theatre club
Do you love theatre, and wish you had more people to talk with about it?
Do you secretly eavesdrop on people during an interval or after a show, to find out what they thought?
Do you wish theatre offered more spaces to connect and chat?
Come to Theatre Club!
What is it?
It’s a bit like a book group: you see a show, then meet with friendly people to chat about it. All are welcome, snacks are provided, and I’m there as the host with abundant curiosity.
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. Got a comment, not a question? Secretly hated the show? Feel like you didn’t understand it? Come to to Theatre Club!
How does it work?
You watch the show on any day that suits you, and come to the discussion on the advertised date. To make life simpler, that’s usually post-show in the bar, but sometimes it’s online. I host the conversation and always have a few questions I’m interested in, to move us along if needed – but the best Theatre Clubs are genuine conversations, to which everyone brings their curiosity and points of view..
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 an ongoing 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 (with an often remarkable lack of support from theatres themselves). And because not everyone lives in the bottom of the country, there are always a couple of Theatre Clubs each season watching digital work and then chatting online as well.
Although all the listings can be read online, I also have a mailing list where I share additional theatre recommendations and reminders. Do join if you're interested!
When are the next dates?
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!
At Cambridge Junction
Full details coming soon but in the meantime please check the Cambridge Junction Theatre Club page, where all the dates and booking links are already live.
In London
NEW DATE! 7pm, Thursday 17 July: Run Sister Run, at Arcola Theatre This play by Chloe Moss travels through time to look at sibling relationships and the many factors that can push them apart. Sound familiar? One of my favourite things about theatre club is how delicately we discuss watching common scenarios through our own experiences. I certainly relate to this one and am excited to see how Moss’s writing and the company making explore its nuances. Theatre Club will happen immediately after the show on Thursday 17 July, but if you want to see it at an earlier performance and come back for the discussion at 9pm, please do! Booking details: https://www.arcolatheatre.com/whats-on/run-sister-run/
Online
Helpful notes: these online chats happen on zoom and they really are like book groups – you need to watch the show BEFORE joining the zoom call! If the price would make it hard for you to watch the show, email me and we can see if we can figure something out together…
JUST ANNOUNCED! 8pm, Friday 22 August: Poor ClareAn unusual date for an online theatre club but I hope you might be interested to join anyway. We’re going to discuss Poor Clare, a new play by Chiara Atik being performed at the Orange Tree Theatre over the summer. It’s a retelling of the encounter between Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Clare (who, I’m going to admit, I didn’t know about before reading about this play!), and their radical politics of giving up wealth, re-thought for the era of billionaires and social media influencer capitalism. You can see it live (until 9 August, booking via this link), or watch it online via OT on screen between 12 and 15 August (booking via this separate link), and then join to discuss on zoom on Friday 22 August. Email me for zoom link!