No Place to Go, Gate Theatre

Brooklyn-based playwright and singer-songwriter Ethan Lipton is bringing his critically acclaimed cabaret theatre show to London. It arrives at the Gate Theatre this winter as part of its These American Lives season, following the huge success of Grounded. For six months, London’s international theatre has turned its attention exclusively to the USA and the theme of making a living, with a series of plays about the nine to five.

No Place to Go takes a surreal premise as a way of addressing the current recession. Lipton’s protagonist is faced with uncertainty and instability as he finds himself suddenly unemployed following his company’s relocation - to Mars. Tapping into common anxieties and setting them to a catchy beat, this piece of musical theatre-meets-cabaret-meets-existential crisis takes an entertaining approach to meaty contemporary issues.

The show was a hit when it opened at the fashionable Joe’s Pub in New York, attracting rave reviews and scooping a prestigious OBIE Award. It now arrives in London with the original creative team intact, including Lipton’s three-piece ‘orchestra’. Together with Lipton, these talented musicians also perform as a band and have recorded five albums since forming in 2005.

As it moves from the stylish surroundings of a nightclub to the small but flexible space of the Gate, we’re interested to see if No Place to Go can retain some of its original cabaret vibe. Whether or not this intimate fringe theatre can match the buzzing atmosphere of Joe’s Pub, the show promises to be a surprising, genre-defying take on life after the financial crash, an exploration of fears and frustrations we can all relate to.

Tickets: Full- £20  (Limited Discounts at £15)

Address and Map: Pembridge Rd, W11 3HQ

Nearest Tube: Notting Hill Gate