A look behind the scenes of the 50th Jubilee of the historic Helsinki Peace and Security Conference where plots to fight wars and import nukes threaten to steal the message despite the best efforts of the organisers.

This is our Canadian-Finnish troupe´s third visit to the Camden Fringe and hopefully will be as well received as in 2014 and 2024!

We have also performed drama based on current issues in Toronto, Winnipeg, Brighton, and Helsinki.

The play is by A.I. Tolvanen, author and journalist who has worked many years in Finland and Canada including Tomson-Reuters, Time and The Finnish News Bureau. Director Carita Drew has worked on stage and screen shows in Australia, England and Finland.

Beloved Be The Ones Who Sit Down’ flings the spotlight onto 30 women who have one thing in common: they sit down

A woman who was afraid of the dust.

A woman who could not smile.

A woman who sold a sponge.

And twenty-seven more

30 women played by 1 woman, a (sweaty) mirror to the audience. Defamiliarising the mundane just enough so it's both easier to laugh at and easier to question.
‘Beloved Be The Ones Who Sit Down’ offers no narrative. No answers. Just a mirror.

And a flicker of hope. The darkness of the underlying themes is the vital soil for this hope. Like a star - hope only shines in the darkness. It is the glimmer of a smile in the grime of our morning commute. It's the caterpillar soup inside the chrysalis. The shit from which flowers bloom.

This play is remembering we are human, which, in this world, is revolutionary

The piece is set in 2046, when tech-entrepreneur, bachelor, and world’s richest person Sylvain Alexander is in the news again.

He is notorious for making a fortune by betting on the time, place, and severity of natural disasters. This time, he predicts that in 11 weeks, the ecological "Point of No Return" will be passed. He foresees a doom loop of natural cataclysms so grave that no sooner will a region recover than it will be engulfed by another disaster. Sylvain gets to work.

Having developed a patch of the moon’s surface, he prepares to avoid the Point of No Return by relocating to the Moon and starting again. But he has one missing ingredient: he must find himself an "Eve" for his "Adam." He identifies three women, each from a background he believes can be the pillar of a sustainable lunar human colony. The play follows Sylvain as he seeks to convince one of the women to join him in saving the human race.

In Northallerton, Yorkshire, siblings Saf and Luke, work on their family-owned farm with close friend, Jasmine. When Saf and Luke's brother, Nick, returns to the farm 4 years after the death of the sibling's younger brother, he finds that his role in the family has been filled by Jasmine, who has dealt with similar experiences in her own family, eventually leading her to Thorne Farm. Together, the four of them try to find the right words to empathise with each other's quiet devastation.

This is a distinctly Northern English play that explores how we mediate and reconcile through grief, and whether said grief can give space for forgiveness and understanding, all told through backdrops of folk music, custard creams, and a joint or two.

Told over the space of a week, will they be able to confront their distress after years of suppression? Or will Nick run away again, leaving his family with only the reminder of what they lost years ago?,

Individuals that find themselves away from home will be comforted and confronted by this play, particularly around the ages of 20-30, growing up in the time where maturity becomes more than an expectation or decision to make on their own.

Anywhere You Go is a contemporary musical about love, friendship, and learning how to move on when the life you imagined no longer fits.

Caught between a recent breakup and her best friend’s decision to leave London, Flo clings to memories, crystals, and the comfort of what she knows. As past and present collide, she’s forced to question what home really means, and whether holding on is stopping her from growing.

Tender, funny, and painfully relatable, Anywhere You Go explores the messiness of your twenties and the courage it takes to choose change.

ORWELL: The Road to 1984?tells the fascinating story of one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century and the extraordinary personal experiences that inspired his classic tales Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four.

A timely portrait of a writer whose words remain a warning - and a hope.

His classic tales Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four which warn of the dangers of totalitarianism - erosion of free speech, abuse of power, increasing control of all aspects of our everyday lives - resonate now more than ever.

Orwell’s dystopian concepts such as 'Big Brother is watching you', 'Room 101' and 'thoughtcrime' have become everyday phrases.

But where did his vision of the future come from?

In this powerful and moving play, MARK STRATFORD takes you on a fascinating journey through the extraordinary experiences that shaped the work of this perceptive and compelling writer.

In this age of misinformation, political extremism and digital surveillance, ORWELL: The Road to 1984 is a play for our time.

Camden, 1985. Behind the door of a London terrace, a queer Irish household is cobbling together a life filled with humour, drag, and a freedom they could never have imagined back home. But their community is on the edge of their greatest challenge yet. Being Irish in the UK is complicated. Being queer and Irish during the early years of the AIDS crisis is downright perilous.

