The FringeGuru guide to the VAULT Festival on on Saturday 1 February

"Don't stack me away in little boxes to collect dust!" <br/>Laugh and cry as Joann Condon (Little Britain, Dad's Army: The Lost Episodes, The Office, Edge of Heaven, Cradle to Grave) presents Little Boxes. "My new one woman show lifts the lid on all the little boxes that are created for us: Mum, woman, actor, writer, comic, cook, cleaner... who am I... and who are you... really? <br/>Have you ever felt that you have been unfairly categorised, pigeon-holed, "boxed-up"? You want to scream, "That's not me! You don't know me!" It happens to all of us; friends, family and people you've just met put you in a box and keep you there. And yes, we do it to ourselves and to other people.
Well, actress and comedian Joann, has had enough. "Just because we look a certain, way and speak a certain way, and are of a certain age, people make snap decisions about who we are." Follow Joann on her journey of discovery, as she sorts through the boxes she has accumulated during her life.

The Feathers return to the VAULTS with Tarot, their **** Edinburgh fringe hit, reworked and reimagined, conjuring up a night of circus, music, improvisation and divination. Hosted by the enchanting Ruby Wednesday and accompanied by our phenomenal soul-funk band Yoshi, audience tarot readings guide our performers in this unpredictable tale, where all is possible, and everything is unexpected. When the first card is turned our journey begins. Will the fool become the empress or the king lose his crown? Will the lovers be trapped in the caverns of the moon or the stars shine down on the hapless hanged man? You can shuffle the deck, you can lay down the cards, but the fates will dictate who will fly and who will fall.
Our Arcana adventure has taken us full circle from the underground tunnels of the Vaults back in May 2019 where we presented our atmospheric R and D findings to sell out audiences. We then headed to the Edinburgh Fringe where we performed in the brand new Assembly Bijou spiegeltent throughout August, gained rave reviews, performed on the Best of the Fest and the List UK’s Night at the Museum at the National Museum of Scotland. Wee Review **** stated we have ‘a magnificent, magical circus display with an incredible soundtrack and a look to die for’, and Broadway Baby **** that ‘This show infuses this powerful cultural imagery with music, energy and impressive, highly-charged physical performance’. Most recently we performed Tarot at Underbelly Festival Southbank in September. We are delighted to be returning to the Vaults where this show was born with a brand new reworked version of the show exploring the entire tarot deck and introducing the enchanting Ruby Wednesday as our compere and Tarot card reader to give the show a new and exciting vibe.

Can you remember your first time? Nathaniel can’t seem to forget his. To be fair, he has had it playing on repeat for the last 15 years.<br/>Now the party is over, the balloons have all burst and he’s left living his best queer life: brunching on pills and Googling kangaroo vaginas, ancient condoms and human cesspits on a weekday morning... or is he? <br/>Fresh from his critically-acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe debut, award-winning HIV+ theatre-maker Nathaniel Hall presents this ‘hilarious’ and ‘heart breaking’ autobiographical solo show about growing up positive in a negative world. <br/>Join him as he blows the lid on the secret he’s been keeping all these years.<br/>***** “Moving and educational” The Stage (included as one of the best shows at the Edinburgh Fringe 2019)<br/>“Packs an emotional punch that resonates even after you’ve left the theatre” The Guardian<br/>"An unabashedly heart on sleeve crowd, pleasing-show... crucial for raising awareness of HIV" Lyn Gardner, StageDoor<br/>***** "Compelling, motivating, triumphant" BroadwayBaby<br/>***** "A must see" ThreeWeeks<br/>***** "One hell of a ride" Northern Soul<br/>**** "Universal and deeply moving" Attitude<br/>“A truly remarkable story of triumph, I was in awe” Russell T. Davies<br/>Winner of the inaugural Venues North Edinburgh Fringe Award 2019.<br/>Supported by Arts Council England, Waterside Arts and Creative Industries Trafford. Proud to be partnered with George House Trust, Terrence Higgins Trust and HIV Scotland.

