatre
In Conversation With Graham Norton explains itself fairly succinctly in its title – Mark desperately needs someone to talk to and the only person he can find happens to be a framed photo of Graham Norton, balanced on a radio.
‘A really fun experience’: DRUNK WOMEN SOLVING CRIME – Pleasance
I’ve never been to a live podcast recording before so I had a little trepidation going into Drunk Women Solving Crime, not knowing quite what to expect.
‘Fun, disturbing & unique piece’: FAT JEWELS – Hope Theatre ★★★★
A really fun, disturbing and unique piece blessed with performers who can carry the material off.
‘This Fringe-focused frolic has to be a win’: ED FRINGE: THE MUSICAL REVUE – Canal Cafe ★★★★
As a lover of the Fringe, Edinburgh and musicals, this show was made for me. For 55 minutes Emily Jane Kerr, Laura Hyde and James Witt sing and dance their way through Fringe related sketches all about the highs and lows of Edinburgh’s most famous (and crammed) month.
‘A necessary emotional discussion wrapped up in fun packaging’: A PINT SIZED CONVERSATION – Touring ★★★★
Sit down, make yourself comfortable, because A Pint Sized Conversation wants to talk to you about mental health. But before you tense up and start avoiding eye contact, take a deep breath and look around! They have crisps!