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

Get Aladdin!

This is panto, but not as you know it. Adult in nature, smutty in tone and gleefully alternative, this is Aladdin, his “single but experienced” mum, pursued by an evil Abanazar and a hapless Scotland Yard detective.

Cue lots of reinventing of the famed tale and jokes about rubbing lascivious lady genie’s lamp the right way – absolutely filthy, frantic and unfestive fun!

December 7-Jan 6, various times, £12
Landor Theatre, SW9 9PH
Tube | Clapham North
landortheatre.co.uk

Count Magnus and Other Terrors

The Rosemary Branch, a former Victorian music hall, is a studio theatre that’s been overseen by artistic director team Cecilia and Cleo for the past 15 years.

Here, four of the most chilling ghost stories from acclaimed turn-of-the-century novelist and medieval scholar MR James are brought to life as one-man productions. Be afraid!

Jan 18-20, 8pm, £12+
2 Shepperton Road, N1 3DT
Tube | Haggerston
rosemarybranch.co.uk

Crazy For You

The cosy Upstairs at the Gatehouse has won plaudits aplenty for its musical stagings, with Guys And Dolls and High Society both crowd faves.

The latest classic all-American musical to get the small stage treatment is this George and Ira Gershwin classic about love, putting on one last show and the magic of the theatre.

Dec 13-Jan 27, 7.30pm, plus Sat, 3pm, £10+
The Gatehouse, N6 4BD
Tube | Highgate
upstairsatthegatehouse.com

Gruesome Playground Injuries

London’s only producing theatre dedicated to international works, the Gate Theatre was founded in 1979 and seats 70.

Despite the odd title of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Rajiv Joseph’s latest, it’s not in fact a pre-teen version of Jackass.

Instead, this is an affecting, touching and true to life love story about a boy and girl who meet in the nurse’s office when they are eight years old and whose lives bisect over the course of the next 30 years.

Jan 22-Feb 16, Mon-Sat, 7.30pm, plus Sat, 3pm
 W11 3HQ 
Tube | Notting HIll Gate
gatetheatre.co.uk

Homework

This 50-seat theatre is a south London gem, and this tale of a mother with Alzheimer’s and her son, told through a series of phone calls, premiered last year to absolute rave reviews.

Until Dec 1, 8pm, no show Sun, £12
& Mon  SE14 6TA 
Station | New Cross
thelondontheatre.com