Executive Producer and Acting CEO Sofi Berenger, Chair of the Board James Seabright, and the whole team at the King’s Head Theatre are thrilled to release details of new shows coming up from April - July, both at the venue’s new purpose built 200-seat Main House, and the intimate and versatile 50-seat Cabaret House.
MAIN HOUSE SHOWS
Following a sold-out run at the Old Red Lion Theatre in November 2023, rave reviews and an award nomination for best writing, February Face will play at the King’s Head Theatre this spring from 15-19 May. Full of laughter, longing and lament, the dark romantic comedy follows a classic 21st century romance: One has anxiety and the other, depression. But that doesn't matter where their attraction is concerned. The comedy is written by Keelan Kember (who also stars alongside Olivia Mills) and is directed by Monica Cox.
Following critically acclaimed seasons at Wilton’s Music Hall and several Edinburgh Festival Fringes, Alexander S. Bermange’s I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical will play at the King’s Head Theatre from 9-20 July as part of the show’s UK & Ireland Tour. With a cast of West End performers (to be announced), this definitive comedic musical revue reveals all there is to know about musical theatre and the people who love it on both sides of the curtain.
The cult politics podcast Oh God, What Now? bring their live show Oh God, What Now?: It’s Grim Up North London to the King’s Head Theatre on 20 May. Podcast regulars Dorian Lynskey, Ros Taylor, Alex Andreou and a special guest to be announced, take the stage in the spiritual home of the tofu-eating wokerati – the People’s Republic of Islington. They will be digging into the latest turmoil in Britain’s ongoing political nightmare and asking where it is all going.
For one night only, many original cast remembers of the multi-award -winning play 5 Guys Chillin’ for a special staged reading on 31 May to raise funds to make a new short film Crystal Murk, based on the play. 5 Guys Chillin’ is a graphic, gripping, funny and frank verbatim drama exposing the gay chill-out scene. It is an original look into a drug-fuelled, hedonistic, highly secret world of Chem-Sex, Grindr and instant gratification. After debuting at Brighton Fringe and transferring to the King’s Head Theatre for its record-breaking runs, 5 Guys Chillin' has found acclaim Off-Broadway and with productions in Toronto, Sydney, and most recently a 4-year run in Paris.
CABARET HOUSE
Alexis Sakellaris is currently performing his first solo show A Stan Is Born! at the Cabaret House until 27 April before as run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024. The original queer comedy musical, about Alexis's childhood as a stan, follow him as he attempts to get his PHDiva in stanology, with a concentration in Motherological studies and a minor in Slayviation.
The irreverent sold-out comedy night Wendy’s House is back in the Cabaret House on 2 May & 8 June after a sell-out show in March. The night features the best queer comedians from around the country, plus one Friend of Wendy’s. The 2 May lineup will consist of Will Owen, Kathy Maniura, Dee Allum and James Trickey.
The sell-out queer comedy cabaret night Comedy Fit For A King, hosted by Pedro Leandro, will return to the Cabaret House on 5 & 25 May. This month's King's court line-up features rambunctious jesters Katie Norris (Musical Comedy Award Winner 2023), Rohan Sharma (Pleasance Reserve Ed Fringe 2024), Mudfish (Sketch Off! 2024 Finalists), Liv Ello (Liv Ello & Frankie Thompson: Body Show) and Lil Wenker (Best Variety Show Nominee LCF 2024).
Daddy, which plays from 17-19 May, is a new show where Brent Thorpe (the biggest poof in Australia) joins forces with director Adam Cook to take audiences on a wild ride to discover what life is like as a Daddy and to see how much fun getting older really is.
A collection of the best shows and players from the London improv circuit at this new King’s Head Theatre night, Book Club Presents: An Improv Variety Night, on 19 May & 2 June. Hosted by house team, Book Club, the improvised show sees the performers creating fun narratives, games and worlds out of nothing more than a conversation, a phrase or even a word.
Klub Obskura – the home of Kryptik Kabaret – will play in the King's Head subterranean cabaret lounge on 1 June. Klub Obskura is a club night/ cabaret show created by Karma Obskura, London's broken drag doll. Many alternative drag and cabaret artists struggle to find shows to present their work, but Klub Obskura aims to change this. KO offers these performers the chance to share their art in a Klub setting that celebrates them.
Sexy Rude Harp Concert, hour of original (and quite rude!) songs and stories, plays the Cabaret House on 15 June. Using high camp, old school Hollywood glamour, childhood trauma, knowing winks, ostrich feathers and a Bedazzler, Sam Hickman brings sparkle, warmth, and about 3 Welsh language zingers to the stage in this harp concert that will make you laugh, cry and, if you must...think.
On 23 June, Live at the Apollo and QI star Olga Koch and Chortle Student Awards and BBC New Comedy Awards loser Jin Hao Li are bringing their brand new work-in-progress shows to Islington.
On 14 July, Jordan Brookes and Jake Roche will perform new material for their brand-new shows.
EUROVISION
Eurovision Your Decision will run in the Main House 29 April - 11 May. Hosts Katie and Demetrius will introduce and celebrate memorable hit songs, performed live, from past Eurovision Song Contests with the audience voting on their favourite song to be performed again at the end of the show.
Sofi Berenger said, “We're thrilled to have such an incredible line up of shows coming to King’s Head Theatre, from dark romantic comedies, camp joyful retellings of Princess Diana, Kingly comedy, to West End musical revues. The King’s Head Theatre has a wealth of shows to offer for everyone.”
In the wake of the 2024 Olivier Awards, Sofi Berenger also said, “Huge congratulations to all the Olivier Award winners. In particular, Will Close whose solo play was co-produced by Kings Head Theatre in 2022 and 2023, Mark Gatiss a constant collaborator and supporter most notably with Boys in the Band and David Cumming (Operation Mincemeat) the final Guest Artistic Director of our pub theatre. We’re delighted for our friends acknowledged for their incredible work and hope to see more of them in years to come.”
Previously announced shows include Awkward Productions’ unique celebration of the people's princess Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story playing now until 5 May (featuring a special video appearance from Diana the Musical and Sweeney Todd Broadway star Jeanna de Waal); Ned Campbell’s reimagination of Keiran Hurley’s 2012 critics award-winning playing BEATS now until-27 April; Gunther retells the series FRIENDS in FRIEND (The One With Gunther) from 14-26 May; touring sensations New Old Friends bring their farcical comedy Houdini’s Greatest Escape for a highly anticipated five-week run from 26 May – 30 June; the All About Eve inspired solo musical Diva: Live From Hell returns to London from 4-29 June starring Luke Bayer (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Millennials, RENT); Harlow Playhouse’s award-winning production Tom Ratcliffe’s Wreckage returns to London from 2-7 July; Jonathan Maitland will premiere the stage adaptation of his acclaimed book How To Survive Your Mother about Britain’s first ever gay hotel from 23 Oct - 24 Nov 2024.
