Today's full programme, more choices & comment

3:00pm
LIFE: The Gameshow by Dave Bibby Dave Bibby

LIFE: The Gameshow is your whole life in one hour. Interactive rounds hosted by different characters. All from the mind of award-winning comedian Dave Bibby. Shite prizes though.<br/>The audience must first be born into the show then survive major life events including passing driving test (driving pedal go kart through cones blindfolded), losing virginity, surviving questions during Choose Your Own Adventure Game 'Drunk Auntie at a Wedding' plus 'Mortal Kombantz' the ultimate test of being a LAD - impossible to win, impossible not to love

3:00pm
WILD(E) TALES Tales From The Shadows

WILD(E) TALES is an anthology storytelling piece of the fairytales of Oscar Wilde told through the Irish tradition of oral storytelling and shadow puppetry. Seeing as oral storytelling is well, oral, some details get lost in translation and the stories slowly change over time. This does not suit the author and he takes it upon himself to set the record straight! <br/>The Shadow Gals and Oscar Wilde go back and forth over the details until they find a version that suits everyone in a production that preaches difference, acceptance, and love (with some minor interruptions!)<br/>Featuring a performance from non-binary drag artist Crystal Bollix as Oscar Wilde, WILD(E) TALES is the perfect production for mature children and childish adults.

3:00pm
Sacrament Minerva Productions Ltd.

"I have a confession to make. Well several, actually. There's been a little bit of a list developing and it's all been getting a bit overwhelming if I'm honest."<br/>The girl has come to Church to have a frank conversation with God. Once little girl in a first communion dress cossetted by family in Catholic Ireland, she dreamt of the next time she would wear a white dress to Mass. But then she grew up. And as her music taste evolves, so does her relationship with God (if there is one), love (but sure what does that even mean?), and sex (but shhh don’t tell her Granny). Sexuality suddenly threatens her relationships with her faith, her family and the future she has always imagined for herself. Sacrament is a play which examines how a new generation of Irish young people relate to their country's religious heritage and whether it is possible to reconcile religion with an empowered sense of sexuality.

3:00pm
Glitch Studio Odder & Chronic Insanity

3 stars Within the world of video games, there’s a challenge called a “speedrun”; and within the world of speedrunning, there’s something called a “glitch”. It’s a secret way to finish a level faster than you’re meant to, using an idiosyncrasy in the game’s code to jump straight to the end. Glitch is a monologue from a young gamer called Kelly, who’s excited to discover that a speedrunning contest is coming to her town. But Kelly has a glitch of her own - a part of her brain that doesn’t quite work in the way the world expects it to. Read the full review.

Glitch is a monologue about autism, grief, small towns and video games. <br/>Kelly’s autistic, never left her hometown because of it, and now she’s facing her Dad’s declining health. She’s frustrated, stuck, and looking for a way out - although she doesn’t realise it until it potentially arrives, in the form of a video game speedrunning contest offering both a cash prize and (friendly) rivals who might become friends.<br/>Kelly might be trying to save her Dad like the heroes in her favourite games, but she comes to realise she can’t control everything: change is going to happen, whether she (or her brain) likes it or not.<br/>As Kelly navigates her grief, paired with her new experiences and the often-judgemental viewpoints of her hometown’s locals, she comes to understand what her Dad has been trying to tell her all along. Other people have been writing Kelly’s story for too long, based on assumptions about her labels rather than her as a person. Maybe it's time for that to change.<br/>Glitch is about the stories we tell about those seen as different, the impact that has on the people being spoken about, and asks the question: surely it's past time we let everybody create their own stories?

3:00pm
Red Peter Grid Theatre

A stage adaptation of the short story “A Report to An Academy” by Franz Kafka.
An African ape has been captured in the jungles of West Africa and brought back to ‘civilisation’ by his European captors. To escape a life of incarceration, he ‘evolves’ into a human being. Red Peter mimics human habits from the crew of the ship upon which he is imprisoned, masters human speech and eventually decides to embrace human society rather than languish in a zoo as an ape. He even performs as a human on the vaudeville stage.

3:10pm
Living Here ? Ayenai

Where is our place? What happens when we
have nothing left to hold on to? Do we
remain? 'Living Here?' is Ayenai’s first work
as a collective and is deeply rooted on the
personal experience of living in a foreign
country. We are trying to answer questions
such as what does it take to make yourself
at home in a hostile environment that is
constantly shifting?
Conquering our own personalities and the
space that holds us, is an ongoing journey
where often, obstacles become a support
and most importantly, the motor that keeps
us going.
Our travel companions are two highly
renowned Gypsy Jazz musicians, Andrea
Todesco (Guitar) and Peter Thomas (Double
Bass). They are both currently performing all
around Europe with the most influencial
players in the gipsy jazz scene.

