London

Fringe fever

And what of theatre-going with a maxed-out overdraft? Plays are great for an alternative to getting sloshed, and an excuse to dress up posh like, but everyone thinks decent shows are going to be really expensive. And yes, if you want to be strung up by the wallet and bled dry for the privilege of seeing Ben Elton’s futuristic musical tribute to his favourite rock band, aka ‘We Will Rock You’, then you’d better not be counting on any change from that £50 note. But step away from the West End, and you’ll find a surprisingly large amount of London’s best theatre is available on the cheap.

'Saint Joan' at the National Theatre

Grab a £10 Travelex ticket for some of the best ensemble playing and most interesting directors at work in the UK, including 'Emperor Jones' (opens mid-September) and ‘Saint Joan’ (ends September 25) at The National Theatre, or get there early and pay £10 for leftover seats. The National is definitely the one to take your mum to, but the Royal Court, with its record for showcasing talented young writers and actors, is probably the coolest discount in town: catch Dominic Cooke’s eagerly awaited production of 'Rhinoceros' for a tenner on ‘cheap Mondays’, or bag one of 500 £5 tickets for under-25s at every Downstairs performance. And if you’re prepared to stand in the slips you can get in to headline shows for as little as a penny.
The National Theatre, Southbank, SE1 9PX (020 7452 3000/www.nationaltheatre.org.uk). Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS (020 7565 5000/www.royalcourttheatre.com). Feature continues

Scratch nights, where you pay cut-price to see a show that’s in development (and even get to tell the cast and director what you thought in the bar afterwards) are getting more popular too: Battersea Arts Centre (a bastion of youthful talent) has done them for years; so does the Gate Theatre in Notting Hill; and so, these days, does the Royal Court. Off-West End you can get quality theatre at knock-down prices: the Bush (in Shepherd’s Bush) and the Lyric Hammersmith give their West End rivals more than a run for their money; in many cases they exceed them in quality. And the Young Vic has had a storming season since its refurbishment last year: see ‘Fragments’ there with their £10 under-26 tickets. Dalston’s celebrated Arcola Theatre has Pay What You Can Nights, where you can see quality shows for whatever is in your purse. Buy tickets from the box office at 7pm, but arrive early as these nights are very popular.
Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN (020 7223 6557/www.bac.org.uk). The Gate Theatre, 11 Pembridge Road, W11 3HQ (020 7229 0706/www.gatetheatre.co.uk). The Bush Theatre, Shepherds Bush Green, W12 8QD (020 7610 4224/www.bushtheatre.co.uk). Lyric Hammersmith, King Street, W6 0QL (0870 050 0511/www.lyric.co.uk). The Young Vic, 66 The Cut, SE1 8LZ (020 7922 2922/www.youngvic.org). The Arcola Theatre, 27 Arcola Street, E8 2DJ (020 7503 1646/www.arcolatheatre.com).

Bistrotheque

If you want to take pot luck then head for the London fringe: chances are, wherever your digs are there’s a fringe theatre near by – expect dodgy blackouts, gratuitous bare buttocks, warm beer – but also some of the most unexpectedly brilliant shows around at the moment. If off-kilter (glitter, transvestites, you name it) performance art is your bag, Bistrotheque, E2, is the place to be seen at. For the most exciting performers like Ryan Styles, Scottee and Pay & Display trying out new material here first, catch their second UnderConstruction season for only £5 a night. Or for much less groomed performances, the Rhythm Factory in Whitechapel hosts a monthly open mic night, Spoonful of Poison, which welcomes comedians, slam poets, musicians and performers to try their luck on the stage. Anime buffs may want to don their favourite manga outfits and get down to the British Museum for a free screening of ‘Ghost in the Shell’ on September 28 at 6.30pm in the BP Lecture Theatre. Pre-book via 020 7323 8181 or boxoffice@thebritishmuseum.ac.uk. The second instalment on September 29 is at 4.30pm for £2 NUS.
Bistrotheque, 23-27 Wadeson Street, E2 9DR (020 8983 7900/www.bistrotheque.com). Rhythm Factory, 16-18 Whitechapel Rd,
E1 1EW (020 7375 3774/www.rhythmfactory.co.uk). British Museum, Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG (020 7323 8181/www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk).

Swap-a-rama Razzmatazz

Bargain bin brainwaves

Despite London’s tasty spread of shops it can often be hard to find the time and spare cash to brave ‘pits of hell’ Topshop or Primark on Oxford Street. But if you fancy shopping while slurping a Cuba Libre, go to Swap-a-rama Razzmatazz (£3 entry) at super-relaxed restaurant-cum-bar-cum-club Favela Chic, where you can dance, drink and meet new people as you swap your unwanted clothes with them when the air horn sounds. Don’t wear anything you don’t mind swapping for a Hawaiian print bucket hat, however! Chortling on the cheap is possible in the city too; it’s just a case of finding the bargain laughter spots. For a £1 introduction to the cut-throat world of comedy, hit up the Red Lion in SW1 on Monday nights. The Electric Mouse shows in this tiny basement are famous for the Westminster peeps who are regulars, but for a less politico-studded affair the Mouse crew also holds events in Brixton and Carnaby Street. For an unforgettable quiz night (yes, they can be cool, people) The Wheatsheaf in W1 has the answer, or rather, you have to guess them, as comedians lead you through rounds like ‘Whose face is this?’ A hilarious night out where you can win cash prizes for only £3 entry (or a tenner for teams of four).
Favela Chic, 91-93 Great Eastern St, EC2A 3HZ (020 7613 5228/www.favelachic.com). Red Lion, 48 Parliament Street, SW1A 2NH (020 79305826). The Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place, W1T 1DG (020 7580 1585).

So there you have it. You may be navigating the ‘free’ bendy buses and shopping in Iceland, but never again will you utter the words ‘I can’t afford to go out tonight.’