Mammy’s house rises to meet the challenge; offering warmth, care, sarcasm, petty squabbling, and the fierce loyalty of chosen family. As the epidemic threatens to engulf them and the world turns away, this resilient group of gay and lesbian Irish people know they have survived shame before, and they intend to survive it again

Proudly supported by the Emigrant Support Programme and the Meitheal Muintire Irish End of Life Care Project, Mammy’s House is about the families we build when the ones we were born into cannot accept us for who we are.

Shalom Belfast is a stage play about a Jewish family in Ireland. It spans a period of over 100 years the late-nineteenth century to the present. The Easter Rising, the War of Independence, two World Wars and ‘The Troubles’ all impact on the lives of the Barkovskis.

"JAMES JOYCE & THE ISRAELITES’ tells entertainingly of Irish history, Joycean mythology and Jewish wanderings to keep most audiences amused and engaged’"
Ned Chaillet, The Times

"Seamus Finnegan’s ACT OF UNION is not only one of the few recent plays to tackle Northern Ireland, it is that even rarer event: one which admits the infinite complexity of the situation"
Michael Billington, The Guardian

As part of the LOLA Festival at Upstairs at the Gatehouse:

At 28, BROOKE ADAMS, starring in Terence Malick’s DAYS OF HEAVEN, centered a cinematic—and actual—love triangle with Richard Gere and Sam Shepard. In CUBA, she eschewed leading man Sean Connery for a dwarf. At 35, headlining THE HEIDI CHRONICLES on Broadway, she humoured the crush of Midwestern Lebanese character actor Tony Shalhoub.

Decades later, Manhattan tourists stop her on the street and exclaim things like: “Brooke Shields, we so love your husband on MONK!”

With her signature outrageous wit and style, artist/actress Adams tells tales of Hollywood royalty, drunken behaviour (sometimes her own), and the heartbreak and joy of show business families.

She’ll be joined in this exclusive, very Upstairs at the Gatehouse pairing by TONY SHALHOUB, whose new book on food and entertaining, WE THOUGHT THEY’D NEVER LEAVE, co-authored with Josie Adams, debuts in October.

Aside from acting, Shalhoub is known for being husband of 37 years to Brooke Adams.

As part of the LOLA Festival at Upstairs at the Gatehouse:

Thanks be to the Germans for expressing a gloom state that feels surprisingly American. “Grief Bacon,” translated from “Kummerspeck,” literally—and embarrassingly—means “weight gain from emotional overeating.”

When Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 presidency to Donald Trump, emergency chocolate was our medication of choice, and 10 years later the fat still hasn’t come off.

So, what to do when the planet is burning, coral reefs are ailing, and all the Artificial Intelligence in Elon Musk’s mad ketamine-fuelled kingdom can’t help you remember your 4-digit bank passcode number?

Don your pyjamas and come to GRIEF BACON: OLD AND NEW HUMOR FOR TRYING TIMES! MELANIE MAYRON (THIRTYSOMETHING, GIRLFRIENDS) and SANDRA TSING LOH (NPR) bring their hilarious sold-out pyjama party from Los Angeles to London.

Audience members attending in their pyjamas win special LA-style door prizes; all are welcome to enjoy fun end-of-the-world sing alongs.

JULIAN FLEISHER (JOE’S PUB NYC) musically comforts, closes the evening.

As part of the LOLA Festival at Upstairs at the Gatehouse:

Some summers ago, while his TV writing partner took up a lunchtime gym regimen, Andrew Nicholls decided to write a long, strict-meter poem. The challenge: find a subject particularly resistant to tight dactylic tetrameter—a literary stunt in itself. Candidates included The Warren Commission Report, A Mathematician’s Apology, and Microsoft’s 1986 DOS Manual.

Then came Werner Herzog’s Fitzcarraldo, the modern archetype of doing something nobly ridiculous. Les Blank’s documentary Burden of Dreams, chronicling Herzog’s struggle to haul a 320-ton steamship over a mountain, suggested a third layer of Quixotic endeavor: turn the entire ordeal into verse.

Nicholls spent a year working from Blank, Maureen Gosling and Michael Goodwin’s continuity script and assorted sources. English, German, Spanish—and some operatic Italian—helped with the rhymes. Some days produced only part of one verse.

AS MAN IS TO GOD is Andrew Nicholls’ madcap hour-long recitation of his Klaus Kinski-laden literary streusel, complete with Fitzcarraldo color slides. Werner Herzog-style eating of one’s shoe optional.

