A night in the West End can be daunting: expensive tickets, rushing to catch trains afterwards, and finding dinner between work and curtain time, only to leave a flat revival or vapid film adaptation. For those seeking a more affordable – or even closer – night at the theatre, the London Fringe is here for you.
What is the London Fringe?
Defining the Fringe has become increasingly difficult in recent years. Historically the Fringe has referred to theatrical venues outside of the West End and major subsidised companies (e.g. the National) where alternative and experimental works are performed. London’s Fringe companies have also traditionally received subsidy from the Arts Council.
The Fringe today, however, refers to a wide variety of companies, either for geographical reasons, venue size, or contractual obligations to the theatrical unions. A company’s artistic policy does little to determine Fringe status either: the contemporary Fringe plays host to a plethora of revivals and mainstream productions. For the sake of this article, Fringe is anything not classified as a West End venue and with a top ticket price at or below £25.
Newcomers to the Fringe should note that its operation is quite different from the West End: seating is frequently unreserved, the work you see may still technically be in development, and plays run on strictly limited seasons ranging from one to eight weeks with second chances a rare occurrence.
Fringe Theatres in Central London
For the centrally located playgoer, a wealth of opportunities await in Zone 1. For a focus on accessible work, the Kings Head in Islington offers a varied season alternating between new plays and musicals in addition to comedy and a lunchtime season. The Jermyn Street Theatre off Picadilly is host to a constantly changing array of original and received productions.
For those seeking more challenging plays, Theatre503 along with the Tristan Bates Theatre present a strong collection of new writing.
Fringe Theatres in North London
While offerings are sparser in the Northern and Northwestern postcodes, the choices are still good. The New End Theatre, residing a short walk from Hampstead Underground Station, offers a variety of cabaret, two-handers, and Jewish themed works. Upstairs at the Gatehouse in Highgate focus on bringing new talent to revivals of plays and musicals.
Fringe Theatres in South London
The hottest spot on the London Fringe resides near Clapham Junction rail station at Battersea Arts Centre, where a number of physical, devised, and text-driven companies have launched successful projects including Jerry Springer: The Opera and Punchdrunk’s Masque of the Red Death. Kennington Station is also a short walk away from the White Bear, a cozy pub venue offering a solid mix of new and revived works.
Fringe Theatres in East London
The granddaddy of the Fringe, however, is the plush Theatre Royal Stratford East, former home to the heavily politicised Theatre Workshop. Stratford East continues to produce challenging and frequently political work with a focus on the local minority populations. Other heavy hitters include the Arcola in Dalston, boasting two studios and a dedicated program for Turkish works, and the Hackney Empire with both its largely populist main house and experimental studio.
Fringe Theatres in West London
The Lyric Hammersmith has developed a strong reputation in recent years for attracting a young audience with its plays, from technologically driven devised works to the upcoming transfer of Broadway musical Spring Awakening as well as a studio for experimental works. The 60-seat Barons Court Theatre is a popular stop for new writers and producers, offering magic shows on off nights in addition to one to three week play runs.
These listings merely scratch the surface of London’s rich theatrical landscape, and playgoers looking to explore the Fringe are best advised to check the Society of London Theatre’s website for a comprehensive listing of venues and upcoming works.
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