I don’t often bother making new year’s resolutions BUT I do have one I wanted to share with you this year. This is the year I’m keen to make the most of all the fab theatres right here on our doorstep and catch a ton more shows.
The cause of this resolution? Just before Christmas we went to the newly opened Boulevard in Soho and had such a fab time.
Fawn James, director of Soho Estates, is the driving force behind the development and together with artistic director, Rachel Edwards, they have launched a new performance space, featuring Europe’s most advanced revolving theatre with a vibrant programme of art for the Boulevard Theatre, as it opens its doors to the public for the first time in over 20 years.
It’s a properly gorgeous, modern buzzy space, smack bang in the middle of Soho. You’ll pick up your tickets on the ground level, then head on up to a two-floor glass bridge leading to a stunning art deco style restaurant and lounge bar (that reminded us a bit of uber-Instagramable Sketch with its plush pink and brass interior).
The restaurant offers an excellent pre-theatre menu priced at either £22.95 for two courses or £28.95 for three and staff were complete dreamboats. The menu has a conscious leaning towards plant-based cooking, and we’d particularly recommend the roasted curried baby cauliflower with black dhal, fresh coconut, crispy onions and lime. Better yet, you can take your glass of wine (or beer, or cocktail) straight into the performance with you.
The show space itself was very intimate – and although we were lucky enough to be sitting on the front row of the stalls – we’d confidently say there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Which is particularly exciting because for just 12 quid (the price of going to the cinema nowadays), you can buy a ‘roulette’ ticket which guarantees you the best available seat in the house. Bargain!
We were here to see Ghost Quartet – and whilst I’m clearly not a theatre critic – we thoroughly enjoyed. It’s a musical, it’s interactive, it’s funny, it’s sad. Sadly it just finished on the 4th January, however there are plenty of shows lined up – including comedy, poetry and even podcasts – and I for one can’t wait to get my teeth into them.
The Boulevard also offers a range of memberships which will give you exclusive perks and offers across the theatre, restaurant and bar. Find out more at boulevardtheatre.co.uk/memberships