Can kids be parents? From the team behind the multi award-winning We Live By The Sea (Critic's Pick and Best Theatre of the Year- The New York Times) comes a funny and uplifting story of childhood and adulthood, responsibility and fun, accompanied by live original music and projection.<br/>When Cassie’s mother leaves in the night, the teen wants to care for her younger sisters on her own. But is Cassie the right person to be "Mum" now, or should she let their foster parents adopt her sisters, and create a new family?<br/>Based on real-life events and interviews with children in care, Cassie and the Lights examines our ideas of what makes a family, and celebrates the incredible determination and resilience of teenagers. <br/>Patch of Blue's accolades include Best Theatre, Critic's Choice and Peace Foundation Awards, Adelaide Fringe 2017; The Guardian Top 6 Shows and Off West End Award nominations for Best Production and Best Ensemble. <br/>The press on 'We Live By the Sea' <br/>***** British Theatre Guide
***** Adelaide Theatre Guide
***** Adelaide Advertiser
***** A Younger Theatre
**** The Scotsman
**** The Stage

Witness the struggle between good and evil, order and chaos, taste and... bad taste. Two performers (repressed stiff Laurence and fun-loving anarchist Lindsay) battle to perform wildly clashing versions of Stevenson's classic. Will their working partnership (and marriage) emerge unscathed? A comedic, musical romp from the dynamic duo that brought you The Time Machine, Cinemusical, Cinemusical High, and Madame Magenta: Libros Mystica. Starring Malcolm Hardee Award winner Laurence Owen and 50-metre swimming certificate holder Lindsay Sharman (LolsProductions.co.uk). 'Delightful' ***** (BroadwayWorld.com). 'A hilarious gem' ***** (MusicalTalk). 'Ridiculously clever' **** (Scotsman). 'Wonderful' (Stephen Fry). BroadwayWorld.com Award Nominee

Passion on the Night Tube is a solo play with music performed in English and Cantonese. It takes place in the early morning on the 24 hour Jubilee Line. Passion (Jimmy Wong) is a gay Chinese man who finds himself homeless and spending the weekend on the night tube. He tells the story of how he ended up in this situation. We see him not fitting in with his inherited culture and the gay scene. We meet, through his eyes, his family and others that have affected him. Passion will interact with the audience, but there is no audience participation (unless they want to). Warning there will be ukulele music!

Santi & Naz are best friends living in a small village in pre-partition India. Their story spans between 1945 & 1949. When Naz is betrothed to an older man, the threat of separation for the young women looms large on the horizon. As the political situation around partition worsens and violence erupts, they take drastic action. Santi & Naz explores childhood friendship, identity and loyalty set against the backdrop of a country soon to be changed forever. New play by Guleraana Mir and Afshan D’souza-Lodhi, from award-winning company The Thelmas, makers of LADYKILLER & COCONUT.

¡Art, passion, obsession!<br/>An explosive on-stage portrait of Latin America’s Greatest Female Painter.<br/>Sharp, witty and bursting with colour, this critically acclaimed, award-winning one-woman show returns to London for its 10 year anniversary, after a sizzling sell out run around the world. Based on fragments of Frida Kahlo’s biography, letters and extracts from her diary, this play powerfully recreates the life of a unique artist, a painter who transferred her vibrant culture and her deepest dramas onto canvas. <br/>***** The Scotsman ***** Fringe Review ***** London Theatre Guide***** Extra!Extra! **** Metro **** Three Weeks **** On Stage Scotland<br/>“Mesmerising and compelling. A must-see” - London Theatre Guide<br/>“ Gaël Le Cornec inhabits the role of Frida like a second skin” - The Stage<br/>ARGUS ANGEL AWARD ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE: Brighton Festival
UNIVERSAL ARTS AWARD: Edinburgh Fringe
APT CRITICS AWARD BEST EMERGING PLAYWRIGHT: Mexico

The cracks on the surface.
The low rumble.
The sparkling eyes.
The twitch.
The wanting.
The drip drip dripping.
The intake of breath.
Four breaths.
And then?<br/>What happens when we let go?<br/>drop dead gorgeous is a darkly comic exploration of femininity and appetite. Drawing on their experiences as women from three different cultural backgrounds, Same Same delve into issues of respectability, containment and refinement. One thing is certain. They won’t be amenable for long.

