Fringe’s Penguin play gets award

The play Robot Penguin, which ran at last month’s Wanstead Fringe, has won a commendation from the Off West End Theatre Awards (the Offies). It’s the first time a production staged as part of the fringe has been recognised.

The play was written by, and starred, Andrew Atha. Reviewer Simone Green wrote: “Atha who has not only written a funny and digitally eye-opening script but is one to watch, with his genuinely funny performance bursting with heartwarming moments and a piercing, sometimes melancholic truth…. There are some beautifully written, moving monologues in the piece and his performance is warm, charismatic and flawless. Work like this proves that The Bull is a great spot for some fringe theatre and I’ll definitely be back.”

Stage manager and technician was Beckett Gray, and Julia Blomberg was associate producer. It was produced by the Wanstead-founded Baloney Theatre Company.