As much of UK theatre withers on the vine, things seem to be going from strength to strength in the garden of the Eagle pub in Vauxhall. Earlier this year it was converted into a tiny outdoor performance space by Peter Bull.
The repertoire there has an LGBT flavour and a successful opening production of a play about Victorian cross dressers was followed by a new, small cast, critically acclaimed, revival of Broadway musical PIPPIN which this week extends its run for a third time, now closing on Saturday 17 October. It’s received 4 Off West End Award nominations.
It features Ryan Anderson, Tsemaye Bob-Egbe, Tanisha-Mae Brown, Joanne Clifton, Harry Francis and Dan Krikler. The director is Steven Dexter, the choreographer is Nick Winston, the musical director is Michael Bradley and it’s been designed by David Shields with lighting by Richard Lambert.
Not only have the productions saved the sanity of London theatre goers deprived of live performance during the current health crisis but it’s kept the pub afloat too.
Eagle owner Mark Oakley said: “Wow! 4 Offie nominations and the OneOFF award - I am absolutely chuffed for our theatre production company and all involved who have created something totally unique and a lifeline to my business. If The Garden Theatre had not happened The Eagle would not have survived.
Little wonder they’ve the confidence to launch a third show, NAKED BOYS SINGING, on Friday 16 October. Happily for the nude performers this also coincides with the installation of outdoor heating, along with a new sound system and 3 dressing rooms within the venue, with Bull promising “a slew of productions taking us into 2021.”
In recognition of all this industry The Garden Theatre team have also received the first OneOFF Award from the Off West End Awards “celebrating the creation of a new venue against the odds and launching with the first Off West End production since lockdown began in March 2020.”
Congratulations to everyone in the garden. This is richly deserved recognition.
Adam Spiegel has proved himself to be one of the canniest producers in the West End with a string of hit shows which, whilst not always intellectually engaging, have, none the less, kept theatre’s full for decades. I’ve worked for him in a number of capacities across several projects.