Award-winning comedian Nathan Cassidy's true story of his magical, life-changing year. Nothing was happening, then he joined a new gym and a big, strong man changed his life forever. You couldn't make it up. <br/>BEST SHOW NOMINEE BUXTON FRINGE 2019<br/>Join Nathan for his uplifting, award-nominated and critically acclaimed show as he shares the magical true story of that man, that childhood friend, that duck-down duvet, and how he came to be called ‘Observational’.<br/>'As you watch his magic carpet unwind you sense a certain eerieness, that something special is going down, but you don’t know what... something transcendent, something sorcerous. Then comes the spinejangling & euphoric Keyser Söze finale, when all will seem well in the world!’ **** Mumble Comedy Aug 2019<br/>‘Excellent show!!!’ Trevor Lock, June 2019<br/>www.nathancassidy.com/AL

“Why can’t you just be yourself: an actual person, not a look. Not an image”<br/>Carl is 21, skinny, afraid to come out and hates his body. <br/>Cameron is 30, has the classic Instagram body but can’t connect with the real world. <br/>Phil is fat and 40, which in gay years feels like life is already over.<br/>Toned, fat or skinny? Bodies can be a big part of a gay man’s world. But for Carl, Cameron and Phil having the ideal one matters a little too much. <br/>Following the critically acclaimed 'Open' in 2019, Full Disclosure Theatre return to VAULT Festival with a touching three-hander that tackles the timely LGBTQ+ issue of male body image, and asks if our desire to look perfect cuts more than skin-deep. <br/>Sometimes to bare all, means taking off more than just your clothes. Join us for a whole new reveal on a gay’s anatomy.<br/>The cast includes Dominic Jones as Carl, Mark Philip Compton as Phil, and Taofique Folarin as Cameron, best known for starring in TV & Web Series 'The Grass is Always Grindr'.

Which life would you choose if you had a second chance? <br/>Luca managed to narrow the possible answers down to a few options (legionnaire in the French Foreign Legion, Japanese sword-smith, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church...) and in this brand-new show he is ready to describe the lives he never lived! <br/>Expect bizarre storytelling, endearing and honest humour and a charming Italian accent!
Heard on BBC World Service's The Arts Hour.
'Funny and fresh and so, so moreish' **** (Scotsman). 'See him now' **** (Scotsman)
So You Think You’re Funny winner.

Satire. Politics. Sex. <br/>'The Murder of Kuchuk Hanem' explores the idea of the 'Oriental' woman: who she was. is and would like to be; how she has come to be seen and how she sees herself. It is a an exploration of a long taken-for-granted narrative that, through this unconventional farce of a play, we hope to finally challenge.

Rose rises from her tomb. From the dead, from the past. She alerts for an imminent war, for the extreme necessity of transformation of a woman’s soul, a woman who has stopped feeling. She has the key to the mind of Eva, our heroine, and her many facets that battle throughout the play.
The audience is taken into an adventure through imagination, fantasy, mystery, laughter and tears. The hardest journey of them all: from the mind to the bottom of the heart.
Based on a true episode of a mental breakdown, occurred during the impeachment process of Brazil’s first female president, Dilma Rouseff, in 2016, “The Journey of a Warlike Mind” deals with the inherent tension in the relationships between all the voices that live inside our minds, and establishes an up-to-date discussion on gender on a deep and intimate level. Eva has been silent for too long and needs to seek her essential voice.
The play is inspired by the book “Women who run with the Wolves”, by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, and the work of Mary Wollstonecraft (1759 – 1797), a British writer and philosopher, considered by many to be the mother of modern feminism. Drawing on the tradition of storytelling, the play explores this medium by contrasting the ugliness of traumas with the beauty of transformation, launching our heroine into a process of healing.
The universe of this unique piece is embedded with elements of African music and dance, modern and electronic music, allied with a detailed character composition and an original dramaturgy grown from poems, paintings, tales and dramatic scenes.
"The Journey of a Warlike Mind" is, above all, about change, transformation and transcendental hope. A tragicomic and bittersweet tale about rediscovering the roles that we as women play in our lives and breaking patterns that have been so rigidly built within us.

Icarus: the story of a boy who flew too close to the sun? Or did the Greek bloke who wrote it down get it wrong?
A mother and daughter are locked in a tower, 3 Gods bicker over their fate, perhaps youthful imagination is the key to freedom...
New Actor-Musician theatre company The Wild and the Innocent use live music, puppetry, clowning and loud shirts to ask: Should you always listen to your elders? Is the sky the limit and who's story is this to tell?
Suitable for all families and ages 7+
Work-in-Progress performances.

Simon David is ready to perform his brand new, all-singing, all-dancing show, 'Date Night!' where one lucky spectator will win a date with the star live on stage!<br/>But then his father is diagnosed with terminal cancer. And just months before he dies, writes, performs and films his own one-man show about his illness, mortality and legacy.<br/>Far too juicy to ignore, does Simon follow in his father’s footsteps or continue with his camp cabaret?<br/>Directed by Fringe First winner Chris Larner, this true story about a father and son combines stand-up, film footage and original songs in a show about a show about a show.