3:15pm
Sky in the Pie The Feathers of Daedalus Circus

The poetry of Roger McGough explodes from the page to the stage in this fantastical circus and puppetry adventure where pigs fly and the sky is in the pie. Join a day-dreaming boy for one amazing day where he discovers the extra-ordinary in the ordinary wherever he goes.
The Feathers of Daedalus Circus have teamed up with celebrated author and poet Roger McGough for this new wonderfully wacky children’s production inspiring young and old to fall in love with poetry. With circus, physical theatre, puppetry and projection, the Feathers explore fun and fantastical ways to play with poetry, dipping into works from Roger’s 50 year career topped up with new poems especially created for the show. 
A day so ordinary. Or one quite extraordinary? For what day is ever ordinary in the eyes of a daydreamer? Setting off for his first day at school he discovers a plague around in the playground. He meets the girl who became a book, and the boy who was born to bugle. He finds a domesticated donkey, a sound collector and a blue macaw in a drawer. At home he eagerly awaits a well deserved dinner, but there is a sky in the pie. Mother’s done it again! He lies down to sleep, rests his head on his catapillow, dreams of a school for ghouls, a rolling meatball, spelling bees and everything in between.
The Feathers of Daedalus Circus are known for ambitious multi-disciplinary circus productions having created shows with amazing circus mixed with spoken word, live music, collage, film and projections. We are always looking for new collaborators so we are very excited to be using puppetry alongside circus and poetry to lead you through our fantastical adventure. You will be intrigued, amused and amazed by the Sky in the Pie and through it we hope you will learn or re-learn a love of poetry.

3:20pm
She Is A Place Called Home. Esohe Uwadiae

"Dad's getting married again. A second wife. As in, in addition to his first. <br/>(We were shocked too)."<br/>This is a gripping story about two sisters in the run up to their dad's marriage, as they rehearse the traditional Nigerian dance he's asked them to perform, all the while navigating the complexities that come with lies, love and bigamy. <br/>It explores what happens when religion and culture collide, under the spotlight of a family in crisis, and the things people do to try and survive.<br/>This thought-provoking play was developed as part of the VAULT Festival New Writers’ Programme 2019, led by Camilla Whitehill, and showcased during VAULT Festival 2019 in a sold-out show.<br/>She Is A Place Called Home is partnering with Solace Women's Aid, an innovative and grass roots charity that supports women and children who have experienced domestic and sexual violence to build safe and strong lives. After each performance, we will be holding a collection of donations and toiletries on Solace's behalf. Any contributions will be very appreciated.

4:30pm
Sequins and Lies (Work in Progress) Matt Tedford

"When I was 12 I told my father my favourite song was 'everything.' He replied "‘No! That’s too easy. You can't like everything, you need to be specific!" I was too embarrassed to tell him that 'Everything' was track 4 on the 1976 ‘A Star is Born’ Album."<br/>When Matt was young he idolised his father, but that didn't stop him leaving when he was 5 years old to start another family. At a loss for male role models, the precociously camp Matt turned to some alternate idols for support - Barbra, Shirley and Cher! Now as an adult, he's going to need those divas more than ever when he discovers that the half-brothers he's always sent Christmas presents to... have never been told he exists. Now, he needs to break the news to them that they've got an older brother, but can he reconcile his love of glitter and show tunes with his sport-loving, laddish new family?<br/>A fabulous comedy cabaret musical play from the creators of the cult hits Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho and Margaret Thatcher Queen of Game Shows about absent fathers, family secrets, brothers who've never met and Barbra Streisand. <br/>Written by Directed by Olivier Award-winner Jon Brittain (Rotterdam, A Super Happy Story About Feeling Super Sad, Baby Reindeer).

4:30pm
STAGES – a video game musical ALP

“Load in the world.” <br/>Player 1, Aiden, is sixteen, autistic, and loves video games. They can be repeated, mastered and controlled. But what happens if the game starts to glitch? In this interactive video game musical the audience take control and help Aiden navigate STAGES.<br/>Playable characters include: Ellie, Aiden’s sibling, who’s stuck deciding on which avatar to select. Owen, Aiden’s dad, who hovers over the restart button. Alice, Aiden’s mum, who faces her greatest challenge, the final boss.<br/>Featuring an original electronic 8-bit soundtrack and arcade style graphics, STAGES by Christian Czornyj examines what happens when the code of our lives is rewritten and the way the digital world interacts with our own. It is a bold new British musical that has to be played to be experienced.