As part of the LOLA Festival at Upstairs at the Gatehouse:

A celebratory final Theatre Lab, LOLA Live! will star a fun mix of London and Los Angeles performers, from celebrities to newbies. Expect comic cold readings, theatrical demonstrations, surprise performances, and audience participation.

LOLA-palooza!

As part of the LOLA Festival at Upstairs at the Gatehouse:

MADWOMEN OF THE WEST, Sandra Tsing Loh’s outrageous comedy about a women’s brunch that goes hilariously wrong, has delighted and provoked audiences from LA to New York to London over its rip-roaring maiden 15-month tour.

This first ever “cocktail concert” version welcomes the audience to attend with beverages in hand, while beloved divas at music stands dramatically read the 18-point script they also enjoy.

Stage and screen legend STOCKARD CHANNING (SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, GREASE) joins BROOKE ADAMS and MELANIE MAYRON.

An (unwelcome) surprise birthday party for depressed Claudia, whose age is somewhere between “double nickels” (55) and “76 trombones,” is disrupted when the group’s long-lost famous friend, fresh from her TED Talks (played by a surprise guest!), crashes the party.

Celebrating women “who weren’t born yesterday,” laughs leaven the poignance of feminists of a certain age waking up in a brave new world where feminism is no longer needed. Julian Fleisher directs.

‘Love Me, Love Me Not...’ is an intimate evening of music celebrating the many faces of love. From the excitement of first sparks and the comfort of unwavering devotion to heartbreak, uncertainty, and the moments that leave us questioning it all, this carefully curated collection of songs explores the relationships that shape who we are.

Produced by LIVEWIRE Prods, this cabaret showcases 24 outstanding emerging performers across two performances, each bringing their own voice, personality, and story to the stage. Audiences can expect powerhouse vocals, moving ballads, moments of laughter, and heartfelt reflections on love in all its messy, beautiful complexity.

Whether you've fallen head over heels, had your heart broken, or are still figuring it all out, Love Me, Love Me Not... promises an evening of unforgettable music, honest storytelling, and performances that will stay with you long after the final note.

You will hear her. Leaving behind the safety of her homeland, Medea places her trust in Jason and his promise of a glittering future together. But is her faith misguided? With an original folk score, an ensemble of actor-musicians brings a new dimension to the story you thought you knew of sacrifice, betrayal, and the cataclysmic power of love.

“A beguiling update to a grisly classic”
Musical Theatre Review

"A contender for the next big musical"
Adventures in Theatreland

Four of the King’s entourage wake up in the garden to find they have made a terrible drunken decision: no food, no fun, and, most disastrously, absolutely NO women. For three whole years. What could possibly go wrong?

Enter the Princess and her dazzling retinue, and… well, you can guess. Cue love at first sight, love notes gone rogue, disguises that fool nobody, and four men falling head-over-heels faster than you can say "so much for that vow."

Think of it as the rom-com the genre was born from; all the fumbling, the pining and the grand romantic gestures you'd expect from a Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts or Colin Firth flick just with 400 years' head start. In an new edition, we've taken Shakespeare's sunniest comedy, given it a good trim, and set it loose in the garden of a grand hotel. Think riotous colour, larger-than-life characters, quick-witted, quick-fire delivery, and all served with a proper great-British nudge-nudge-wink-wink.

It's fast. It's silly. It's blooming ridiculous. And there's a happily-ever-after in there somewhere… probably.

No Shakespeare degree required. Just bring yourself, your sense of humour, and possibly someone you fancy.

?? Grab your tickets now — love waits for no one (well, three years, technically).

Join us, once a season, for an evening of Magic at the Gatehouse presented by an exciting line-up of top magicians. Witness miracles manifest before your eyes in an intimate theatre that puts you at the heart of the magic.

Line up to be announced!

Dracula.

An ancient creature, embittered by the burden of immortality and the intolerance of those who would decry him monster. Alone in his keep, but for the memories of centuries past. A living death that only a vampire could understand. Or perhaps a special guest or two. Providing they can live long enough to survive their host's unique hospitality and his deliberate attempts to drive them insane.

Based on the bone-chilling works of Bram Stoker, "Dracula's Guest" takes you into the dark heart of Victorian horror to reveal the very meaning of terror and the consequences of collective evil and personal spite.

