Upper Sydenham Area Guide

"Initial Sketches" is an evening of work-in-progress short plays which have received script development and are then exhibited in front of a live audience. The night is designed to be an exciting networking event for writers, directors and producers to forge meaningful creative connections. There will be plenty of opportunities to meet the creatives involved and discuss the plays which have been showcased in Canvas & Cream's lovely bar area after the show. The programmed plays include: LIFEFORCE (extract) - written by Brian Coyle, directed by Meghan Bartual Smyth Alex has a lot to live for: their budding stand-up career, their friendship with their flat-mate Serena, their lovely mum, their fledgling romance with the Barista from Pret, so why have they taken an overdose and are fighting for their life? Will they survive and do they even want to? Prinz - written by Katherine Lyle, directed by Meghan Bartual Smyth Relationships can be tricky, but when one person is from London and the other is from a fairytale land, it can get even trickier. While Cas and Asia navigate their "first big fight" they begin to realize they come from two very different worlds (literally.) The Halls of Found Identity - written by Emma Dawson, directed by Ciara Wynne Bridie fell asleep one night and woke to discover that shes been beamed to a new dimension. Her hapless host, Ali, is here to guide her through this difficult process, but what happens if Bridie doesnt cooperate? And should she even want to return home? My Missing Right Half - written by Daniel McVey, directed by Soirse Burns Last Tuesday she chopped herself in half, straight down the centre. Shes certain it was to improve her life somehow but without the right half, she cant be totally sure. When the world expects her to constantly shed parts of herself, is it possible for her to feel whole again? First and Last - written by Karina Fernandez, directed by Phoebe Rowell John Two strangers meet in real life after connecting on a dating app. The gulf between their carefully curated online selves and the people they really are becomes unavoidably exposed, and they are forced to reveal more than they bargained for. Ad Astra (extract) - written and directed by Ciara Wynne Over 60 years ago a large percentage of the LGBTQ+ community left Earth for the stars. Now, a young queer woman sets off on a space adventure to find her people and explore her relationship with her grandmother through the keeping of her expedition diary. Easy Living (extract) - written by Silva Chege, directed by Conor O'Cuinn Usually, when Martin calls 999, the officer sent over tries to talk him down. But Florence isnt like most officers. Retiring early, she couldnt care less if he jumped. To speed things up, shed gladly give him a push. hame.teeth.CLUB (extract)- written by Kari Hall, directed by Phoebe Rowell John Follows a hedonistic party girl crashing into her early 20s with no ambition, no drive and a half empty bottle of echo falls. Her party girl lifestyle comes to a halt following a sexual assault at the hands of a close friend and shes forced to confront the chaos of her life. ★★★★\★★★★ TRIGGER WARNINGS for the evening: references to self-mutilation, discussion of suicide, strong language Pre-show, there will be delicious food and drink served with the kitchen open until 7pm. Post-show, the bar area will be open until 11pm. Canvas and Cream is a two minute walk from the Forest Hill Overground Station.

Alternative metal virtuosos headed by Chino Moreno specialising in crushing riffs and deeply emotive vocals.

Join us for an evening of poetry as we celebrate the launch of Sweet Bone Girl, an extraordinary debut collection by Esme Allman, examining and exploring the intricate dynamics of desire as it intertwines with Black womanhood; negotiating the boundaries of history, culture, and identity. The evening will include special guest poets giving readings, as well as a signing. Esme Allman's evocative poetry moves between the personal and the collective, interlacing the past with the present to investigate how desire is shaped and claimed. With striking introspection, Allman interrogates the influence of external forcesfamily, lovers, popular cultureand asks: where can desire be truly known? And when it is, can it ever be wholly ones own? Bold and poignant, Sweet Bone Girl navigates vulnerability, agency, and the yearning for connection in a world that too often seeks to define rather than understand. Tickets are 6 (plus a small booking fee)

Shakespeare in the Squares will be back this summer to celebrate their eighth anniversary with a new production of The Taming of the Shrew, a battle of wits, wills and wild romance complete with toe-tapping pop classics. Shakespeare in the Squares is a not-for-profit touring theatre company that stages a new Shakespeare play across London for one night in each venue every summer. This years programme features 34 performances across 28 beautiful London locations. The tour kicks off on Wednesday 4th June in Leinster Square, W2, and concludes over five weeks later in The Actors Church Garden, WC2. Press night is scheduled for Wednesday 11th June at Cleveland Square, W2. Shakespeare in the Squares is a cornerstone of Londons summer cultural calendar, renowned for tailoring each performance to the individual venue, providing the audience with a truly unique show every time.

For the past five years, home cook Rosie Kellett has been living communally with six others, making delicious seasonal food on a budget of £25 per person, per week. In her first cookbook, she shares 101 low-effort, high-reward, veg-forward recipes to nourish you. There are recipes for weeknights when you’re counting down to payday, busy workdays with short lunch breaks, mornings that call for hearty yet cheap breakfasts, and special days with your favourite people. Bringing to life Rosie’s motto that ‘delicious food should be possible on any budget’ In for Dinner (the title a question asked on the warehouse group chat so they know how many to cook for each evening) is a celebration of food, friendship and community. Whether you’re in a flatshare, feeding a family, solo meal-prepping, or hosting a dinner party, Rosie will show you how to create affordable, delicious recipes to nourish you and your loved ones, inspiring you to stay In for Dinner. Rosie Kellett is a chef, food writer and supper club host. Having made a name for herself sharing recipes and stories online from her communal home, ‘In for Dinner’ is her debut cookbook, sharing 101 original recipes from her time working in professional kitchens, hosting seasonal supper clubs and cooking for her housemates. Since 2023 she has built an online following of 300k across Instagram, TikTok and her bestselling Substack newsletter, The Late Plate.