The Friday league
Now See This
Friday 24th April, 2015
It's not every time I go to a theatrical event that I come home with a new Levi's shirt. Neither do I always draw pictures on a blackboard, or draw a little sketch and pin it on a washing line. I am perhaps more likely to learn a couple of Charleston steps, but probably not from twins, and probably not at the same event as Indian dancing, an animation about being a student and stand-up comedy impersonating the Gallagher brothers.
...Welcome to The Friday League.
Co-curated by Caroline Forrest and Janina Smith, this quirky, cheery platform for new work was previously a feature at the Working Men's Club in Bethnal Green and is settling into its new home nicely. It takes place once month at Theatre Delicatessen, with new acts for every event.
But actually, there is so much more to the evening than the acts alone. Varying brilliantly in length, subject matter, quality and style, the beauty of the event is in its eclecticism and its openness. The atmosphere is as warm as it is exciting, and everyone is there just to have fun, amongst the vintage furniture, twinkling lights and shimmering foil curtain.
Besides the acts, there is the opportunity to 'express yourself' in chalk on a blackboard, to play pool and to rummage through Janina's jumble sale of clothes and acquire new items for your own wardrobe. By way of an interval, there is a competition to impress Caroline with a sketch or an interesting fact, composed on paper and pinned to her washing line. Last Friday’s winner provided a semi-encyclopedic stream of facts about lifts, which was met with a rapturous round of applause. It’s that kind of night.
What's most exciting about the event is its commitment to showcasing and supporting artists, and bravely presenting new work. You can donate to the artists in jars at the bar, and all of the money that goes into the bar is used to further Theatre Delicatessen's efforts to support emerging artists and hold events such as this one.
It’s such a brilliant, buzzing, sweet little evening with a huge amount for everyone to enjoy, even if your highlight is just reclining on a sofa and basking in the atmosphere. Caroline and Janina successfully gather an intriguing snapshot of the variety of London’s theatre and arts scene, and I can’t wait to see what they programme for us next time.
The Friday League is a monthly event in the Cabaret Space at Theatre Delicatessen. For more info, and updates on their next event, check out:
