7 Best London shows this autumn
As the days get shorter, I'm always busy putting things in my diary to enjoy at the theatre. This autumn there is some exceptional talent coming to the London stage.
I am a huge fan of the V&A Theatre Course which I cannot recommend more highly. The course is hosted by American Theatre critic Matt Wolf who is fantastic and a font of information. Trust me when I say the joy this course brings me is immense.
Matt writes for Broadway World, London Theatre, The Arts Desk (he’s a founding member) and The New York Times. He has been covering London theatre for the last 40 years and his opinion, reviews and views are highly respected.
He is embraced by everyone on this course year after year and every week we devour what he’s seen and going to see. It isn’t all commercial theatre and that is the joy.
Each week we listen to creative talent talk about their field of work within the industry. In the last three years I’ve listened to: Bertie Carvel (Ink), Lolita Chakrabarti (Life of Pi), Dame Sheila Hancock, Anoushka Lucas (Oklahoma!/Elephant), Will Keen (Patriots), Merv Millar (My Neighbour Totoro), Tom Littler (Orange Tree Theatre), Marisha Wallace (Guys and Dolls), David Sabel (NT Live), Tuppence Middleton (The Motive and the Cue) and Rufus Norris (National Theatre). It’s incredible.
How do you manage to get this talent out on a Sunday morning you ask? Well, this course is so well respected and the artists are so engaged, I’m sure the word in theatreland is; why wouldn’t you accept Matt’s invitation to meet a group of very engaged people at the V&A - London’s museum dedicated to the power of creativity.
If you want to sign up to the Theatre Overview Course, the dates are 6 October - 24 November 2024. It is two hours every Sunday, with a week’s break in the middle. In a room of people who thoroughly enjoy theatre, it is no wonder that 90% of the course are repeat customers. Be quick if you are interested as places are limited.
What I’ve gone on to see because of this course has enlightened me in terms of what you take a risk in seeing. I don’t have a bottomless pocket of cash so I’m savvy about what tickets I get. Here is a list of what I have booked and how to do it, including the link to the incredible show we saw this week at the ROH.