Not just plays, my friend. They do improv nights, stand-up comedy, puppet shows for adults (yes, that’s a thing), and even the occasional burlesque. It’s a smorgasbord of weirdness. You might walk in expecting Shakespeare and walk out watching a drag queen wrestle a rubber chicken.
And the pub menu? Standard fare—pies, burgers, chips. But you’re not here for the food. You’re here for the chaos. The best trick is to order a bowl of chips, then pretend you’re a theatre critic. “These chips have a subtle, burnt undertone,” you’ll whisper. No one will care.
Ye Olde Rose & Crown | Bars and pubs in Walthamstow, London
The people you’ll meet
This place attracts a specific breed. You’ve got the hardcore theatre nerds with their notebooks, muttering about Brechtian alienation. You’ve got the pub regulars who accidentally wandered in during a monologue about existential dread. And then there’s you, trying to figure out if the person next to you is an actor or just a very emotional plumber.
I once saw a man in a full tweed suit crying over a puppet. That’s not a metaphor. That actually happened. And the best part? No one blinked. That’s the beauty of this place—anything goes, and everyone just goes along with it.
