If you like your theatre to take a risk, head to Camden People's. It may not be a whole lot to look at, but the theatre stages some of the most adventurous new work in London. Camden People's Theatre was founded in 1994, by a collective of artists who took over a former pub in Hampstead. Since then, it's moved to an old shop in Warren Street, and has maintained a reputation for consistently challenging experimental work, low ticket prices, and a young audience.
There's a quirky feel to Camden People's Theatre, with its ramshackle window displays, rickety tables, and eco-friendly tickets (which are often just playing cards). Its bar serves wine, bottled beer and soft drinks before and after the show, and it can get pretty hectic: there are generally multiple shows a night, housed in both the more conventional upstairs theatre, and the larger basement space.
The highlight of its year is the massive Sprint Festival, which can include up to 40 performers of all genres. But it's not the only fest in town: CPT also takes part in Camden Fringe each August, hosts feminist work each Spring during 'Calm Down Dear', and stages one-off fests galore, including 2019's gentrification-inspired 'Camden Roar'. Artistic director Brian Logan and executive director Kaya Stanley-Money work with a huge array of artists, with over 450 early career companies passing through the CPT's doors each year, and the venue's been instrumental in platforming the likes of Sh!t Theatre, Louise Orwin, and Jamal Harewood.
