Children's Shows Comedy Festivals Music Musicals Spoken Word Theatre ThisWeek In London

Three To See 20-26 Sep: Children’s Shows, Festival shows, Shows With Music, Theatre

By | Published on Friday 16 September 2022

CHILDREN’S SHOWS

Little Monster | Jacksons Lane | 25 Sep
Yes, some of the kids are back at school, but the teeniest ones aren’t, plus – you know – now that they are back working hard at their very tough lessons they probably deserve a treat when they have finished. How about ‘Little Monster’ at Jacksons Lane? It’s suitable for ages three to five, and explores themes of difference, fear and friendship via the medium of puppetry, song and “the magic of shadows”. More here.

The King Of Nothing | Little Angel Theatre | 24 Sep-20 Nov
“King Reginald is a ruler who likes to keep in style. But the fashions change so fast, he’s afraid he can’t keep up… hearing of the King’s predicament, two fast-talking ‘Weavers’ head to the palace with their brand new fabric: it’s ‘smart’ and it’s ‘in’ and it NEVER goes out of fashion”. This one is for slightly older children, those aged five to eleven, and is – as you may have gathered – inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’. Details here.

Butterflies | Half Moon Theatre | 23-24 Sep (pictured)
We’ve tipped this show before, and it’s rather popular, so tickets may well be moving quite quickly. Therefore, make sure you sort yours out soon. Of course, there’s good reason for said popularity: ‘Butterflies’ was created in response to young children’s experience of anxiety and offers an uplifting tale of friendship, courage and facing your fears. For more info and to get yourself booked in, head to this page here.


FESTIVAL SHOWS

Clapham Comedy Club presents James Dowdeswell: Beers Of A Clown | Bread & Roses | 22 Sep
As I’ve said before, the summer festivals may be over, but if you look hard enough you can probably find a festival going on in the Greater London area pretty much any day of the year. This particular show is on as part of the lovely Clapham Fringe and is by a longterm TW fave that we first met up at the old edfringe quite a few years ago now. Head to this page here for all the gen.

Becky Fury – C*NT | The Pen Theatre | 24 Sep (pictured)
Next up we’re calling in at The Pen Theatre where there’s a Fresh Off The Fringe season full of shows that were on in Edinburgh, which is fab. From the upcoming line up I’ve picked Becky Fury’s ‘C*NT’ – a funny, feminist look at, well, I don’t need to spell it out, do I? But in addition to that, you should also consider the other two fab shows on imminently: ‘Six Stages Of A Break Up’ and ‘I Miss Amy Winehouse’. Click here for ‘C*NT’. And here for the rest.

Pill | Bread & Roses Theatre | 23-24 Sep
And finally, back over to the Clapham Fringe for a theatrical treat, courtesy of Rebecca Pythian, whose one act autobiographical performance takes a look at the contraceptive pill and, more importantly, its hugely long list of potentially problematic side effects. It’s a show that hopes to raise the conversation about women’s sexual health and give audiences the confidence to ask questions. See this page here for more.


SHOWS WITH MUSIC

Daniel Cainer: More Jewish Chronicles | Crazy Coqs | 21 Sep (pictured)
And now for some shows involving music. And this show in particular, being our first musical tip, follows on rather well from the festival section, for long term TW favourite Daniel Cainer is not only a veteran of many many many edfringes, but is also a winner of one of the ThreeWeeks Editors’ Awards we dish out at Edinburgh’s big festival. If you’re not aware of his work: expect fabulous music and incredibly skillful storytelling. Find out more here.

A Night At The Kabuki | Sadler’s Wells Theatre | 22-24 Sep
Next up is a really interesting project, written and directed by Hideki Noda, and starring a host of high profile Japanese stars. It’s the story of ‘Romeo And Juliet’ set to music from Queen album ‘A Night At The Opera’, inspired by Freddie Mercury’s love of Japan. ”When two sets of Romeo and Juliets intercept one another’s fates, the well-known story of everyone’s favourite star-crossed lovers takes both comic and tragic turns”. Details here.

Tickle | Drayton Arms Theatre | 20 Sep-1 Oct
“Davina scouts scallies. Working for the Tina Tickle Empire she’s on the lookout for some good lookers to compete in the sport of endurance tickling. It’s really, really, well paid, and for subscription members only, so why wouldn’t you? Tickling. Innocent fun. But when a lot of money can be made online is everything as it seems or will lives be ruined and hearts broken?” A new comedy musical inspired by the documentary ‘Tickled’ and loosely based on facts. More here.


SHORT STOPS

Me? No Pause! | King’s Head Theatre | 25 Sep
In the festival section we talked about ‘Pill’, which addresses what most people don’t know about the contraceptive pill. Well, funnily enough, people also don’t know nearly enough about the menopause. It’s almost as though women’s concerns aren’t important or something. Anyway, here’s a show about the devastating effects that it can have on women, highlighting real lived experience, as well as coping strategies. And it will be funny and entertaining too! Click here.

Ramalama Ding Ding | Camden People’s Theatre | 21-22 Sep (pictured)
“In 2017 the phrase ‘Ramalama Ding Dong’ was repeatedly sneered at Roshi by a stranger on a train after he briefly heard her speak Farsi to her family. To her surprise, friends urged reporting it as a hate crime”. Roshi Nasehi is the creative force behind this solo multimedia theatre piece infused with the surreal and darkly funny, inspired by her own real life experience of racism. More here.

Edie | Theatre503 | 23-24 Sep
Over to Theatre503 now for ‘Edie’, a play longlisted for the venue’s International Playwriting Award in 2020. It’s about a probably-neurodivergent woman who, having stuck with her mother through thick and thin, is “torn between adoration for her controlling Mum and the urge to escape their shared home”. After a terrible accident, she’s forced to learn to function as an independent adult. Learn more here.


MORE THEATRE

The Gretchen Question | Master Shipwright’s House | 22 Sep-2 Oct
Here’s an interesting one, staged by Fuel Theatre outdoors at the Master Shipwright’s House in Deptford, that looks at the history of climate change and “invites us to inquire what the future holds for us”. The official blurb goes on: “In the 18th century, Gretchen witnesses the Royal Society return from a polar expedition with a mysterious oyster. Present day, Maisie sets out to livestream from the Arctic. Lulit wakes on an ice rink, struggling to remember what happened to her last night”. Click here.

Ballooniana | New Wimbledon Theatre Studio | 22 Sep-1 Oct (pictured)
“In 1969, man walked on the moon. That was quite good. In 1550BC, an old man built a pair of wings from wax and feathers and sailed across the bay. That was alright. In 1783, for the first time, the human race took flight. And nothing would ever be the same again”. Two female performers play the Montgolfier brothers, telling the story of the creation of the hot air balloon via physical theatre, original music and spoken word poetry. Details here.

Six Tales From A Park Bench | Etcetera Theatre | 23-25 Sep
And so the end is near and we have reached the final tip for this week, and it’s a recommendation for ‘Six Tales From A Park Bench’ at the Etcetera Theatre. It’s a comedy by Lewis Aaron Wood – first staged back in 2018 I believe – which is set in Hyde Park over the course of a twenty four hour period, and explores human interaction, and how a location can have different meanings for different people. Click here for info.



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