The Vault Festival runs from 28 January – 22 March 2020 (no shows on Mondays), and runs across a number of venues this year.
The Vaults (Leake Street, near Waterloo Station) continues as the festival hub, with shows also taking place at The Network Theatre, The Gift Horse (at the Horse and Stables), Vaulty Towers, The Cockatiel (at Hello Darling), and several pop-up and vehicle venues.
The venues based at The Vaults are Pit, Cavern, Cage, Crypt, Crescent, Studio, Forge, Underbar, and Granby Place. These are all step-free accessible, as is the Network Theatre.
Most shows run to an hour-long slot, which gives an exciting opportunity to try a range of theatrical experiences from theatre and cabaret to immersive shows and “Lates”. The Vaults itself is open to meet, drink and socialise throughout the Festival.
Here are my picks from across the festival. Check back regularly for reviews and features which will all be tagged vault2020. [POST UPDATED 6 MAR 2020].
Week one (28 Jan – 2 Feb)
Productions I will be reviewing
First Time. Studio at The Vaults, 28 Jan – 2 Feb at 6pm. Nathaniel Hall presented by Dibby Theatre and Waterside Arts.
“Fresh from his critically-acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe debut, award-winning HIV+ theatre-maker Nathaniel Hall presents this ‘hilarious’ and ‘heart breaking’ autobiographical solo show about growing up positive in a negative world”.
Week two (3 – 9 Feb)
Productions I will be reviewing
Head of State. Studio at The Vaults, 4 – 6 Feb at 6pm. Produced by Grande Productions.
“Mo is the newly elected Head of State of Nechora – a country so tiny, it’s literally not even on the map. Inspired to get into politics by the two women he admires the most – his beloved Grandnana and pop sensation Ariana Grande – Mo is now determined to host a world changing summit on the climate emergency … he finds himself the trusted therapist of the world’s most powerful leaders and soon realises that the fate of the entire planet rests in his hands…”.
On Arriving. Pit at The Vaults, 4-9 Feb at 6pm. Produced by Searchout Theatre.
“On Arriving is a new one-woman play [by Ivan Faute, performed by Sophia Eleni], exploring a young refugee’s fight for survival, as her country falls apart before her eyes … presented through a non-linear structure – reflecting the way we recall memories – this brave, poetic play looks at the human moments of one person’s choice to leave a place they have known their entire life, to set off for something unknown”.
Productions I will be featuring
Tuna. Studio at The Vaults, 7-9 Feb, 6pm. Produced by Airlock.
“A new darkly comic look at the unsexy side of girls growing up around guns; the knottiness of social mobility, and a meatier side of female criminality. It’s a little less beautiful-bond-girl and a little more British school-girl. Semi-autobiographical and stored in brine”.
What The Dolls Saw. Pit at The Vaults, 5-9 Feb, 9pm. Produced by House of Macabre.
“Three sisters travel home for the funeral of their father, who happens to be the world’s greatest Dollmaker. With their mother on the edge of sanity, and an unsolved case haunting the family, the sisters must unearth dark secrets to find out: what did the dolls see? A delight for fans of true crime with a plot that unravels like a mystery podcast. This a play about sisterhood, and the pressure upon women to fit into the perfect china mould. Not recommended for those with a phobia of dolls… or a fear of feminism”.
Week three (10 – 16 Feb)
Productions I will be reviewing
The 4th Country. Crypt at The Vaults, 11-16 Feb, 6pm. Produced by Plain Heroines.
“Set in contemporary Northern Ireland, The 4th Country looks at the ways in which global political decisions impact the lives of ordinary people. Most of the stories that inspired The 4th Country only earned a single article in the British press. As old wounds heal, and new ones open, we see the extraordinary changes facing Northern Ireland through the lives of ordinary people”.
Love (Watching Madness). Studio at The Vaults, 14-16 Feb, 6pm. Produced by Speakup Theatre.
“A fast paced, poignant and painful celebration of mums, daughters and the strength of a child’s love in the face of tough odds. A heart wrenching and hilarious autobiographical one-woman show about the relentless journey of caring for someone who can’t always show that they care for you”.
Tinted. Studio at The Vaults, 11-16 Feb, 7.20pm. Produced by Scripped Up.
