08 November 2024
Marco Gandolfi
Omnibus Theatre is delighted to announce that our Spring Season 2025 goes live on sale today.
Commenting on the new season, our Artistic Director Marie McCarthy said:
“The start of 2025 is presented as an incubator for testing ideas, nurturing bold creativity, and embracing the unknown. Where better to do this than the return of Engine Room: Next Page to launch the season where an eclectic mix of writers will present their work to a live audience for the very first time. Woven in between, we’re delighted to welcome writers Dan Rebellato and Rhianna Illube who will be sharing their expertise and knowledge in a series of fresh and engaging workshops. Following on is the return of Chronic Insanity who celebrate 5 years with a selection of fresh off the page rehearsed readings, online digital work and cross art form works in progress.
Kafka's Ape and 1984, two standout productions and classic reimaginings from the Edinburgh Fringe, are set to make their highly anticipated London debut. Kafka's Ape offers a thought-provoking exploration of identity and freedom through a unique lens and 1984’s compelling adaptation of George Orwell's classic, is performed by Slavic actors. Exploring storytelling through the language of the body, this season of work from a powerful lineup of multi-disciplinary artists from Russia, Europe, South Africa, and Ukraine take us on a journey that examines how stories evolve as they travel across borders, transcending language and culture.
We’re also thrilled to welcome back Futures Theatre with Sabrina Mahfouz’s Argos Archives and Stephanie Jacob’s The Guest, and for the first time here, we’re welcoming Chris Fung with his debut play The Society for new cuisine.
Our resident company, Moongate Productions return with Moongate Mix, along with monthly crowd favorites like So This is What Happened, Fingerz and Fridaze. As always, our regular music events both in the Café Bar and in the Studio Upstairs continue to add a rich soundtrack to this season of exploration and celebration.
Thank you as always for your support and here’s to 2025.”
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ENGINE ROOM: NEXT PAGE
PRESENTED BY OMNIBUS THEATRE, 2 – 12 JAN, 7:00PM, 8:30PM TUES – SAT, 4:00PM, 5:30PM SUN / £6
Engine Room: Next Page is a season of rehearsed readings, staged for a public audience, allowing writers to share their work and receive crucial feedback to help the development of their work.
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CHRONIC INSANITY
PRESENTED BY CHRONIC INSANITY, 14 – 24 JAN, 7:30PM TUES – SAT, 4PM SUN / £6 - £10
Chronic Insanity has produced over 100 shows in the past 5 years, and now they get to bring some of their favourites to Omnibus this January. Enjoy award winning digital theatre, festival favourite interactive experiences, and some deep cuts from their vault of critically acclaimed theatre and performance, as well as some rehearsed readings of amazing work they hope to support in the future.
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1984
PRESENTED BY WITHINTHEATRE, 27 JAN – 2 FEB, 7:30PM TUES – SAT, 2:30PM SAT, 4PM, 7PM SUN / £18 STANDARD / £16 CONCESSION
1984 is a compelling physical theatre adaptation by Slavic actors, marking the 40th anniversary of Orwell's narrative. With inspiration from Nick Hern's play, it delves into themes of surveillance and control, offering a haunting and immersive experience that challenges perceptions of truth and reality. Against the backdrop of contemporary Russia and Belarus, where Orwell's novel remains banned, the performance takes on added significance, illuminating the enduring relevance of its cautionary themes. The play serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of preserving truth and freedom in society.
Previous Praise: ????? from SCOTTISH FIELD and CORR BLIMEY. ???? from THE SCOTSMAN, CULTUREFIX and STARBUST Lustrum Award, Edinburgh Fringe 2024.
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VANYA IS ALIVE
PRESENTED BY ’LOEIL EPISSÉ SUR AME PURE THEATRE COMPANY, 4 – 8 FEB, 7:30PM / £18 STANDARD / £16 CONCESSION
Vanya is on his way home...at least that is what his mother thinks.
Everything is alright in Alya’s life. Spring is here and her son Vanya will soon return home from the land of peace. That’s what Alya says.
Echoing the societal climate in Russia, Vanya Is Alive is a story of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It explores how disinformation and propaganda shape our lives within our political systems. What happens when we turn a blind eye to the oppressive forces at play? Is denying the truth the only way to shield ourselves from fear and pain?
Previous Praise: "Unsettling, heart-breaking and remarkably compelling. "THE SKINNY?????
"Natalia Lizorkina’s one-person drama about a woman whose son dies at the front has echoes of Ukraine, but its reach is universal. "THE FINANCIAL TIMES????
“A modern tragic tale, told by Russian artists in exile [...] A tour de force by actor Nikolay Mulakov.” THE EDINBURGH REPORTER?????
"Unmissable! A profound meditation on truth, loss, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. EVERYTHING THEATRE?????
"Vanya Is Alive is not just important; it is something that everyone needs to be aware of right now." BROADWAY WORLD????
"There’s unspoken horror at the heart of Vanya Is Alive, for Vanya, for his mother, and–let’s not forget–for the people of Ukraine. "THE WEE REVIEW????
