By Thomas Magill
I don’t get surprised at the theatre very often these days, but Garry Starr: Classic Penguins at The Other Palace caught me completely off guard. I went alone, armed with a stinking cold and fairly modest expectations. I left wanting to tell everyone about it.
The premise is gloriously daft. Performer Damien Warren-Smith, as his chaotic alter ego Garry Starr, works his way through the Penguin Classics collection wearing little more than a ruff, a tailcoat and orange flippers. He is, naturally, the penguin.
I won’t give too much away, but expect nudity, audience participation and plenty of laughs. There’s intelligence beneath all the silliness, too. It’s camp, tongue-in-cheek and one of the most inventive nights I’ve had at the theatre in a long time.
The show runs until the beginning of January, so there’s still time to see what all the fuss is about.
From musical legends to Musical Con
Last month also gave me the chance to meet a proper songwriting legend: Don Black. His work includes “Diamonds Are Forever”, “Love Changes Everything” and the EastEnders theme tune, to name just a few highlights from a career spanning 60 years.
His show From the Heart had a short run at the Garrick Theatre, with Frances Mayli McCann, Shona McGarty, Caroline O’Connor and Clive Rowe among the cast. Before opening night, I was lucky enough to attend an intimate performance and chat to Don about the show and his career.
He was just as excited about seeing this reworked version on stage as he was when it first appeared in 2025. I’d love to see it return for a longer run, or even head out on tour.
Then there was Musical Con, the annual gathering at ExCeL London where musical theatre fans turn up in their finest character-inspired outfits. The effort people put into their looks was a joy to see.
A real highlight was watching Anthony Rapp and Fredi Walker-Browne, both from the original cast of Rent, perform as the musical marks its 30th anniversary. They’d flown in from Broadway for the occasion, and seeing them together in London felt rather special.
I also caught up with Musical Con co-creator Shanay Holmes for BBC London. Her passion for the event is infectious, particularly when she talks about the safe space and community it creates for theatre fans.
Next on my list is Pride the Musical, opening at the Bridge Theatre on 12 November. Samuel Barnett plays Jonathan, while Jhon Lumsden takes on Mark Ashton, the Northern Irish campaign leader. And after that? Panto season, babes. I’m ready for all the camp and chaos it brings.
Garry Starr: Classic Penguins runs until 3 January 2027 at The Other Palace, 12 Palace Street, London SW1E 5JA. Nearest station: Victoria. Check the show link above for performance times and tickets.
Find more theatre and queer London happenings in the GLL Events Diary.
