FUNNY STUFF 

One Of Us | Jack Studio | 2-3 Jul
Let’s start with funny stuff, because although this week is going better than last week, I’m still looking for things to cheer me up, because it takes quite a while for a broken fibula to heal. So, how about we join a fabulous duo, Ruth Bratt and Niall Ashdown: excellent, veteran improvvers who will serve up a smorgasbord of spontaneous scenes, sketches, songs and more. Click here. 

Book Talk Book Talk Book | Hen & Chickens Theatre | 5 Jul (pictured)
I thought we would stick with the theme of brilliantly talented pairings, and go see this marvellous show by Joanna Neary and Ben Moor, a hit at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe, which is a parody of live author events that also explores artificial intelligence and the creative process. And, a lovely bonus, both performers will also share new work in progress. Click here. 

There’s A Pigeon In My Bathroom | Lion & Unicorn Theatre | 7-11 Jul 
“Four university students wake up expecting another uneventful Saturday in their student house but everything changes when one of them discovers something feathery lurking in the upstairs bathroom”. This comedy that promises sitcom style laughs channels the spirit of shows like ‘Derry Girls’ and ‘Inbetweeners’. Find out more and book your tickets here.  

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SERIOUS STUFF 

A Fire Inside Her | Rosemary Branch Theatre | 2, 3, 6 Jul
I created this section for shows with serious themes, though I can’t guarantee every last thing about these picks are completely, deadly serious. What I do know is that monologues written and performed by women – which is what we have here – are a seriously good thing to contemplate. The plays focus on each woman forging her own unique path, find out more here. 

Monkeyface | Riverside Studios | 6-21 Jul
This one is described as “witty” but it also delves into themes that I consider serious and important, as this piece from Raphael Phillips follows a young man’s first experiences of university: “What begins as something relatable slowly unravels into a raw portrait of a young black gay student fighting to stay afloat inside a world not built to hold him”. Click here. 

Rika’s Rooms | Tabard Theatre | 1-25 Jul (pictured)
“Now living with dementia, Rika finds herself caught between the present and the ghosts of her past. As memories resurface, she relives a lifetime of passion, heartbreak, resilience and reinvention against the backdrop of some of history’s most turbulent events”. Acclaimed playwright Gail Louw tells a story that begins in Nazi Germany. Find out more here. 

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SHORT STOPS 

East To Elsewhere | Camden People’s Theatre | 2-3 Jul
A trio of shorter runs, now: first up, an evening of “true and tall tales” about kindness, migration and belonging that promises to be a warm and welcoming event replete with music, laughter and the voices of the East End and beyond. Expect a line-up that includes renowned storytellers Sef Townsend and Shamim Azad, and maybe share your own tale via open mic? Details here. 

I Saw Satan At The 7-Eleven | Soho Theatre | 7-11 Jul (pictured)
“Two miles north of hell, a nameless deadbeat narrator spots Satan buying soy milk at the 7-Eleven. Satan’s a washed-up-has-been who’s totally lost his edge… until he falls in love with our narrator and the two embark on a debauched misadventure”. Christopher Brett Bailey has impressed many of our writers up at edfringe, with good reason, he’s brilliant. Don’t miss, click. 

The Cabin | Baron’s Court Theatre | 7-11 Jul  
This is the stuff of (certain people’s) nightmares: imagine being locked in a room with a bunch of people you were at school with. One without windows and doors, but with cameras watching every move. Yeah, sounds a bit grim. And obviously tensions will rise and old grudges will be raised in this school reunion comedy-horror-thriller. Find out more about it here. 

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LONGER RUNS 

Whatever The Weather | Unicorn Theatre | 3 Jul-16 Aug
Just one tip for your small people this week (there was going to be another, but I discovered it was completely sold out so no point recommending it). This is an immersive “playscape experience” for children under seven and their grown ups to enjoy together. It’s inspired by the ideas of local children and invites participants to get closer to nature and the elements. Info here. 

Live From The Warehouse | White Bear Theatre | 7-18 Jul (pictured)
This has an intriguing premise: two seventeen year old boys break into an abandoned warehouse after a prank gets out of control: “Chased by the police, hunted by a school drug dealer and suffocating under the pressure to be someone, they turn the camera on themselves. What begins as confession soon warps into performance”. Lots more about it here. 

Romeo & Juliet | Greenwich Theatre | 3-25 Jul
Here’s a play you might have heard of, it’s by this chap called Shakespeare, and it’s on as part of a “new summer tradition” for Greenwich Theatre of staging bardy faves. Always good to get a chance to see the classics, I reckon, especially if you’re in year ten and have to write about it in your English Lit exam next year. But you know, everyone else can go too, so book tickets here.