TheatreguideLondon
www.theatreguidelondon.co.uk
London's Off-West End and Fringe, like New York's Off-Broadway and Off Off-Broadway, range from established theatres that just happen to be in different parts of town from the West End, to scores of small companies and venues, many in pubs, showcasing new talent. Most shows have very short runs, so it is best to check with the theatres (Scroll down for links to some leading Off-West End and fringe theatres).
|
CAMDEN FRINGE
During August more than 200 shows that might have gone north to the Edinburgh Festival are staying in London instead, most of them for very short runs and all for only £7.50 a ticket. CLICK HERE for the full programme. |
Here are some of the more interesting and longer-running things beyond the West End this month.
ASPECTS OF LOVE - Menier Chocolate Factory. Lloyd Webber on obsessive passions. To September 26
THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE - Young Vic Theatre. Irish spinster and her mother. To August 21
BENT - Tabard Theatre. Concentration camp drama. To August 8
BIBLICAL TALES - New End Theatre. Steven Berkoff and the Old Testament. August 3-26.
BITTER GIRL - King's Head Theatre. Getting over getting dumped. To August 8
BUBBA AND LUVVIE - King's Head Theatre. Mystery and romance. To August 8
CYRANO DE BERGERAC - White Bear Theatre. Love and noses. August 3 - September 4
THE DRAWER BOY - Finborough Theatre. Drama of Canadian farmers. August 10 - September 4
FARLEY'S DATE - Old Red Lion Theatre. Bloke has to grow up. To August 7
FUENTE OVEJUNA - Southwark Theatre. Village in revolt. August 9 - 28
THE GO! GO! GO! SHOW - Leicester Square Theatre. Pop musical for kids. To August 30
THE GREAT GAME - AFGHANISTAN - Tricycle Theatre. Three evenings of short plays on Afghan history. To August 29
HAMLET - HOUSE OF HORROR - Old Red Lion Theatre. Shakespearean vaudeville. August 10 - 28.
THE HOUSE OF BILQUIS BIBI - Hampstead Theatre. Garcia Lorca's Bernarda Alba set in Pakistan. To August 14
INTRIGUE/LOVE - Southwark Theatre. Schiller drama. To August 7
THE JEWISH WIFE - BAC. Brecht drama. To August 14
LA BOHEME - Soho Theatre. Small-scale opera. To September 4
LIGHT SHINING IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE - Arcola Theatre. Caryl Churchill Civil War drama. To August 7
LINGUA FRANCA - Finborough Theatre. New Peter Nichols play set in 1955. To August 7
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM - Bridewell Theatre. Shakespeare cut to a lunchtime hour. To July 30
NEWS REVUE - Canal Cafe Theatre. Constantly updated satirical cabaret. Ongoing
PAY AS YOU GO - Cock Tavern Theatre. Salesman's crisis of conscience. To August 14
THE RAILWAY CHILDREN - Waterloo Station. Children's classic, with real trains. To January 2
SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE - Landor Theatre. 1950s rock'n'roll musical. To August 22
SUBS - Cock Tavern Theatre. Life in magazine office. To August 14
THREE WOMEN ON AN ICE CREAM CONE - King's Head Theatre. Romance in the 1950s. August 10 - September 5
THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL - Courtyard Theatre. Woman's journey home. To August 1
VA VOOM - Courtyard Theatre. Musical about a showgirl. August 3-29
WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS - Finborough Theatre. Barrie comedy of the woman behind the man. To August 2
WOLFBOY - Trafalgar Studio 2. Vampire musical. To July 31
And here are links to some of the more established Off-West End theatres:
Also:
BITE - Barbican and Pit Theatres. The Barbican plays host to a yearlong programme of visits by theatre, dance and performance art companies, many for only 3 or 4 performances.
OPEN
AIR THEATRE, Regent's Park.
Outdoor performances of Shakespeare and others May-September. (2010
season: Comedy of Errors, Macbeth, The Crucible, Into The Woods)
OPERA HOLLAND PARK Outdoor performances June-August
SHAKESPEARE'S GLOBE THEATRE. Season runs May-October, but there are tours and one-off events year-round. (2010 season: Macbeth, Henry IV, Henry VIII, Merry Wives, 2 new plays)