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Proving that bigger is not necessarily better, London’s Fringe theatres are defying economic decline by consistently producing some of this country’s most exciting, boundary pushing theatre. Venturing away from the bright lights of the West End, this week’s hot picks take in all the best of the capital’s Fringe productions, from verbatim investigation to musical [...]

Writer: Leo Butler Director: George Perrin Reviewer: Nathan Shreeve The Public Reviews Rating: Brilliantly witty, acerbic and dark, Juicy Fruits finishes the Paines Plough & Oran Mor’s Play, Pie, Pint initiative with style, going out with a bang. Butler’s script is superb, flashing from brilliant humour, to heart wrenching emotional breakdown, sometimes within seconds of each other, brilliantly [...]

Writer: David Watson Director: James Grieve Reviewer: Nathan Shreeve The Public Reviews Rating: This play was perhaps one of the most unusual theatrical experiences I have encountered in my time as a theatregoer in Manchester. Fragmented and often confusing, David Watson’s intriguing script takes us on a journey encountering ignorant radio DJs, familial relationships and disinterested nurses on [...]

Book and lyrics: Lee Wyatt-Buchan Music: Aldie Chalmers and Sandy Chalmers Director: Simon Grieff Reviewer: Ian Foster The Public Reviews Rating: Fringe musicals are notoriously fickle beasts: some adapt to the format extremely well to create moments of gloriously intense, theatrical wonder, others have their shortcomings cruelly exposed by the intimacy of such a small space. The Landor [...]

Lyrics: adapted from the work of Edgar Allan Poe Music: Matt Conner Book: Grace Barnes Director: Hayley Cusick Reviewer: Lucy Thackray The Public Reviews Rating: From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were; I have not seen As others saw; I could not bring My passions from a common spring. From the same source I have [...]

Words and music: Michael John LaChiusa Director: Katherine Hare Reviewer: Ian Foster The Public Reviews Rating: After establishing quite the name for itself with its all-male interpretations of Gilbert and Sullivan’s work, the Union Theatre are now letting the women have their turn with Triptic’s production of Michael John LaChiusa’s chamber musical Bernarda Alba. Based on García Lorca‘s [...]

Writer: Shoji Kokami Director: Shoji Kokami Reviewer: Ian Foster The Public Reviews Rating: Written in 2004 in response to a spate of teenage suicides in Japan, incidents connected to a rise in websites set up to share techniques and enable people to come together in group suicides, Shoji Kokami’s Halcyon Days is now receiving its English-language premiere at [...]

Reviewer: John Roberts The Public Reviews Rating: Before we start It must be said that this is one of the most beautifully constructed, and endearing fringe productions I have ever seen, and it is no surprise that it is selling out on a daily basis, with its magical blend of live performance, puppetry and animation (both live and [...]