Plied and Prejudice, The Vaults

by Zahid Fayyaz

A hit in Australia, this rowdy and ‘immersive’ adaptation of Pride and Prejudice has now made its way to London, playing in the atmospheric tunnels under Waterloo station. Performed by five actors doing all the parts, this is a fun romp through Jane Austen’s iconic book. There is heavy encouragement from the performers to buy drinks throughout the show to keep the mood up but it’s still plenty of fun.

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A Knock on the Roof, Royal Court

by Zahid Fayyaz

Fresh from acclaimed runs in New York and Edinburgh, the new writing power-house puts on the one-person monologue from actor and writer Khawla Ibraheem. The show relates the struggles of Miriam in her everyday life in Gaza, whilst Israel is taking military action.

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Death and the Cat, Drayton Arms Theatre

by Diana Miranda

Death and The Cat, directed by Penny Gkritzapi, explores life’s ultimate and inevitable outcome – death – wrapped with absurdist humour and a surprising amount of heart. Robert Emlyn Slater’s debut play gives life (ironically) to Death. What starts as a comedy full of quirky characters slowly reveals itself as a deeper reflection on questions about what infinity means, and how the power of connection may ground our search for meaning within the immeasurable.

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Phone, Courtyard Theatre

By Luisa De la Concha Montes

We all spend too much time on our phones – there is no doubt about it. So, how can phone addiction be explored, in 2024, without relying on redundant tropes? Phone, a play written and directed by Sam Taylor explores our overreliance on digital media through the distant, yet loving relationship between four siblings: Helen, Issy, Harvey and Luke. They find themselves in a holiday resort in Hastings, the same one they used to frequent as children every summer.

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Josephine Lacey: Autism Mama, Soho Theatre

by Zahid Fayyaz

The straight-talking Josephine Lacey’s debut stand-up hour is fresh from this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. The new grandmother from London, focuses on the subject of her raising her son, with him having Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder. Though this is not a natural subject for comedy, Lacey manages to put together an entertaining show from such a serious topic.

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Incomplete, The Bridge House Theatre

by Diana Miranda

Incomplete, written by Rebecca Mason and directed by Amalia Kontesi, is an introspective exploration of lost love and missed chances. The drama follows Phil and Louise, who, after decades of separation, find themselves in a fortuitous encounter at a remote train station. In 1985, Phil and Louise were young, in love, and ready to pursue a future together, united by their dreams of music and entrepreneurship—until Phil walked away with no explanation. Now, as they wait for a delayed train, they confront their past, grapple with lingering regrets, and question the potential for new beginnings.

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Statues, Bush Theatre

by Zahid Fayyaz

At the west London’s prestigious new writing venue comes the world premiere of Azan Ahmed’s latest play, a two-hander in the theatre’s intimate studio space. Running for a tight 70 minutes, the story is about teacher Yusuf, played by Ahmed himself. He is going through his recently deceased’s father’s things, and finds some old tapes which reveal that he used to be a rapper. Listening to the tapes, he begins to understand more about his father, whilst also going through the process of grieving a man who was a ‘statue’ in front of the TV for most of his life.

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Sophie Duker: But Daddy I Love Her, Soho Theatre

by Zahid Fayyaz

Former winner of Taskmaster and Celebrity Mastermind, and following regular appearances on Frankie Boyle’s New World Order and The Last Leg, Sophie Duker tours her new show to London this month. This is the sequel to her award-nominated 2019 debut, But Daddy I Loved Her, a play on the trademark phrase from Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, is a loud, brash and electric show from Duker.

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Kim’s Convenience, Riverside Studios

by Zahid Fayyaz

Now a very popular Netflix sitcom, Kim Convenience reverts back to its theatrical roots for a second run in the current London theatre season. Previously at the Park Theatre, Ins Choi’s production is now on at Hammersmith’s Riverside Studios. With Choi playing the patriarch of the family, ‘Appy’, this is a family drama with both humour and pathos in equal measure.

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Work-in(g)-Progress: Mercurial by Rosaleen Cox

by Diana Miranda

The fringe theatre in the UK takes pride in being a haven for new writing, offering platforms such as R&D workshops, scratch nights and fringe festivals. While the model has its quirks and shortcomings, it remains a space for showcasing and tweaking new work. However, artists navigate a product-oriented landscape that puts pressure to deliver new work.

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