“Tinted is a revolutionary disabled response to the #metoo hashtag. Staged as accessibly as possible and written by disabled playwright Amy Bethan Evans (Libby’s Eyes, BBC Access Room, Kudos Fellowship shortlist and producer of Access Platform) Tinted is the debut full-length monologue from Scripped Up, championing D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent writers.”
Productions I will be featuring
Sticky Door. Cage at The Vaults, 11-16 Feb, 7.30pm. Produced by Katie Arnstein.
“A storytelling show with songs about sex, stigma and cystitis. Sticky Door is the third part in Katie Arnstein’s It’s a Girl! trilogy, following Bicycles and Fish and Sexy Lamp [both also showing at the Vault Festival, 16 Feb only]”.
Talk Propa. Studio at The Vaults, 11-13 Feb, 6pm. Produced by Shybairn.
“Sick of the endless presentations of northern women as the clown, ‘chav’ or someone that lives such a dire life in the grim darkness that is The North™, that they must escape and move to the wonderful South… TALK PROPA is a truly northern f*ck you to the southern elite”.
Week four (17 – 23 Feb)
Productions I will be reviewing
Essence. Crescent at The Vaults, 21-23 Feb, 18.15pm. Produced by Sarah Henley.
“Essence explores what it’s like to be lonely, how much it takes to let people in, and how the messy bits of life are ultimately where the gold lies”.
how we love. Cage at The Vaults, 18-23 Feb, 7.30pm. Produced by Airlock/Annette Brook.
“A new play about different types of love … Gay investigative journalist Babatunde ‘Babs’ Okonkwo has come to visit his lesbian best friend Regina ‘Regi’ Abengowe in Lewisham, south London. With mounting pressures back in Nigeria, where homosexuality is illegal and escalating dangers for their partners, Babs and Regi hatch a plan to get married …”
Madame Ovary. Studio at The Vaults, 18-23 Feb, 7.20pm. Produced by Wildchild Productions.
“A ‘breathtakingly sad and intensely funny’ true-story of Rosa Hesmondhalgh’s ovarian cancer treatment aged 23. The 5 star sell-out hit of Edinburgh Fringe is returning to London. Madame Ovary is a life-affirming show about the importance of love when your world comes crashing down”. Madame Ovary is a Pick of the Pleasance 2019 Award Winner.
Productions I will be featuring
Heroes. Studio at The Vaults, 18-20 Feb, 6pm. Produced by Lilac Yosiphon and Isabel Dixon.
“Heroes is an exploration of fallen idols, family secrets and the human price of forgiveness”. A work in progress, set in 1991 and 2016, inspired by the influence of David Bowie.
How To Save A Rock. Pit at The Vaults, 18-23 Feb, 6pm. Produced by Pigfoot Theatre.
“It’s 2026, and we’ve found a letter from the last ever polar bear. He’s somehow ended up at the top of Scotland. We’re going to save him … How To Save A Rock is a multi award-winning musical comedy about how to still have hope – for kids and adults alike”.
Week five (24 Feb – 1 Mar)
Productions I will be reviewing
Beige. Studio at The Vaults, 25 Feb – 1 Mar, 6pm. Produced by Magna.
“In this half-play, half stand-up gig, Anna Wheatley explores the art of being human in a world obsessed with boxes. You might do a laugh. You might do a cry. You might join hands and stick two fingers up to society”.
Blow: a Deaf Girl’s Fight. Studio at The Vaults, 25 Feb – 1 Mar, 7.20pm. Produced by Tramp.
“When 18 year old deaf girl Hannah wants to join Dennison’s Boxing Gym, she’s shunned by the boxers because of her disability, until trainer Bradley takes her under his wing. Blow follows Hannah’s journey from outcast to championship contender … part play, part immersive, and part musical, Blow asks tough questions of the audience about how d/Disabled people are portrayed on stage and screen, and how society treats them in real life”.
Dumbledore is So Gay. Network Theatre, 25 Feb – 1 Mar, 6.15pm. Produced by Robert Holtom and Tom Wright.
“It ain’t easy being Jack. He hates French, he got sorted into Hufflepuff on the official online quiz and he’s in love with his best friend Ollie. But dodging bullies, keeping secrets and trying to get the man is too much for Jack to take. So he pulls out his trusty Time Turner and does it all over again. Maybe this time he’ll get into Gryffindor. Dumbledore Is So Gay is a witty, poignant and contemporary coming-of-age drama for the naughties”.
