Give my regards to Upper Street! Festive events on stage in Islington
Published: 24th December, 2010
LOST slippers, merry men, a Cheshire Cat and a former Time Lord – it can only be Christmas in Islington!
The borough’s very own Broadway (aka Upper Street) boasts a string of venues getting into the swing of all things festive – and the more obscure stages are getting in on the act, too.
A yuletide fringe theatre crawl might start at the Hen and Chickens, Highbury Corner, which has stand-up comedy from funnyman Joel Dommett, who tells the story of his failed voyage to Las Vegas in search of romance (until January 28, 020 7704 2001).
One could then progress to the King’s Head Theatre to catch Cinderella by acclaimed company OperaUpClose (until January 18, 08444 771 000), before rounding things off at the Old Red Lion for a performance of Evelyn Waugh’s Decline and Fall starring Sylvester McCoy – better known perhaps as the seventh Doctor Who (until January 8, 020 7837 7816).
The ORL’s risqué “sibling”, the New Red Lion – just around the corner in City Road – has cerebral comedy The Aristocrats (until December 23, 08444 771 000).
At the Rosemary Branch in De Beauvoir Town, meanwhile, the brilliant Charles Court Opera present their “boutique panto” Robin Hood (until January 9, 020 7704 6665).
Nearby Sadler’s Wells has an all-dancing Cinderella (until January 23, 0844 412 4300), while festive favourite The Snowman returns to the Peacock Theatre (until January 9, 0844 412 4300).