August Top Picks

Last month’s column was all about the virtues of Open Air Theatre, and then the sun went in, for that I apologise but the shows go on and audiences are having a marvellous time anyway!

August is a strange month for the theatre due to everyone going on holidays, it means that usually our regional theatres are quieter than other months of the year.

Fringe Theatre however thrives! Most people have heard of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival the largest Arts festival in the world which opens on the 7th August, lots of my theatre friends are planning on a trip up to Scotland to experience as much theatre as they can and why not?

But if Scotland is a little too far, why not experience some theatre a little closer to home? The Camden Fringe Festival runs at various venues across London between 3rd – 30th August offering of productions of theatre, dance, comedy, music and opera for as little as £5 a show. What a great way to end a day-trip to our lovely Capital City. To find out more and to book tickets visit http://www.camdenfringe.com

Shows continue in the West End of course with new casts joining Mamma Mia and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, the opening of summer children’s shows Hetty Feather and The Three Little Pigs and the much awaited arrival in town of the Broadway hit musical Kinky Boots, shows closing this month are Hayfever, The Elephant Man and High Society so try and catch them if you can.

For something completely different ‘Impossible’ runs throughout August. Eight world class magicians performing at the Noel Coward Theatre, I was blown away at the press launch last month and guarantee it’ll blow your mind.

Theatres along the coast and in our cities have exciting programmes across the summer due to the influx of tourists. Big showstopping musicals like Dirty Dancing (Canterbury), Mack and Mabel (Chichester) and Annie (Eastbourne) will keep us singing and tapping our feet while for those who prefer plays we have Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path at also in Eastbourne and Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads starring Stephanie Cole in Brighton.

With each theatre also hosting comedians, concerts and children’s shows too, I haven’t got time to go on holiday 😀

Sammi O’Neill