4:30pm
ANIMALS Unconscious/ Conscious

'Animals' is a new show from Unconscious/Conscious. <br/>Switching from the mundane to the absurd Animals is a funny ride that confronts the fears and tribulations of city life. Two Cousins Tadgh and Christian are away from home, stuck in a tiny flat and working through the night. Through unexpected dreams and hallucinations they are forced to search for clarity amongst the chaos. The show includes new music and more cheese than expected.<br/>With themes from the philosophical to the utter ridiculous, audiences are encouraged to join in the experience as we all begin to travel...inwards.* How we can truly begin to connect in an ever dividing world? <br/>*Nudity may or may not occur depending on how loud you scream.<br/>'In all our searching, the only thing we've found that makes the emptiness bearable is each other'- Carl Sagan

4:30pm
V&V Sprezzatura Productions

“I regret that you have been in bed, though not with me”<br/>Through carefully crafted letters that are awaited with anticipation, Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf begin an exquisite romance. Filled with sharp intelligence, wit and elegance, both iconic women’s letters conquer each other’s hearts through carefully chosen words inked onto a page - luckily, their husbands don’t mind. <br/>“You’re the first person I’ve seen on this app which isn’t posing with a dog, a baby, or in your bra.”<br/>In the overwhelmingly tangled world of dating apps Mia and Lottie meet online. Flirting through the beam of a phone screen, they navigate many challenges, including kiss politics - two x’s or three? When an emoji can change not just the tone of the conversation but the entire meaning of what you write, reading between the lines takes on a whole new meaning. <br/>Brought to you by Sprezzatura Productions, V&V charts two narratives: the iconic love story of literary treasure Virginia Woolf and esteemed socialite Vita Sackville-West; and a far newer story of Lottie from Tunbridge Wells and love cynic Mia. Shortlisted for the Charlie Hartill Theatre Reserve 2019, V&V makes its debut at VAULT festival 2020.

4:30pm
Kraken Unbound Productions

Welcome to an ocean full of plastic, giant squid, and opportunity.
Simon & Trixie work in a submersible mining station at the bottom of the sea. Their relationship is falling to pieces, but they can deal with that later. They just don’t want to be left behind in the climate crisis.
Every day, they dig up rare earth minerals which the planet needs for green batteries, electric cars, and new mobile phones. No one said going green would be easy.
It’s business as usual until they meet Archie – a giant squid. The loveable cephalopod has a lot to say about the big holes Simon and Trixie keep making in his home.
Kraken is a classic (and the only) underwater climate crisis capitalist-cephalopod romance. It’s a story about monsters, and what (or who) we’re prepared to throw away. It’s about going green but hurting the world around you. It’s about keeping up with catastrophe. It’s about wanting to love your planet, but not knowing how.
First and foremost, this is a play about what happens when a giant squid just might be your best friend. Or life partner.

4:45pm
All Quiet on the Western Front Incognito Theatre Company

"We were eighteen years old, and just learning to love the world and being in it, and then we had to shoot it to bits."<br/>Following an international tour, the multi-award nominated and award winning Incognito Theatre Company return to VAULT Festival with their critically celebrated adaptation of Erich Remarque’s tale, exposing the harrowing reality of trench warfare. <br/>Told through the eyes of five classmates, this adaptation is gripping and unyielding in its treatment of the visceral brutality of war, an honesty that lends itself to Incognito Theatre’s unapologetically explosive physical style. 'All Quiet on the Western Front' focuses on the harsh physical reality of this violent world from the perspective of the German forces, intercut with the vulnerability of human experience. An exploration of raw humanity and the power of brotherhood in the face of total bleakness, Incognito's 'All Quiet on the Western Front' exposes the personal sacrifices that were made for the sake of the Great War. <br/>Three Weeks ***** "Enthralling, moving and fundamentally, beautifully human."

4:50pm
WORK.txt Nathan Ellis

This is a show about work.
But the worker isn’t here, so it’s down to you.<br/>You’ll clock in at the beginning.
You’ll get short breaks at regular intervals.
You’ll work in a team, and under your own initiative. <br/>You will be your own boss.
You will be free.<br/>work.txt is a show performed entirely by the audience. A show that explores the gig economy, financial instability and automation.<br/>14+
Supported by Arts Council England

5:00pm
Joanne McNally (Work in Progress) Off The Kerb

Join Joanne McNally for a hilarious hour of new jokes in this work in progress show.
'The most exciting thing to happen to Irish comedy in years' -The Irish Times
'Joyously Nuts' - The Irish Examiner
'Please bring your friends and laugh until you cry' - The Edinburgh Report
‘The Jokes come thick and fast’ **** - Arts Desk
‘She crafts her performance in such a way that no member of the audience is left out – we are all in on the joke.’ **** - Edinburgh Festivals Magazine

6:00pm
Lòng M? (Mother’s Soul) VanThanh Productions

Two different stories tied together by one commonality, their Vietnamese mothers. Lòng M?, which translates into Mother’s Soul/Heart/Love takes you on two very personal journeys; a son coming to terms with the lengths his mother takes to provide for him, even if it means a brush with the law, and a daughter seeing her mother in a new light through her own impending motherhood. This is a tender love letter to all mothers whose love, sacrifice, wit, and steel are what makes us who we are, whether we like it or not.

