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!
London dates
As an experiment, 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. I've now expanded the form so that you can also share ideas for 2025 :)
7.45pm, Tuesday 10 December: 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. Press night is now happening on the day I had originally suggested for theatre club, so this will now take place on Tuesday 10 December. You can watch that night 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 10 December for the post-show discussion. Booking details here: https://royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/expendable/