Life and Death of a Journalist. Cage at The Vaults, 25 Feb – 1 Mar, 7.30pm. Produced by Jingan Young, Alex Change and Archie MacLeod.
“Inspired by Hong Kong reporters this play follows Laura, a reporter who returns to London after covering the Hong Kong protests only to be offered a job of a lifetime by editor Vicky. But there’s one catch to this golden opportunity. The newspaper begins to increasingly censor itself to appease its Chinese investor. The play looks at journalism from a female perspective and tackles China’s tightening grip on freedom of speech”.
V+15. Cavern at The Vaults, 26 Feb – 1 Mar, 9.20pm. Produced by Nevertheless Theatre Company.
“After years in the shadows, Alina and Vincent can stay silent no longer. But when personal beliefs have political consequences, fighting the good fight is not as straightforward as it seems. Jo Sutherland’s tense political thriller asks what we believe in and what we’d risk to stand up for those beliefs”.
Zoo. Cavern at The Vaults, 25 Feb – 1 Mar, 7.50pm. Produced by Lily Bevan/Anteater.
“A play about ‘climate change’ both in the weather and in the discussion of the female experience, our relationships to the natural world, and perceptions of a life well lived … From Lily Bevan – co-writer of Talking to Strangers w/Sally Phillips (BBC Radio 4) and writer/performer of Pheasant Plucker (Edinburgh sellout 2015) comes this glorious story of two complex, funny, awkward women. A tale of tragedy, courage, flamingoes and the need to escape”.
Productions I will be featuring
Alice. Cavern at The Vaults, 27 Feb – 1 Mar, 6.20pm. Produced by Klein Blue.
“Alice is an arresting solo play [by Emily Renée] about otherness, Azerbaijani-British identity, and the power that comes from creating our own personal myths to define who we are.
Be More Bee. Crescent at The Vaults, 28 Feb & 1 Mar, 22.45pm. Produced by Lightning Bugs.
“Struggling to fit in? Out of step with this crazy new world? Well Bea’s got just the ticket to make you feel at home. It’s the bees! They know what’s *really* the buzz in this country! Come to Bea’s Garden Party and get stuck in – she’ll guide you through the honey-soaked life-hacks of the British Bee”. I reviewed this at the Camden Fringe in 2019.
Father’s Son. Crescent at The Vaults, 25-28 Feb, 6.15pm. Produced by James Morton.
“This restless, tender and deeply personal new play wrestles with the trauma inherited from father to son with sharp focus on how this shapes who we are. Spanning three generations, Father’s Son examines how the unresolved trauma, toxic behaviours and poor mental health ripple through a working class family in Stoke”.
This Poo Shall Pass. The Gift Horse @ The Horse and Stables, 29 Feb-1 Mar, 7pm. Produced by Molly Martian.
“Molly Martian spends her time writing poems and performing them to audiences around London. She also spends a lot of her time on the toilet. This Poo Shall Pass shows us both of these sides of her. What would otherwise be simply an engaging hour of poetry and comedy is consistently interrupted by a look behind the curtain at an anxiety-induced time Marsh spent in a toilet cubicle, running into a barrage of scatological dilemmas”.
This Queer House. Network Theatre, Lower Road., 27 Feb-1 Mar, 7.45pm. Produced by OPIA Collective.
“A young queer couple inherit a home. A joint renovation project begins. A restless house gathers strength. An exploration of home-making, the seduction of normalcy and the cost our dreams can come at. Award-winning poet’s Oakley Flanagan’s debut play is told in collaboration with OPIA Collective’s multi-disciplinary style”.
Week six (2 – 8 Mar)
Productions I will be reviewing
Closed Lands. Cage at The Vaults, 3-8 Mar, 6.15pm. Produced by Legal Aliens Theatre.
“A unique fusion of poetry, satire, reportage, multimedia and traveller’s diary, Closed Lands traces the history of modern walls – real and metaphorical – from Berlin to Mexico to Europe … based on factual research and testimonies, and performed by actors who are all migrants in the UK, Closed Lands chronicles the “Free world’s” obsession with walls and our journey back to shame … this is the English premiere of Closed Lands (Terres Closes), by award-winning playwright Simon Grangeat and performed by an all female international cast”.
