Lambeth Fringe (the performing arts festival formerly known as Clapham Fringe) is in full swing. Organised by the team behind the Bread & Roses Theatre, the festival offers something for all ages and runs across an impressive array of venues between 25 September and 25 October 2025. One of the more unusual locations is Vauxhall City Farm, which this weekend hosted a pair of family-friendly shows in their Front Room function space. We headed along on Saturday to catch the productions (with bonus animal viewing in between!)
A Noise Annoys by Jude Simpson
First up was poet and performer, Jude Simpson with her inaugural family show A Noise Annoys. Packed with puns, silly songs and audience interaction galore, it’s an entertaining exploration of the world of wordplay. It feels a little more like a workshop than a stage show, and might work even better in a school setting or an arts venue, but this probably had a lot to do with the location. The urban farm setting made things incredibly tricky for the performers at both shows on Saturday, with families wandering in and out of the performance space, and lots of noise coming from the adjoining cafe. Clearly a seasoned fringe performer, Simpson dealt admirably with these disruptions and made everyone feel welcome.
Despite the challenges, there were some incredibly engaged children in the audience who joined in enthusiastically throughout. The show is recommended for ages 6+ and it worked well for this age group (probably best suiting children up to around age 10). Simpson’s playful poetry is fantastically funny, and her love of language is infectious (as is her baffling fixation on badgers). For adults and children alike, it’s practically impossible to leave A Noise Annoys without a smile on your face and a certain song stuck in your head!
A Noise Annoys played at Vauxhall City Farm as part of Lambeth Fringe on Saturday 4 October 2025. We received a complimentary press ticket to the 11am performance.
Irish Storytelling for Children by Neysa Killeen
After a lunch break and a wander around the farmyard it was time to move from poetry to prose, with Neysa Killeen’s Irish Storytelling for Children. Featuring four classic stories from Irish folklore, it’s a charming production that can be enjoyed by all ages. The show is designed to be very relaxed, which worked well in this difficult setting. Like Simpson earlier in the day, Killeen dealt brilliantly with the challenges of wandering visitors snaffling snacks, ensuring everyone felt included and able to enjoy the stories.
Killeen is a wonderfully engaging storyteller, easily holding the attention of the audience throughout the hour(ish) long show. Using simple props, she works in opportunities for the audience to become involved, while still retaining control over the narrative. It’s a great introduction to Irish folk stories, treating the traditional tales with respect while incorporating some gentle humour. The four stories selected for the production are nicely weaved together, giving the show a cohesive feel. Appropriately, there is a theme within some of the tales about the importance of keeping the oral storytelling tradition alive – Killeen is doing a fine job of that.
Irish Storytelling for Children played at Vauxhall City Farm as part of Lambeth Fringe on Saturday 4 October 2025. We received a complimentary press ticket to the 1pm performance.