"not for the faint of heart... though that is what makes it so wonderful."
~Voice Magazine

"powerful... extraordinarily violent... go see it while you can."
~Simon's Horrible Hothouse of Horror

"Hyland commands and dominates the stage... breathtaking... powerful"
~Theatre, Films and Art Reviews

"Remarkably intense... true to Victorian gothic horror"
~OX Magazine

Night Terrors is a spine-tingling evening of three tales of the supernatural from E.F. Benson’s brilliant collection of ghost stories. Masterful storytelling from the award-winning actor Gerard Logan will transport you to a dark, sinister world of the unexpected and the unexplainable. The three stories (The Dance, In The Tube, and The Confession of Charles Linkworth), are dramatic, haunting and hugely memorable.

"“Logan is astounding....He takes a strong script and flies it to the stars”"
Edinburgh Festival 2016 Review

"“Watching Logan work is like being privy to a wonder of nature and remains with you ... A true masterpiece of solo performance”"
The Edinburgh Guide - Edinburgh Festival 2015

Gerard Logan won The Stage “Best Solo Performer of the 2011 Edinburgh Festival Award” for his acclaimed performance in Gareth Armstrong’s production of Shakespeare’s The Rape of Lucrece. He won the "Best Actor" award at the 2014 Buxton Fringe Festival and was nominated for the Michael MacLiammoir Award for “Best Male Performance” at the 2016 International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival for his performance in Wilde Without the Boy. Gareth Armstrong has developed and directed many successful solo shows, including his own award-winning Shylock.

Night Terrors is underscored by a beautiful, original, and specially commissioned score by the award-winning RSC composer, Simon Slater.

LA is burning. When two old Angelenos lose everything, they must navigate overwhelming grief, toxic ash and paperwork purgatory, surrounded by clueless celebs, posturing politicians and frazzled firefighters. 6000 miles away, their (very) anxious daughter clings to composure.

Award nominated Burn Baby Burn is a searing tragicomedy exploring the human cost of climate change and the humans fanning the flames. A sharp-witted blend of storytelling, songs and comic characterization. It asks questions nobody wants to answer like: Why was LA’s biggest reservoir empty? What the hell is a ‘firenado’? And how did 80s film star Steve Guttenberg become a low-key hero?

With a childhood shaped by wildfires and her parents home destroyed in January 2025's blaze, Hunter's done what any good performer would do...transformed personal tragedy into hilarious and heartbreaking theatre. Following her acclaimed debut solo show, in partnership with Slackline Productions, champion of women 35+.

"An excellent play."
Chris Neville Smith on Theatre

"Great jokes, surprisingly catchy songs and a powerful message."
The Obscurity

"A retelling of an environmental and social catastrophe, with a dash of Californian whimsy."
Reviews Hub

"A dark topic, but one empathically conveyed...carefully directed by Kristin Duffy, giving space to Hunter’s charming and assured performance. Hunter describes the episode with adept storytelling, humour and music accompanied by a ukulele."
-Rialto Arts

ANGEL or ANARCHIST?
A powerful onewoman show, starring acclaimed actress Liz Grand, brings to life the extraordinary story of Emmeline Pankhurst, one of the most influential and iconic British women in history.

A tireless champion of women’s rights, Pankhurst led the fight for women to gain the vote, enduring multiple imprisonments and undertaking numerous hunger strikes in the name of equality.

After nearly thirty years of being ignored by Parliament, she famously turned to Direct Action. Under her leadership, the Suffragettes escalated their campaign: throwing stones at politicians, setting fire to letter boxes, damaging property, and chaining themselves to railings - to make their voices impossible to ignore.

Although their determination ultimately succeeded, the path to victory came at a great personal cost to many brave women. And despite her pivotal role, Emmeline herself was not universally admired. Some argued that the more confrontational methods delayed, rather than accelerated, progress.

Crete 1944. A young girl hides in the hollow of an ancient olive tree, watching helplessly, as her family are rounded up and loaded onto trucks. A horned shadow looms and she finds herself falling… falling…

This epic new play is inspired by the Minotaur and the true tale of the lost Jews of Crete. A gripping narrative told via text, movement and shadow-play, we follow the life of Rena Depas on her labyrinthine quest to find peace in the wake of violence.

For this production, NMT Automatics have brought together a team of creatives, who have worked with some of the most internationally renowned contemporary theatre companies, including: 1927, Gecko, Theatre Re, Ephemeral Ensemble, and Les Enfants Terribles.

Praise for previous productions:

“This is a kill shot. A gripping, bold and exciting new work.”
Broadway Baby

“… a must-see piece of theatre”
Theatre Weekly

“A visual statement.”
The Stage