Alternative theatre is a term used to describe fringe theatre, which is any performance that is not aimed directly at the mainstream. Fringe theatre itself was a term coined by Robert Kemp, who described the unofficial companies performing at the same time as the second Edinburgh International Festival (1948) as fringe writers.
Fringe theatre is a catch all for nearly anything performed on a stage, although a stage is not always required, as alternative theatre often attempts to defy the rules of convention or quite simply smash them apart.
Alternative theatre is common at many art festivals across the country and around the world, but it is a genre that has become quite popular, not popular enough to be mainstream of course, but popular enough to warrant a fine collection of theatres either totally dedicated to the genre or at the very least being extremely welcoming to it. Here is a brief selection of alternative theatres from across Britain.
Finborough Theatre, London, was Fringe Theatre of the Year 2010 and at the ripe old age of 30 is one of the oldest in the country. Nestled in London’s West End, this small and intimate theatre above a pub is led by Artistic Director Neil McPherson who seeks to constantly achieve perfection discovering fresh talent and reworking neglected texts from the 19th and 20th century.
The Arches, Glasgow, is a very large cavernous space, spread out under the arches of the railway lines heading out of Glasgow’s Central Station. It is a multipurpose venue that houses anything from club night raves, to spoken word poetry. It has a great intimate theatre space and curates quite original work. It is also very easy to get to with the train station literally on top of it.
The Kings Arms, home to Studio Salford is a bohemian back street boozer with a fantastically intimate and inspiring venue space up stairs. Very much at the heart of the fringe theatre scene in Manchester – although technically in Salford – the Kings Arms stages original, innovative performances; written, directed and acted by local talent. If you want to be at the cutting edge of theatre, get down and see this collective at work. The Kings Arms is very close to Salford central.
Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol, is not as fringe as some of the other places on this list, it is perhaps "mainstream-fringe", a place where hipsters and creative types hang out. It is a fantastic multipurpose space dedicated to promoting the arts as a force for good within the local community and seeking to show that urban redevelopment need not be all about shopping malls and glass office blocks. Performances here are varied and will cover all tastes from the Avant-garde to very accessible work.
If you want to experience fringe theatre without the hassle of swimming through the crowds of Edinburgh in August, then any of these theatres are well worth a visit. Check out their programs online and book yourself a ticket. You can get trains to Bristol, Glasgow, London or Salford very easily and get to any of these venues on public transport, allowing you to get a pre-theatre meal and enjoy a nice tipple while you make a real night of it.
Dave MacKinder writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
