You needn't head to Edinburgh for fringe festival action — London has a few of 'em, including the Peckham Fringe.
Running 1 May-8 June 2024, the Peckham Fringe sees an array of plays, monologues and comedy shows take over Theatre Peckham and other spaces in and around SE15, championing local writers and performers. Here are a few highlights:
- Best Fit (3 and 4 May): Three women meet up in an African tailoring shop, leading to heated debates, wardrobe mishaps and a candid exploration of beauty standards.
- No, but…where are you really from? (10 May): "I am woman, I am black, I am an immigrant, but where is my home? Is home a place, a body or a feeling?" A series of seven spoken word poems explore race, identity and home.
- MANDEM (14 and 15 May): Felix, Jermaine, Idris: Three boardgame-loving boys on the cusp of becoming men realise they're up against the world... and themselves.
- The Void (17 and 18 May): The hypocrisy of new-age spirituality is on the receiving end of Theatre Amok's absurd comedy show, in which you get to witness a live spiritual enlightenment... maybe.
- Brother's Keeper (17 and 18 May): The audience is invited to the surprise 25th birthday party of Eryam Boateng — but as the festivities unfold, the birthday boy must face up to the truth behind his brother's perfect life...
- Is There Work On Mars? (24 and 25 May): In a dystopian future in which you must pass Elon Musk's immigration test to go and work on Mars, this dark comedy asks whether an Asian with ADHD and dyscalculia has what it takes.
- BANGTAIL (31 May and 1 June): A rootin' tootin' clowning romp in which the Baddest Cowboy in Texas comes up against a Badder Cowboy-er Texas-er.
- The Power of One: Monologue Showcase (4 June): An assemblage of speakers from Theatre Peckham's Rep Company take it in turns to present a monologue which promises to "delve into the depths of human emotions".
Peckham Fringe Festival, 1 May-8 June 2024
