Naima Khan looks back at a year of theatre in London that saw the fringe scene on form.
One thing to be celebrated about London theatre is the mix of shimmery entertainment in the ever-glossy West End and the high brow increasingly political fringe. 2010 seems to have been a better year for one, more so than the other.
West End Washout
This typically ambitious year saw the West End suffer a number of surprisingly early closures after a booming first quarter. The year began with reports of record-breaking box office stats for Wicked, Sister Act, The Lion King and Les Mis. But a bunch of shows closed early, including Hair, Sweet Charity, and Flashdance. We also waved goodbye to Avenue Q which came to an end as planned on 30th October. January also ushered in the celebrity-splattered The Little Dog Laughed featuring Rupert Friend, Tamsin Greig and a massive accent fail from Gemma Arterton.
Speaking of Celebs...
2010 welcomed a flurry of celebrity appearances in the capital as usual. Though this year, they refreshingly embraced a mix of new and classic theatre. Carl Barat and Sadie Frost set up camp at Riverside Studios with Fool For Love. Press night wasn't too hot but we're assured the show improved as the run went on. Linda Basset (love her!) turned up in an Athol Fugard play at Arcola Theatre. The aforementioned Arterton starred alongside Stephen Dillane in The Master Builder. Simon Webbe and Whoopi Goldberg lent their support to Sister Act. Duncan James and Sheridan Smith blew crowds of teenage girls (and Tom) away in Legally Blonde. Judy Dench reclaimed her role as Titania in Rose Theatre's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Our favourites though were Mckenzie Crook and Ralph Little, who demonstrated their commitment to new writing by turning up at Bush Theatre for The Aliens by emerging American talent Annie Baker.
Fringe Happenings
2010 was a year for new venues too. We saw the emergence of New Red Lion, The Print Room, Theatre Delicatessen, and New Diorama to mention a few. We also saw the superb The Cradle Will Rock, the last show at Arcola Theatre before it moves to its new greener venue.
Fringe talent was on form as seen in Gilbert & Sullivan's Iolanthe at Union Theatre and The White Devil at Blue Elephant Theatre. Arinze Kene brought some much needed poetry to the fringe scene with his rhythmic Estate Walls. Punk Rock at Lyric Hammersmith was also one of the most affecting shows of the year. Cheap Seats Theatre created brilliant little snippets of theatre at a great venue with Some Stories, whilst Footnote Theatre's An Arrangement of Shoes showed Londoners some unforgettable storytelling.
Intimate theatre really came into its own too. The Scratch Festival and distinguished One on One festival at BAC were some of the year's highlights. As were theatre experiences Hair Cuts By Children by Mammalian Diving Reflex, and You Me Bum Bum Train whose creators won most Promising Newcomer at the Evening Standard Awards. We anticipate more of the intimate and experimental in 2011.
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