FUNNY STUFF

Chloe Petts: Big Naturals | Soho Tbeatre | 2-17 Jan 
Now, I don’t want to be a downer when you haven’t even got to Christmas yet, but I just know that some of you will, in the early days of January, be feeling a bit of the post-festive blues, so why not book yourself now into something that will make you laugh and keep you smiling for the rest of the month? First suggestion is Chloe Petts’ latest show, we haven’t seen it, but you all know it will be good. Click here. 

Roger O’Sullivan: Fekken | Soho Theatre | 5-7 Jan 
We’re staying at the Soho Theatre for this one, and the next one in fact, which is nice. Next up is BBC New Comedy Awards nominee Roger O’Sullivan, who is poised to take his audience on journey through 90s video games, nostalgia and rural Ireland. “Is it possible to usurp a rural patriarch? To defeat him in a Tekken style tournament?” Well, let’s find out, shall we? Head to this page here.

Amelia Hamilton: Forget Me Not | Soho Theatre | 2-3 Jan (pictured)
We saw and loved this debut hour from Amelia Hamilton when it was on at edfringe in the summer and even had a chat with her about the show on TW:Talks. We weren’t alone in loving the show, it won a lot of critical acclaim. It is set to an original soundtrack of live rap and covers topics including her own intrusive thoughts, campaigns for women in STEM, and whether it matters to be forgotten. For more information and to book your tickets, head to the venue website here. 

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SERIOUS STUFF 

180⁰ Chord | Greenwich Theatre | 5-18 Jan 
Okay, time for some serious stuff for serious minded folks who want to start 2026 in a serious manner. Well, I think these shows are mostly serious, anyway. I won’t be apologising if a laugh turns up and, in any case, it’s about the themes, not the delivery. This one’s about a former policeman who finds himself banged up alongside the killers and bad eggs he helped put away, which might prove stressful. And indeed, serious. Click here.  

Orphans | Jermyn Street Theatre | 5-24 Jan (pictured)
Over to Jermyn Street for a staging of US writer and actor Lyle Kessler’s acclaimed 1983 play ‘Orphans’, which focuses on two brothers living in a dilapidated home in Philadelphia. The younger, Phillip, never leaves the house, the elder, Treat, keeping him in a state of perpetual childhood and illiteracy. Things take a turn when Treat brings a cash-rich stranger to their home. Find out more about it here. 

Small Extinctions | Etcetera Theatre | 4 Jan 
“It’s Christmas Day. The owner of a restaurant and her ex – the head chef – find themselves accidentally trapped in the walk-in freezer during the busiest service of the year. Temperatures drop. Tensions rise. And the two are forced to confront the losses that froze their relationship”. This new one act play by Ash Felkner caught my attention by evoking a nightmare. Hope they get out of that freezer. Details here. 

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CLASSIC STUFF 

The Nutcracker | Artsdepot | 3-4 Jan (pictured)
Final section for this week and it’s all classic time-honoured stuff. Well, mostly. First pick is this staging of ‘The Nutcracker’ from the Let’s All Dance Ballet company, which creates high end, accessible stuff for kids of all ages. Join Clara and the Nutcracker Prince in the magical Land Of Sweets and meet the Mouse King, Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy. Ever so delicious, the perfect way to start the new year! More here. 

An Ideal Husband | White Bear Theatre | 5-11 Jan
And from classic ballet to classic theatre: it’s time for a trip to the White Bear Theatre for a staging of one of Oscar Wilde’s finest works (to be fair they are all pretty fine, it’s a tough call), the excellent ‘An Ideal Husband’, with which, no doubt, most readers will be familiar. This is a contemporary reimagining directed by the rather renowned Ramin Gray. Head to this page here to book. 

From Chawton… | Etcetera Theatre | 4 Jan 
Yes, yes, okay, this one isn’t actually what you’d call a classic, at least not yet; however, it’s about Jane Austen – who has relocated to Chawton – and selection of characters from her various books. And her various books are, it’s safe to say, classics. In any case, I am a Jane Austen fan and this looks cool. Written and performed by Beckis Cooper, click here for further info and to sort tickets.