Camden Fringe Archives - Page 5 of 7

Death Drop’s Holly Stars to bring new solo stand-up show to Camden Fringe this summer

11Jun

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

Death Drop’s Holly Stars to bring new solo stand-up show to Camden Fringe this summer

Holly Stars, drag queen stand-up comedian and writer of smash hit west end show Death Drop, is bringing an all-new solo show, BIRTHDAY, to Camden Fringe this summer, ahead of Death Drop's off-Broadway transfer this autumn. Holly's turning 40 and she's ready for a new decade to begin. She might be on the fast-track to middle age but nothing's going to slow her down. However, when Holly's nightmare neighbours try to stop her from organising the party of her dreams, Holly goes to war. Will her 40th birthday be her most dramatic yet? Come and find out in this stand-up comedy special with opening performance by drag king Richard Energy. One night only as part of Camden Fringe! About Holly Stars Holly Stars is a comedian and writer, best known for her smash-hit west end murder my...

26Aug

By Caroline WorswickNo Comments

London

Janet – Etcetera Theatre

I have to say that I was not sure what to expect when reading the summary of the show, as it does sound absurd to make a character from a piece of bread dough. I am pleased to say, that the unique skills of performer, Helen Ainsworth and director, John Mowat left me in no doubt that this unusual approach to puppetry is very entertaining. The story begins with Ainsworth wearing her chef’s uniform and hat, incorporating a mask, as she begins to bring the characters alive. Beryl is a packet of French bread flour, Keith is a rusty lidded water jug, and Lady Jane Grey is a posh sounding teapot from Sheffield. The show begins with Beryl and Keith consummating their relationship, by mixing together their flour and water to create Janet, their beloved offspring, the French bre...

FR (Friendship Ritual) – Camden Fringe Online

24Aug

By Ezzy LaBelleNo Comments

REVIEWS

FR (Friendship Ritual) – Camden Fringe Online

Offering something a little different to the norm, Friendship Ritual is a short experiential audio work to share with a friend. It is a ritual which requires each listener to think, reflect and feel. Each participant has an audio of their own. The audio opens by framing the contracts people make to each other before guiding listeners through a series of interactions, first with the ‘self’ and then with each other. It is spoken in a meditative tone of voice and is positivity focused. How often do we look at our friendships in detail? How often do we let our friends know we love them? How often do we have time with our friends to just play? Opening with a feelgood dance, participants take a moment to scan how their body feels afterwards and then observe how their friend looks. Does ...

20Aug

By Ezzy LaBelleNo Comments

London

Domitius – Camden Fringe Online

Revamping Roman history for a modern audience, Domitius bursts with energy and electrifying rock musical scores. Expect the unexpected from Domitius Production Collective LLP! Making its Camden Fringe debut, the musical is available to watch online and follows the vain Roman Emperor Nero (also known as Domitius) and his ambitions to seek life as a poet and performer. However, thrust into power prematurely the audience, and history, bears witness to his descent into despotism instead. Featuring a roll call of names from Rome’s historic hall of fame - Seneca, Octavia, Agrippa, Poppaea and Nero – Domitius offers accuracy in events and finds a lively, original way to portray the period of 1st Century Rome. The internal conflict of Nero is one which cuts across time and cultures and into ...

14Aug

By Gemma PrinceNo Comments

London

Dolls & Guys – Camden People’s Theatre

Part of the Camden Fringe festival which marks its 16th year, Dolls & Guys explores a dystopian world where women in a shop wait to be picked by the one and live happily ever after. Directed by Julia Sudzinsky and written by Sabean Bea and Alanna Flynn, the story focuses on five characters, Juliet, Lucy, Soraya, Maggie and Billie and explores their struggles to navigate love, life and dating. As we see the group break up and reunite as male customers (all played by Nicholas Pople) come through the door, one thing that remains the same are their friendships. We see how the characters bond over their shared experiences when the men are not around and was undoubtedly the highlight of the show. The awkward but intelligent Juliet (Sabean Bea) and her heart-warming interactions with tombo...

