FESTIVAL STUFF 

Autumn Brass In Russell Square | Russell Square Gardens | 24 Oct  (pictured)
Hurrah, festival time again, and again, we have lots of recommendations. First up, a visit to the lovely Bloomsbury Festival, and a fabulous and free musical event that appeals to my northern heart. Yes, I know northerners don’t own the rights to a brass band – and this features community brass band London City Brass, which proves that – but this sort of sound is kinda special to me, and you should go appreciate it too. Click here. 

The Halo Effect | Bread & Roses Theatre | 21-22 Oct 
And now for a Lambeth Fringe tip, and it’s sadly going to be the last one for this year. But there are still a few days worth of shows to see, so do look at everything that’s to come in the next few days here. I picked this because it takes a look at what is – to my mind – a rather intriguing topic: it’s a dark study of the ‘manosphere’ and ‘looksmaxxing’, and the effect misogynistic influencers can have on young minds. Find out more here. 

The Cabin | Barons Court Theatre | 25-26 Oct   
“What’s worse than being locked in a room with people you were at school with? Maybe a gun being in there?”  Our latest pick from Grimfest is this play that falls somewhere between comedy, horror and thriller, and explores relationships, the human condition and the terrifying reality of school reunions. Four former classmates are trapped in one room and the only way to escape is for one of them to die. Yikes. Read all about it here. 

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MORE FESTIVAL STUFF 

Touch The Floor | Rich Mix | 24 Oct  
Next up is some movement related stuff from the Dance Umbrella festival, and this isn’t just one event, it’s a collection of events taking place all in one day celebrating the sounds, dances and spaces that have helped to shape black British culture. The series brings together artists, dancers, DJs, academics and audiences to explore cultural expression and collective identity, head to the venue website here to find out more about each session. 

Before I Go: Marcel | Theatre Peckham | 25 Oct
“Marcel is doing life in jail. He’s a class clown who’s spent most of his life living for others and is desperate for another chance at life. When he is presented with new evidence that can exonerate him of his entire sentence, he is left split as it would require him to ‘snitch’”. Another pick from Theatre Peckham’s Young, Gifted & Black season that features a mixture of poetry and prose accompanied by a live band. Lots more about it here. 

Ceilidh The Musical | Shoreditch Town Hall | 23 Oct-13 Nov (pictured)
Yeah, you got me, there is no festival shenanigans going on here, but whenever I think about ceilidhs I think about Edinburgh and whenever I think about Edinburgh I think about festivals, so here we are. This brand new musical sees audience members getting involved with the dancing, and tells a family story of love and legacy. Expect to be “swept up in a whirlwind of music and memories from the moment you walk through the door”. Click here. 

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SHORT STOPS

You’ll See… | Polka Theatre | 24-25 Oct (pictured)
Some shorter runs now for you, and – as we head into half term – I thought I would include a couple of shows for younger audiences. You might be surprised to learn that this is suitable for eight year olds and up, yet it’s a staging of James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’, which you may remember not reading, or reading, depending on how persistent a reader you are. Anyway, I’m told that this is brilliant, so I might steal a friend’s child and take them to see it. More here.  

Susan Calman: Tall Tales | Hackney Empire | 21 Oct
It’s been ten years since Susan Calman was on tour, so everyone who has been waiting to see her perform live may already have their tickets, but if you don’t, get a move on and secure yours because I can’t imagine there are that many left. You all know who she is, and you know she is good at what she does, so head this way to book and enjoy her funny stories about stuff like cruising, driving tanks, cats and getting older. 

Lady Bolognese: Class War | Soho Theatre | 21-24 Oct 
I suppose I could have put this show in the festival section too, given that it had a sell out run at edfringe 2026. An award winning and nominated debut hour from Tanika Lay-Meachen and Matthew Straker, ‘Class War’ is for those of you who enjoy their comedy unhinged. “Lady Bolognese are encouraging YOU, dumb-dumb, to go back to school! But beware, your old dinner ladies, Barbara and Veronica, are taking over…” More here. 

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MORE GREAT STUFF 

The Dark | Battersea Arts Centre | 27-31 Oct  
Finally, more great shows. And this is another family show to potentially entertain your small ones with, suitable for children aged four and over, that’s adapted from Lemony Snicket’s picture book of the same name. It’s an empowering adventure about facing your fears, and is accessible for blind and visually impaired children. “Laszlo is afraid of the dark. The dark lives in the basement. It doesn’t visit Laszlo in his room. Until one night it does…” Info here. 

Memoriam | Southwark Playhouse | 22 Oct-21 Nov    
“In the near future, tech company Memoriam is able to extract and repackage human memories as immersive VR experiences. When her grandmother Rivka becomes the last living Holocaust survivor, Memoriam employee Rachel sees an opportunity to preserve her memories and safeguard an invaluable piece of history”. But is it that simple or will there be repercussions? Perhaps this can’t end well…? Find out by going to see it, book here.  

The Revlon Girl | Park Theatre | 26 Oct-14 Nov (pictured) 
Finally, a return to the stage for an Olivier-nominated production that had its debut back in 2016 and has won international critical acclaim in the intervening years. It’s a funny and moving drama by Neil Anthony Docking that focuses on the bereaved mothers of Aberfan following the heartbreaking Aberfan disaster, and I’ve definitely recommended it in times past. And here I am, again, telling you to go see this excellent play. Click here.