London Archives - North West End UK

Uncle Monty’s Antique Shop – The Lion & Unicorn Theatre

15Oct

By Prateek SonnyNo Comments

London

Uncle Monty’s Antique Shop – The Lion & Unicorn Theatre

Spooky season is here, and it has brought with it a spine-tingling play. Uncle Monty’s Antique Shop is an anthology of psychological shorts written and directed by Alexander Wright and Nina Atesh. The production unfolds through the items in an antique shop, each introduced alongside its grim history. As we enter the space, Monty (Nicholas Benjamin) sits at his desk, unbothered and sipping his tea. A sense of unease is established almost immediately. When a tourist (Nina Atesh) accidentally wanders into the shop, she discovers that nothing is for sale. Monty’s unhinged, at times amusing, demeanour emerges as he enthusiastically presents his collection of disturbing objects. The first story, ‘The Photographer’, centres on a ruthless political leader (Ryan Williams), his photographe...

The Cherry Orchard – Harold Pinter Theatre

15Oct

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

London

The Cherry Orchard – Harold Pinter Theatre

When you think of Anton Chekhov you expect a play of undefined logic and conflicting perspectives. Whilst mixing comedy with suffering often leaving the questions unanswered. The Cherry Orchard is one of Chekhov’s most recognisable plays and his last before his death. Written in 1903 published in 1904 it has been adapted and remastered for audiences over the years. This new adaptation by Conor McPherson has arrived at the Harold Pinter Theatre with a stellar cast, Stephen Mangan as Lopakhin, Kristen Scott Thomas as Lyubov Andreevna (Luba) and Ruby Bentall as Sharlotta. Act one is slow to form as the story takes time to build; there is an air of uncertainty at the end of this Act questioning, does McPherson and Ian Rickson’s adaptation work. Act two improves, the cast rel...

15Oct

By Shivangi NigamNo Comments

London

Stuffed – New Diorama Theatre

An inverted pyramid approach in its true form, where action takes place before crisis analysis and having a creative response to it. The audience is stuffed ahead of the show Stuffed by Ugly Bucket. The ensemble is around you while you chug a free drink and share a meal in the New Diorama Theatre foyer with strangers. By opening with a shared meal before diving into the performance, the show flips the traditional structure placing audience connection and collective action ahead of the crisis analysis itself. The capacity of Stuffed to enter with you and exit with you pushes the boundaries of a devised performance space with curtains, projections, plastic crates, and a live DJ. The testimonies attack you and create an air of tension that makes 60 minutes move faster, leaving one with an ...

15Oct

By Shivangi NigamNo Comments

London

Pretty Ugly – Camden People’s Theatre

We all wrestle with existential questions, but what makes a performer an artist of those questions is worth experiencing firsthand. Theo Chen’s Pretty Ugly at Camden People’s Theatre is a bold, coming-of-age solo show that captures a personal journey from being a bullied child to a performer who ultimately brings the entire audience onto their feet. It is a daring live memoir blending song and story, even if the emotional resonance doesn't fully reach every corner of the auditorium. The performance shines brightest in its moments of raw vulnerability—particularly during Theo's realization of what once made him feel "ugly" and his process of letting it go. As a storyteller, Theo possesses a natural grace and physical ease that immediately bridges the gap between performer and spectat...

15Oct

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

London

Who Are We? – Southbank Centre

Baro d’evel’s Who Are We? is a uniquely multidisciplinary spectacle, combining dance, music, acrobatics, ceramics, and clowning to bring a modern-day circus to the iconic Southbank Centre. Rather than a distinct plot, the show comprises individual moments loosely tied together by overarching themes such as identity, fear, and hope. Through movement, sound, and the clever manipulation of clay, Baro d’evel connects with the audience without many words – and much of the script isn’t in English anyway. The action on stage interacts with Lluc Castells’s fluid and earthy set design to also draw on the connection between humanity and the natural world, as well as the devastating damage we’re doing to it. I found the moments in which this connection was emphasised to be particularly emotiona...