Play…in your bathtub 2.0 – Camden Fringe Online

9Aug

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

London

Play…in your bathtub 2.0 – Camden Fringe Online

Theatre makers have long been pushing the boundaries around staging works but using your own bathtub as a venue is certainly a new one. However, that is where I find myself to experience This is not a Theatre Company’s ‘immersive spa experience’ Play…in Your Bathtub 2.0. Created at the height of covid lockdowns, and directed by E.B. Mee, this participatory, multi-sensory piece is a 20minute meditation bringing in poetic monologues, classical piano music, toe wiggling and ASMR-style watery sound effects. Whilst the bath is the recommended scene, you can also opt for a footspa, shower, or even a bucket. It’s certainly a different experience, where you bring your own props of choice that relate to a specific sense (touch – warm water and bubble bath, taste – a beverage of your choice, s...

9Aug

By Samantha CollettNo Comments

London

Together At Last – Aces and Eights

What I love most about shows at the Camden Fringe is the experimental, test-the-waters nature. Dave Hazelnut’s ‘Together at Last’ not only tests the water – it blows the water out of the lake and way beyond. His madcap one-man act of witty ditties and audience participation will have you squirming in awkwardness and crying with laughter. Looking like a lost ornithologist crossed with ‘Where’s Wally?’ Hazelnut takes up a variety of instruments to sing about everything from Love Nuts to a Long Spoon to Princess Anne. The lyrics show he’s clearly talented, but he doesn’t let that skill get in the way of being hilariously funny. Photo: Samantha Collett Vaguely reminiscent of ‘Flight of the Conchords’ if you squint hard enough and if they had solo careers, ‘Together at last’ is what fr...

7Aug

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

The Dumb Man – Cockpit Theatre

Based on Sherwood Anderson’s short story, this play for Camden’s Fringe Festival tells the tale of a man who lives in a world he created in his head. It begins with an elusive man addressing the audience and giving us a poetic introduction to the story. As Richard, the older character comes on stage he becomes consumed by whispering voices and eerie sounds. He gradually calms down and opens a letter which brings the characters of David and Jack to life as they converse across the stage and thus begins the illusory world. Jagoda Kamov’s writing has moments of eloquence and a particularly engaging scene between Jack and the nurse. The motifs of the windows and of the trees gave it a poetic feel and communicated Richard’s desperation to hold onto his illusions, as mirrored by Hardy Gru’s i...

4Aug

By Alan Stuart MalinNo Comments

London

Jarman – King’s Head Theatre

A mighty spirit is about to reawaken. Yours! Over 80 intense minutes, Writer/Performer/Producer Mark Farrelly embarks on a journey to map out the life of Queer filmmaker, painter, gay rights activist, writer, and gardener Derek Jarman, from troubled childhood, through career achievements, illness, and death in his highly acclaimed solo play ‘Jarman’, which is being shown as a unique double bill as part of the Camden Fringe Festival. Jarman was an icon in the gay community, a trail blazer politically, socially, and creatively. One of the first public figures to announce his HIV status to the world, he called for us all to “be astonishing” and that is exactly what Farrelly achieves with this highly thought provoking and beautifully written piece of theatre. Farrelly’s writing is incred...

A Little Drape of Heaven – Camden Fringe Online

3Aug

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

REVIEWS

A Little Drape of Heaven – Camden Fringe Online

Before streaming A Little Drape of Heaven, part of Camden Fringe 2022, we were advised to ``go to a closet, find a piece of clothing to hold close to your heart, and press play on the audio link”. So, clutching my late mother’s jumper to my heart and, ignoring the puzzled look on my husband’s face, I pressed play on my laptop - only to be told the piece of clothing should belong to someone of the opposite sex. To me, this is classed as audience participation which I hate. And though I was the only one in the audience (my husband having left the room), not in a million years was I going back to the wardrobe to find an item of his clothing to clutch. Swati Das narrates in a lovely, sing-song voice and early on it’s clear she is the voice of a sari, being unwrapped after 10 years of ...