YOUR GUIDE TO THIS WEEK IN CULTURE
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Circus Comedy Festivals Spoken Word Theatre ThisWeek In London
Three To See 3-9 Oct: Funny Stuff, Theatre, Circus and More…
By TW Editorial | Published on Friday 29 September 2023
FUNNY STUFF
Patrick Spicer: Old Stuff, New Stuff, Chatting | The Bill Murray | 8 Oct
The autumn is very much set in, and wind and rain and darker nights are on the agenda, so – to my mind – it’s time for either comedy to help distract you from the dismal stuff or something gory or spooky to lean into it. Or literally anything else that’s entertaining, I suppose, but expect lots of tips for the prior stuff in the coming weeks. Starting with a comedian I have heard very good things about, who is performing shortly at the brill ye old Bill Murray. More here.
Emmanuel Sonubi: Curriculum Vitae | Soho Theatre | 5-7 Oct (pictured)
We haven’t reviewed this particular show by Emmanual Sonubi, but we did see previous show ‘Emancipated’ at the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and loved it. So we are rather taken with this engaging storyteller and, you know, it’s not just us, he’s been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show and the Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer. So yes, you can expect good things. Head this way to book your tickets.
Dugsi Days | New Diorama Theatre | 3-14 Oct
Unlike the previous two shows, this isn’t stand-up, but it is a wonderful, hilarious piece of theatre. We’ve actually tipped it before, back in July, when it did a few dates in London ahead of a run at the old edfringe, where, incidentally, it won huge critical acclaim and the BBC Writersroom Popcorn Award. Anyway, it’s a ‘Breakfast Club’ inspired play exploring the friendship of a group of Somali girls, and it’s on for longer this time, so you’ve got a number of chances to see it. Book here.
SHORT STOPS
God On High | Drayton Arms Theatre | 3-7 Oct
Now for some short theatrical runs to immediately book tickets for, so that you don’t forget and then realise you’re too late because it was only a short run. This one’s about Tulip, a young and free spirited vicar who needs a miracle to save her debt-ridden church, while dealing with the unexpected death of her mother. It’s the work of Rhoda Dell, who loosely based the play on her own experiences of losing a parent. For more information and to sort tickets, head to the venue website here.
Chat Sh*t, Get Hit | Camden People’s Theatre | 3-4 Oct (pictured)
“What if your anger just simmers underneath? If it never quite reaches boiling point, but it’s present, burning your insides?” This show is about “recovery, solidarity and the suppression of women’s rage”, so obviously it was going to appeal to a raging woman like me, and it also promises to be funny and uncompromising, so it’s winning on so many levels. It combines spoken word, live art and football chants, and is by former Roundhouse artist in residence Martha Pailing. Details here.
Adrift | The Space | 4-7 Oct
Another compelling piece, one that tackles themes of isolation and abuse while exploring the moral ambiguity of contemporary uses of AI, through the story of a man who is struggling to cling on to life and an artificial intelligence desperate to find out what it means to live. Also, this is a play you can see via livestream, and it’s great to see the venue still making that option available for those who can’t make it in person. Head to the venue website here for more.
LONGER RUNS
What It Means | Wilton’s Music Hall | 4-28 Oct
And now for some longer runs, starting with a couple that you’ve got most of the month to get along to. First up, ‘What It Means’, which is “the true story behind one of the most impactful pieces of writing ever published in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality”. It focuses on journalist and editor Merle Miller, who, back in 1970, in the wake of the Stonewall Riots, decided to take a stand and write the article ‘What It Means To Be A Homosexual’, a rallying cry for equality. Read more about it here.
Gentlemen | Arcola Theatre | 4-28 Oct (pictured)
“Freshers’ term. Greg has taken to university life like a duck to water. Kasper is struggling to fit in. Summoned to a mediation session to discuss an accusation of plagiarism, Greg deftly argues his way out of trouble. But when the allegations evolve into something altogether more damaging, how long can Greg remain untouchable?” A promising new drama from Matt Parvin looking at the power of social status at university and what happens when culture turns toxic. Click here.
You Heard Me | Battersea Arts Centre | until 14 Oct
I meant to recommend this one last week, and it somehow fell off my list. But never mind, you’ve still got a fair amount of time to see it. The play, by Luca Rutherford, is a response to the writer’s own personal experience, and focuses on one moment of noise that allowed Luca to escape when someone attacked her. “’You Heard Me’ is for anyone who has been underestimated. Anyone who has been told to shut up. Anyone who has been afraid to walk home”. Details here.
MORE INTERESTING STUFF
Hedda Gabler | Jack Studio | 3-14 Oct
Three more choices for this week, and yes, as ever it’s something of a mixed bag genre wise. First up is another theatrical thing, a staging of a well loved classic, courtesy of Fish Don’t Matter Theatre Company. You’re probably mostly aware of what it’s about – Hedda, the daughter of a general, is dissatisfied with married life and begins to manipulate those around her with tragic results – and I think you can expect good things from this particular production of it. Info here.
This Is Not A Circus | Jacksons Lane | 5-8 Oct (pictured)
I should probably start by saying that This Is Not A Show, but in fact a short season, a showcase of new circus from the Netherlands that promises events that are daring, innovative, immersive and groundbreaking. There’s ‘360’ by Benjamin Kuitenbrouwer and Hanneke Meijers; ‘Sawdust Symphony’ by Michael Zandl, David Eisele and Kolja Huneck; and a double bill of ‘60% Banana’ and ‘Ways Of Being Ready’ by Monki and Hendrik van Maele. Listings here.
Good Trouble Festival | Streatham Space Project | 8-13 Oct
And finally, another collection of different things, for this time it’s the Good Trouble Festival over at Streatham Space Project. It’s a small multi-arts fest featuring events that “inspire, speak truth to power, and maybe even rock the boat”. It’s a great line-up, and there’s only a few events, so maybe you should just go to all of it? Or at the very least, take a look at all the listings here and decide which ones you can fit in.
