Children's Shows Comedy Musicals Theatre ThisWeek In London

Three To See and Stream 18-24 Aug: Comedy Streams, Theatrical Edfringe, theSpace, New Normal Festival, Support Edfringe Of The Future

By TW Editorial | Published on Friday 14 August 2020

THREE EDFRINGE COMEDY STREAMS

Comedy In The Meantime | RBM Comedy | 22 Aug
Lots to cover again this week so let’s get on with it. This is the last of three streaming comedy shows from RBM, all timed for edfringe month and all with great line ups. This last one features Ria Lina, Karen Hobbs and The Stevenson Experience, plus one more act TBC. See this page here for info.

Working From Home | Just The Tonic | 22 Aug (pictured)
Just The Tonic’s ‘Working From Home’ strand offers a special edfringe instalment featuring a great long list of comedy acts you’ve no doubt heard of. Like Daliso Chaponda, Kate Lucas, Adam Bloom and Kiri Pritchard-McLean. See this page here for details.

Smack Talk Live | Monkey Barrel | every Friday
Every Friday from 8pm Edinburgh comedy venue Monkey Barrel broadcasts ‘Smack Talk’ live, an online show which sees four comedians go head-to-head to find out ‘who is the king or queen of the put down’. You can find out more at the website here.

THREE FROM THE THEATRICAL VIRTUAL EDFRINGE

Lest We Forget | Army@TheVirtualFringe | 18 Aug (pictured)
“From the outbreak of war in 1914 to the race riots of 1919, we follow the lives of William James, a black British soldier, and Edith Booth, a white Northerner new to London”. A live-from-home reading of ‘Lest We Forget’, followed by a Q&A with the creative team. See this page here.

Breakfast Plays: New Tracks | Traverse Theatre | 24-28 Aug
The Traverse’s ‘Breakfast Plays’, showcasing short works by early career writers, have in recent years taken place at the venue at 9am. This year, they will be delivered via podcast, released one each day from 24-28 Aug and available for two weeks following. More here.

My Left Nut | Shedinburgh | 23 Aug
“400 millilitres. That’s how much liquid was drained from Michael’s left testicle when he was a teenager. That’s more than a can of coke. He should have told someone sooner, but who could he turn to?” You might remember that this play rather wowed everyone at the 2018 edfringe…? If you missed it then, here’s a chance to catch it via digital means. Head this way.

THREE VIRTUAL FRINGE SHOWS FROM THESPACE

Hollow | theSpaceUK | from 22 Aug
theSpaceUK has had so many shows on offer this month it’s been tough to make choices. Which is why for a second week running we have devoted a whole section to their virtual smorgasbord. Here’s the first one, a musical monologue called ‘Hollow’, a poignant tale of lost love with a supernatural twist. Find it here from 22 Aug.

SpaceXpat | theSpaceUK | from 22 Aug
“Pat is about to become the world’s most isolated human on the International Space Station. The only person who doesn’t see this as a major problem is Pat”. Sounds like this might be rather an interesting take on isolation and all that – something we’ve probably all been finding our own takes on in recent months. Find it here from 22 Aug.

At Home With The Brontes | theSpaceUK | from 22 Aug (pictured)
I spent my youth mildly fascinated by the Brontes and so this was bound to jump out at me, a comedy drama by Joan Greening that “unveils the jealousy and debauchery that fueled the success of the Bronte sisters”. I believe it will turn up at this link here from 22 Aug.

THREE LONDON EVENTS FROM THE NEW NORMAL FESTIVAL

The Beast Will Rise by Philip Ridley | 18 Aug
You know how I said we couldn’t easily pick from theSpaceUK’s virtual Fringe line-up? Well, we have had the same problem this week with The New Normal Festival, which – as you must know by now – is taking place in an outdoor, distanced manner in London. Our first pick from the week’s shows is Philip Ridley’s ‘The Beast Will Rise’, a selection from that previously reported collection of monologues that premiered online earlier this year.

The Signalman/A Shoddy Detective And The Art Of Deception | 23 Aug
Next, a theatrical double bill featuring two things close to my heart: the work of Charles Dickens and comedic detectives. ‘The Signalman’ is adapted by Martin Malcolm from Dickens’ final completed work, while ‘A Shoddy Detective…’ promises to be a raucous slapstick comedy adventure.

The Globe Players Present: Family Friendly Shakespeare – The Play’s The Thing | 23 Aug (pictured)
Last pick from The New Normal Festival this week is something that’s great for the family and especially those parents wishing to introduce their younger ones to the joys of the bard. The Globe Players vow to convert the cynical with scenes from some of the greatest hits.

For all shows on as part of The New Normal Festival, see this page here.

THREE WAYS TO SUPPORT THE EDFRINGE OF THE FUTURE

Greenside
There are loads of amazing edfringe venues who could do with a hand financially and lots of them are crowdfunding. We’ve mentioned others in previous weeks and we’ve got three more this week that we think you should consider. We start with the excellent Greenside, who host top shows every year. See this page here.

Quaker Meeting House (pictured)
Great fringe shows have been happening at the Quaker Meeting House forever, I think (they were when I started watching Fringe shows and I think that might be about a hundred years ago), and it’s lovely there. There’s not much time left for this crowdfunder and I would really love it if they could raise the very reasonable amount they are aiming for, so please consider helping out. Click here.

Summerhall
Summerhall is a relative newcomer to the Fringe scene, really, but my goodness it’s been well loved, and has staged some of the most clever and innovative stuff we’ve seen at the Fringe in recent times. If you’re a fan of the sort of stuff the venue puts on each summer, then consider helping it to keep going. Head to this page here.