CAMDEN FRINGE 

Dying To Meet You | The Courtyard Theatre | 20-23 Aug
Woosh, did anyone see early August anywhere? Why is our favourite month going by so fast? It’s a shame because I want more time to talk about the Camden Fringe, amongst other things. So let’s do that. First recommendation for this week, a “fast-paced, action-packed, queer dramedy” that sees Leta and Tess dying over and over, and getting the audience involved. Find out more right here. 

Take Your Time | Bridewell Theatre | 21-22 Aug (pictured)
Any show that mentions time travel in its blurb calls out to me, whether it’s something comical, serious or somewhere in between. This is a science fiction play that explores grief and human connection, and the nature of time, and looks at what would happen if we could go back and change things, and whether we should. All the details on the Camden Fringe website here. 

Eoghan And Paul | Rosemary Branch Theatre | 24-27 Aug
“What happens when it’s all said and done, and we’ve gone down our separate paths? One locked door separates a pair of twins. It can only be opened if both are willing to face one another. Will they make the brave sacrifice? Or will they continue the cycle?” An intimate show exploring addiction, damaged family relationships and unresolved conflict, see this page here for more. 

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TWO MEN ON THEIR OWN 

Falling Out | Hen & Chickens Theatre | 23-25 Aug
Did you know that ‘two men on their own’ is a genre? I promise you it is. At least for this week’s tips. We already did one show of this type in the last section. And this one fell out of that section because it’s a bonus Camden Fringe show about estranged brothers who are forced to put up with each other in their father’s post-apocalypse bunker in the (actual) fallout of a nuclear war. Find out all the info here. 

A Slow Fire | Jermyn Street Theatre | 20 Aug-26 Sep (pictured)
“Years after the apocalypse, Ashton and Reece survive in a bunker on the edge of an imaginary city. Searching for hope, they spend their days acting out stories from the before times. When a stranger appears, is he here to save them? Or is he telling a tale too good to be true?” Yes, a second show in which two men have to live with each other in a post-disaster world. Both look really good. See this page here for this one.

Ghosts | Greenwich Theatre | 19-20 Aug
And a final show involving two men, because that’s what this section’s all about, but this one isn’t post-apocalyptic: it’s a “comedy of the darkest kind” about a former reality TV star living alone in self-imposed isolation on an island. An uninvited visitor turns up and I presume some manner of conflict will ensue, as they’re forced to rethink a lot of stuff. I’m intrigued. Book your tickets here. 

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FAMILY FRIENDLY STUFF

The Cat In The Hat | Soho Theatre Walthamstow | 21-23 Aug (pictured)
Ooof, we’re rather a long way into that summer break now, aren’t we? Definitely time for a fun show to keep your now-possibly-fractious small people engaged. And ‘The Cat In The Hat’ is going to be exactly that. This is suitable for ages three and up, and I imagine some of them will already know the book backwards. It’s a much acclaimed production, so expect great things. Book your tickets here. 

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice | Little Angel Theatre | 22-30 Aug
“A curious child unleashes magical powers, with the ability to transform everyday objects into the extraordinary! But when the spells don’t stop, the young apprentice learns that all things must be handled with care, especially magic”. You probably already know the story inspired by Goethe’s classic poem, and this production features marionettes, which is very cool. Find out more here. 

Meet The Kids | Greenwich Theatre | 21-22 Aug  
This one isn’t for tiny tots, it’s for adults and young people aged ten and up, so it’s good for a family outing if your kids are older. This is a gritty and fairly serious thing, though, so possibly best for teens. It follows the lives of teenagers in south London dealing with identity, family, faith and the pressures of school. Already a success, returning for two special performances. Click here. 

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MURDER AND STUFF

Keepsake Of A Killer | Union Theatre | 22 Aug (pictured)
Did you know that ‘murder and stuff’ is a genre? Well, actually that one kinda is, I didn’t make it up. I’m keeping it a bit vague, though, because not all these shows fall into the category of, say, murder mystery or police procedural. Having said that, this is actually a murder mystery, an interactive one, in fact, set in the aftermath of Jack The Ripper’s bloody reign of terror. Find out more here. 

Ghost Light | Drayton Arms Theatre | 20-22 Aug 
“A body has been found on the school grounds. Claire and Mary make a pact. Lights out; they get to work. The night ahead will challenge their resolve and force them to question: when we talk to the dead, do we deserve a response?” A new play from Green Star Theatre Company that sounds quite creepy and promises to be gripping. Head to the venue website here for all the info. 

The Bacchae | The Space | 20-23 Aug
If you are aware of the work of Euripides, and I am sure many of you are, you’ll know that this is a pretty bloody tragedy. This staging offers a new adaptation “filled with haunting imagery, ritualistic splendour and unforgettable dramatic execution”, which sounds rather good. It’s a classic story of obsession, darkness and bloodshed, so get your big girl pants on. Book here. 

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MORE GREAT SHOWS 

You & It | King’s Head Theatre | 21 Aug-26 Sep
Three last shows for you and, as ever, they’re all great. This one’s an award winning musical from South Korea that focuses on a grieving widower who meets an AI built in his late wife’s image. Looking at the idea of whether one can or should recreate loved ones via technological means, it explores grief, memory and what it means to be human. For all the details and to book tickets, see this page here. 

The Talking Drum: Voices From The Andover Estate | Park Theatre | 19-29 Aug (pictured) 
“A retired ballerina finds herself suddenly homeless. At university, a youth worker struggles against stereotypes. Resident ‘007’ can’t get the council to listen to them and NJ dreams of being allowed to play the African drums”. A powerful verbatim blend of theatre, storytelling and digital media bringing to life the voices of Islington’s Andover Estate. Expect it to focus on class, identity and community. Click here. 

Bitter Visions: By Order Of Hildegard | Arcola Theatre | 19-22 Aug 
And finally, yet another visit to the very excellent Grimeborn Festival, this time for a new work inspired by Hildegard von Bingen’s Twelfth Century morality play ‘Ordo Virtutum’, and I am especially drawn to this one because of the promised fusion of mediaeval plainchant with ambient electronic soundscapes and examination of the notions of feminine virtue and desire. Find out more about it here.