"This is theatre at its best–a lone voice in the dark, moving against the tide." THE THEATRE TIMES
"The staging is unforgiving—one spotlight and the lone actor on the floor space directly in front of the spectators. Mulakov...is a compelling performer, whose deadpan delivery masks reserves of deep emotion and makes moments of humour startling. "THE MOSCOW TIMES
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THE JEWISH DOG
PRESENTED BY SHAHAF BEER, 8 – 9 FEB, 7:45PM / £5 - £15
The Jewish Dog is a one-person play, a new contemporary theatre performance inspired by a book written by Asher Kravitz. The performance is filtering the darkest period of modern Jewish history through the naive perspective of a dog, it offers a view of the subject as never seen before. The adaptation is a visual storytelling using close-circle-camera projection, as the dog guides us through the experience of living in Berlin in the 1930s.
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MISS BREXIT
PRESENTED BY MARIA WHO? 11 – 15 FEB, 7:30PM TUES – SAT, 4PM SUN / £15 STANDARD / £13 CONCESSION
United Kingdom, 23rd of June, 2016.
The Great British Country has spoken — We are no longer Europe.
So unfortunately, Europeans, you are no longer welcome.
But attention! We still are a kind and inclusive country, with an undeniable sense of justice. And tonight, we will give a lucky European a chance to remain in this, our great Great Britain.
Tonight, our contestants, carefully chosen among thousands of thousands, are all ready to leave their identities behind. But only one, only the winner of tonight's contest will become... MISS BREXIT
Previous Praise: ???? Everything Theatre
???? Adventures In Theatre Land,
???? London Fringe Theatre Reviews
???? North West End UK
Festival Director Award SETKÁNÍ/ENCOUNTER
Danail Chirpansky New Work Award
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KAFKA’S APE
PRESENTED BY TONY BONANI MIYAMBO AND PHALA PHALA, 18 – 22 FEB, 7:30PM / £18 STANDARD / £16 CONCESSION
Confined to captivity after his capture, one primate must interrogate his otherness in an attempt to set himself free.
An ape named Red Peter is captured. In his quest to break out of his confinement, he learns to imitate humanity. Through his journey, Kafka's Ape questions the understanding of otherness.
Previous Praise: Miyambo has received multiple accolades for this powerful performance, including winner of Outstanding Performance Award at Prague Fringe Festival 2019, Best Satire Award at New York's United Solo Festival 2019, and the Graham F Smith Peace Foundation Award at the Adelaide Fringe Festival 2021, among others.
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ARGOS ARCHIVES
PRESENTED BY FUTURES THEATRE & SABRINA MAHFOUZ WITH THRIVE CREATIVES, 25 FEB – 15 MARCH, 7:30 PM TUES – SAT, 4PM SUN / £18 STANDARD / £16 / £10 CONCESSION
Her one goal? Land a job at Argos!
She loves Argos. Life is full of deceptive, nonsensical rules, but there's structure in the annual catalogue. Working there is her dream. She’s the perfect candidate. They have to hire her… right?
A nostalgic celebration of autistic self-discovery reminisces a life archived from the 1996 stripy-sofa edition until the catalogue’s extinction. This 70-minute tale follows our protagonist, accompanied by Archive, organisation personified, and Argos, the mythical 100 eyed-all-seeing Grecian Giant embodied in the high street shop.
A neurodivergent friendly production. Argos Archives is an inclusive experience for both neurodivergent and neurotypical audiences, blending access and artistic choices to bring the neurodivergent experience to life on stage. A projection-focused set with creative captioning immerses audiences in the character's world.
• All performances are relaxed, welcoming audience noise and movement.
• Generous re-entry policy.
• Thoughtful adjustments to the tone and intensity of technical elements.
• Led by a neurodivergent creative team.
• Access consultants involved throughout the creative process.
• Developed in collaboration with young neurodivergent women.
Previous Praise: Sabrina Mahfouz is a British-Egyptian poet and playwright recognised for her significant contributions to theatre and literature, including the Westminster Prize for New Playwrights and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2018.
Alongside Hollie McNish, she penned the 5-star-rated Offside for Futures Theatre, praised as a "tremendous three-hander" (Scotsman).
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THE SOCIETY FOR NEW CUISINE
PRESENTED BY FUN GUY PRODUCTIONS, 19 MAR – 5 APR, 7:30PM WED – SAT, 4:00PM TUES & SUN / £20 STANDARD / £5 PAY WHAT YOU CAN
Are you truly satisfied with how you are living, or do things feel… broken to you? What would you give for a taste of new understanding?
THE SOCIETY FOR NEW CUISINE is the debut one-man play by East-Asian writer and performer Chris Fung (Your Lie in April, Frozen, Cyrano de Bergerac, Evita).
Helmed by visionary director Rupert Hands (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Wendy and Peter Pan, Dirty Hearts), this dark satirical fable is an extended Buddhist allegory that deals with consumerism, relationships and existential crisis.
