Soho Theatre
21 Dean Street London W1D 3NE
In an unassuming spot on Dean Street, in the heart of Soho’s media land, the splendid Soho Theatre is an exceptional venue for cutting-edge new theatre, cult comedy, opera-up-close and cabaret. There are three performance spaces – the 150-seat Soho Theatre, the 90-seat Soho Upstairs and the subterranean cabaret venue Soho Downstairs – which together stage at least four shows a night; booking in advance is not always necessary for the more intimate cabaret shows. This is a writing theatre, buzzing with creativity; in addition to the shows, they host writing workshops and run community and outreach programmes for young people and the over-60s. The lively late bar (which has free wi-fi) is a good place to spot young turks from the world of indie comedy – if you’re not seeing a show, though, you’ll need to be a member (£50 per year) to eat and drink here.