Articles by Isabella Thompson

House of Life

House of Life is back – and this time it’s bigger, bolder and more euphoric than ever.

A Stan Is Born!

Alexis Sakellaris has a P.

Birthday Fish

Birthday Fish is an absurdist physical exploration of the feeling of being a ‘fish out of water’.

idiots... GAY idiots

According to hosts Grace Fool and Jennifer Schmennifer, this country is founded on Gay idiots—and quite right too! With live singing, drag, character comedy, lip-syncing and clow…

Too Close to the Sun

Wrong Tree’s Too Close to the Sun follows three groups of people on the edge of apocalypse.

Ashley Gavin: My Therapist is Dying

In an impressive departure from her typical fiery comic persona, Ashley Gavin’s latest hour, My Therapist is Dying, gets deep.

Summoning Sondheim

The theatre is dying, so Jordana Belaiche and Grace O’Keefe are holding a séance to bring back the legendary musical theatre composer, Stephen Joshua Sondheim.

make the Bed

Make the Bed is an exploration of anxiety and paranoia based on writer and performer Ariela Nazar-Rosen’s own experience—in particular, a bed bug scare that pushed her to break…

Margolyes & Dickens: The Best Bits

Icon, legend and star, Miriam Margolyes takes to the stage once more in an homage to her favourite author, Charles Dickens.

How to Mate: The Ted XXX Talk

Steve Porters (Daisy Doris May) is back with his second instalment of his Ted XXX talks: How to Mate.

I wrote this show last night

Courtney Buchner’s I Wrote This Show Last Night is a fresh hour of comedy that plays with genre, form and style.

CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation

If you’re bringing improvised sketch comedy to Fringe, it has to be truly exceptional to compete with the multitude of renowned acts that return year after year.

Running Out of Time!

With 45 minutes to complete as many sketches as they can, Arran Kemp and Conor Mather (aka.

Sex, Camp, Rock'n'Roll

Sex, Camp and Rock and Roll is an uninhibited hour of cabaret starring Ryan Patrick Welsh aka the 8th best legs in San Fransisco.

Yes, We're Related

A year after the death of their mother, with her fiancée Mark (Jack Huckin) in tow, Saskia (Eleanor Griffiths) and Sarah (Florence Lace-Evans) reunite for a party to commemorate t…

Jaz Mattu Returns

Jaz Mattu goes back home to live with his dad in Kent to focus on his comedy career.

KAREN

Sarah Cameron-West’s Karen is an electrifying explosion of female rage and comedic prowess that follows a loveable underdog who faces off with her arch nemesis in the aftermath o…

You & It: The Musical

Korean troupe EG Musical Company present the brand new tear-jerking musical, You and It.

plewds

A queer clown goes to therapy to help them through their breakup.

Is This Thing On?

So La Flair and MissMatch’s Is This Thing On? follows flatmates Liz, a musician (Megan Keaveny) and Mary, a poet, (Ellie Campbell) through their tumultuous relationship navigatin…

MC Hammersmith: The MC Stands for Middle Class

West London’s very own freestyle ‘gangsta’ rapper MC Hammersmith is back and his rhymes are razor-sharp as ever.

Is the WiFi Good in Hell?

Lyndon Chapman’s debut play directed by Will Armstrong, Is The Wifi Good in Hell? is an evocative coming of age play where identity and environmental displacement collide.

Chris Weir: Well Flung

Chris Weir's Well Flung is a self-proclaimed gay romantic comedy that tells tales from the world of the comedian's own love life.

Who Do Ya Love?

Who Do Ya Love? is a fun-loving larger-than-life jukebox musical about Harry Wayne Casey’s journey to starting KC and the Sunshine Band.

Gang Bang

Hughie Shepherd-Cross’ Gang Bang follows the events triggered by mafia boss Don Lambrini taking the wrong boat out of Sicily and ending up in Blackpool.

An Evening Without Kate Bush

An Evening Without Kate Bush might not sound like something a fan would desire, but contrary to its title, the show is a dramatic, passionate love-letter to the alt pop superstar t…

Derek Mitchell: Double Dutch

Derek Mitchell identifies as Dutch.

The Screen Test

It’s the 1930s and Betsy Bitterly is dying to be a Hollywood star.

Knives and Forks

Friends of seven years, Iris (Ianthe Bathurst) and Thalia (Thea Mayeux) share their lives in the same flat.

Ali Woods: At The Moment

At The Moment is Ali’s latest hour that reflects on the self: being truthful, putting a stop to performativity and living in the moment.

Squidge

Squidge is a debut solo show that follows Daisy (Tiggy Bayley): a begrudged teaching assistant in Lower Sydenham looking after a troubled boy at primary school.

Juniper and Jules

Stephanie Martin’s Juniper and Jules is an intimate exploration of a lesbian relationship that examines the nuances to queer relationships and the many hurdles they have to overc…

Elf Lyons: Horses

In an astonishing and delightfully absurd theatrical experience, Elf Lyons: Horses takes horsing around to a whole new level.

Jobsworth

Bea works three full-time jobs.

FREAK OUT!

Drawing from their research into UK communities affected by coastal erosion, Coin Toss Collective’s Freak Out! investigates the small town of ‘Portsford’, which is fighting a…

Kate Butch: Wuthering Shites

We’re in luck: Kate Butch is workshopping her jukebox musical: Bush! to audiences at the Fringe this Summer.

