The New Black with a Little Punk

Last week we saw our first "community theatre" since moving to London. The New Black at The Oval Theatre was smart, fast and very funny.

The theatre, which is in Vauxhall, probably held 100 people. I was able to buy tickets for £12 each the day of the show. A real change from the intensities of West End theatre.

The play is set in a cabaret, with a keyboard player who says little and David Mills, the star. An acerbic rant on contemporary society, the mostly monologue kept the audience laughing throughout the entire play while forcing us to reflect on our own viewpoints and actions, as good art can do.

The play was American in origin, but had been localized in a way that reminded me of Shear Maddness. I'm not sure if The New Black is traveling elsewhere, but if you need a good laugh, don't miss it.

A man, a chair and a stage...my kind of play.

A Little Punk
The theatre has a gallery space which I strolled while waiting to head to our seats. The show featured three artists that are members of The Union Gallery. The theme was Punk-art related and I found a piece I just had to have - the Union Jack with the word P U N K spelled out with Scrabble tiles by the artist Ben Oakley. It's on the gallery wall until the show closes on 13 June.