London has some of the world’s best theatres, and the money and people it attracts is testament to that. That’s why it’s nice to give the smaller venues a bit of love sometimes. They put in just as much blood, sweat and tears as everyone else, so here’s five Off West End theatres that deserve your attention and, let’s be honest, your money too. Almeida Theatre This Islington theatre has been putting on productions for 35 years now. With many of its plays going on to be performed at the West End, the Almeida Theatre is like a stepping stone. With a constant stream of high quality productions and itself being a beautiful theatre, it’s one of the best venues in London. One of its more interesting productions, directed by Artistic Director Rupert Goold, was American Psycho: A new musical thriller. While not the first film you’d think of adding show tunes to, the production received some great reviews when it debuted in December 2013. It even pulled in the Doctor Who star Matt Smith to play Patrick Bateman. Pleasance Theatre Another Islington theatre, the Pleasance is actually a sister venue to an Edinburgh theatre that plays a big role in the Edinburgh Fringe. They’ve transferred a lot of this experience and expertise south. It’s no surprise with its links to the Fringe that comedy gets a big showing here. The theatre has played host to lots of big names in comedy including Dara Ó Briain, Simon Amstel and Eddie Izzard. You can also check out some Edinburgh Fringe previews here in case the trip to the real thing is too difficult. Tricycle Theatre Another theatre going strong for 35 years now is the Tricycle Theatre. The building started its life as a music and dance hall, being converted in 1980. What makes this place particularly interesting is its dedication to cultural diversity. Placed in a diverse part of London the Tricycle Theatre tries to include this diverse mix in its productions and work. Unsurprisingly, this theatre isn’t scared to get political either, so it’s a perfect venue for those who want to be intellectually stimulated and challenged. Its current Artistic Director, Indhu Rubasingham, got off to a great start with a production of Red Velvet in 2012. Both the starring actor, Adrian Lester, and the playwright, Lolita Chakrabarti, won awards for their involvement in Red Velvet. Ever since Rubasingham has been guiding the theatre incredibly well with excellent productions of Multitudes and Handbagged, the latter eventually moving on to the West End. The White Bear Theatre This gem is located in Lambeth is well worth a visit. It’s won a number of awards including the Time Out Best Fringe Venue and the Mark Marvin/Peter Brook Award. One of the stand out features of the White Bear is just how intimate the productions are. The space is pretty small with a capacity of just 50, so if you want something that’s up close and personal this should be your first choice. The theatre has also been a starting point for some successful actors including Emily Watson, Tamzin Outhwaite, Kwame Kwei Armah, Vicky Featherstone, Torben Betts, and Lucinda Coxon. It’s also never a bad thing to have a decent pub downstairs, perfect for a bit of drunken post-play dissection. Pentameters Theatre The Pentameters Theatre started life in 1968 in the basement of a pub. Now located in Hampstead, this charming venue has built a reputation for superb classic revivals. The place also has quite an impressive list of actors who have performed including Kingsley Amis, Laurie Lee and Harold Pinter, while Russel Brand, Ben Elton, and Adrian Edmondson have also appeared. It’s well worth checking out their weekly music, poetry, comedy, and open mic night each Sunday for a fiver. The Roundhouse Over to Camden for the incredible Roundhouse. The venue itself is one of the most stunning in all of London and it’s got by far the biggest capacity on this list. Alongside top quality theatre productions, the Roundhouse is also known for playing host to some of the worlds’ best bands, comedians and performers. The breadth of work on offer here at any time is one of its greatest selling points. What’s commendable about the Roundhouse is the work they’re doing behind the scenes, particularly for younger people looking to find their way in the art world. Their Young Creatives programme involves finding places for those aged 11 – 25 to help them start the career they want. It’s a great thing to be doing and is an excellent example of how a successful venue can help support the arts.