15Oct

By Naina SidhuNo Comments

London

Jane Eyre – Rose Theatre

Jane Eyre has always been on my to-read list but quite honestly, it has always seemed just out of reach. Like many of the classics, its prestige is intimidating and whether its 19th century-isms hold up across time, was a question I wasn’t sure that I wanted the answer to. However, this riveting production breaks down all temporal barriers and imbues a timelessness, reconciling visions of hope and resilience. Charlotte Bronte’s magnum opus is colourised beautifully in Lily Dyble’s production. Photo: Johan Persson The gripping story explores a young woman’s tumultuous life, hardship cascading from her neglected childhood to her adult life as a love-torn governess. Its striking representations of endurance is vulnerable in all the right places. Anna Yates’ set design in conjunction wit...

The Notion of Recompense – Old Red Lion Theatre

15Oct

By Naina SidhuNo Comments

London

The Notion of Recompense – Old Red Lion Theatre

It’s clear that English Gothic folklore is defining the horror genre as of this minute and its newest addition is a well-crafted production with a lot of heart. Nestled upstairs in the playhouse of the Old Red Lion, Kat Munroe’s and Eleanor Dunlop’s The Notion of Recompense feels like a secret kept from the outside world. This folkloric production crafts a small but haunting world that is bound to appeal to anyone who resonates with the films of Robert Eggers. Set in a medieval village, the story follows a woman navigating her return to domestic life after having been transformed into an owl by a witch. Tragedy and grief gradually embroil the rest of the village, particularly its young girls. The play grapples with a lot of material, wrestling between generational trauma, witchcraft...

Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody – Underbelly Boulevard Soho

14Oct

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody – Underbelly Boulevard Soho

Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody is exactly what it promises to be: a gloriously outrageous send-up of the hit book and television series Heated Rivalry. From the moment the opening number, ‘What We Want’, begins, the production plunges us into Susan’s world, where women’s entertainment fantasies are summed up as “gay hockey players, with big butts having sex”. It immediately establishes the show’s unapologetically campy sense of humour and sets the tone for what follows: a whirlwind of innuendo, ridiculous scenarios and plenty of laughs. The music is one of the production’s biggest strengths. The catchy numbers do more than simply deliver punchlines; they help drive the storyline forward, introduce us to the characters and offer hilarious commentary on the world of He...

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical – Cambridge Theatre

13Oct

By Charlotte MansfieldNo Comments

London

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical – Cambridge Theatre

Olivier-award-winning improv group, Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, are back at London's Cambridge Theatre performing their long-form improv. As their name suggests, they improvise a West End musical, based on suggestions from the audience. The company has a large amount of talented performers to draw on, but each show typically consists of around six actors, with another company member taking the role of director, whose job it is to gather suggestions from the audience and introduce them at various points to either move the action forward or make the actors look as ridiculous as possible. Co-creator of 'Showstopper!', Dylan Emery, was the director for last night's show, opening the action with a call from a producer in need of a new musical. Not to worry, he has a writer's room (t...

The Awkward Guide to Friendship – White Bear Theatre

13Oct

By Prateek SonnyNo Comments

London

The Awkward Guide to Friendship – White Bear Theatre

An Awkward Guide to Friendship is an auditory treat featuring poetry, music, sing-alongs, and improvisation. It’s a collaborative piece by poet Beth Calverley and musician Beth Roberts, narrating the personal journey of forming and struggling with friendships throughout life. The play takes us on a metaphorical boat ride of friendship and a journey to write a guide for it. The story focuses on Calverley playing a stage version of herself, showing how she was an awkward kid, how she made friends, and the insecurities that kept her from maintaining those connections. It is a unique piece in how both performers present the story through a blend of memoir, spoken-word poetry, narration, and songs. Roberts takes charge as the musician, the guide, and a character version of herself, beaut...