26 replies to this topic

[Backdrifter]

Is there a definitive comprehensive listing of all London fringe venues? A few websites I've looked at have very selective listings.

As a Londoner, and an avid theatregoer, I'd like to try visiting each venue. Although I've already missed a few that have closed before I could get to them.

Has anyone here done them all, to their knowledge?

[Jan Brock]

THere is not a definitive single listing to my knowledge which makes finding out what is on a bit of a problem. It would pay all fringe venues to have a single website to publicise their productions.

(I bet you never visited the Upstream Theatre Club)

[Matthew Winn]

I've never found fringe theatre cliquey, and I love the intimacy of a small venue. (In larger houses I always try to sit as near the stage as I can get. I like to see the details in each performance.) All anyone really needs to know to avoid looking like a total fringe newbie is that many theatres have unreserved seating so you sit wherever you want to, and you'd better use the toilet before the show starts because getting to it may require crossing the stage.

One thing I find the fringe does suffer from more than larger houses is that there seem to be rather more people who think that everyone around them will be impressed if they talk about all the other shows they've seen, using that exaggerated clarity of speech people use when they're talking to be overheard. That annoys me. Anyone can walk into a theatre and buy a ticket. It's not an achievement worth boasting about.

[LondonTheatreUK]

Is there a definitive comprehensive listing of all London fringe venues? A few websites I've looked at have very selective listings.

As a Londoner, and an avid theatregoer, I'd like to try visiting each venue. Although I've already missed a few that have closed before I could get to them.

Has anyone here done them all, to their knowledge?

Not all, exactly. But this site goes a long way to help.

http://www.offwestend.com/

[Jan Brock]

I have not found them cliquey, not in the way that certain medium-sized off-West-End venues can seem to be (Hampstead, Donmar, Royal Court).

Which ones do you find cliquey - King's Head ?

[Backdrifter]

Theatre, to me, is partly about different experiences. I love that one day I can take a single train ride to the NT clutching my ticket and walk straight to a designated seat I specifically chose in a spacious auditorium, then another day queue up to get into a small room above a pub that I've made a long journey to find and grab the first space I can - not to mention, of course, the corresponding differences in the kind of production you see in both types of space.

I don't share Skylight's misgivings about the closeness and cliqueyness, but it's interesting to hear those caveats.

Now here's the thing - I've heard this before about the sense of cliqueyness some find with specific off-West End or fringe venues, usually the very ones listed above by Jan & Skylight. I regularly attend all those venues and never experience this same feeling. Oh no! Does that mean I'm one of the clique?! That would be hard to swallow, being a life-long non-joiner who quite enjoys being on the margins.

Do you think the cliqueyness you experience at those venues comes from the audience being locals and believing they have some sort of kudos as a result? In fact, just how does this cliqueyness manifest, what exactly is it that makes you think this?

I did love what Matthew said about the "exaggerated clarity of speech" employed by those wishing to impress with their theatre battle stories. I definitely have experienced that many times.

Oh and, Jan - no I never went to the Upstream; tell me more.

[armadillo]

I don't understand about the cliqueyness either. You go to a pub and wait, having a drink and either talking to your friends or reading a book and then you go into a little room and watch a play. Much cheaper than the West End and you often get to see shows that you would never be able to otherwise - for example  how many of us would have seen On A Clear Day You Can See Forever or Floyd Collins or Saturday Night without the late-lamented  Bridewell?  My favourite is the Landor - very friendly, nice food and a great place for celeb-spotting and seeing (hopefully) future stars.

[Alnoor]

I try to get info from Time Out and The Stage but as i live in Nottingham sometimes it is too late!