Heroine. Crypt at The Vaults, 4-8 Mar, 8.40pm. Produced by Snatchback and Joyous Gard.
“What makes a strong woman? Mother, maid and crone are trying to find the answer. They knew this once… It’s on the tip of their tongues… Maybe the stories we once told each other will hold the key … with stories from all across the world, including Nigeria, Mexico and the Arctic – join us for an evening celebrating our forgotten fairytale heroines”.
Ride. Forge at The Vaults, 7.30pm. Produced by Bottle Cap Theatre.
“It’s 1895 and 24 year old Annie Londonderry has returned victorious to America, hailed as the first woman ever to cycle around the world … she’s pioneering, she’s plucky, and she’s pitching her story to the New York World. But as she shares her adventures, the cracks begin to show, and she’s forced to confront a past she’d rather leave unexplored”.
Sky in the Pie. Crescent at The Vaults, 6.15pm. Produced by The Feathers of Daedalus Circus.
“The Feathers of Daedalus Circus have teamed up with celebrated author and poet Roger McGough for this new wonderfully wacky children’s production inspiring young and old to fall in love with poetry. With circus, physical theatre, puppetry and projection, the Feathers explore fun and fantastical ways to play with poetry, dipping into works from Roger’s 50 year career topped up with new poems especially created for the show”.
Too Pretty To Punch. Studio at The Vaults, 6pm. Produced and performed by Edalia Day.
“A comedy spoken word show about gender, the media and not fitting any of the boxes, full of explosive movement, original songs and kickass video projection … Too Pretty To Punch is a hilarious and uplifting journey through what it means to be trans in 21st century Britain. It reminds all of us (regardless of who we are) of the power of celebrating our existence”.
V&V. Studio at The Vaults, 3-8 Mar, 7.20pm. Produced by Sprezzatura Productions.
“In the overwhelmingly tangled world of dating apps Mia and Lottie meet online. Flirting through the beam of a phone screen, they navigate many challenges, including kiss politics – two x’s or three? When an emoji can change not just the tone of the conversation but the entire meaning of what you write, reading between the lines takes on a whole new meaning. Brought to you by Sprezzatura Productions, V&V charts two narratives: the iconic love story of literary treasure Virginia Woolf and esteemed socialite Vita Sackville-West; and a far newer story of Lottie from Tunbridge Wells and love cynic Mia”.
Productions I will be featuring
Aamira and Gad. Cavern at The Vaults, 7 Mar, 3.20pm. Produced by Bee in My Beanie.
“An immersive experience which invites the audience to step into a border conflict between two nations. Unfolding in a no-man’s land, the audience joins a group of story archivists to salvage the folktales of these two nations before they are destroyed by war … What stories do the archivists salvage? And what stories to they erase? Together with Aamira and Gad the audience will go on an immersive adventure to solve a mystery and build a better future”.
Week seven (9 – 15 Mar)
Productions I will be reviewing
Bin Juice. Cavern at The Vaults, 10-15 Mar, 7.50pm. Co-produced by Catherine Kolubayev/Kitty Wordsworth.
“Francine and Marla, employees of a hazardous waste removal company, are on the hunt for a new apprentice. Having just escaped a life of misfortune, Belinda walks through the door, ready for her interview. The process is absurd, but it’s not a problem for hopeful applicant Belinda who, unbeknownst to her future employees, is overqualified… VERY overqualified. Unfortunately, this job isn’t quite what it seems and someone is about to find themselves in a very sticky situation”.
Border Control. Cavern at The Vaults, 10-13 Mar, 6.20pm. Hack Theatre.
“Award-winning playwright Michelle Sewell presents a sharp and quick-witted political drama that cuts through the heart of our immigration system to examine what it means for modern relationships. The play is followed by a panel discussion around Brexit, immigration, and the future of the arts, featuring high profile representatives from the political, charitable and artistic sectors”.
Sugar Coat. Forge at The Vaults, 10-15 Mar, 7.30pm. Emma Blackman Productions.
“A feminist pop-punk live music play about love, loss and lubrication … featuring an all female-identifying band and cast playing original music inspired by an eclectic mix of bands such as Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, Veruca Salt and Letters to Cleo”.