6:00pm
Red Peter Grid Theatre

A stage adaptation of the short story “A Report to An Academy” by Franz Kafka.
An African ape has been captured in the jungles of West Africa and brought back to ‘civilisation’ by his European captors. To escape a life of incarceration, he ‘evolves’ into a human being. Red Peter mimics human habits from the crew of the ship upon which he is imprisoned, masters human speech and eventually decides to embrace human society rather than languish in a zoo as an ape. He even performs as a human on the vaudeville stage.

6:00pm
I’LL WAIT (Work In Progress) Oriole Close Productions

A Romcom Thriller. She’ll do anything for love, but is he worth it... ?<br/>Forget Hinge, Anna met her new boyfriend IRL - how romantic! Unfortunately, following an accident, he’s now lying unconscious in hospital.<br/>She relays the romantic story of how they first met (at a bereavement support group), how they grew close (shared eye rolls behind, Celia, the group leader’s back) and their first date (an evening straight out of a romcom, rain and everything). It’s the beginning of a perfect love story... until disaster strikes. Whilst he lies in a coma she’s discovers something at his flat that throws up some unnerving questions. As the fantasy starts to unravel will Anna be able to face up to the truth?<br/>Written and performed by Harrie Hayes.
Directed and script edited by Katharine Armitage.

6:00pm
Too Pretty To Punch Edalia Day

A comedy spoken word show about gender, the media and not fitting any of the boxes, full of explosive movement, original songs and kickass video projection. Edalia Day is a banjo wielding, poetry slam winning, trans warrior, taking on the world one troll at a time. <br/>Too Pretty To Punch is a hilarious and uplifting journey through what it means to be trans in 21st century Britain. It reminds all of us (regardless of who we are) of the power of celebrating our existence.<br/>"Head-spinning, joyful, painful, funny - and I loved the tech. It's a blast from and to the heart." - Chris Thorpe<br/>Edalia is a transgender/non-binary spoken word artist, animator and theatre maker based in Norwich. Trained at Lecoq and Alra, their theatre is visually stunning, with physical comedy and a child like sense of play at the heart of everything they make.<br/>?Writer/Performer/Animator: Edalia Day
Composer: Billie Bottle
Artists: B Mure & Jack Kelly
Set Design: Leo Calder
Stage manager: David Calder
Poster Design: David Cousens<br/>The finale includes poetry, video and audio contributions from 15 transgender and/or nonbinary poets from all over the world:<br/>Lee Mokobe, Ashe Vernon, Cairo Nevitt, Ash Palmisciano Robbie Masters, Adriana Scott Newsum, Leo George, George Cook, Millie Quick, Sez Thomasin, Jay Hulme, Carey Wood-Duffy, Kit Rayne, Kay Kassirer.

6:15pm
Closed Lands LegalAliens Theatre

Why is the ‘free world’ obsessed with walls ?<br/>A unique fusion of poetry, satire, reportage, multimedia and traveller’s diary, Closed Lands traces the history of modern walls - real and metaphorical - from Berlin to Mexico to Europe. <br/>Beginning in 1989 with the euphoria for the fall of the wall - "the end of shame", as it was described - it moves in space and time to Mexico, the Sahara desert, and the wall of water surrounding "Fortress Europe", ending with the wall of bureaucracy faced by asylum seekers.<br/>LegalAliens' powerful and evocative production features the cast rotating through the roles of migrant, politician, citizen, CEO and a VIP bot, all part of a perverse and random mechanism. A live camera projects part of the action on screen, as our lives become increasingly part of a gigantic video game in which even the most dramatic situations - boats crossing the Med, border control techniques, the selling of weapons - can be sold to the public as glamorous products. <br/>Based on factual research and testimonies, and performed by actors who are all migrants in the UK, Closed Lands chronicles the "Free world's" obsession with walls and our journey back to shame. <br/>This is the English premiere of Closed Lands (Terres Closes), by award-winning playwright Simon Grangeat and performed by an all female international cast. <br/>Presented in co-production with Exchange Theatre and part of "Migrations Harbour Europe", an ACE funded project to promote plays from across the continent focusing on migrant voices and experiences in a non cliched and theatrically original manner.

