Comedy Dance & Physical Musicals Theatre ThisWeek In London

Three To See 23-29 Apr: Funny Stuff, Theatre, and more…

By | Published on Friday 19 April 2024

FUNNY STUFF

Horatio Gould: Sweet Prince | Pleasance Theatre | 25-27 Apr
How are we going to start this fine week in late April? By laughing, that’s how. I have lots of potentially amusing things for you to go and see in your veritable droves, and we’re starting our journey over at the Pleasance Theatre for Horation Gould’s ‘Sweet Prince’. Apparently he’s had some stuff go viral, but I clearly missed that, as the first I heard of him was at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, but it was all good hews, so def give this a go. Click here.

Egg: Absolutely Fine | Soho Theatre | 24-27 Apr (pictured)
Right, next up, we’re headed over to Soho Theatre for a date with excellent comic duo Egg, aka Anna Leong Brophy and Emily Lloyd-Saini, whose work, like so many, we first experienced and loved up at the old edfringe. They’re back with a sketch show full of purpose and meaning, apparently, just like their lives, which are fine. Honestly. Anyway, I guarantee it will be fun. Head to the venue website here for all the info.

Luke Kempner In Gritty Police Drama: A One Man Musical | Soho Theatre | 23-27 Apr
I feel like we might as well stay at the Soho Theatre now we’re already there. What do you reckon? Yeah, I agree, seems like a good idea. Especially as the rather good Luke Kempner’s going to be there doing his thing. And his thing is going to be so much fun when it’s parlayed into 60 impressions in circa 60 minutes of all your TV cop favourites and more. Click here.

MORE FUNNY STUFF

Sacred & Profane | The Space | 23-27 Apr (pictured)
Right, I refuse to stop laughing just yet, so let’s go see some funny theatre, first stop The Space for ‘Sacred & Profane’, which, like a lot of shows at this venue, you can stream as well as see in person. Yay. Anyway, this promising comedy is “tale of modern dating as a currency, where money and romance meet with direful consequences”, focusing on Lad, who has everything he wants in life but love – who is waiting to exploit him? More here.

30 And Out | Omnibus Theatre | 27 Apr
“On her 30th, Kit left her boyfriend and the closet. While her friends marry, have babies and get mortgages, she is starting from scratch in a whirlwind of drugs, clubs and heartbreak. Is it too late to be a lesbian? Does she need a cat and an undercut? Will coming out complete her?” ‘30 And Out’ promises to be a hilarious and also touching exploration of self discovery and starting life over again. Details here.

Parallel Fifths | White Bear Theatre | 23-27 Apr
A “folk-pop farce” that takes a Spinal Tap-py approach to the doings of a musical duo who have returned to their home town for a reunion. “They used to rub shoulders with the great pop artists of the early sixties, jamming with Townsend & Daltrey, smoking with Lennon & McCartney, and drinking with Jagger & Richards. The last decade, however, has seen their fortunes divide”. Can they overcome their tempestuous past? Click here.

KINGS AND QUEENS

English Kings Killing Foreigners | Camden People’s Theatre | 23 Apr-11 May (pictured)
And now for three theatrical shows connected mainly by the fact that they have either kings or queens in the show title. And, you know, probably reference said monarchs in the actual show too. This one’s referencing Henry V, but it’s not about him: this is a “tell-all dark comedy that peels back the skin of English cultural identity to reveal the steaming battlefields that lies beneath”. Sounds amazing. All the info here.

Three Queens | Barons Court Theatre | 23 Apr-11 May
If you know me – and you may not, so I’ll just tell you about it – I am very much lured in by anything that’s historical and involves women, and this very much fits that bill. As you might expect, it focuses on three queens, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and nine-days-queen Jane Grey, and it’s told in real time over the course of one “sleepless night”. Head to the venue website here for more information and to book.

The King Of Hollywood | The Hope Theatre | 28-29 Apr
Obviously this one’s not about a real king, but charts the rise and fall of Hollywood star Douglas Fairbanks, who the blurb refers to as “virtually forgotten”. For the record, I have not forgotten about him, but to be fair, I was kind of obsessed with old black and white films and Hollywood history when I was a teenager. Anyway, I wholeheartedly agree with the notion of making him the subject of a show like this, so you know, check it out, here.

