Halloween 2016: Five must-see theatre shows in London
October, the month for all things autumnal and spooky is once again upon us, and London is more than ready to provide some trick or treat (though mainly treat). This year, celebrate Halloween with our recommendations for the top five productions to see in the capital. With shows ranging from cabaret to comedy, thriller to theatrical dinner party there is something for everyone looking for a bit of seasonal entertainment.
Murder Ballad at the Arts Theatre
Take a trip to New York for award-winning Julia Jordan’s new musical charting the story of Sara, Tom and Michael. Life has not been kind to them and now Sara, caught in a love triangle, is struggling to keep her murky past separate from her new sparkly life. Blood, of course, will be spilt. Murder Ballad sounds set to be a rip-roaring show, and having just come from a critically lauded run on Broadway, it is sure to get the blood flowing in your veins.
Murder Ballad is at the Arts Theatre from 30th September until 3rd December 2016. Book your tickets here.
Sympathy for the Devil at Victoria House
Fancy something a little less scary and more sexy? Victoria House is hosting the London Cabaret Club for their burlesque show-stopper Sympathy for the Devil. You can expect fire-acts, top-class performances from speciality dancers and acrobats, and guests are to arrive in their best Halloween get-up. Having previously been nominated for a London Lifestyle “Best Club” award, you can anticipate great things from this talented group, all whilst enjoying the fine dining and classy cocktails that are brought to your table. If you like your Halloween with a touch of pizzazz this is the show for you.
Sympathy for the Devil is at Victoria house on 28th and 29th October 2016, for further information or to book visit here.
Dead Funny at the Vaudeville Theatre
However, maybe you’re looking for something to tickle your funny bone. In this case, Terry Johnson’s Dead Funny is the show to see. It tells the tale of Eleanor and Richard – she wants a baby but he’s preoccupied running the Dead Funny Society and as comedic events unfurl, their relationship takes centre-stage. With Katherine Parkinson (of The IT Crowd fame) starring as Eleanor, this production looks set to deliver a nice blend of dark and light humour – perfect for Halloween as the nights begin to draw in.
Dead Funny is at the Vaudeville Theatre from 27th October 2016 until 4th February 2017. Book your tickets here.
Lunatic at Theatre N19
If you like your Halloween a little darker, take a look at Lunatic, a new gothic-style play that aims to shed a light on the roots of psychotherapy through dramatising the sessions between psychologist Dr John Seward and his patient R M Renfield, both characters from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. In the book, Renfield is an inmate at a lunatic asylum, suffering from the belief that he must eat living creatures to gain their life-force. A unique, unsettling production, Lunatic is ideal for anyone with an interest in dark souls. Late performances include a screening of 1931’s Dracula.
Lunatic is at Theatre N19 on 30th and 31st October 2016, for further information or to book visit here.
Photo: Rah Petherbridge
Dinner at the Twits at the Vaults
For any hardcore Halloween fans out there, Les Enfants Terribles are bringing you something quite special. An immersive production based on Roald Dahl’s The Twits offers a dinner party where you will eat the strangest of foods, as described by Dahl himself, whilst being entertained by the eponymous husband and wife. And it is strictly not for children. Brought to you by a company famous for its innovative visual aesthetic, Dinner at the Twits will be absolutely perfect for any Dahl fans, and undoubtedly a delight for those who feel Halloween should be more about real grizzly grime than comedy or cabaret.
Dinner at the Twits is at the Vaults from 4th September until 30th October 2016. Book your tickets here.
Tess Colley
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