Sometimes I forget that pantomime isn't just for Christmas, and I am not sure why - in my childhood I was always taken to one in mid-January.
But there are, of course, pantomimes still running, and there's one in particular doing a short run at the Bread & Roses Theatre this month that rather caught my eye when I heard about it.
The show - presented by Quintuple L Productions - is called 'Joffrey! A Pantomime'. And yes, anyone who is even vaguely in touch with popular culture will surely know that this particular work has been inspired by that vaguely successful TV show 'Game Of Thrones'.
To find out more about what to expect from the show, and to learn about the creative team behind it, I spoke to director Joe Flatt, writer Sam Went, and Emma Gadsdon, who plays principal boy Prince Joffrey Baratheon.
CLICK HERE to read this Caro Meets interview.
'Joffrey! The Pantomime' is on at the Bread & Roses Theatre from 18-22 Jan, for more info and to book tickets head to the venue website here.
THREE MUSICALS>>
Operation Mincemeat | Southwark Playhouse | 14 Jan-19 Feb
Things always seem a bit quiet in January, and I suppose it's definitely a month that's good for staying at home and binge-watching telly, or curling up with a good book, so perhaps that's okay. But for intrepid culture-goers, there is - of course - still stuff going on, and we have some tips for you, beginning with three great musicals. This one's a fairly new one, but has acclaimed runs at New Diorama and Southwark Playhouse behind it, and takes as its subject that secret Second World War mission where they dropped a corpse - carrying false plans regarding the Allied invasion of Sicily - off the coast of Spain to try and hoodwink the Nazis. Read more about it here.
Thrill Me: The Leopold And Loeb Story | Jermyn Street Theatre | 13 Jan-5 Feb
This musical is a bit older than 'Operation Mincemeat', and I am pretty sure we've recommended in the past that you see previous stagings. It's also, similarly, a rather interesting subject for a musical, the story of true life dodgy duo Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb. They were privileged young men who, while studying at the University Of Chicago, became obsessed with criminal activity, and - after messing around with the pettier offences of arson, theft and vandalism - decided to go about committing the 'perfect crime', the murder of a fourteen year old boy. Get your tickets booked here.
Notflix | Greenwich Theatre | 15 Jan (pictured)
Now, this musical is so new it hasn't actually been invented yet. For yes, this is not exactly the standard choice for a musical tips section as, given it's an improv musical show, it's possibly better suited to a comedy section. But of course we don't have a comedy section today, so here is where it's best at home. And let's face it you need this, don't you, now that the decorations are down and all the chocolate's been eaten? Something to cheer you up without making you put on weight. Anyway, we really hold this all-woman troupe in high esteem, and so do lots of other people, so head this way to book your tickets right away.
THREE THEATRICAL TREATS>>
The 4th Country | Park Theatre | 12 Jan-5 Feb
Time for some high quality theatrical experiences now, and first up we head to Park Theatre for this show which promises "a funny, poignant and thought-provoking look at life in modern Northern Ireland", and which had a highly acclaimed run at Vault Festival back in 2020 before the pesky pandemic mucked up our cultural choices. "Unfortunately for Niamh and Conor, life in Derry-Londonderry isn't all leprechauns, Riverdance and whiskey. And the resurfacing of their dark family history is quickly becoming the least of their worries". For more information and to sort out your tickets, head to the venue website here.
Almost Adult | The Space | 13-15 Jan (pictured)
"Hope has just moved out from her childhood home in Macclesfield to the bright lights of London. After getting a job at a (get this) dinosaur themed bar and moving in with a very mature housemate, everything seems to be going brilliantly. But when she learns some questionable things about her manager, things at work spin out of control. Hope slips deeper and deeper out of her depth and questions how ready she was to leave home after all". This sounds good, both funny and poignant, and, bonus: those of you who can't make it to in person shows in London have a chance to take this on in online. See this page here for more.
Battle Cry | The Hope Theatre | 16+17 Jan
This is a one-man show dealing with some really important themes - it's based on the real life experiences of soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder - and it's won critical acclaim and a Best Performer gong at Birminghamfest 2021 for performer Steve Cowley. "When you've witnessed the worst things imaginable, the world can never be the same again. We soon realise that Adam's life has never been easy, but is he too proud to ask for help? Would he rather try to cope in the only way he knows how? Or is it just too late? Relevant, real and unflinching, 'Battle Cry' reminds us that asking for help may be the toughest battle of all". More info here.
THREE FESTIVALS TO GET YOUR TEETH INTO>>
In The Round Festival | Roundhouse | 15-25 Jan
And now on to some festivals, which between them, quite honestly, could seriously fill up your diary for the next couple of weeks, if you're hoping for a culturally busy January to detract from that winter gloom. We begin at the Roundhouse, where the venue presents its sixth annual In The Round Festival which sees an eclectic line-up of artists performing special one-off gigs with full seating set around the circular stage, allowing audiences to get close to their favourite artists. The line-up includes the likes of Emeli Sande, Hak Baker and Lady Blackbird. See the full line up here.
Bitesize Festival | Riverside Studios | 13 Jan-13 Feb
If it's a collection of something a bit less musical you're after, then Riverside Studios may well have a few shows to interest you in their Bitesize Festival, which - as the name suggests - offers some shorter theatrical pieces of an hour or less. According to the blurb it's a "carefully selected programme of punchy, thought-provoking and inspiring theatre, play-readings and comedy that you can experience in any way you choose. Pop in and see just one performance, or spend an evening with us and experience two or three". And there's a discount when you book three or more tickets. See this page here for details.
London International Mime Festival | various venues | 12 Jan-6 Feb (pictured)
And finally, it's time for the London International Mime Festival, which makes a welcome live return after going online last year. It's spread over a number of venues - specifically Barbican, Jacksons Lane, Sadler's Wells, Puppet Theatre Barge, Shoreditch Town Hall, The Peacock Theatre and The Place - and there's lots of great sounding stuff to see from companies like Theatre Re, Barely Methodical Troupe and Opposable Thumb. I honestly can't make up my mind which shows I would most like to see, so I am not going to direct you at any one in particular, instead I'll just send you to this page here to have a look at those options yourself.
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