Thrifty theatre: More affordable musicals, plays and productions in London's Off West End

Weirdos Comedy Club Presents Hook

Steven Spielberg’s cult hit Hook, which saw Peter Pan all grown up and played by Robin Williams back when he was still a movie star, gets an anarchic retelling at this down-to-earth, character-filled club.

The cast are comedians, with John Kearns (above) as Peter ‘Shit Dad’ Pan. There are rehearsal shows in King’s Cross’s The Lion, too, and it’s all in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

December 17-19. Times and prices TBC
Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, E2 ENB
Tube | Bethnal Green 
workersplaytime.net/TICKETS.htm

Pack

Focusing on plays and musicals, the Finborough Theatre is a renowned breeding ground for West End talent of the future.

The small 50-seater above a pub in Earl’s Court has an impressive schedule, with Pack, a fiery and provocative play from Papatango New Writing Festival 2012 winner Louise Monaghan.

The production tells of the BNP’s startling rise in popularity and the effects this has on a close-knit local community.

Nov 27-Dec 22, £6
Finborough Road, SW10 9ED
Tube | West Brompton
finboroughtheatre.co.uk

Blow out!

A key player in the Camden Fringe festival, this theatre pub has been pulling in the punters since 1986, seats just over
40 people and has staged more than 2500 productions.

According to upcoming house party comedy Blow Out!, the rules for a top bash are: no gatecrashers, no family, no nudity and no secrets.

Predictably, most of these go out the window in an adult coming-of-age tale.

Nov 21-24, Nov 28-Dec 1, 7.15pm, £10
265 Camden Town High Street, NW1 7BU 
Tube | Camden Town
etceteratheatre.com

Defrag

A tale of love and artificial intelligence as part of the Futureshock Festival, which looks at the future role of technology.

Nov 28-30, Dec 2, 4-7, 11, 12, 14-15, 7.30pm, £10
NW1 2PY 
Tube | Warren Street
cptheatre.co.uk

Purple Heart

This Seventies set drama is a meditation on grief, love and guilt, and tells the story of a woman who has to move on with her life after her husband is killed in Vietnam.

The UK premiere and first professional revival of American playwright Bruce Norris’s 2002 drama. Not for if you fancy a giggle.

Feb 28-Apr 6, Mon-Sat, 7.30pm, plus Sat, 3pm, £10
W11 3HQ 
Tube | Notting Hill Gate
gatetheatre.co.uk

The Showstoppers

Under the arches, Charing Cross Theatre houses 275 punters and has a diverse roster of productions from opera (La Traviata) to this creative-juice busting new musical comedy, which is created on the spot based on audience suggestions – like a singing and dancing version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Nov 18-Dec 23, Sundays only, 7pm, plus Dec 16, 3pm, £17
WC2N 6NL 
Tube | Embankment
charingcrosstheatre.co.uk

Read more: Outstanding productions at London's Off West End theatre pubs