For summer at the Young Vic, why not pop into a Bournemouth brothel, because Alecky Blythe's warm-hearted production really is holding a mirror - or a microphone - up to life. Seen last year at the Royal Court, The Girlfriend Experience is another notch on the bedpost for verbatim theatre where real-life conversations are used as a script for a play; here, the actors listen to the original recordings of the four prostitutes during the performance, a technique that ensures they capture the women's chatter "with eerie verisimilitude" (The Daily Telegraph). And if you've already started conjuring up images of grotty bedsits and street-walking druggies, then think again - these are exactly the kind of preconceptions Blythe wants to dispel with her world of gnomes, flat-pack furniture and PVC pants. As well as the hilarity, there are tinges of tragedy - "cryingly funny", said The Telegraph - an under-the-skin sadness hinging on 'the girlfriend experience', which they offer clients with kissing and cuddling but are truly afraid of never experiencing.
(Image: Alastair Muir)
What's on at
The Young Vic
Annie Get Your Gun 3rd October 2009 - 2nd January 2010 Well. knock me down with a .22 calibre rifle, Jane...
The Forest
The Young Vic, SE1 8LZ
9th December 2009 - 24th December 2009
Fevered Sleep, the creators of 'And the Rain Falls Down' and 'Brilliant', have joined... More
A Christmas Carol / Ikrismas Kherol
Young Vic, SE1 8LZ
Tuesday 20th November 2007 - Saturday 19th January 2008
A thirty-strong company of South African actors perform the ... More
The Enchanted Pig
The Young Vic, 66 The Cut, SE1
1st December 2006 - 27th January
The Young Vic has a long tradition of raucously entertaining and... More
Fevered Sleep, the creators of And the Rain Falls Down and Brilliant, have joined forces with Fuel to bring us The Forest, a contemporary dance ...More
Divisive director Katie Mitchell - "a diminutive bundle of precisely focused energy" according to The Independent - presents Dr Seuss's classic children's tale, The Cat ...More
The area where this hotel is located has become the vibrant cultural heart of London, with theatres, concert halls and art galleries lined-up against the ... More
After five years at 1 Vyner Street Alma Enterprises, the project-space which began as a base for successful young artists' collective 'Land', moved to this ... More
Tas is a delightful place, serving chic Turkish food at affordable prices in a thoroughly pleasant environment. The cheerful, helpful staff definitely add to the ...More
London South Bank University started life as the Borough Polytechnic Institute and has been part of the local landscape for since 1892 making it one ...More
The concrete promenade along the South Bank greatly benefits from this large patch of green grass for striders, strollers and sightseers to relax on. ...More
Located on the South Bank, in the heart of one of London's prettiest thoroughfares, The London Bicycle Tour Company is ideally placed for a spot ... More
A massive sound system, huge dancefloor and a staggering roster of big name DJs has made sure of Ministry of Sound's place in clubbing folklore. ... More
Get the FREE monthly guide to London entertainment, arts, concerts, sport, book signings, and essential event information delivered directly to your inbox.
LondonTown.com has special discounts every week. The amount of discount will vary depending on the dates you are coming and how far in advance you book. All discounts are subject to availability.