The Camden Fringe returns for its 18th year this summer with more than 320 different productions taking place at 23 different venues across North London. Events take place over 4 weeks from Monday 29th of July to Sunday 25th August. There are 3 new venues participating this year: the historic pub theatre the Old Red Lion, the freshly relaunched Kings Head Theatre in its purpose built new home and the recently opened theatre cafe The Libra. The Camden Fringe was established in 2006 by Michelle Flower and Zena Barrie, who still do all the day to day management of the festival. Flower says: “It seems crazy to think that the Camden Fringe is now old enough to vote. We are delighted that the creative urge remains undiminished and every year there are more theatre makers, improvisers and comedians producing inventive and interesting new work that we can host.”
As usual, the line-up of performances is wide ranging – including stand-up comedy, musicals, physical theatre, new writing and dance. The set-up of long-form improv shows become ever more ambitious. Along with improvised TV shows, Shakespeare plays and musicals, there are also post-apocalyptic adventures (Tales From the Wasteland), a production based on the works of Neil Gaiman (Mixed Omens), a improv show within an improv show (Understudied), and a show that goes backward (The Show That Goes Backwards). Play Al is a one-off show that will mix audience suggestions with artificial intelligence to generate – scene by scene – a brand new show which will be played for laughs.
The shadow of Al also looms large over comedian Steph Darcy‘s Prototype about a robot politician. She describes it as The Thick of It meets Westworld. Audiences who attend the show computer will interact with the “main character”, an autonomous projected “computer* as well as being inspired by the future of technology, there are plenty of shows that are taking their cue from history. Mrs Pack, Lady Montagu Unveiled and Careless Talk all bring to light stories of real female pioneers that have been overlooked. Based on real historical accounts, My Female Husband is a queer and mischievous courtroom drama exploring the true lives of female husbands in the eighteenth century. Also set in court Titanic • The Inquiry brings to life genuine testimony from the survivors of the ill fated ship. From the creators of the critically acclaimed Fabulett 1933 (Camden Fringe 2021), The Pink List a one-person musical inspired
by the untold stories of gay men in postwar Germany. The Trying Rooms is a dance theatre double bill from 23 year old creator and performer Kitty Pilgrim-Morris. She will be joined onstage by her mother; at 60, Sharon Pilgrim-Morris!
This year’s Camden Fringe Festival takes place from Monday 29th July until Sunday 25th August at various North London venues. Thank find out more about this year’s line up, visit here…
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