Up Your Street

London thrives as the quintessential hub for all things art and culture. Though as a student, it pays off to explore our local art centres and theatres right in our own neighbourhood.

By Valerie Quintana

OSO Arts Centre

Easily accessible form Barnes Station, OSO Arts Centre is a fringe theatre in the natural park setting of Barnes Green park. During the day, the centre provides a space to learn and enhance creative skills with classes available on forms of dance, drama art and painting. In the evenings, catch a range of theatre, music, and comedy performances. Many of their events offer discounted tickets for students including art exhibitions, talks, spoken word and musical performances. Over the summer they put on the Barnes Fringe Festival, with a range of performances that span over two weeks, showcasing comedians such as James Acaster, Gyles Brandreth and Roger McGough on weeknights and a theatre weekend of hour-long plays.

(49 Station Road, Barnes. 8:30 am — 6 pm)

Putney Arts Theatre

Established in 1964, several local drama groups joined forces to form The Putney Arts Theatre, providing a place for creative freedom to flourish by organising productions and classes as an artistic home for all to visit and enjoy. The theatre has placed special emphasis on involving young people in the community by creating a company called G64 Theatre, centered around ages 4–19 that runs weekly drama classes and events. Over the summer, a production of Roald Dahl’s classic tale The Twits was put on by the youth group. There are a variety of shows to choose from at the theatre such as regular photo exhibitions, musicals, Shakespeare plays, such as The Tempest and Macbeth, as well as independent productions.

(Ravenna Road, Putney. 10 am — 6 pm)

Tea House Theatre

Located at the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, and just a few minutes away from student living at Spring Mews, sits the Tea House Theatre, a vintage Victorian public house dating back to 1886. Visit the theatre to be a part of this intimate setting with Paper Tiger Poetry every last Friday of the month, choir performances by the Tuneless Choir (feel free to join every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month if you can’t sing in tune, but love to anyway!), monthly writing sessions Words Away, musical shows, and Victorian themed theatre. Meet new friends and express your creative side with many free events and average ticket or entry prices ranging from £5 to £10.

(139 Vauxhall Walk, Vauxhall. 10 am — 8 pm)

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Your Student Deals:

National Art Pass for Students (UK Wide)
· UK- Based Students (Any Age)
· £5 one-time fee for membership card
· Free entry to over 240 museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK as well as 50% off entry to major exhibitions

ENO Access All Arias (English National Opera)
· Ages 16–29 or Full-Time Student
· £10 tickets (Upper circle), £20 tickets (Dress circle), £30 Tickets (Stalls)
· Book two discounted tickets to bring a friend (also a student or 16–29)

National Theatre Pass (National Theatre)
· Ages 16–25
· £7.50 tickets for members
· £10 tickets to bring a friend

Young Barbican (Barbican Centre)
· Ages 14–25
· £5-£15 tickets
· £5 tickets for new film releases (Mon-Thurs)

RSC Key (Royal Shakespeare Company)
· Ages 16–25
· £5 tickets — Stratford Upon Avon and London
· Loyalty Card — Attend 5 shows get 1 free

Breeze (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre)
· Ages 18–25
· £10 tickets for yourself and a friend
· £10 one-time joining fee