WINTER SEASON at Greenwich Theatre

At a time of universal lockdown gloom, Greenwich Theatre is doing its bit to raise our wilting spirits with a mainly online season of productions about romance, friendship, drag queens, charity work, outer space, civil rights, cricket, jazz and wolves – to name but a few.

From 10-14 February you can see Manimals, Michelle Hudson’s reflection on the perils of going out with men who pose with exotic animals on their dating profiles. It’s described as a playfully filthy show inspired by real-life events and is for over-18s only.

Suitcase Under The Stairs considers the price of success, as a drag queen, played by Lewis Pickles, reveals all in a grubby bathroom after another wild show. It’s written by Pickles and Lauren Tranter and runs from 11-12 February.

Over half-term, from 12-20 February, youngsters aged six to 12 are invited to take up Sir Willoughby’s Challenge, an online adventure created by Brad Tutt based on characters from the theatre’s brilliant Christmas show The Wolves Of Willoughby Chase which – if Covid rules are relaxed – is due to be performed in front of a live audience from 1-18 April with a star cast that includes much-loved panto villain Anthony Spargo.

Also during half-term, on the 14th, Comedy Club 4 Kids welcomes a string of top comics offering good clean fun for all the family.

From the 16th to the 20th, Bored Of Knives will be live-streamed from Greenwich Theatre’s Studio for five successive evenings. It’s a new play about female friendship as two women meet up in their childhood den to try to repair a bitter rift.

The Anarchist’s Mobile Library, on the 20th and 21st, is Tessa Bide’s interactive audio adventure for kids who can choose to explore six different destinations, including deep space and the deep ocean.

Following the success of last year’s outstanding online The Secret Love Life Of Ophelia, director James Haddrell turns his attention from 22 February to 7 March to Caryl Churchill’s great satire The After-Dinner Joke about a high-flying City slicker quits her job to “do good” as a charity worker.

February ends with a performance on the 27th of Notflix, an improvised musical live-streamed by a group of seven acclaimed comediennes who create the piece based on the favourite films of members of that evening’s audience.

Three productions in March are scheduled to be performed in front of a live audience – but only if the Covid lockdown has been lifted.

On the 11th, writer-performer Tayo Aluko presents his award-winning Call Mr Robeson - subtitled A Life, With Songs – which traces the career of the amazing Ol’ Man River singer, actor, political activist and civil rights pioneer from global fame as a Hollywood idol to being branded a traitor during the McCarthy witch-hunts.

Aluko is back the following day with Just An Ordinary Lawyer, his tribute to Nigerian-born barrister, musician and cricket-lover Tunji Sowande who in 1978 became Britain’s first black judge.

And on the 19th, God Bless The Child – An Evening With Billie Holiday is Katrina Beckford’s moving celebration of one of jazz’s true legends. Is there a greater song anywhere than Strange Fruit?

For full details of the season, go to https://greenwichtheatre.org.uk/whats-on/