Previous Praise: ‘Fung’s masterful debut marks him out as one to watch. Dark, sharp and delicious. There is now absolutely an appetite for whatever he serves up next.’ THE SCOTSMAN
‘Ambitious. Very, very impressive. The play’s many invoked images and its haunting ending continue to linger. Highly recommended. FRINGE REVIEW
‘A powerful and clever work. This incredibly deep narrative enthrals the audience. We expect big things in the future.’ STARBURST MAGAZINE
‘Clever, dark and fascinating. 5 stars.’ THEATRE AND ARTS REVIEW.
‘Poetic and profound.’ HENRY LONGSTAFF REVIEWS.
OFFFEST BEST SOLO PERFORMANCE Nomination - 2023 Edinburgh Fringe
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NOT THE NEWS FOR YOU
PRESENTED BY COMRADE MAY AND DRAGONA BUDJET, 27 MAR, 7:45PM / £15 STANDARD / £13 CONCESSION
Fed up with Late-Stage Capitalism crashing your party? Tired of news that never quite matches your style? Wanting to scream at the state of the world? Then strap on in for NOT THE NEWS FOR YOU where queer politics meets left-wing propaganda with a ‘It Britney Bitch’ flourish. Brace yourself for drag artists throwing shade at politicians, activists talking pop culture and the juiciest gay gossip that’s fresher than your morning oat latte. (not from Starbucks) Our fabulous host, (and your local communist drag king) Comrade May, will interview our guest panellists for their off-the-cuff and unfiltered opinions on current affairs. As well as introducing our fabulous new co-anchor, Dragona Budjet, who’ll report on the glamorous dissent of the world whilst looking fabulous and wearing red vinted heels. BUT WE DONT STOP AT SATIRE-We’ve got live performances from our panellists and mind-blowing acts from our guests. What more could you possibly ask for, comrade? So, get ready to laugh your socialist socks off, cry at the state of the world, and cheer for the incredible queer talent on stage. It’s a Commie-nomenom you won’t want to miss! And for the record, we’re not the BBC, so expect bias, flamboyance, and a serious lack of objectivity.
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THE GUEST
PRESENTED BY COCKAHOOP THEATRE, 8 – 26 APR, 7:30PM TUES – SAT, 4:00PM SUN / £18 STANDARD / £16 & £10 CONCESSION
Cockahoop Theatre presents The Guest, a new dark comedy by Stephanie Jacob and directed by Lucy Richardson.
Ricky and Joe have lived here forever. Anyone looking over their wall wants to sit in the shade of Ricky’s beautiful vine and have Joe pour them a glass of wine. But it’s getting hotter, cracks are starting to show and someone comes knocking. A stranger. What does she want? What’s in that cake she’s carrying? Ricky says let her in! Joe thinks, "what if it’s poisoned?"
Set in the near future, this serious comedy asks what happens if you welcome the uninvited Guest?
Will the cracks between Ricky and Joe widen? And what does their mysterious Guest really want?
Previous Praise: “Thrilling theatre” West End Wilma
“Menacingly volatile” Exeunt
“Very funny” Daily Telegraph
“Tough and touching...fitting wit into the anguish” Time Out
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REPEAT EVENTS:
FINGERZ
PRESENTED BY FINGERZ
10 JAN / 14 FEB / 14 MAR / 11 APR / 7:30PM / £8
Join us for an evening of hosted entertainment and immersive fun. We aspire to bring people together and form new friendships. Along with creating a safe space where we can represent the unrepresented.
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FRIDAZE
PRESENTED BY SADHBH MCLOUGHLIN AND HANNAH PETCH
24 JAN / 28 FEB / 28 MAR / 25 APR / 9PM / £10
Welcome to Fridaze, where every fourth Friday of the month comes alive with a vibrant fusion of music, comedy, drag performances, and everything in between. Created as a haven for South London’s artistic community and open-minded souls, Fridaze beckons all to join in a celebration of creativity and expression. Our stage is a melting pot of talent, where emerging artists and seasoned performers alike come together to captivate audiences in an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re a musician, comedian, drag artist, or simply a lover of the arts, Fridaze is your platform to shine. We curate each lineup with care, embracing diversity and nurturing emerging voices.
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MOONGATE MIX
PRESENTED BY MOONGATE
13 JAN / 10 FEB / 10 MAR / £5 / £3
January kicks off with a conversation on the evolution of British based East and Southeast Asian heritage screen representation through the mid twentieth century to present day. February marks Lunar New Year with ‘Chosen Family’ - a conversation by Queer identifying artists plus a curated programme of performances. March looks at the positioning of British based East and Southeast Asian heritage stage work in the British canon and its legacy.
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SO THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED
3 JAN / 7 FEB / 7 MAR / 4 APR / 7PM / £10
So, This Is What Happened is back! Our popular storytelling night returns. Connection is more important than ever, so we invite you to laugh, cry and celebrate stories from the lives of real people.
