Top 10 Fringe Shows Summer 2016

Dom O'Hanlon22 June, 2016, 00:00

Whilst the West End continues to welcome new productions over the Summer season, London's off-West End and Fringe scene also continues to thrive over the warmer months. There is a misconception that London fringe theatre slows down throughout the summer as performers, creatives and audiences head up to Edinburgh for the annual Edinburgh Fringe, but just a quick look through the Fringe Listings shows that there is a whole host of exciting new productions opening off-West End this summer.

To help you sift through the listings, we've put together our Top 10 Fringe listings for Summer 2016. This mix of plays and musicals is our pick of the Fringe this season.

1. Titanic (Charing Cross Theatre)

Thom Southerland's season at the Charing Cross Theatre has kicked off with what has to be one of the most exciting musicals currently running in London. Previously seen at the Southwark Playhouse, this genius production of Maury Yeston and Peter Stone's 1997 musical based on the 1912 Titanic disaster was met with outstanding reviews and later transferred to Toronto. Sailing back into London in the intimate Charing Cross Theatre, the musical boasts a fiercely committed ensemble cast and is genuinely moving, thanks to the powerful delivery of the haunting score. Musical theatre fans will delight in seeing such a polished and powerful production, and there is plenty to enjoy for those who are as familiar with the musical. Whilst the plot may not be much of a surprise, it's a delight to visit the Charing Cross for what is set to be an incredibly exciting season.

Until 6 August. Book tickets by clicking here.

2. Britten in Brooklyn (Wilton's Music Hall)

Sadie Frost stars in this UK premiere of Zoe Lewis' new drama, set in a dilapidated house in Brooklyn Heights. The play follows bohemian lifestyle of Benjamin Britten, WH Auden, Carson McCullers and Gypsy Rose Lee as they create an artistic community at 7 Middagh Street which starts to unravel as World War II becomes a brutal reality. Performed in the stunningly beautiful surroundings of Wilton's Music Hall, this is set to be one of the most interesting new plays of the season.

31st August to 17 September. Book tickets by clicking here.

3. No Villain (Trafalgar Studios 2)

Covent Garden Productions and Turner Theatre Ltd in association with The Old Red Lion present this five star world premiere of Arthur Miller's first play. Telling the story of a garment industry strike that sets a son against his factory proprietor father, Miller explores the Marxist theory that would see him hauled before the House Un-American Activities Committee years later. The production opened to fantastic reviews and features a wonderful cast including David Bromley and Nesba Crenshaw. Carefully directed by Sean Turner, this is a rare opportunity to enjoy an original Arthur Miller classic in the intimate environment of Trafalgar Studios 2.

20 June to 23 July. Book tickets by clicking here.

4. Allegro (Southwark Playhouse)

Rodgers and Hammerstein fans will delight at this rare opportunity to see one of their forgotten gems performed at the Southwark Playhouse, continuing the trend for world-class musical theatre productions. Directed by Thom Southerland and produced by Danielle Tarento, the multi-award winning team behind productions such as Grey Gardens, Grand Hotel and Titanic, this is set to be one of the most exciting revivals of 2016. Whilst the score may not be the most well-known in the Rodgers and Hammerstein songbook, theatre fans will enjoy this opportunity to discover a rare classic. Set in 1905 in a small Midwestern town Allegro chronicles nearly four decades in the life of this average Joe, Joseph Taylor Jr., from his childhood, to college dorm, to the marriage altar, and his own medical career. Don't miss your chance to see this undiscovered American classic.

5 August to 10 September. More information by clicking here.

5. Into the Woods (Menier Chocolate Factory)

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical fairy-tale mashup is no stranger to the London stage, but returns to London in an exciting new style of production recently seen at the Roundabout Theatre Company's off-Broadway venue. With only 10 actors, one piano and boundless imagination, this witty and wildly theatrical re-invention is described as "Into The Woods like you've never seen it before!" Fiasco Theatre's production, directed by Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, reduces this epic musical to a core group of performers who multi-role and perform classic songs such as "No One Is Alone", "Children Will Listen" and "Hello, Little Girl" in a completely reimagined fashion. This is a must for Sondheim fans, but even those who have never seen the show live on stage will find much to enjoy in the creative theatricality.

