December Drought

Alright, might as well finish my 2025 in 150 shows in time for the World Cup. Then we'll figure out another topic to write about in 2027, a very dull year, without World Cup or Euros, but who knows, if United win a couple of trophies I might go back to writing about that.

December 2025 then, was dominated, as it should be no surprise, by Christmas shows. I watched the Christmas Bond show at London Cabaret Club (London Never Sleeps I think they call it), and I don't remember exactly, but I must've teched a couple. I was slowly carving my place at LCC, but in the meantime the relation ship has broken down completely, and I think it had very little to do with me. I was on the fence about that environment anyway, they do some things really well, and some things really bad. It probably evens out and it's an ok place all in all, but the lead is with the hospitality team, not the artistic one, so I probably won't be back for a while.

Wednesday the 3rd I saw Kill Local at Barons Court, which I dubbed 'the best KDC show I've seen at Barons Court'. Even for that title there's some competition, however, Kill Local was a great show. Directed by Saskia, starring Olivia Cordell of Bog Body and a good cast all around, and some great special effects, plus a very funny script. Would've hit a couple of 5 stars if only KDC would be more open to reviews.

7 December was the stand-up show produced by my brother. Atentie! Stand-up! 4 young Romanian comedians, pleasant enough and hard working enough, but stand up has to be outstanding to be of any note. There's a future in there, if only anyone would be able to work to make it.

There was, unfortunately, a feeling of the year wimpering out rather than finishing on a high. I was by this point pretty burnt out, so I didn't care much. Regardless, and regardless of what the future holds, we have seen more than 100 individual shows in Barons Court Theatre, and this is an achievement I will be proud of. Not something to shout from the rooftops, as only the people who've done it know how hard it is, and of these, there are not many.

But yeah, I finished with a few very seasonal shows. Unwrapped, Tempest Rose's second show at Arches Lane that happened mostly without Tempest Rose, was good, but she set too high a standard with Velouria, and Unwrapped didn't quite hit that.

Mitch Benn's A Christmas Carol, third year on the bounce, went better than 2024 but not as good as 2023. This is encouraging, however. In 2023 it was a novelty, but in 2026 it will be a tradition. And we have a good base to grow from.

And finally, my last show of the year, with a full 2 weeks to go of 2025, was Riverside's Dick Whittington and his Cat, done for the purposes of recording it as a radio drama.

A meagre six shows in what normally is a much busier month, but they bring my total to 151 unique shows for the year. What does this mean? Not much, really. Just that I can back my words when I say I see a lot of theatre.