It's pretty quiet in West End Theatre over the summer months with little to report as most eyes are on the Edinburgh Festival where London's artistic community gathers to watch weird and wonderful shows that might just include the capital's next big hit.
It's also a fantastic opportunity to spot the stars of tomorrow. But you don't need to leave England to enjoy a wide array of the Edinburgh offerings. Many on the most interesting companies preview their shows right here. Here's a section of some of the most intriguing offerings in and around London over the next few weeks.
Brute - This exciting piece of new writing is based on the true story of a rather twisted, horrible schoolgirl. Set in a girls’ school in a provincial English town far away from cosmopolitan and cultural influences, Brute explores memories of the protagonist’s intensely passionate female friendships as they escalate into violence. The themes in Brute explore the economic climate, bullying and female violence along with the complexity of adolescent female friendships. 11 July, 7.30pm, Roundhouse
Garden - One day Lucy rescues the abused office pot plant from her job at Insignia Asset Management and her world alters. Inside her flat on the 24th floor, she starts to plant, cultivate and nurture her own personal wilderness. Written and performed by Lucy Grace,Garden tells of one city dweller’s journey into the natural world. It pairs urban loneliness and an inherent desire to connect with the natural world, exploring an attempt to find a bigger picture than a life packed into small boxes. 24 - 25 July, 7.45pm, Pleasance London
Much Further Out Than You Thought - this new one-man play which shines a different light on the very human cost of war. As we welcome back troops from Afghanistan, Much Further Out Than You Thought is a timely reminder of a soldier's life after the battlefield. It is a glimpse into the fictional life of a fictional soldier; Lance Corporal James Randall doesn't exist, but the traumas that live inside him most certainly do. Bethany Pitts returns to the Edinburgh Fringe after directing Spine (2014) and acting as assistant director on Dark Vanilla Jungle (2013). 28 July, 7pm, Old Red Lion
My Beautiful Black Dog – This show is where gig meets theatre. It is a wild and poetic musical exploring the difficult contradictions and complexity of fragile minds. Brigitte Aphrodite comments that, depression is at its heart but it’s not depressing – it’s joyous, funny and hopeful (I hope…). I believe in hope. This electrifying show challenges the urgent stigma around mental health and encourages the audience to take ownership of their own black dogs. 30 - 31 July, 7.30pm, Hackney Downs Studios
Newrevue - Nobody is safe: from Farage to the royal foetus, politicians and celebrities alike come under fire in a turbo-charged barrage of bladder-threateningly funny songs and sketches brimming with punchlines. Expect the very best of British satire in the longest-running live comedy show in the world. 9 - 19 July, 9.30pm (Thurs-Sat) and 9pm (Sun),Canal Café Theatre
Tether - When Mark doesn't qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games, he becomes a guide for blind marathon runner Becky. But it's not easy being someone else's eyes, or giving up your dreams for theirs. Tether is a powerful story of ambition, trust, friendship and the fight to the finish line from Royal Court Young Writers’ Programme graduate Isley Lynn. Bringing to life a world and a relationship that few know, Tether follows months of research with Paralympians . With Rio 2016 just around the corner, the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe is its ideal showcase. 23 July, 7.30pm, Omnibus
The Eulogy of Toby Peach - One in three of us will experience cancer first-hand and now Toby Peach brings this universal issue to the stage. The Eulogy of Toby Peach is the story of his journey with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma; Toby didn’t know what cancer was, what happens when it’s treated and the effects it can have. A Eulogy is a celebration of life - we will all need one; Toby is just delivering his now. This original piece explores a true story and an important and difficult subject in a refreshing, insightful and humorous way. 11 July, 7.30pm, Richmix
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Family - Join writer-performer and UK poetry slam champion Ben Norris as he battles the country’s most notorious service stations and the perils of lower-league football in search of his father’s story. Ben’s hitchhike began in Nottingham (where his father still lives) and went south, stopping off at every place his dad had ever lived and speaking to everyone he had ever known (perhaps a bit ambitious!). Hilarious and moving, the show explores the relative merits of Travelodge while asking searching questions about identity. 30 - 31 July, 9pm, Camden People’s Theatre
Producers of the West End premiere of Broadway hit Kinky Boots have announced that the production has extended booking at the Adelphi Theatre, even before the show has even opened!