1 July to 17 September 2016. Book tickets by clicking here.

6. Exposure the Musical (St James Theatre)

A truly original new musical, Exposure is an exciting new concept for a show written by Mike Dyer with Quentin Russell. Featuring a collaborative score from Mike Dyer, Philip Cohen, Vince Hudson, Fred Johanson, Clayton Moss, Sara Eker Peller, Mark Street and Adrian Wyatt, this is a contemporary tale of fame and celebrity excess. The show follows young photographer Jimmy Tucker who faces the biggest and most exciting challenge of his life when a stranger commissions him to find and shoot the seven deadly sins alive and kicking in modern London. Original musicals are a rare treat in London, so don't miss your chance to be apart of an exciting new production.

16 July to 27 August 2016. Book tickets by clicking here.

7. Stalking the Bogeyman (Southwark Playhouse)

Based on an extraordinary true story, this American play follows renowned journalist David Holthouse's secret plot to murder the man who raped him when he was seven years old. Based on an article published in 2004 by Holthouse and later adapted into a story for the popular US radio programme 'This American Life', the production comes to London following a successful off-Broadway run in 2014. Directed in London by Markus Potter, this intense and gripping play stars Gerard McCarth, Glynis Barber, Geoffrey Towers, Russ Bain, John Moraitis and Amy Van Nostrand. Described as "breathtaking" by the New York Times, we're incredibly excited to see the UK premiere of this powerful play.

13 July to 6 August 2016. Book tickets by clicking here.

8. I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking it On The Road (Jermyn Street)

A new production of this successful off-Broadway and West End hit musical arrives at the Jermyn Street Theatre this summer. Featuring music by Nancy Ford and book and lyrics by Gretchen Cryer the production tells the story of singer songwriter Heather Jones who is finally breaking out of her celebrity mould, reaching for a new life as a new woman - no longer 'daughter', 'wife' and ' celebrity product. With a cast that features Landi Oshinowo, Nicolas Colicos and Rosanna Hyland this powerful musical was last seen in London in 1981, and makes a welcome return in the intimate Jermyn Street Theatre in the heart of London's Piccadilly.

6 July to 23 July 2016. More information here.

9. Savage (Above the Arts)

Claudio Macor's chilling play aims to uncover the tragic tale of a Nazi doctor and his ill-conceived 'cure' for homosexuality. Set in the late 1930s, Danish doctor Carl Peter VÃ¦rnet discovered what he believed to be "the cure for homosexuality": injecting testosterone into the testicles of live human subjects without anaesthetic. Given a prominent post at the Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald, he experimented on 17 inmates and was released by a British major following the liberation by Allied forces. This shocking new play features two young men directly affected by Dr VÃ¦rnet's experiments and unfolds this dark and unknown chapter of history. Featuring Alexander Huetson, Gary Fannin, Nic Kyle, Bradley Clarkson, Lee Knigh, Emily Lynne, Christopher Hines and Kristian Simenov, this is set to be a challenging and important new drama.

29 June to 23 July 2016. More information here.

10. Some Girl(s) (Park Theatre)

Neil LaBute's modern comedy is described as a perfect parable of modern relationships. Following productions in the West End, New York and a film adaptation, Buckland Theatre Company bring a new version of the hit play to Islington's Park Theatre, directed by Gary Condes and starring Carolyn Backhouse, Elly Condron, Roxanne Pallett, Carley Stenson and Charles Dorfman. 'Guy' is desperate to clear his conscience before he gets married to his beautiful bride to be. But as he sets off on his psychological and physical journey across America, to make amends with four old flames, the question is: is there something - or someone - he's missing? This honest and funny play is well deserving of a second look and will no doubt feel at home in the Park Theatre's modern and vibrant space.

22 June to 6 August 2016. More information here.

For a full list of Fringe openings, visit our What's On Fringe page.

Originally published on Jun 22, 201600:00