theatre club
Do you enjoy talking about theatre, but find most post-show discussions annoying?
Do you often see theatre alone, and wish you had someone to talk with about what you see?
Do you like watching theatre, but sometimes feel like you don’t understand it?
Come to Theatre Club!
What is it?
It’s a very informal – no membership required – conversation space similar to book groups: people see a show, then gather to chat about it. No specialist knowledge is needed, and snacks are provided, making it an extra-friendly occasion.
Who is invited?
Anyone who saw the show! But not the people who made it, which makes Theatre Club very different to the usual post-show Q&A. At Theatre Club, audiences share their questions and responses with each other. Confused? Bored? Delighted? It’s all welcome!
How does it work?
Sometimes Theatre Club happens immediately post-show, and sometimes people see the show on different days and return to the theatre or meet online for the conversation. I host it and always have a few questions I’m interested in, to move us along if needed – but the best Theatre Clubs are genuine conversations, a shared dialogue not led by me.
Why do people come?
Why don’t I hand you over to some of the people who come for this bit? They say:
“There's something about the range of people, opinions and reasons for attendance that is beautiful, theatre club brings me into contact with people and opinions that differ and I value that.”
“I like the friendliness and the format and the chance to share my love of theatre with like-minded people.”
“We could talk so freely and I got so many different takes/opinions and I felt safe to disagree, it was chewing it over with people I didn't know that was so great – new opinions!”
💙💛💙
Where does it happen?
I have a lovely relationship with Cambridge Junction, who have supported Theatre Club since 2023, enabling some extraordinary conversations, from a group of teenagers responding to a show featuring people aged 60+ to a multi-ethnic group dissecting an evening inspired by Sardinian carnival. It’s a wonderful community so if you’re in the area, do join us!
I also host Theatre Clubs ad-hoc around London – if there’s a show that you’re interested to talk about, let me know! I have a few suggestions for Autumn 2024 but always curious what other people are drawn to.
And because not everyone lives in the bottom of England, I also hold Theatre Clubs online :)
For more information, including additional theatre recommendations, you could always join the mailing list (which is literally a list of people I send emails to, rather than a database like mailchimp).
When is it happening next?
Below are all the upcoming dates I have in mind. If you like the sound of Theatre Club and would like me to host one in your area, please get in touch!
Cambridge Junction dates
Useful notes: all Cambridge Junction tickets are pay what you feel! All Theatre Clubs at the Junction happen directly after the show. And everyone is welcome!
7.30pm, Thursday 7 November: IV, by SERAFINE1369
Time stops, warps and fractures in this dance work by Serafine1369. I’ve found the work I’ve seen by them before to be many things at once, distancing and alluring, mystifying and distinctive, and always appreciate talking it through with people, as each audience member translates this unique language in their own way. Booking details: https://www.junction.co.uk/events/iv/
London dates
Please note: I haven’t organised
any of these dates with the theatres themselves yet, which
is partly why I’ve created a sign up form! If
you’re interested to attend, it would be amazing if you could let
me know in advance
– but you can totally
change your mind, and also
feel welcome to just show up on the day.
7.30pm, Tuesday 29 October: King Troll (The Fawn), at New Diorama
Sonali Bhattacharyya is a pull-no-punches playwright: one who believes in theatre’s potential to inform, inspire and ignite action for change. Here she collaborates with director Milli Bhatia (who also directed Sonali’s play Chasing Hares for the Young Vic) to look at the ways in which institutional racism twists into people’s minds, and the cruelty that results. You can watch this on Tuesday 29 October and join Theatre Club immediately afterwards, or see the show at an earlier date (for instance, during previews when it’s cheaper) and come back on 29 October for the post-show discussion. Booking details here: https://newdiorama.com/whats-on/king-troll-the-fawn
7.30pm, Wednesday 27 November: Expendable, at the Royal Court
Much has been written about the trafficking and abuse of teenage girls perpetrated by a gang in Rochdale, but this play from writer Emteaz Hussain offers a rare insight: into the thoughts of the Pakistani women in community with the men. You can watch this on Wednesday 4 December and join Theatre Club immediately afterwards, or see the show at an earlier date (for instance, on a Monday when tickets are much cheaper) and come back on 27 November for the post-show discussion. Booking details here: https://royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/expendable/
Online dates
8pm, Sunday 24 November: Till the Stars Come Down
This new play by Beth Steel was well reviewed when it played at the National Theatre at the start of this year. Set at a big raucous wedding, it looks at the complexities of prejudice within families, and how intimate relationships are affected by international politics. Fun! It costs £7.99 to rent from NTatHome, watch it whenever suits you via this link, and then join a chat on zoom on Sunday 24 November at 8pm GMT – please email me for zoom details.