What does it mean to be a man? NUMB morphs from live gig to poem to play to interactive theatre, telling the story of two siblings growing up together and breaking apart. A playful yet sobering reflection on male culture.<br/>Created in support of CALM, the show is a response to the male suicide crisis in the UK, the biggest killer of men under the age of 45. NUMB is a visceral reaction to this that asks its audience to co-create a better story. <br/>‘It was something I’d never seen affect an entire room like that'
Audience Reaction (2018 work in progress showing)<br/>***** - ‘Unimaginably Brilliant’ - Young Perspective
(On previous work - If Mouth Could Speak)

Cult TV nostalgia and a must-see for fans of archive TV, in this brand new show from character comedian and Blue Peter badge winner Tom Burgess.<br/>Retired children’s TV pioneer Peter Fleming is going home.<br/>He can’t quite remember which home – he’s had several. But he’s sure he left some copies of his legendary, lost BBC programmes there. Wherever there is.<br/>Join Peter on his journey as he re-traces his steps across Britain. With a lifetime of memories and an almost 40% accurate map to get him there, he’s sure to find his way back – as long as he's not too late.<br/>Best Debut Show – Leicester Comedy Festival 2018.
As seen on BBC Two and heard on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
Now allowed within 100m of Tom Baker.<br/>**** ‘Hilarious... slightly tragic’ – Comedy to Watch.
**** ‘An outstanding performance’ – Three Weeks.
‘Endearing, silly and wretched’ – Chortle.
‘Warm and nuanced... a vibrant hour’ – The Skinny.

"Don't stack me away in little boxes to collect dust!" <br/>Laugh and cry as Joann Condon (Little Britain, Dad's Army: The Lost Episodes, The Office, Edge of Heaven, Cradle to Grave) presents Little Boxes. "My new one woman show lifts the lid on all the little boxes that are created for us: Mum, woman, actor, writer, comic, cook, cleaner... who am I... and who are you... really? <br/>Have you ever felt that you have been unfairly categorised, pigeon-holed, "boxed-up"? You want to scream, "That's not me! You don't know me!" It happens to all of us; friends, family and people you've just met put you in a box and keep you there. And yes, we do it to ourselves and to other people.
Well, actress and comedian Joann, has had enough. "Just because we look a certain, way and speak a certain way, and are of a certain age, people make snap decisions about who we are." Follow Joann on her journey of discovery, as she sorts through the boxes she has accumulated during her life.

The Feathers return to the VAULTS with Tarot, their **** Edinburgh fringe hit, reworked and reimagined, conjuring up a night of circus, music, improvisation and divination. Hosted by the enchanting Ruby Wednesday and accompanied by our phenomenal soul-funk band Yoshi, audience tarot readings guide our performers in this unpredictable tale, where all is possible, and everything is unexpected. When the first card is turned our journey begins. Will the fool become the empress or the king lose his crown? Will the lovers be trapped in the caverns of the moon or the stars shine down on the hapless hanged man? You can shuffle the deck, you can lay down the cards, but the fates will dictate who will fly and who will fall.
Our Arcana adventure has taken us full circle from the underground tunnels of the Vaults back in May 2019 where we presented our atmospheric R and D findings to sell out audiences. We then headed to the Edinburgh Fringe where we performed in the brand new Assembly Bijou spiegeltent throughout August, gained rave reviews, performed on the Best of the Fest and the List UK’s Night at the Museum at the National Museum of Scotland. Wee Review **** stated we have ‘a magnificent, magical circus display with an incredible soundtrack and a look to die for’, and Broadway Baby **** that ‘This show infuses this powerful cultural imagery with music, energy and impressive, highly-charged physical performance’. Most recently we performed Tarot at Underbelly Festival Southbank in September. We are delighted to be returning to the Vaults where this show was born with a brand new reworked version of the show exploring the entire tarot deck and introducing the enchanting Ruby Wednesday as our compere and Tarot card reader to give the show a new and exciting vibe.