6:15pm
Sky in the Pie The Feathers of Daedalus Circus

The poetry of Roger McGough explodes from the page to the stage in this fantastical circus and puppetry adventure where pigs fly and the sky is in the pie. Join a day-dreaming boy for one amazing day where he discovers the extra-ordinary in the ordinary wherever he goes.
The Feathers of Daedalus Circus have teamed up with celebrated author and poet Roger McGough for this new wonderfully wacky children’s production inspiring young and old to fall in love with poetry. With circus, physical theatre, puppetry and projection, the Feathers explore fun and fantastical ways to play with poetry, dipping into works from Roger’s 50 year career topped up with new poems especially created for the show. 
A day so ordinary. Or one quite extraordinary? For what day is ever ordinary in the eyes of a daydreamer? Setting off for his first day at school he discovers a plague around in the playground. He meets the girl who became a book, and the boy who was born to bugle. He finds a domesticated donkey, a sound collector and a blue macaw in a drawer. At home he eagerly awaits a well deserved dinner, but there is a sky in the pie. Mother’s done it again! He lies down to sleep, rests his head on his catapillow, dreams of a school for ghouls, a rolling meatball, spelling bees and everything in between.
The Feathers of Daedalus Circus are known for ambitious multi-disciplinary circus productions having created shows with amazing circus mixed with spoken word, live music, collage, film and projections. We are always looking for new collaborators so we are very excited to be using puppetry alongside circus and poetry to lead you through our fantastical adventure. You will be intrigued, amused and amazed by the Sky in the Pie and through it we hope you will learn or re-learn a love of poetry.

6:15pm
BIG Rebecca Dilg Productions

Society puts a lot of pressure on Fat Girl. All she wants to do is be with her soulmate Pizza. Instead, her mother signs her up for the reality show The Only Way Is Pretty. What will happen to Pizza when Fat Girl meets Hot Boy?
Big by Urvashi Bohra is a personal ode to pizzas and body positivity.

6:20pm
She Is A Place Called Home. Esohe Uwadiae

"Dad's getting married again. A second wife. As in, in addition to his first. <br/>(We were shocked too)."<br/>This is a gripping story about two sisters in the run up to their dad's marriage, as they rehearse the traditional Nigerian dance he's asked them to perform, all the while navigating the complexities that come with lies, love and bigamy. <br/>It explores what happens when religion and culture collide, under the spotlight of a family in crisis, and the things people do to try and survive.<br/>This thought-provoking play was developed as part of the VAULT Festival New Writers’ Programme 2019, led by Camilla Whitehill, and showcased during VAULT Festival 2019 in a sold-out show.<br/>She Is A Place Called Home is partnering with Solace Women's Aid, an innovative and grass roots charity that supports women and children who have experienced domestic and sexual violence to build safe and strong lives. After each performance, we will be holding a collection of donations and toiletries on Solace's behalf. Any contributions will be very appreciated.

6:30pm
Andy Field: The Magic Notebook (Work in Progress) Andy Field

This is a loose and silly work in progress show by a loose and silly comedian called Andy Field. <br/>It's setting out to answer a lot of big questions. Such as, in what way is this notebook magic? Why does it just look like a normal notebook? Is this a real show or just a person reading out their notes? What's the big deal? Are you taking the piss? How dare you charge people to watch this? What is love? <br/>All these questions and more will be answered, hopefully!

7:20pm
Alex Kealy: Lies Alex Kealy

Political comedian Alex Kealy presents work-in-progress of necessarily variable quality. Potentially about lying and lies, but writing this blurb 7 months in advance means any notion I have thematic understanding of what this work-in-progress will be come March is itself a lie.<br/>"Rising star of the British stand-up scene" (The List)
"A storming Show" (Sunday Times)
The Guardian's Top 10 Jokes of Edinburgh Fringe 2019
"Kealy manages to bring something different and unique...if you're interested in politics, this is a must-see at the fringe" - **** Broadway Baby
“This is clever comedy...you’ve done yourself some internal damage from laughing so much.” - **** Shortcom
"Well thought out and insightful...extremely funny...a very enjoyable hour of comedy." **** - Theatre Weekly
"In his element, Kealy is a smart, funny writer...a powerhouse, knocking out those perfectly expressed gags" - Chortle
"A great hour of cerebral stand-up and Alex Kealy is a name to watch” ****- FringeGuru

7:20pm
V&V Sprezzatura Productions

“I regret that you have been in bed, though not with me”<br/>Through carefully crafted letters that are awaited with anticipation, Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf begin an exquisite romance. Filled with sharp intelligence, wit and elegance, both iconic women’s letters conquer each other’s hearts through carefully chosen words inked onto a page - luckily, their husbands don’t mind. <br/>“You’re the first person I’ve seen on this app which isn’t posing with a dog, a baby, or in your bra.”<br/>In the overwhelmingly tangled world of dating apps Mia and Lottie meet online. Flirting through the beam of a phone screen, they navigate many challenges, including kiss politics - two x’s or three? When an emoji can change not just the tone of the conversation but the entire meaning of what you write, reading between the lines takes on a whole new meaning. <br/>Brought to you by Sprezzatura Productions, V&V charts two narratives: the iconic love story of literary treasure Virginia Woolf and esteemed socialite Vita Sackville-West; and a far newer story of Lottie from Tunbridge Wells and love cynic Mia. Shortlisted for the Charlie Hartill Theatre Reserve 2019, V&V makes its debut at VAULT festival 2020.

