The Network Theatre

Where?
Waterloo Station

What?
I discovered the Network Theatre this week when Batala London (the percussion band I currently play with) relocated there from their old home at King's Cross.

I must admit that I thought that I had taken a wrong turning and ended up somewhere in the depths of Waterloo when I tried to find the theatre. Happily I found another member (easily noticeable by the fact that they were carrying a giant drum) who showed me the almost hidden entrance.




Nope, I didn't think it looked like a theatre either...

However, through these unassuming doors is a little theatre tucked under an old railway arch, which hosts performances from both the in-house company (The Network Theatre Company) and other visiting productions. Some of the Network Theatre Company's productions have gone on to feature at the Edinburgh and Prague Fringe Festivals.



The theatre set up for an 'in the round' performance
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The theatre's next production is Hamlet, which will run from 17th December 2012 to 12th January 2013.




Batala London performing in their new home

The world-famous Old Vic theatre isn't far away from Waterloo either, but for those who prefer their performances to be a little more intimate, the Network Theatre is a fantastic venue.

How much?
Depends on the show.

The London Noses

Where?
Alll around the city - you'll need sharp eyes to spot them though!

What?
These plaster of paris reproductions of the artist's nose can be spotted on buildings around London. These were created by Rick Buckley in 1997 and while 35 were originally created and attached buildings such as the National Gallery and Tate Britain, only about 10 now remain dotted around the capital in places such as St Pancras Station and Dean Street.

A Soho nose
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Buckley stuck the noses up in protest at the increasing number of CCTV cameras in the city and the rise of the 'Big Brother' society.

Anyone interested in more nose-casts should also try to find the 'Seven Noses of Soho' - apparently if you can located all seven then great riches will be yours...maybe even enough for a nose job?

How much?
Not a penny.

Londoner Obscura

London is the biggest city in Great Britain. It has nearly seven million inhabitants,  around 5,000 pubs, over 300 museums and at least 25,000 acres of parkland. It has a huge number of famous landmarks: the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge to name but a few obvious examples.




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So how on earth do you navigate such a vast and culturally-saturated city?

Sure you can go and get a photo next to your favourite celebrity at Madame Tussauds or go and attempt to climb onto a lion at Trafalgar Square, but surely there's more to our capital city?

That's where Londoner Obscura comes in: it's time to explore some of the bits of London that aren't in the Lonely Planet guide.

Londoner Obscura will specialse in the hidden, the forgotten and the obscure. If it's covered in dust, we want it. If people walk past it without noticing, it's for us. And if it's got an exciting story to tell, we're going to find it out.

Nothing is off limits.