Can you remember your first time? Nathaniel can’t seem to forget his. To be fair, he has had it playing on repeat for the last 15 years.<br/>Now the party is over, the balloons have all burst and he’s left living his best queer life: brunching on pills and Googling kangaroo vaginas, ancient condoms and human cesspits on a weekday morning... or is he? <br/>Fresh from his critically-acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe debut, award-winning HIV+ theatre-maker Nathaniel Hall presents this ‘hilarious’ and ‘heart breaking’ autobiographical solo show about growing up positive in a negative world. <br/>Join him as he blows the lid on the secret he’s been keeping all these years.<br/>***** “Moving and educational” The Stage (included as one of the best shows at the Edinburgh Fringe 2019)<br/>“Packs an emotional punch that resonates even after you’ve left the theatre” The Guardian<br/>"An unabashedly heart on sleeve crowd, pleasing-show... crucial for raising awareness of HIV" Lyn Gardner, StageDoor<br/>***** "Compelling, motivating, triumphant" BroadwayBaby<br/>***** "A must see" ThreeWeeks<br/>***** "One hell of a ride" Northern Soul<br/>**** "Universal and deeply moving" Attitude<br/>“A truly remarkable story of triumph, I was in awe” Russell T. Davies<br/>Winner of the inaugural Venues North Edinburgh Fringe Award 2019.<br/>Supported by Arts Council England, Waterside Arts and Creative Industries Trafford. Proud to be partnered with George House Trust, Terrence Higgins Trust and HIV Scotland.

Can kids be parents? From the team behind the multi award-winning We Live By The Sea (Critic's Pick and Best Theatre of the Year- The New York Times) comes a funny and uplifting story of childhood and adulthood, responsibility and fun, accompanied by live original music and projection.<br/>When Cassie’s mother leaves in the night, the teen wants to care for her younger sisters on her own. But is Cassie the right person to be "Mum" now, or should she let their foster parents adopt her sisters, and create a new family?<br/>Based on real-life events and interviews with children in care, Cassie and the Lights examines our ideas of what makes a family, and celebrates the incredible determination and resilience of teenagers. <br/>Patch of Blue's accolades include Best Theatre, Critic's Choice and Peace Foundation Awards, Adelaide Fringe 2017; The Guardian Top 6 Shows and Off West End Award nominations for Best Production and Best Ensemble. <br/>The press on 'We Live By the Sea' <br/>***** British Theatre Guide
***** Adelaide Theatre Guide
***** Adelaide Advertiser
***** A Younger Theatre
**** The Scotsman
**** The Stage

Santi & Naz are best friends living in a small village in pre-partition India. Their story spans between 1945 & 1949. When Naz is betrothed to an older man, the threat of separation for the young women looms large on the horizon. As the political situation around partition worsens and violence erupts, they take drastic action. Santi & Naz explores childhood friendship, identity and loyalty set against the backdrop of a country soon to be changed forever. New play by Guleraana Mir and Afshan D’souza-Lodhi, from award-winning company The Thelmas, makers of LADYKILLER & COCONUT.

Simon David is ready to perform his brand new, all-singing, all-dancing show, 'Date Night!' where one lucky spectator will win a date with the star live on stage!<br/>But then his father is diagnosed with terminal cancer. And just months before he dies, writes, performs and films his own one-man show about his illness, mortality and legacy.<br/>Far too juicy to ignore, does Simon follow in his father’s footsteps or continue with his camp cabaret?<br/>Directed by Fringe First winner Chris Larner, this true story about a father and son combines stand-up, film footage and original songs in a show about a show about a show.

Witness the struggle between good and evil, order and chaos, taste and... bad taste. Two performers (repressed stiff Laurence and fun-loving anarchist Lindsay) battle to perform wildly clashing versions of Stevenson's classic. Will their working partnership (and marriage) emerge unscathed? A comedic, musical romp from the dynamic duo that brought you The Time Machine, Cinemusical, Cinemusical High, and Madame Magenta: Libros Mystica. Starring Malcolm Hardee Award winner Laurence Owen and 50-metre swimming certificate holder Lindsay Sharman (LolsProductions.co.uk). 'Delightful' ***** (BroadwayWorld.com). 'A hilarious gem' ***** (MusicalTalk). 'Ridiculously clever' **** (Scotsman). 'Wonderful' (Stephen Fry). BroadwayWorld.com Award Nominee

