Genre: Absurd Theatre 0
Review: The Velvet Noose: Stampede of One: The Musical
This unconventional theatrical display challenges the audience to pay close attention and feel the themes of the work throughout the hour.
Review: A Letter to Lyndon B Johnson or God: Whoever Reads This First
A beautiful performance with a hefty emotional arc.
Review: Downward Spiral: The Benji’s Mind Show
A surreal late-night talk show staged inside a fractured psyche, blending absurd comedy with raw reflections on identity and belonging.
Review: The Silly William Gambit
A fascinating story of a man heading towards Philadelphia whilst on a train playing chess no less than seven times.
Review: Twonkey’s Zip Wire to Zanzibar
Joyous, pointless silliness as Twonkey takes us on a rollercoaster down the rabbit hole
Review: Claire Dowie H to He (I’m Turning into a man) Finborough
A must-see for anyone who loves breakthrough: genre-defying, then genre-defining theatre.
Review: Mario Banushi Taverna Miresia
Not even the world theatre powerhouse of the Coronet has hosted anything like this. Mario Banushi must be seen.
Review: Teatro dei Gordi: Pandora
It begs questions: what couldn’t we do, if placed outside our own comfort station in life? Essential theatre. essential questions. A gem.
Review: Dan O’Brien The Voyage of the Carcass; Emily Jenkins Bobby & Amy
Dan O’Brien’s piece is for dedicated farceurs. By itself outstanding, it’s hoped by several Emily Jenkins’ Bobby & Amy have a postlude of its own, with this team and these two young actors pitched at this moment in their careers.
Review: Happy Days
I’ve never seen a Winnie more ordinary, one without those strange transcendental inflections. Catherine Humphreys isn’t flat: she rises to anguish, though it’s one of realism. I’m still not quite sure what’s been removed. But I’m very glad I’ve seen it.
Review: Alas! Poor Yorick
Almost a play in three acts...but strangely, rivetingly not. Ridiculusmus put the shovel into Shakespeare.
Review: The Cat and the Canary
An exceptional ensemble delivering a delirious twist on a tale that truly deserves it. Unmissable.
Review: A Celebration of Father Ted
music, stand-up, video, slides and audience participation hosted by the comedian/actor who played Father Damo.
Review: A Play by John
An absurd piece of drama which delivers and hints at more possibilities than can be imagined, or not.
Review: 3 Chickens Confront Existence
3 chickens do a deep dive into existentialism... seriously funny
Review: How Dead Am I?
An absurdly enticing view of what I might be like at the end of your world … but with snacks.
Review: Hunchback Variations
A ‘what if’ comedy fantasy which explores a creative collab between Beethoven and Quasimodo
Review: The Duncan Brothers: Blood Sword
Funny, daft, absurd and clowning about and around a bloody condition.
Review: An Unexpected Hiccup
Absurdist knockabout comedy with sinister undertones showcasing local talent from established Edinburgh company Lung Ha
Review: Paper Swans
A superbly performed physical, surreal performance, rooted in the theatre of the absurd
Review: Corpse Flower
A beautiful nod to the expressionistic silent movie era, just with words and words that will enchant you!
Review: Six Characters In Search Of Pirandello
"There is someone in my life, and I know nothing about him" (Pirandello)
Review: Rock, Paper, Scissors
A joyous revival. Though working in TV production, Hayden’s writing is too good, too well-shaped not to develop in theatre instead.
Review: Oh What a Lovely War
Musically directed by Ellie Verkerk the six-strong cast play instruments throughout. They’re a phenomenal team, singing beautifully a capella or in solo. With six young actors mostly fresh out of drama school absolutely at the top of their first game, we’re treated to acting both hungry to prove and yet touched by the world they’ve entered. This is an outstanding production.
Review: Mates in Chelsea
Mates in Chelsea is definitely worth seeing, and apart from adaptations surely the best thing this writer’s produced in a decade. Royal Court Theatre
Review: Dead Dad Dog
McKay is even-handed, and very funny. And don’t you just love a ghost in 1985 who’s never heard of Margaret Thatcher?
