London theatre is famous and most visitors have heard something about it. But few visitors take advantage of London's pub theatres. And yet this form of entertainment, one that many Londoners take for granted, is one of the most exciting kinds of live theater available in the UK capital.
The majority of London's pubs are hundreds of years old. The buildings once held upstairs breweries or had large numbers of rooms to rent to travelers. As those uses began to die out - especially during the 20th century - pub landlords looked around for new ways to earn money from their large amounts of empty space. Since pubs and theatre have always been closely associated in London, creating small, intimate theatre and cabaret spaces seemed natural.
The modern pub theatre is a relatively new phenomenon that has a very old pedigree. The Internet Shakespeare, a web site sponsored by University of Victoria and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, describes inn-yard theatres, common in Shakespeare's day, but much older, as the first enclosed performance spaces.
From the early Middle Ages, actors and musicians traveled around the country in troupes, putting up in travelers' inns and taverns - the forerunners of pubs - when they stopped to perform. If an inn's landlord allowed them to put on shows in his coach yard, he could charge playgoers to enter the yard. He could charge the public even more to go up to the covered balconies or galleries, a common pub feature through the 18th century. (Check out the National Trust owned George Inn, London's last galleried pub, in Southwark, London). And of course he could sell food and ale.
By the Elizabethan era, the first purpose-built theatres using the galleried and enclosed yard model - like Shakespeare's Globe Theatre - were being built and the tavern theatre soon died out.
Westminster walking guide and London blogger Joanna Moncrieff informs us that the King's Head in Islington, founded by the late Dan Crawford in 1970, is most likely the first pub theatre since Shakespearean times. It established the model for the typical London pub theatre of today in a room above - or occasionally below the pub itself. Seating areas are small - often holding less than 100 people - and the space between the audience and the actors is miniscule. If the thought of an actor playing his heart out while staring you in the face from a distance of about four feet is more than you can handle, pub theatre may not be for you.
But if you relish the chance of seeing brand new or rarely performed plays, featuring actors whose talent may still be a bit raw, in spaces often no bigger than some people's living rooms, this is a kind of London theatre you should not miss. And you might even have a close encounter with a familiar face, or a star. Pub theatre audiences are full of actors, drama students, theatre aficionados, directors and casting agents hunting for new playwrighting and acting talent.
Check out what's on in pub theatres by picking up a listing magazine like Time Out at a news agent. Don't bother looking up the magazine online - you have to see the print version for the full listings. Usually, there's some kind of capsule description or review, but pub theatre tickets are generally under £20 so it's easy - and more-fun to take a chance. You may want to book your tickets in advance to collect before the show. If you can, it's a good idea to get your tickets in advance for the most popular shows. Otherwise, just show up on time on the night and get in the queue to buy a ticket. Be prepared to travel - there are only a few Central London Pub Theatres. The Finborough, the Kings Head and the Old Red Lion are among them. (See the list below) Because of the licensing laws in the UK, some smaller theatres pubs operate as clubs. You have to join them to see a play. You can usually join that sort of pub theatre for a few pounds, when you buy your ticket. Pub Theatre is not dinner theatre but some pubs that have theatres also serve food. If you'd like to eat, arrive early enough to have a meal in the pub before the play starts. The play itself will not be in the pub but in a room above it or in a basement. Order your interval (intermission) drinks before you go into the theatre, if you can, because the crush at the bar will be intense later on. When the play is about to begin, and when the interval is about to end, the pub landlord will ring a bell in the pub, giving you about five minutes notice to get to your seat.You can never tell, far in advance, what might be scheduled in London's pub theatres. As a start, check out these links to some of London's most popular pub theatres: Not all London's independent theatres are in pub. Some fill converted warehouses, rooms above cafes and other odd. Some, like The Almeida, The Donmar Warehouse and the Young Vic showcase stars alongside new writing and talent. Others are more experimental and potentially more exciting:
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