Finlay Christie: I Deserve This

Have you ever wondered how the other half live? That is, the under 25s whose social currency is trauma and neurodivergence? Then look no further than Finlay Christie’s latest hou…

Suite in Three Keys

The scene is set in the sunny mountains of 1960’s Switzerland, and the audience are serenaded by Felix (Steffan Rizzi) on acoustic guitar as Linda Savignac (Tara Fitzgerald) anxi…

For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy

Ryan Calais Cameron’s For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy, is now in its fourth run and second West End transfer with a brand new cast, and it …

The Homecoming

Review
★★
Isabella Thompson
West End
Young Vic
12th Dec, 2023

The Homecoming, as with much of Harold Pinter’s work, is a timeless play, charged with machismo, pride and tension.

Passing

Thought provoking, touching and incredibly true-to-life, Dan Sareen’s Passing provides thoughtful insight into the cultural conflicts that can come with the biracial experience.

Shakesperimental

Edinburgh University’s Shakespeare Company present the chilling tale of Hekabe, a reimagined translation of Euripides’ original Greek tragedy.

Nicole Travolta is Doing Alright

Nicole Travolta is Doing Alright is Travolta’s debut show that tells the story of her crippling shopping addiction and how she manages to abscond a steadily increasing mountain o…

Shoot From The Hip

The improvisational sketch group Shoot From The Hip bring their spontaneous hour of games and tomfoolery to the Fringe this year.

The Town Cryer

Brooke Finegold is masterful in her hour of live poetry, spoken word and stand up comedy.

Paul Merton's Impro Chums

Paul Merton’s infamous Impro Chums return to the Fringe after a four year hiatus and is warmly welcomed by the Pleasance Grand’s 750 seat capacity bursting at the seams.

Spring Awakening

The 2006 musical Spring Awakening, based on the book of the same name, tells the story of teenagers at a strict religious school in late 19th century Germany, struggling as they di…

The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much

Voloz Collective’s production of The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much is a masterclass in physical theatre.

Lost in Translation

Set in the unconscious mind of a tortured poet, Mahan Nikbakhsh’s new play Lost in Translation examines cultural and intellectual disconnection that seeks to unpack the British-I…

Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England

The play follows Billy, a young man whose love of football is the dominant feature in his life, religiously attending every match day without fail.

Banana

Banana is a wacky hour of outside-the-box clown comedy that makes you smile from ear to ear.

Drag Queens vs Vampires

There is nothing campier than flying to Transylvania to perform in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Katy Berry: Diamond Goddess Crystal Pussy

With riotous stand-up, jaw-dropping improvisation, smashing vocals, enchanting storytelling, sparkles and bubbles, Diamond Goddess Crystal Pussy is jam-packed with delights.

Eleanor Conway: Talk Dirty to Me

Conway is a vivacious performer who does not shy away from the grotesque.

The Leeds Tealights: A Very Special Birthday Party

The Leeds Tealights bring joy and mirth to the Fringe this year in A Very Special Birthday Party.

Bed: The Musical

We spend a third of our lives in bed.

House of Life

In what could be crowned the most uplifting show of the Fringe, The House of Life aka Ben Welch and Laurence Cole from Sheep Soup combine preaching, live music, comedy and all roun…

Nick Pupo: Addicted

Witty, raw and powerful, Nick Pupo’s Addicted is a story of trust, friendship, forgiveness and brutality.

Molly

Molly works at Greggs.

Alison Spittle: Soup

Soup is a stand up hour kicking off with tales of a ‘Soup Sharing’ WhatsApp group and its tyrannical leader.

Sophie Sucks Face

Sophie is at her Grandfather’s shiva where her whole family have come together to pay their respects, including her attractive second cousin.

Lane Kwederis: Sex Job

Financial dominatrix Lane Kwederis tells all in her revealing show: Sex Job.

Maggie Crane: Side by Side

Side by Side is a gripping and profound comedy show about Maggie Crane’s childhood jealousy of her brother’s disability.

Sophie Santos… is Codependent

Sophie Santos…Is Codependent details Santos’ journey through their breakup, narrating the tale combining both comic storytelling and song, embodying conversations with their pe…

Chloe Petts: If You Can't Say Anything Nice

Chloe Petts’ latest hour If You Can’t Say Anything Nice is teeming with insults and slander as she scrutinises rudeness, rage, and her own relationship with anger.

Ginny Hogan: Regression

Battling a brain full of statistics, a society telling her she has to have it all by thirty and alcoholism, Ginny Hogan recalls the journey through her twenties to find her true li…

The Temp

Kristina DeGiovanni commands the stage in her new play, The Temp, which follows a pretentious actor who is employed by an egomaniacal CEO.

Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz

Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz is a touching solo play written and performed by Nathan Queeley-Dennis.

Dan Jones: This Seems Ambitious

In his debut, Dan Jones takes the audience through his struggles with love without borders.

Hello Kitty Must Die

Hello Kitty Must Die is a musical adaptation of the Angela S.

The Improv Musical

The Improv Musical returns to Fringe as strong as ever with a silly, fun, toe-tapping show.

Chloe Radcliffe: Cheat

Chloe Radcliffe has cheated in almost every relationship she has been in, and it’s a trend she can’t seem to kick to the curb.

Tim Murray is Witches

Magical, spellbinding and unashamedly camp, Tim Murray is Witches is a show unlike any other.

Frankie Thompson and Liv Ello: Body Show

Frankie Thompson and Liv Ello’s Body show is a dystopian cacophony of farce, comedy and tragedy.

Sikisa: Hear Me Out

Sikisa’s Hear Me Out is a wonderful hour of stand-up that raises the roof with material that leaves you with a smile on your face and a spring in your step.

Bad Teacher

Bad Teacher is a solo show by Erin Holland with contributions from other teachers that follows Holland’s character through a hectic day in the life as a drama teacher.

Avital Ash Workshops Her Suicide Note

Avital Ash is one of the most genuine comedians on the Fringe scene.

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