Comedy Dance & Physical Festivals Theatre ThisWeek In London

Three To See 8-14 Nov: Festival-ish Stuff. Funny Stuff, Theatre, Dance and More…

By TW Editorial | Published on Sunday 6 November 2022

FESTIVAL-ISH STUFF

Curious Puppets Festival | Rosemary Branch Theatre | 10-13 Nov
Yes, “ish”. There’s only a tenuous connection to festival stuff generally in this section, really, apart from with regard to this one, which actually has festival in the name. And, as the title also gives away, you can expect a number of fab-looking shows involving the art of puppetry, with nightly grown up shows from Thursday to Saturday, and family events over the weekend. See the listings here.

A Fringe Affair | Bread & Roses Theatre | 10 Nov (pictured)
This is in this section because it’s described as a “love letter to the Fringe in all its flaws and glory” – and we are talking about the Edinburgh Fringe, which is in fact a festival. We, of course, love the Fringe, so wholly approve of the idea of this one-man folk song-cycle exploring creator Edward W Feery’s experiences as both a performer and Fringe-goer. More here.

Anything With A Pulse | Park Theatre | 14-26 Nov
“A man and a woman meet in a club. Spotting each other from across the dance floor, they hit it off. Their story should be simple enough. But in a world where we hide behind games and personas, it doesn’t always play out like that”. On as part of Park Theatre’s ‘Make Mine A Double’ season, this one is festival related because it was on at edfringe back in 2019. Our reviewer was pretty impressed, calling it “joyous and thought-provoking”, so get booking here.

FUNNY STUFF

Garrett Millerick: Just Trying To Help | Soho Theatre | 14-16 Nov (pictured)
And talking of edfringe, the funny section this week is also full of folk we first ran into one August in the Scottish Capital. Firstly Garrett Millerick, a past recipient of one of our ThreeWeeks Editors’ Awards, who is headed to Soho shortly for a handful of performances of Fringe hit ‘Just Trying To Help’. He’s blooming brilliant, do not miss. Book your tickets here now.

Billy Kirkwood: Show Me Your Tattoo | Museum Of Comedy | 13 Nov
So much blooming brilliance going on here. Because we are moving on to the much acclaimed Billy Kirkwood, who has historically delighted a fair number of our review team up at the old edfringe. I say historically because I think it’s may be literally ten plus years since we first published a five star review of his tattoo-orientated shenanigans. Anyway, I’m sure it’ll still be great. More here.

Diana: The Untold And Untrue Story | Pleasance Theatre | 8-19 Nov
Linus Karp is a somewhat newer discovery – we first heard about him via London appearances, but then caught him in Edinburgh this summer with ‘How To Live A Jellicle Life’ (which scored a 5/5 from our reviewer). And, of course, everyone else loved it too, so he is definitely “critically acclaimed”. Here he is with a different show, though, which promises to be “as hilarious as it is tasteless”. Click here.

SHORT STOPS

Drowntown | The Place | 10 Nov (pictured)
If you’re a long term regular reader of our esteemed publication you may well remember that we interviewed ‘Drowntown’ creator Rhiannon Faith back in 2021 about the show when it was doing a post-lockdown digital tour. Well, now you can see it live on stage for the first time, which is really very exciting. For more info on this excellent piece of gritty dance theatre, and to book tickets, head right this way.

Daytime Deewane | Half Moon Theatre | 10-15 Nov
“The end of an era is approaching. It’s 1997 and London is about to have its last daytime rave. British South Asians flock for their last taste of rebellion. Among them are cousins Farhan and Sadiq. Both very different. Both escaping something”. Half Moon Theatre’s latest production for young people aged thirteen and older, which focuses on living with a multicultural identity as a teenager. Info here.

Without Planning Permission! | Brixton House | 11-12 Nov
It sounds like this production from The Black Men’s Consortium – a community-led exploration arts project – explores some really important themes. It’s set at an emergency community meeting on the Mary Warner Estate, which is being held to discuss changes affecting residents, and explores the theme of black men’s feelings of accountability when it comes to protecting their community. More here.

ONE PERSON SHOWS

Block’d Off | Camden People’s Theatre | 8-19 Nov (pictured)
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, we love one-person shows and it’s always great to see them and hear about them. And indeed, recommend them. And here’s the first one, written and directed by Kieton Saunders-Brown and performed by Camila Segal, which tackles the realities of being working class in London through the depiction of five different characters caught in a cycle of deprivation. Details here.

Pickle | Park Theatre | 14-26 Nov
Next up, Deli Segal’s ‘Pickle’ at Park Theatre which – like ‘Anything With A Pulse’ – is on as part of the venue’s ‘Make Mine A Double’ season. “Here’s the shtick: Ari is caught between two worlds. Still living at home in North West London, she has her Jewish life, dominated by overbearing parents, traditions, and expectations. Then there’s her day-to-day life – the job, the pub, the foreskins”. More here.

Days In Quarantine | White Bear Theatre | 8-19 Nov
So, yes, okay, this isn’t strictly a one-person show, it’s a play comprising a series of monologues and duologues, so you know, it has monologues in it, and that counts. Anyway, it’s inspired by true stories from lockdown and follows eight characters “forced into introspection”, and “poses questions reaching across generational, socio-economic and cultural barriers”. Details here.

MORE THEATRE

Here | Southwark Playhouse | 11 Nov-3 Dec
It’s a theatre-heavy week this week, but that’s not a bad thing. We are, however, coming to the end of the road and here are our final three tips for now. First up is ‘Here’ at Southwark Playhouse, from Papatango Theatre, winner of the 2022 Papatango New Writing Prize. It’s by Clive Judd, and it’s a “tender, funny and utterly truthful story about family and feeling”. Click here.

Richard The Second | Omnibus Theatre | 9-27 Nov (pictured)
Oooh, I like the look of this – a “radical and electrifying new adaptation” of the Shakespeare classic from Tangle, in association with MAST Mayflower Studios, featuring an original score of Zimbabwean music and song. “Three first cousins – Richard, Aumerle and Henry – battle for the supreme position of authority. Who will succeed in saving their country from a trail of ultimate destruction?” Exciting! More here.

The Mother Sh*t | Pleasance Theatre | 10-19 Nov
Our final tip for the week is for a show by Stumble Trip Theatre, a company that we first experienced up at the much aforementioned edfringe. And it’s amongst this week’s tips because it’s about mums, wonderful mums, and – like a previous show in today’s recommendations – is also described as a “love letter”. Based on interviews with 50 people, featuring verbatim stuff, beat-boxing, music and mime. Click here.