Features

Best short and one-act plays you can see in London

Sometimes short really is sweet

Alex Wood
London
Rachel Tucker in Come From Away
Rachel Tucker in Come From Away
© Matthew Murphy

Interval shminterval! While long-haul shows like Harry Potter are all well and good, sometimes a quick burst of theatre magic can be a welcome experience. Here our one pick of sub-two-hour one-act shows currently or about to appear in London, ranked from shortest to longest.

Six

The cast of Six perform at the newly rechristened Haus of Holbein, formerly the Arts Theatre
The cast of Six perform
© Idil Sukan

Six clocks in at a breezy 75-minutes, and, with two performances every night (at 6pm and 8pm), this musical Tudor escapade is the perfect way to get a theatre fix without having to get home stupendously late! Arts Theatre, booking until January 2020

Vincent River

Vincent River
Vincent River
© Scott Rylander

Philip Ridley's gripping exploration of modern day radicalisation transfers to Trafalgar Studios and clocks in at a speedy 85 minutes – not including all the time you'll be digesting it afterwards. Trafalgar Studios, until 22 June

Education, Education, Education

Education, Education, Education
Education, Education, Education
© Graeme Braidwood

The Wardrobe Ensemble has bagged a number of awards for their hit show Education, Education, Education, which sheds a spotlight on education in the '90s and what it means for the present day. At a speedy 90-minutes and a roster of hit '90s tunes from the likes of Blur and Oasis, this is really going to whirl by. Trafalgar Studios, until 29 June

Afterglow

© Darren Bell

The passion-fuelled and intimate Afterglow was a big smash success in New York, running and running for 14 months and taking over $1 million in a 69-seater theatre. The raunchy three-hander (and who knows WHERE those hands have been) clocks in at a breezy 90-minutes. Southwark Playhouse, from 5 June

Betrayal

Tom Hiddleston in Betrayal
Tom Hiddleston in Betrayal
© Marc Brenner

Jamie Lloyd has revived some incredible Pinter pieces over the last year, culminating in this 90-minute three-hander exploring the messiness of romantic entanglements. Tom Hiddleston, Zawe Ashton and Charlie Cox star, and you'll be out in time for a night cap afterwards. There are still tickets left too! Harold Pinter Theatre, until 8 June

Come From Away

Rachel Tucker in Come From Away
Rachel Tucker in Come From Away
© Matthew Murphy

The Best New Musical Olivier Award-winner is about 100 minutes straight through, but it goes by in a complete flash. With non-stop choreography and some incredible tunes, this is a one-act piece to make your heart soar. Phoenix Theatre, currently booking until 14 September