A tender, furious and fragile reimagining of Moby Dick from Fringe First winning writer and storyteller Casey Jay Andrews. A suburban fable of bad luck, reckless choices and irrational hope. THE WILD UNFEELING WORLD is a surreal and lyrical story about the times when we leap, where sometimes we soar, and sometimes we drown. <br/>The epic infamous whale is reinvented in London as a woman on the brink of self-destruction, caught in a chaotic quest for forgiveness. <br/>(Expect whale facts)<br/>By Casey Jay Andrews, creator of THE ARCHIVE OF EDUCATED HEARTS
Winner FRINGE FIRST Award Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018
Winner BEST THEATRE Award Adelaide Fringe 2019<br/>Reviews for THE WILD UNFEELING WORLD:<br/>Recommended in THE GUARDIAN's top picks of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019
***** "Unique storytelling flair" Within Her Words
**** “Funny, and sad, and deeply human, this stands out for the elegance of it’s writing and the depth of its emotional journey" The Scotsman
**** "Deeply charming... intimacy and power" The Independent

Critically acclaimed comedian Tom Mayhew tries out brand new stuff! 'Authentic material we can relate to: funny, sharp, intelligent, meaningful and pleasing. Mayhew is a voice that needs to be heard." - Chortle<br/> Tom has written for The News Quiz (BBC Radio 4) and NewsJack (BBC Radio 4 Extra).

Passion on the Night Tube is a solo play with music performed in English and Cantonese. It takes place in the early morning on the 24 hour Jubilee Line. Passion (Jimmy Wong) is a gay Chinese man who finds himself homeless and spending the weekend on the night tube. He tells the story of how he ended up in this situation. We see him not fitting in with his inherited culture and the gay scene. We meet, through his eyes, his family and others that have affected him. Passion will interact with the audience, but there is no audience participation (unless they want to). Warning there will be ukulele music!

“To be free is very sweet”
When one woman tells of her extraordinary journey to overcome the brutality of slavery, she becomes a beacon for the British anti-slavery movement. Mary Prince was an auto-biographer and champion of freedom. Her book had an electrifying effect on the abolitionist movement helping to free many Africans in bondage.
Mary was born into enslavement on the British owned Island of Bermuda 1788? As with many enslaved people exact records of births and deaths can be difficult to come by and Mary's birth year is an estimation. She was the daughter of a House slave Sue and a Sawyer nothing unusual there but through Mary's narrative we are given rare insights into her life as an enslaved person. We learn of moments of love, conflict and some of the intricacies of chattel slavery that are seldom heard. When Mary's narrative was 1st published in 1831 it was the harsh realities the brutality of enslavement the treatment and dehumanisation of enslaved people that shocked readers. Also it was the fact of a woman speaking of flogging, of work that wasn't just back breaking but life taking. She shares with us her words and thoughts of how it felt to be enslaved, owned bought and sold. Mary's story gives us the voice of the 'chattel' those voices that are often silent, silenced, ignored or spoken for. Many who read her book could now picture enslaved people more fully as people with feelings, hopes and dreams. It also again highlighted Britain's role in enslavement. Often today many of us think of slavery as an American experience, hearing stories of the deep south, and forget that Britain played a major role. Mary's words help to remind us.
Told through theatre, song, drumming and dance, this masterpiece of Black British theatre is inspired by the storytelling traditions of the West African Griot/ Jeli.

Edy Hurst brings his musical comedy, loop pedal nonsense and stand-up to answer the age-old question: ‘What’s the deal with Edy Hurst? Who even is he? Where am I? What?’<br/>As seen on MTV, BBC Radio 4, BBC New Act Nominee 2017, Great Yorkshire Fringe People’s Champion 2017, Harrogate Comedian of the Year finalist 2018, nominated for the Musical Comedy Awards 2018 and lurking in your dreams, ya weirdo. ‘<br/>**** - 'Bursts with comedic joy' The Skinny
**** - 'funny. Quirky. Deep. Seemless' Lancashire Post
'Delightfully Silly Songs' The Wee review

Ali is exhausted. Unable to detach reality from her own imagination she spins a tale that tests the limits of her identity and our own understanding. But does she know more than she’s letting on?
Seeing the world solely from her perspective we untangle a web that she herself seems scared to touch.
From the young voice of Sophia Capasso comes a gut punch that will leave audiences questioning the meaning of sanity. What do you do when you can no longer trust yourself and the system just isn't there to support you?

After a fatal stabbing, a promising young boxer is left for dead. As he lays unconscious he's transported to 18th century London where he receives lessons in not only Bare Knuckle boxing but what it really means to have courage. <br/>Black Terror takes you on a historical journey through Georgian England as boxing superstar Bill Richmond breathes life into a troubled young present day boxer. <br/>This is a work in progress written by Award Nominated Actor/Writer Kalungi Ssebandeke(ASSATA TAUGHT ME).