7:30pm
Kraken Unbound Productions

Welcome to an ocean full of plastic, giant squid, and opportunity.
Simon & Trixie work in a submersible mining station at the bottom of the sea. Their relationship is falling to pieces, but they can deal with that later. They just don’t want to be left behind in the climate crisis.
Every day, they dig up rare earth minerals which the planet needs for green batteries, electric cars, and new mobile phones. No one said going green would be easy.
It’s business as usual until they meet Archie – a giant squid. The loveable cephalopod has a lot to say about the big holes Simon and Trixie keep making in his home.
Kraken is a classic (and the only) underwater climate crisis capitalist-cephalopod romance. It’s a story about monsters, and what (or who) we’re prepared to throw away. It’s about going green but hurting the world around you. It’s about keeping up with catastrophe. It’s about wanting to love your planet, but not knowing how.
First and foremost, this is a play about what happens when a giant squid just might be your best friend. Or life partner.

7:30pm
Ride Bottle Cap Theatre

5 stars “Everybody loves a show!” declares Annie Londonderry - the real-life Bostonian immigrant who, in 1894, accepted a wager to cycle around the world. And with this striking, fast-paced, thoughtful new musical, Bottle Cap Theatre deliver a show indeed. On the face of it, it’s a story of feminist empowerment - a celebration of a woman who had the confidence and chutzpah to out-balls the men. But there’s a flip-side to that brassiness. Given all that she’d genuinely achieved, why did she feel driven to tell so many outright lies? Read the full review.

One woman. One bicycle. One hell of a story.<br/>It’s 1895 and 24 year old Annie Londonderry has returned victorious to America, hailed as the first woman ever to cycle around the world.<br/>She’s pioneering, she’s plucky, and she's pitching her story to the New York World. But as she shares her adventures, the cracks begin to show, and she's forced to confront a past she'd rather leave unexplored. <br/>RIDE is the incredible true story of a young woman with big plans, and an even bigger imagination, from the award-winning team behind VAULT sell-out THE LIMIT (***** FringeGuru).

7:30pm
Sequins and Lies (Work in Progress) Matt Tedford

"When I was 12 I told my father my favourite song was 'everything.' He replied "‘No! That’s too easy. You can't like everything, you need to be specific!" I was too embarrassed to tell him that 'Everything' was track 4 on the 1976 ‘A Star is Born’ Album."<br/>When Matt was young he idolised his father, but that didn't stop him leaving when he was 5 years old to start another family. At a loss for male role models, the precociously camp Matt turned to some alternate idols for support - Barbra, Shirley and Cher! Now as an adult, he's going to need those divas more than ever when he discovers that the half-brothers he's always sent Christmas presents to... have never been told he exists. Now, he needs to break the news to them that they've got an older brother, but can he reconcile his love of glitter and show tunes with his sport-loving, laddish new family?<br/>A fabulous comedy cabaret musical play from the creators of the cult hits Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho and Margaret Thatcher Queen of Game Shows about absent fathers, family secrets, brothers who've never met and Barbra Streisand. <br/>Written by Directed by Olivier Award-winner Jon Brittain (Rotterdam, A Super Happy Story About Feeling Super Sad, Baby Reindeer).

7:45pm
STAGES – a video game musical ALP

“Load in the world.” <br/>Player 1, Aiden, is sixteen, autistic, and loves video games. They can be repeated, mastered and controlled. But what happens if the game starts to glitch? In this interactive video game musical the audience take control and help Aiden navigate STAGES.<br/>Playable characters include: Ellie, Aiden’s sibling, who’s stuck deciding on which avatar to select. Owen, Aiden’s dad, who hovers over the restart button. Alice, Aiden’s mum, who faces her greatest challenge, the final boss.<br/>Featuring an original electronic 8-bit soundtrack and arcade style graphics, STAGES by Christian Czornyj examines what happens when the code of our lives is rewritten and the way the digital world interacts with our own. It is a bold new British musical that has to be played to be experienced.

7:45pm
All Quiet on the Western Front Incognito Theatre Company

"We were eighteen years old, and just learning to love the world and being in it, and then we had to shoot it to bits."<br/>Following an international tour, the multi-award nominated and award winning Incognito Theatre Company return to VAULT Festival with their critically celebrated adaptation of Erich Remarque’s tale, exposing the harrowing reality of trench warfare. <br/>Told through the eyes of five classmates, this adaptation is gripping and unyielding in its treatment of the visceral brutality of war, an honesty that lends itself to Incognito Theatre’s unapologetically explosive physical style. 'All Quiet on the Western Front' focuses on the harsh physical reality of this violent world from the perspective of the German forces, intercut with the vulnerability of human experience. An exploration of raw humanity and the power of brotherhood in the face of total bleakness, Incognito's 'All Quiet on the Western Front' exposes the personal sacrifices that were made for the sake of the Great War. <br/>Three Weeks ***** "Enthralling, moving and fundamentally, beautifully human."

