This was my second visit to Southwark Playhouse. I've seen a variety of shows in my time, and the two that I've seen here have been amongst the most memorable and inventive... The auditorium is compact and intimate, and the whole building stylish and modern. The staff here are friendly and enjoy their work, there's a real sense of community here. You don't always get that in the West End! This time around we saw a Youth Theatre production of Sondheim's Into the Woods. I went in with an open mind, not sure what to expect. Sondheim is notoriously difficult to perform, requiring oodles of technical skill and talent - and these youngsters smashed it out of the park. I look forward to seeing some of them again, their professionalism shone through, there has to have been some future stars amongst them! No understatement to say that I had a great time, enjoyed a slick, professional show - and at a fraction of the cost of other London shows. Whether you're already a theatre buff, or just curious to see something fresh and new, I'd highly recommend...
Ā Ā Ā Read moreMy first visit to Southwark Playhouse Elephant. What a great venue! It is a nice space to have something to eat and drink before a show. The auditorium itself has an industrial aesthetic that reminds me of the Donmar Warehouse. The seating is comfortable, and there is plenty of leg room (unlike in most West End theatres).
I was here to see "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button," an intelligent, original, but downbeat musical with a celtic/folk music infused score in which the actors double up as the musicians (or vice versa). I liked it very much.
Musical theatre in the UK is in flux. As the dead hand of Lloyd-Webber loses its grip on the box office and juke box musicals featuring groups you have never heard of, flop, there should be, I hope, room for shows like this one to find an audience. As the show tells us, "It's all just a...
Ā Ā Ā Read moreA neat little theatre about five minutes from Elephant & Castle underground station. It occupies the ground and basement floors of a condominium building; what lucky tenants! The front is occupied by a well-stocked bar with some food offerings and friendly staff, who will gladly answer your questions and get you to where you need to be.
The basement holds another bar, good-looking unisex washrooms, and the auditorium itself. The auditorium is quite small but intimate. The seats are improvised; they are cushioned folding chairs placed on large stairs. There isn't much of a rake, so it may be difficult to see the stage itself if you are in the back. Nonetheless, any performance is guaranteed to feel very personal and hit very powerfully.
Perhaps best of all for students and graduates, Southwark Playhouse offers student discounts! Programmes and other items can be bought at 10% less than normal price.
Moreover, the shows that find themselves at Southwark Playhouse are fresh, impactful productions, including brand-new musicals, hard-hitting plays, and reinterpretations or daring revivals. Many will likely be future classics; you can help creatives find their way each time you come to the Playhouse.
In sum, a recommended experience.
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