Camden Fringe: Window at the Tristan Bates Theatre

It’s hard not to feel sorry for the London theatre scene in August, clamouring for press coverage as the creative centre of gravity moves north of the border. One wouldn’t begrudge Edinburgh this attention: in no other arts festival in the world is a city so effectively commandeered to the service of culture. However, for those who are London-bound – or bound to London – there is a smaller-scale alternative in the form of the Camden Fringe, which comes to a close on August 25th after a tight programme of events throughout the month. The programme, which is in its eighth year, takes place across sixteen venues around Camden and Covent Garden. With a similar ethos to the early Edinburgh Fringe, the shows are nearly all performed by unknown actors tackling untried material. This gives plenty of room to explore ideas and concepts in new ways but – as with any fringe festival – the results are uneven in places.

To The Grime Born: The Arcola Theatre Brings Opera To The Streets

While Grimeborn may take its name from the more established opera festival at Glyndebourne, it is unlikely that it shares many of its visitors. With none of the pomp of is south coast namesake, this short programme of events in East London’s Arcola Theatre has taken a more experimental, tongue-in-cheek approach, bringing opera to the streets.

The Arcola may have recently completed a renovation but the space remains obstinately bare and simple. The main stage is not much of a stage at all – more a small floor space surrounded on three sides by raised seating, supported by scaffolding poles. A Dalstonesque theatron, the exposed brick and scaffold creates a space designed for chamber productions and up-close theatre as opposed to symphonic compositions viewed from the gods.

Hej…

My debut novel – The Wave – will be published in January 2016 by the brilliant Dead Ink Publishing. Follow me on twitter for all the latest: @LochlanBloom I have written for BBC Radio, Litro Magazine, Porcelain Film, IronBox Films, EIU,  H+ Magazine and Palladium Magazine amongst others. Stick your deets below to  get updates, announcements and …

Hej… Read More »

Roman Elegy

You can read my review of Sabine Gruber’s new novel Roman Elegy at Litro Magazine now: www.litro.co.uk/2013/05/roman-elegy/

Trade

Go in bold they said, throw in some sex, that will catch their attention. Great advice that was! It’s that sort of thinking that led to all this shit, that led to all this relentless hustling…. Trade is set in a near contemporary world where apps control our love life and the sexual partners we choose. …

Trade Read More »

Scroll to Top