7:50pm
WORK.txt Nathan Ellis

This is a show about work.
But the worker isn’t here, so it’s down to you.<br/>You’ll clock in at the beginning.
You’ll get short breaks at regular intervals.
You’ll work in a team, and under your own initiative. <br/>You will be your own boss.
You will be free.<br/>work.txt is a show performed entirely by the audience. A show that explores the gig economy, financial instability and automation.<br/>14+
Supported by Arts Council England

8:15pm
Frank Foucault: Desk Frank Foucault

Thump. James Corden hears a thump coming from underneath his chat-show desk. Thump. This is not a stand-up show. Thump. But it is performed by my stand-up comedy persona. Thump. I understand that's confusing. Thump. I hope you enjoy it. Thump. "full of unexpected twists and turns" 4**** - The Scotsman. Thump. "baffling and daring" 4**** - BroadwayBaby. Thump. "His real name is Luke Smith" - Chortle. Thump. Thump. Love. Thump. Thump. Sex. Thump. Thump. Death. Thump. Thump. The Desk.

8:30pm
Sam Lake: Cake (Work in Progress) Sam Lake

Sam Lake, "A thoroughly engaging larger-than-life personality" (Steve Bennett, Chortle) brings his debut show, Cake, to VAULTS Festival.<br/>In 2018, Sam got engaged and started planning a wedding to climate change scientist, David. A match made in heaven. But before he and David say the "I Do’s, Sam has to look back on his journey to this point and ask himself the hard questions: Where does he stand in LGBT community as a gay man now? Did he accomplish all he set out to do before settling down? Will his Dad say "David's an odd name for a bride..."?<br/>Winner of Leicester Square new Comedian of The Year 2018, Featured on BBC Radio 4 Xtra, VICE & LADBible, die-hard fan of the Eurovision Song Contest, join Sam for what promises to be a hilarious and cheeky hour of stand-up comedy. A piece of cake!

8:40pm
Heroine Snatchback & Joyous Gard

What makes a strong woman? Mother, maid and crone are trying to find the answer. They knew this once... It’s on the tip of their tongues... Maybe the stories we once told each other will hold the key... <br/>Heroine is a storytelling show seeking to answer the important questions: <br/>How to find love when you’re a skeleton who lives under the sea.
Why it’s important to keep secrets when you’ve accidentally married a hyena.
How to fight giants and gain financial security.
How to literally become the sun.
Oh. And what even is a Heroine anyway? <br/>With stories from all across the world, including Nigeria, Mexico and the Arctic - join us for an evening celebrating our forgotten fairytale heroines.

8:40pm
Marcus Brigstocke: Work in Progress Off The Kerb

Join multi-award winning stand-up Marcus Brigstocke as he road-tests brand-new material in this work in progress show. As seen on Argumental, Live At The Apollo, Have I Got News For You and Mock the Week.
‘If you haven’t seen him live, then you haven’t seen him at his very best’ ***** – The Mirror.
‘Sharpest one-liner merchant’ – Sunday Times.

8:50pm
Hidden Toil&Trouble Theatre Company

“People are fucking judgy though”.
A night-time glimpse into the sometimes tragic, often hilarious stories that we hope we’ve Hidden.
Michael aka “Rosie Bush” who can never let a good costume go, Pippa a hot yoga enthusiast who has just nailed “the fucking toe stand”, Morag armed with her BOGOF’s is eager for her deep clean weekend and Jade is on her way to experience the tattoo of a lifetime “every inch of skin a potential hit”.
These are just a few of the people whose paths cross when they stop to share their stories with us, Hidden invites you to pay closer attention and you might be surprised by what you recognise...
A new play from emerging theatre company Toil&Trouble. Through a diverse collection of women and one Drag Queen, Hidden gives voice to the fears, hopes, battles and triumphs they face daily.
Careful, if you spot it, maybe you’ve got it?

9:00pm
GHOST HOUSE Tristan Bernays

It’s empty. All of it. The whole building. The Foxtons lady didn’t mention that, did she?
146 fully furnished flats and all of them completely empty. Except for... <br/>Jay has just bought his first home: a luxury apartment in the newly refurbished 60s Brutalist masterpiece, Balfron Tower.<br/>But he soon discovers he’s literally the only person in the entire building. All the other flats are empty, bought up by wealthy Russian oligarchs and Beijing businessmen.<br/>He is completely alone.<br/>Until he discovers he isn’t.<br/>Someone – or something – still haunts the corridors of Balfron Tower.
__________<br/>Ghost House is a 21st century ghost story set against the skyline of modern London and the contemporary housing crisis.<br/>High Rise meets The Woman In Black in this chilling tale of urban loneliness, isolation and fear.

