At the start of 2024 I assembled a list of theatre festivals across London and the UK. I hoped to either review shows or run interviews for all of them but some proved more fruitful than others.
Please follow the links below to see the reviews and interviews for each festival listed. My thanks to the PRs, performers and producers who arranged these or gave their time in helping me to promote their shows and work.
New writing
The Bitesize Festival at Riverside Studios ran twice, in Spring and Summer.
At Barons Court, a mixed programme of bitesize new shows comprised the month-long Reboot Festival.
Footprints Festival at Jermyn Street was a highlight of January’s programming.
FreshFest at Old Red Lion showcased new writing across genres.
Soho Rising showcases works in progress at Soho Theatre Upstairs.
Sprint brought the more unusual new pieces to the Camden People’s Theatre stage.
Children’s shows
Southbank Centre’s Imagine Festival focused on children’s shows.
The Little Angel Children’s Puppet Festival harked back to the roots of the puppet theatre in Islington.
At New Wimbledon Theatre, their new Wimbledon Children’s Festival was launched.
Themed festivals
MimeLondon focused on mime and visual performance in venues across the capital.
The State We’re In ran at Camden People’s Theatre and focused on politics and where we stand now.
The Etcetera in Camden Town ran the Women Writers Festival early in the year.
96 Festival is London’s only queer arts festival under one venue, the Omnibus.
Small-scale opera returned to Grimeborn at the Arcola in Dalston.
Another year of experimental opera took place at Tête à Tête while Voila! Europe gave a place to European shows – both based at The Cockpit.
There was another successful year at Dance Umbrella with both live and online shows.
The Old Red Lion presented horror shows as part of Grimfest.
Larger scale fringe
Brighton Fringe continued to present new work on the south coast.
Camden Fringe offered a wide range of work across venues in Camden and Islington.
The renamed Lambeth Fringe expanded into a range of venues.
The Edinburgh Fringe expanded and highlighted shows from across the globe.