So what do you do when you’ve made the brilliant decision NOT to have children and then, at age 35, you find yourself pregnant? Answers on a postcard, please. <br/>A mischievous look at the existential crisis of motherhood. Award-winning Popelei return to the stage to take you on an exhilarating journey through the guilt and the glory of one woman going her own way. <br/>Featuring blisteringly honest confessions, vibrant dance theatre and one extremely knocked up performer.

Award-winning international company HUNCHtheatre bring you an urgent modern adaption of Joseph Roth’s neglected 1939 European masterpiece. Andreas, a homeless immigrant alcoholic, is miraculously given a large amount of cash by a stranger. We follow him as he tastes luxury, drinks everything, confronts his dark past and tries to avoid more miracles. Using a team of refugee artists from across Europe, and incorporating their personal experiences, HUNCHtheatre update the text from a Europe on the brink of disaster in 1939 to London in 2020 . It is a tale for our times, a tale of homelessness, addiction, immigration and miracles in our city.

Soph and her best friend Jel love scary stories. They hunt for the best ones on creepypasta sites, hunting the darkest online corners. But then strange and beautiful new girl Ellie turns up at school with a horror story of her own; a mysterious figure in the woods, the shadow of an axe. And when a girl in a nearby town goes missing, it seems their online monster’s come to life. <br/>Something Awful is a new play from Vault Award winning and Off West End Award nominated team Tatty Hennessy and Lucy Jane Atkinson, inspired by the real true crime story of the Slenderman. It’s a play about what we should be scared of, and where the real monsters live.

‘Omar has a winningly irreverent attitude to sacred cows, with a fresh and feisty delivery that gives him a contemporary edge’
Chortle<br/>Somali-born, Cardiff-raised and London-based, Mo Omar is a fast-rising talent with a unique perspective. Join him as he road-tests brand-new material on culture, faith and love in this work in progress show. <br/>Recently making his TV debut on Harry Hills Clubnite on Channel 4, Mo was also selected to perform in The Pleasance Comedy Reserve show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2019, and was a finalist in the BBC Introducing Radio 4 Comedy Award. 2017 saw Mo win the Leicester Square New Comedian Of The Year competition, as well as achieving semi-finalist status in the So You Think You’re Funny and Amused Moose 2017 competitions. Mo Omar really is a name to look out for!

In this historical feminist coming-of-age musical comedy show, Harriet brings forth a team of rebellious women from the history of science to help her wage battle against ignorance, patriarchy and her inner demons. She also looks back over her career as a performer, from school plays to now, presenting her achievements alongside those of renowned inventors, healers and technological pioneers.
Bold move, idiot. <br/>***** EdFringeReview
**** Edinburgh Festivals Magazine "A highly enjoyable hour" The Scotsman

A Work in Progress and some hard hitting soft stuff from two critically acclaimed comics.<br/>Freya has a problem and it’s dog shaped. She’s obsessed with them - 24/7 - dog dog dog and she doesn’t even own one. So, is this just 30 minutes of a youngish woman losing her mind over a bunch of animals she doesn’t even know? Yes - in part. An exploration of escapism and why we waste years of our lives looking at animal videos. Did you know God is dog spelt backwards? Something to think about. Half an hour of new solo material from 50% of the critically acclaimed sketch duo Lazy Susan.<br/>A call out to anyone with feelings? Award winning comedy idiot and one of life’s fighters Kat Bond combines stand up, characters and personal stories to bring you a brand new show. Kat has been told she has too many emotions so she decides to work out if there are a few she can do without. Vaults Award winning comic returns with a more personal tale about her many emotions told with the help of dance, a support animal and a parachute.

“Why can’t you just be yourself: an actual person, not a look. Not an image”<br/>Carl is 21, skinny, afraid to come out and hates his body. <br/>Cameron is 30, has the classic Instagram body but can’t connect with the real world. <br/>Phil is fat and 40, which in gay years feels like life is already over.<br/>Toned, fat or skinny? Bodies can be a big part of a gay man’s world. But for Carl, Cameron and Phil having the ideal one matters a little too much. <br/>Following the critically acclaimed 'Open' in 2019, Full Disclosure Theatre return to VAULT Festival with a touching three-hander that tackles the timely LGBTQ+ issue of male body image, and asks if our desire to look perfect cuts more than skin-deep. <br/>Sometimes to bare all, means taking off more than just your clothes. Join us for a whole new reveal on a gay’s anatomy.<br/>The cast includes Dominic Jones as Carl, Mark Philip Compton as Phil, and Taofique Folarin as Cameron, best known for starring in TV & Web Series 'The Grass is Always Grindr'.