Review: Accidental Death of an Anarchist
The adage that farce is tragedy speeded up met its greatest progenitor in Dario Fo. In a ferocious new version by Tom Basden of Franca Rame’s and Fo’s Accidental Death of an Anarchist, directed by Daniel Raggett in a stunning production now at the Haymarket, the target here is squarely the London Met. And if you slowed down Basden’s brilliant, no-holds-unbludgeoned telling, details prove tragic enough.
Review: Purgatorio
Groundhog Day - Saying goodbye to old memories, whilst finding new ones. A beautiful physical representation on our ability to accept who we truly are! Get down to Club Purgatorio!
Review: AFTER ALL
Weinachter is an interchangeable chameleon: not just a dancer, but a rare performer who can do it all! Her style and execution of ideas paints a beautiful memory of her idiosyncratic talents in exploring the beginning and end of life. Stunningly poignant.
Review: The Ruffian on the Stair and Funeral Games
Joe Orton’s The Ruffian on the Stair and Funeral Games come to the Lantern Theatre for four performances. This in-house double bill of one-acters is directed by Daniel Finlay and Mark Burgess respectively. A fitting end to the Lantern’s extraordinary week
Review: FOOD
Geoff Sobelle’s performance is outstanding, absurd, magical and mysterious visual physical storytelling.
Review: Double Bill: Paul Robeson, Suzi of the Dress
No doubting of the power of this double-bill from Kansas. The Paul Robeson is solid gold, the Suzi of the Dress, quicksilver.
Review: Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!
A cost-of-living revolution in St James Street? You’d better believe it as Triada Theatre kick off the weekend with Dario Fo’s 1974 Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay! at the Lantern Theatre. Superb, energised theatre, rough occasionally, but mostly very-well performed, imaginatively staged, rapturously received. Now get out on the streets.
Review: Cheesy Cheesy Catchy Mousey
There’s surprises here you’ll discover. A superb landmark in Mark Daniels’ gifted exploration of Absurdism’s relevance. This isn’t deadly theatre, it’s quietly lethal to deathly assumptions everywhere. See it.
Review: all of it
Still the most sheerly thrilling yet intimate piece MacDowall has written, though all three pieces amplify that. A miniature classic of snatched meaning its staging too flashes by with shocking brevity. In all it lasts just 90 minutes. Catch it.
Review: A Caravan Named Desire
Anything by Alexander and Helen Millington is worth coming for. A Caravan Named Desire isn’t yet at the level of I Love Michael Ball but by the time you see it, it almost certainly will be. This is a team to watch and queue for.
Review: Beneath
A highly interesting absurdist environmental performance with an intense message given air from under the ocean
Review: Candide
"Brimming with ideas, full-blooded and full throated performance, Candide is presented successfully in a way only Babolin theatre can achieve."
Review: Cocky and the Tardigrades
Bonkers brilliance. Cocky couldn’t have been premiered with two more stunning actors, and the author’s flawless stepping-in remains remarkable.
Review: The Play That Goes Wrong
A play about amateurs no amateur company should even dare contemplate. There’s genius in the timing of all this. Outstanding.
Review: Language Games
A quirky and delightful play of language and ideas in a short film depicting 4 characters in philosophical conversation (overseen by a giant, verbal rabbit).
Review: The Marching SKAletons and Dead Beat Poets
An 8-piece day of the dead inspired parade band plus the Dead Beat Poets
Review: Two Horsemen
The glaring energy of this piece can’t disguise how it strikes profundity in its funny-bone.
Review: Living Newspaper #6
Like all the Royal Court’s Living Newspaper series, we need this. Watch what this does with the future
Review: We, The Lost Company, An Adaptation.
A delightful musing on water and the seaside that was engaging and intriguing.
Review: Until the Ad Break
An absurdist comedy that tries very hard to find the humour in an apocalypse.
Review: A Separate Peace
Stoppard looks at society’s phantom limb ethic. Even when it’s gone it aches, and it aches to have someone opting out.
Review: Far Away
Our greatest playwright since Beckett and Pinter. An outstanding revival. Hesitating?
Review: The Affair
A lovelorn lothario with ants in his pants meets his match in a knockabout clown play
Review: There She Is
A treat of an absurdist “tale” that brings the confusion of life into the centre of our universe
Review: Headhog
An absurdist comedy that suggests what is in your head may not be as simple as you think
