The TomYumSim show experience is truly unforgettable. From the beginning to the end, you never know what you will be getting, only making it more memorable and undoubtedly funny. Our host, Simone French, with her infectious chaotic energy, and her assistant, Sven Ironside, never left a moment dull for those aboard The Stupendous Resplendent Express – and the AI addition, Tom, only adding to the level of ridiculousness. The “train”, despite it only being a chair arrangement, c

Simple Cypher's Roll Play , performed in the heart of Croydon town centre, was an unforgettable experience that captivated the attention of ordinary people simply passing by. The unconventional dynamic of the three characters was only the beginning of the undeniably artistic yet comedic storytelling of this show. Even without any words said, the performers were able to convey a clear story to the viewers, allowing them to fully understand and ultimately build a connection wit

As part of the CroydonBuilds programme, the second stage of a three-part commissioning pathway, Catherine Pestano warmly welcomes the audience as if inviting us into her living room for a chat, guiding us through the realities of “winning the menopause lottery.” Dressed in vibrant colours and carrying a collection of equally colourful bags, she steps on stage after an informative podcast segment that brings us up to speed on the dilemmas menopausal women face. Her calm, sooth

A seasoned performance that grounds us in the narrative of displaced people   salt:dispersed is a film of Selina Thompson’s live performance of the same name, and in 66 minutes explores a deep history of colonisation and what it means to search for home.   Thompson takes us on a journey.   From Birmingham to Antwerp, to Ghana, to Jamaica, to Wilmington and back to the UK, she follows the devastating trail of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and its legacy through brilliant stor

Philosophy of the World , performed at Stanley Arts in Norwood by theatre group In Bed With My Brother, is a show based on the real-life story of The Shaggs, a 60s American band made up of three sisters who are forced by their father to perform, despite having no talent. We are encouraged to participate by booing The Shaggs (played by Nora Alexander, Dora Lynn and Kat Cory) when they sing, and throwing Coke cans at them. The sisters follow their father's script, which changes

Immersive theatre where the mess is the message In her essay, ‘The Story of a Generation in Seven Scams’, writer Jia Tolentino argues that the art of scamming – the abuse of trust for profit – is a definitive ethos of contemporary times. Scams are so mainstream, so normalised, that their scale and inventiveness are what capture our collective imagination (think Fyre Festival, Elizabeth Holmes’ Theranos), with the internet serving as the conduit between us and the next cultura

Materialising the metaphysical – ‘salt : dispersed’ charts heritage and diaspora   Croydonites Festival’s first film collaboration with the David Lean Cinema, ‘salt : dispersed’ is a video adaptation of Selina Thompson’s live performance ‘Salt,’ set as a filmed run of the live show. Thompson speaks directly to the camera, deftly switching between narration, poetry and magical realism. Materials make up the supporting cast, prompting us to consider the objectification of bodie

Croydonbites is a commissioning pathway run by Croydonites Festival to give local artists the chance to develop new work. Saturday’s show really emphasised the diversity of voices we have in Croydon, with stories ranging from saving an underfunded community centre, to discussions of bogie motivated matricide: a perfect recipe for a night out. The North Croydon Community FUNdraiser and Memorial Service by Peace of MIND and Good Wolf People This short play is about a community

Simple Cypher, presented in North End, central Croydon, is a circus and hip-hop fusion featuring three dancers who blur the line between entertainment and storytelling. This act was performed as a presentation shown alongside the annual Croydinites festival. The "roll play" was a demonstration of how people can use only their bodies to tell a wordless story. Through lots of shock and laughter, the dancers engaged their audience and drew more in fascination. Upon initial view

CroydonBuilds is the second stage of the Croydonites development pathway. Here local creatives are invited back after time and support to develop their work into longer pieces. As a double bill these two shows created an exhilarating contrast that you can only find at New Writing showcases, nowhere else would audience engagement shift from a Q and A about menopause to being the congregation for an evangelist pastor. It Could Be You- The Menopause Lottery by Catherine Pestano

A Work-In-Pisstake tackling populism, feminism and power In EVITA TOO, Sh!t Theatre (Rebecca Biscuit and Louise Mothersole) dive headlong into populism, feminism and power as they unpack the life of Isabel Perón, the first female president in history. There are (descriptions of) flying Andrew Lloyd Webber dummies dressed as Evita Perón, a (remote-controlled) helicopter, a (unfulfilled) guest appearance by Elaine Page… it’s this very capacity for imagination which prompts the

This one woman show, presented as a film at the David Lean cinema in Croydon, is a very powerful and thought provoking piece, written by Selina Thompson. It follows the journey of Selina, who also performs the work, as she boards a cargo ship and retraces the route of the transatlantic slave trade. She experiences racism from the Master of the ship, who refuses to let them record their journey, showing us that the history and legacy of racism still resonates today. The route

Peace of MIND & Good Wolf People, JigsawGlue - Anita Wandsworth, Dino Desica, Mitra Djalili  In ‘The North Croydon Community Centre FUNdraiser and memorial Service,’ Peace of MIND & Good Wolf People cleverly set the short play’s fundraiser and memorial service for nonagenarian Mr. Pimmer’s colourful life in the theatre itself. There are quippy, tight interactions (not an easy feat for a cast of twelve) which drive the pace of the show and rich embodiment of the centre’s eccen

Through comedy, song, and dancing like no one’s watching, Jack Benjamin and Antonia Mellows /  All Mixed Up  tell a heartfelt story, based on their own and other mixed-race couples' real-life experiences. Directed by Nicola Stuart-Hill, this piece reveals the chaos and beauty of raising a mixed-race child in today’s world. You’d think society would have moved past its ignorance, yet questions like “Is he yours?” and “Is he adopted?” persist, and this show tackles them with wi

Roll Play deliver an outdoor circus and hip-hop trio Outdoor performances are tricky. The time of day, location and weather each influence the performance’s success in different ways. Roll Play’s second run of ‘Simple Cypher’ for Croydonites Festival took place on a sunny, temperate Saturday afternoon in front of Whitgift Centre in the heart of Croydon’s town centre – a perfect setup.    ‘Simple Cypher’ is set up as a chance encounter between three strangers, dressed in a Boi

Evita Too is a funny, interesting and slightly wacky (in a good way) two woman performance by Sh!t Theatre (Louise Mothersole and Rebecca Biscuit). They take us through the life of Argentinian Isabel Perón, who started as a dancer and caught the attention of President Juan Perón, through to her succeeding as president after his death and being controlled by “El Brujo” (The Wizard) before being overthrown by a military coup. At first when they apologise for it being a “work i

An honest take on messing up with good intentions ‘Is he yours?...’ This is the central question and motif of Jack & Antonia’s ‘ALL MIXED UP,’ which taps into the connective tissues of heritage in contemporary, multicultural Britain and its colonial histories. Do you ‘own’ your loved ones? Does a country ‘belong’ to anyone? The play’s motif also raises questions on ‘ownership’ through this lens. The stage is set with a sheet suspended by cables, lit with green and purple ligh

This event brought together witchcraft, mental health, feminism and evangelical religion in an evening that showcased diversity.

Censorship takes centre-stage in solo show

Watch It! Is an hour long one woman imaginary game show, where Wendy Houstoun plays herself. She has to watch what she says, if she says...