George Fouracres, Wolverhampton's fancy-pantsiest son, tells stories of a Black Country childhood, sings ancient ballads, becomes occasional grotesques and splatters his odd brain matter all over the stage in his debut stand-up hour. You may know him from Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated sketch trio Daphne, or from BBC Radio 4, BBC Three, Channel 4 and ABC. If not, come, and behold. 'George is the future of comedy. He's a proper genius' (Caitlin Moran). 'A genuinely exciting comic actor who doesn't seem able to be not funny... put me in mind of a male Julie Walters' (Chortle.co.uk).

Satire. Politics. Sex. <br/>'The Murder of Kuchuk Hanem' explores the idea of the 'Oriental' woman: who she was. is and would like to be; how she has come to be seen and how she sees herself. It is a an exploration of a long taken-for-granted narrative that, through this unconventional farce of a play, we hope to finally challenge.

Both ex-models looking for a more stable career, sketch comedy duo MOTHER are back for a raucous night of the best low brow, high camp sketch London has to offer. <br/>Bringing their hilarious brand of no holds barred comedy underground, grab a bev, get comfy and empty your bins because things are about to get trashy.

‘Watching audiences attempt to tackle the challenge and fail is one of the funniest sights around, don’t miss it.’ (Daily Telegraph)<br/>YOU AWAKE TO FIND YOURSELF IN A DARK ROOM! You, the audience, are trapped in an interactive, retro gaming nightmare; choose an option, find the way out, and escape The Dark Room! If you succeed, you’ll take home £1000... but if you fail YOU WILL DIE! For you are not alone in The Dark Room; the merciless overlord of improv, John Robertson, is here to guide you through an hour of expertly crafted chaos and anarchy. And in the end, eeeeeverybody plays!<br/>So will you: <br/>A) Find the Light Switch?
B) Go North?
C) Abandon Hope?<br/>Originally an interactive YouTube game, The Dark Room went viral and has so far attracted more than 4 million views. Improv king John Robertson then transformed the game into a live show, and with no two shows ever the same, The Dark Room continues to sell out high capacity venues at Insomnia Gaming Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, EB Games Expo, PAX Australia, London Film & Comicon, MCM Comic Con and more! In September 2018, the Dark Room was adapted into an actual video game, topping the Steam charts in the first few days of release and gaining critical acclaim worldwide! ‘One of the most clever, hilarious and innovative takes on the genre I've ever seen’ - PC Powerplay.<br/>‘NOT TO BE MISSED’ – The Guardian
***** ‘The Dark Room is utterly unique, it’s hard to describe the magic and joyful
surprises awaiting you within without utterly scaring you off.’ - The Skinny
***** ‘You must see this show’ – British Comedy Guide
***** ‘You have to see the Dark Room at least once in your life’ – The Scottish Sun
**** ‘Great fun, nostalgic, but also a fresh angle for comedy’ – Den of Geek
**** ‘Genuinely, irresistibly dangerous’ - The Stage

What does it mean to be a man? NUMB morphs from live gig to poem to play to interactive theatre, telling the story of two siblings growing up together and breaking apart. A playful yet sobering reflection on male culture.<br/>Created in support of CALM, the show is a response to the male suicide crisis in the UK, the biggest killer of men under the age of 45. NUMB is a visceral reaction to this that asks its audience to co-create a better story. <br/>‘It was something I’d never seen affect an entire room like that'
Audience Reaction (2018 work in progress showing)<br/>***** - ‘Unimaginably Brilliant’ - Young Perspective
(On previous work - If Mouth Could Speak)

Lucy & Freya are developing new material!<br/>Lucy presents Tenderhooks. <br/>Freya is bad at lots of things. This is a list of the things she is bad at.

Hello, my name is Lloyd. This is my first time at Vault Festival. Please be gentle. It’s a work in progress hour of jokes, anecdotes, observations, petty grievances, grudges and accents. Only messing, there’ll just be the one accent; Welsh. Just to give you a taste, there’ll probably be jokes about snoring, charity shops and buttock surgery. As seen on Q.I (BBC2) and as heard on The Unbelievable Truth (BBC Radio 4)