9:00pm
LAD Alan Mahon and Rhys Dunlop / One Duck

Steve is ?ne. No really, he’s grand. He’s a lad. He’s always been a lad — one of the lads. But the lads have changed and Steve feels like an endangered species. The last of his kind. With nobody to talk to.<br/>But there's one lad left. His lad. And his lad... talks back.<br/>Following a sold-out run in Dublin in 2019, the company behind If We Got Some More Cocaine I Could Show You How I Love You returns to VAULT Festival with this balls-to-the-wall new comedy. <br/>Thomas Martin (Collapsible; Flights; If We Got Some More Cocaine; Ross & Rachel) directs this cheeky two-hander by Rhys Dunlop and Alan Mahon.<br/>"One Duck Theatre’s fast-paced production is brimming with imaginative touches from director Thomas Martin... Both performances are excellent... this is a company and a production that deserves to be seen." - No More Workhorse (Ireland).<br/>Written and performed by Rhys Dunlop and Alan Mahon
Director Thomas Martin
Lighting Designer Cillian McNamara
Sound Designer Ekatarina Solomatina
Movement Consultant Bryan Burroughs
Set design the company
Set Builder Stephen Lockhart

9:15pm
Against the Christians Barney Fishwick & Jack Chisnall

With church attendance dropping below a million for the first time in the UK, how will the youth respond? Following the trials and tribulations of a Christian Union at a university, we see the most unlikely of young people as they negotiate the boundaries set by their faith and the social pressures mounting upon them to fit in. <br/>Written by Writer's Guild Award nominee 2018. Praise for previous work: "The full package" **** (The Guardian).

9:15pm
Notflix: Originals Notflix: The Improvised Musical

Five-star sell-out show Edinburgh Fringe 2017-2019 and VAULT Festival 2017-2019.
Netflix combines the taste profiles of 98 million users to create a perfectly ideal viewing experience...
Notflix combines the taste profiles of a room full of theatre go-ers to create a brilliantly hilarious and completely improvised viewing experience – a full musical.
The all-female cast of ‘Notflix’ use audience suggestions to create a brand new, fully improvised, one-night-only musical. Every show is different but what remains is the same joyous, musical celebration of everything you wish a movie could be.
Because everything is better as a musical!
Featured in Sunday Times, Marie Claire and Elle Magazines. Funny Women and Musical Comedy Awards nominees.
***** “Notflix might very well be the best show you see this year, and the year after, and hopefully forever” Broadway Baby
**** “Professional, fun and effortlessly funny” The Observer
**** “Surprising, spontaneous and delightful” Fringe Biscuit

9:20pm
Don’t look back Airealism

No-one who enters the labyrinth ever returns.<br/>Theseus searches deep underground for the terrible Minotaur. Ariadne must decide where her loyalties lie. Daedalus and Icarus are trapped, desperate to escape. As the story unravels, revealing the choices each make, do we control our destinies or are they entirely in the hands of the three Fates?<br/>Follow the thread and join the cast of Airealism deep in the labyrinth as the Fates weave their tale inspired by Greek myths using aerial circus & physical theatre.

9:45pm
Sasha Ellen Offends the Elders (Work in Progress) Sasha Ellen

Sasha Ellen struggles to explain her life choices at the best of times, let alone to the matriarch of her clan, her ball-busting, no-BS, lived-through-the-war-and-can't-wait-for-the-next-one grandmother. Sasha has tried and failed to follow in the footsteps of the great matriarch, from giving blood with disastrous consequences to forcing modern men to write her poetry. It's not easy, being a millennial, trying to explain to an elderly lady that turkey ham is not vegetarian. A storytelling, stand-up show about how the more things change, the more they stay the same.
“Honest, hilarious and horrifying... the comedy future looks good for Ellen”-Canal-St
"Genuinely engaging show"- Broadway Baby
Material heard on BBC Radio 4

10:00pm
Jenny Kassner (Work in Progress) Jenny Kassner

After 15 years of barely speaking, through the means of WhatsApp, Instagram, and problematic 90s sitcoms, Jenny and her sister are slowly starting to strike up a relationship. And to much of Jenny's horror, her sister sees in her some form of...role model?! As a 29 year old ‘freelance creative’ living in a 'house share' in south west 'London', spending her Sundays hungover and crying over Catfish re-runs, that's something she can hardly live up to.<br/>A work in progress stand up comedy hour from one of London's (via Germany, via Texas, via Australia - like honestly, where's this accent from?!) most exciting new comedian.<br/>Soho Theatre Young Company
So You Think You're Funny semi-finalist 2018
2Northdown New Act Competition semi-finalist 2019