Three shows to catch at Battersea Arts Centre this autumn

With so many exciting openings and transfers in the West End, it’s easy to forget that much of London’s best theatre happens on stages beyond theatreland. One venue worth keeping an eye on at all times is Battersea Arts Centre. Here, in a Grade II-listed building close to Clapham Junction station, thought-provoking, experimental and disruptive work of a high quality is the norm. The venue’s autumn programme is no exception: here are three of its highlights.

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Trojan Horse
4 – 16 Nov | 7.30pm

In 2014, the Trojan Horse Inquiry hit the national press, accusing ‘hardline’ Muslim teachers and governors of plotting extremism in Birmingham schools. Nine years later, critically-acclaimed Lung theatre company bring a different side of the story to the stage in a play about religion, sexuality, politics and what we really mean by ‘British Values’.

Originally developed with Leeds Playhouse, this Amnesty International Freedom of Expression & Fringe First Award-winning production draws on over 200 hours of interviews with teachers, students, parents and governors in order to investigate the truth behind the headlines.

Performances are followed by a post-show discussion covering everything from queerness and religion to Islamophobia in the UK and the role of the media. Urdu translation is available through headsets for every performance.

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Oh Yes Oh No
12 – 23 Nov | 8pm

In Oh Yes Oh No, award-winning performance artist Louise Orwin explores how to reclaim your sexuality after surviving sexual violence. Featuring video clips, Barbie and Ken, audience participation and a ream of pop culture references, Orwin’s work is a frank interrogation of sexuality, identity and consent in the wake of #MeToo.

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Queens of Sheba
18 – 23 Nov | 7.30pm

Four women tackle the misogynoir they’ve experienced head on in Jessica L. Hagan’s Queens of Sheba. The play takes us back to 2015, when the lives of a group of friends are changed forever after being turned away from a nightclub for being ‘too black’. Rather than letting racism win, they reaffirm the joys of sisterhood by sharing funny, moving and uplifting stories of battling what shouldn’t be an everyday problem.

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