This year’s Croydonites Festival opens on October 8, marking 10 years of supporting local artists and bringing high-quality performances to Croydon.
And this year’s line-up, including a clutch of shows straight from the Edinburgh Festival where they accumulated impressive 4- and 5-star reviews, certainly delivers in that respect.
In fact, many of the shows lined up are a good deal… well… more edgy than much of what is offered at the fringe.
There’s 30 artists over the three-week festival throughout October, including comedy, storytelling, magic, film and immersive theatre, at venues including the Braithwaite Hall, the Front Room (the arts venue on St George’s Walk), The Oval Tavern and even in the middle of the town centre on North End.
One of several returning performers and companies is Sh!t Theatre, with their work-in-progress Evita Too.
“We have played Croydonites many times with finished shows to half-finished shows to shows that we are attempting for the first time ever, and we always have a brilliant time,” one of the Sh!t company told Inside Croydon.
A real Sh!t show: one of several writers, comedians and companies who keep coming back to the Croydonites Festival
“We love the open-minded, big-hearted audiences, the exciting, high-quality programme and the lovely festival staff.
“We’ll be back with more Sh!t every year if they’ll have us.”
Hannah Maxwell is another who has played at the Croydonites Festival before. This year, she performs her BABYFLEAREINDEERBAG on the second night of the Festival. She says, “Croydonites is always a highlight for any artist touring new writing.
“The performance spaces are welcoming, the team are incredibly dedicated, and the trust and enthusiasm that’s been built with local audiences – who turn out in droves to support makers they’ve maybe never even heard of – is second to none.”
Plot spoiler: James Rowland Dies at the End of the Show, stars James Rowland
The festival begins with an evening of magic by Tom Cassini whose obsession with the skill and precision of sleight of hand asks us to consider the impossible. They include In Bed With My Brother, an anarchic performance trio with their new work Philosophy of World, storyteller extraordinaire James Rowland with James Rowland Dies at the End of the Show and Selina Thompson’s film of her hit show.
Dick’s Picks, curated by local comedian Dick Denham is back for a second year with a line-up worth of the Comedy Club. Headlined by Fatiha El-Ghourri and also featuring Sharifa Butterly, James Allerton, CK Nath, James Murphy and the man himself Dick Denham. They will be kept in order by MC Leslie Gold.
Local artists performing include Adeola Yemitan and Catherine Pestano, and Anita Wadsworth, Dino Desica and Mitra Djalili as part of CroydonBites.
There’s a real treat for fans of immersive theatre from Tom Yum Sim Theatre Company and their new work Trainwreck, which takes over CYTO’s Shoestring Theatre in South Norwood to give you an experience that mixes AI and DIY with hilarious results.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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