Take Care. Network Theatre, 10-15 Mar, 6.15pm. Produced by Ecoute Theatre.
“Take Care follows the real-life story of Pam, a woman struggling to move her mother into a care home that’s closer to her. Along the way we meet other carers, NHS staff, politicians, journalists and MP’s all involved in the care system for older people. Darkly humorous, this documentary play shines a light on the hidden voices of carers and exposes the workings of a care system in desperate need of repair”.
When We Died. Cage at The Vaults, 10-15 Mar, 6.10pm. Produced by Alexandra Donnachie.
“He’s dead, and it’s her job to prepare and present his body for his family’s final goodbye. She often imagines what each person’s life was like. But today she doesn’t have to imagine who he is. She knows him … Faced with the body of the man who raped her eleven months ago, When We Died is a striking new play about one woman’s choice to confront her trauma and tell her story, on her terms”.
Productions I will be featuring
The Brief Life and Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria: Part the First. Cavern at The Vaults, 11-15 Mar, 9.20pm. Produced by Out of the Forest Theatre.
“Combining first-hand accounts from WWII and Bulgarian folk tunes, The Brief Life and Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria: Part The First sets out to investigate the suspicious circumstances of our unlikely hero’s demise. I mean, it wasn’t every day that someone stood up to the Führer… Expect satire, revisionist history and live Bulgarian folk tunes as we explore the history of Boris, his sister and their motherland: the “fairytale” Kingdom of Bulgaria”.
Week eight (16 – 22 Mar)
Productions I will be reviewing
Miles Apart Together. Studio at The Vaults, 17-22 Mar, 6pm. Produced by Paper Smokers.
“From going around the world on a bicycle to doing spectacular airshows or climbing the highest mountains on earth, Annie “Londonderry” Kopchovsky, Bessie Coleman and Junko Tabei fought the prejudice and scepticism that surrounded them … Though their adventures were as breathtaking, spellbinding and phenomenal as their male counterparts, where are their stories now? For one night only Annie, Bessie and Junko come back for the live recording of the podcast “Miles Apart Together” and share their stories”.
Scab. Pit at The Vaults, 17-22 Mar, 6pm. Produced by Metamorph Theatre.
“Walking home after a night shift, a young man reluctantly performs an act of goodwill for older man lying injured outside a pub. What begins as a comedic commentary on social responsibility develops into an exploration of loneliness, trauma and family as the young man embarks on a journey into the hidden depths of the older man’s life”.
The Graham Show: Extra Graham. Crypt at The Vaults, 17-19 Mar, 7.20pm. Produced by House of Macabre.
“Graham de la Cruz is a superstar. The only problem is that no-one knows it yet. Irelands sassiest triple threat performer is on a mission to bring his cabaret extravaganza to the world. Armed with a dazzling array of diva classics, a strong sequin blazer and a microphone he is ready to give the performance of his life!!”
Productions I will be featuring
Beach Body Ready. Crescent at The Vaults, 17-22 Mar, 7.45pm. Produced by The Roaring Girls.
“It’s the season of cutting carbs, hitting it hard at the gym, and shaving everything from the chin down. Summer has rocked up and the media has us thinking about how our bodies aren’t up to scratch and there are companies ready to capitalise on that. We’ve been shamed, dehumanised, and humiliated for how we look and we’ve had enough.
Join The Roaring Girls for a defiantly feel-good show which sticks two fingers up at how the media says you should look”.
Far Gone. Cage at The Vaults, 17-22 Mar, 7.30pm. Produced by John Rwothomack.
“Far Gone is a profoundly moving story of a young boy’s journey from childhood innocence to child soldier. Seen through the eyes of those that love him and those that betray him, Okumu’s experience strikes straight at the heart through a powerful one-man performance by John Rwothomack, directed by Moji Elufowoju”.
The Night Woman. Cavern at The Vaults, 17-18 Mar, 6.20pm. Produced by Julene Robinson.
“Unleash your bravery and join the adventure with the Night woman as she makes her way through the dark all the while receiving a delicious serving of exquisite performance, Caribbean flavours of sound and movement with a serving of Caribbean history and folktale. This is your chance to be moved. Your senses will thank you”.
