MEMORIAM at Southwark Playhouse Borough: Review and Where to Go
A Theatre Worth the Walk in Borough
If you have ever wandered down Borough High Street on a weekday evening, you will know how the area hums. Market stalls are packing up, office workers are heading for the Northern line, and the smell of street food drifts from every corner. Tucked away from the bustle, Southwark Playhouse Borough remains one of the most rewarding small venues in the capital, and its latest production, MEMORIAM, is worth making the detour for. Written by Noga Flaishon and directed by Daniel Goldman, the play runs just under 90 minutes without an interval, so it fits neatly into a night out before you catch a train home from London Bridge. The production is staged in the round, which means the audience sits on all sides of a relatively simple set designed by Ellie Wintour. That intimacy is part of what makes the venue special. You are never more than a few metres from the action, and you cannot hide in the back row. For locals, it is a reminder that some of the most thought-provoking theatre in London happens in spaces that many visitors walk past without a second glance.
A Story About Memory, Technology and Family
The play is set in a near future where a company sells subscriptions to recorded memories, experienced through a headset. Rachel, a corporate employee played by Rachel Barry, is tasked with persuading her grandmother to contribute her own recollections to the catalogue. The premise is unsettling because it feels only a short step from today, where people already share their lives online and where the idea of content is becoming ever more personal. The strongest thread in the story is the relationship between Rachel and her grandmother Rivka, beautifully played by Beverley Klein. Klein carries the production with a quiet authority, and the sibling arguments involving Rachel’s brother David, played by Ashley Margolis, give the family drama real bite. The script asks difficult questions about who owns a memory, and who gets to decide how it is told. Some vocal delivery issues and a couple of misfired technical cues were noticeable on press night, which is not unusual for a new production. With a run until 21 November, there is time for the company to settle into the material, and reviewers will likely see a smoother performance later in the run.
Plan Your Visit and Make a Day of It
Tickets for MEMORIAM are best booked in advance, especially for weekend performances, as the in-the-round seating means capacity is limited. Check the venue’s website for current prices and any concessions for students or those under 26. Getting there is straightforward: Borough and London Bridge stations are both a short walk away, and several bus routes serve Newington Causeway. If you are visiting from further afield, you could pair the show with a wider day out. Borough Market is ideal for an early dinner, and the riverside walk toward Tower Bridge offers an easy stroll before or after the performance. Visitors looking for something more classic could head across the river afterwards and continue on to Whitehall London, where government buildings sit alongside the historic route past London Big Ben. For a quieter cultural afternoon, a nearby London museum or a temporary London exhibition makes a good companion to an evening at the theatre. Whatever you choose, MEMORIAM offers a compact, challenging night out that suits locals and visitors alike, and it leaves plenty to talk about on the journey home.
Source: Review: MEMORIAM at Southwark Playhouse Borough
Whether you’re catching a show at Southwark Playhouse Borough or planning a wider trip, there’s plenty to enjoy if you visit London this season.
Just a short walk from the theatre, visitors can also combine a night at Southwark Playhouse Borough with a trip to buckingham palace for a full day of London sightseeing.