SHORT STOPS

Gotta Have Faith | Etcetera Theatre | 25-28 Apr
Right, next up, a few short stops, largely theatrical, don’t wait to schedule them into your, um, schedule. Firstly, make time to see ‘Gotta Have Faith’, a story of drugs, sex, abuse and self acceptance from cabaret artist Neil Maxfield: “Growing up in 1980s rural Wiltshire requires more than a little patience, especially when you’re gay and trying to be a good Christian, with a love for George Michael”. Click here.

thick_skin | Lion & Unicorn Theatre | 23-27 Apr
“Why is it that men never talk to each other? Properly. Deeply. Why is most of it fluff? Beer, football and their latest bet. ‘thick_skin’ is the story of two such men, with the same problem – one a Northern Irish amateur stand-up and the other a budding video-game streamer – as both try to keep their heads above water while pursuing their dreams”. Little to say to each other, little understanding of their own selves. Can they work things out? Info here.

A Spectacle Of Herself | Battersea Arts Centre | 23-27 Apr (pictured)
This is the one of the bunch that’s not exactly theatre, for ‘A Spectacle Of Herself’ offers a mixture of autobiography, lip-sync, video and aerial rope courtesy of Laura Murphy, directed by Ursula Martinez. “Join Laura on a mission to serve herself up [in]appropriately for your consumption, in a bold, cinematic, acrobatic odyssey through the frontiers of mental health, queerness, rage and the 21st Century space race”. Details here.

LONGER RUNS

Remembrance Monday | Seven Dials Playhouse | 23 Apr-1 Jun
Starting this week and running for quite a long time, especially this one, which doesn’t finish until June. It’s an intriguing play from Michael Batten about the aftermath of a life changing moment: “Julius and Connor have the picture-perfect life: Ideal husbands, flawless apartment, successful careers… all that’s missing is the cliché dog. But what happens when the reality and complications of the real world warp the idyllic life you have created?” Info here.

Laughing Boy | Jermyn Street Theatre | 25 Apr-31 May (pictured)
Over to Jermyn Street now for ‘Laughing Boy’, a personal, political and – surprisingly – funny play about a truly tragic real life event. It’s about Connor, who died an entirely preventable death whilst in the care of the NHS, and his mother Sara Ryan, who can’t get a straight answer about what happened. You may be aware of her impassioned campaign, but here’s the story, on stage, for the first time. Head to this page here to find out more.

Blue Beard | Battersea Arts Centre | 23 Apr-18 May
“Blue Beard the magician meets his match when his young bride discovers his murderous secret. She summons all her rage, all her smarts and all her sisters to bring the curtain down on his tyrannous reign. When someone tells you not to look, OPEN THE BLOODY DOOR!” You probably all know the story, but you are definitely going to want to see the hugely and deservedly acclaimed Emma Rice’s reimagining. Quick, click here.

MORE GREAT STUFF

This Is Memorial Device | Riverside Studios | 23 Apr-11 May (pictured)
Right, last section, more great stuff, and here’s a show that has receipts for being great, because it was a real hit at the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, to the extent that it became a recipient of one of the prestigious Fringe First awards. It’s based on David Keenan’s acclaimed cult novel, which tells the history of a fictional 1980s rock band via a series of interviews. Book your tickets here.

Black Swans | Omnibus Theatre | 23 Apr-11 May
“Two sisters face a difficult decision: how to best care for their elderly mother as her health declines. Rosie, a humanoid care robot, seems like the perfect solution. But soon they have to reckon with the unforeseen consequences of bringing an artificial intelligence into their lives”. An award winning play by German playwright Christina Kettering, translated by Pauline Wick, exploring the ethical and moral dilemmas of such a situation. Click here.

What (Is) A Woman | Arcola Theatre | 23 Apr-4 May
Final tip for now and, like every other tipped show, it’s a goodie. A solo musical with an original script and nine original songs, it’s set over four decades and sees its writer and performer – Andree Bernard – playing a succession of men. Expect something that explores what it means to be a woman in an era of empowerment. Is it an era of empowerment though? Don’t mind me, just thinking out loud. Go see the show, click here.

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