Tea House Theatre

Winner of Time Out Love London Awards 2014, 2016 & 2018!
Winner of the Best Closed Cafe Award 2020!

WELCOME TO THE TEA HOUSE THEATRE

Great news! Our tea subscription just landed! And we are offering a free UK delivery to all our tea subscribers. Have your favourite tea delivered every month for the whole year by buying it as a subscription.  With one simple purchase the cost of the tea will be debited every month and delivered to your door, so that you never run out.  One purchase, no worries and a constant supply of superb tea for whenever you need it.

And of course have a look at our range of excellent teas in our eTea shop if you want to buy just one off.

Click here to visit our online shop

Keep up to date with what’s going on by signing up to our Penny Post Newsletter. All our events, news about the cats and a little whimsy to inform and entertain

Click here to sign up for the Penny Post

Please browse the rest of our site if you have the time and we will see you soon.

We are based in an old Victorian public house that opened in 1886 on the site of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens; immortalised as the ‘Vanity Fair’ in Thackeray’s eponymous novel.

We serve some of the best loose leaf teas available, proper sandwiches and homemade cakes; not to mention the best full English breakfast in London. Our teas have individual subtle flavours which would be overpowered by the instant, coarse, hit of coffee, so we do not sell it.

We make our own marmalade and jams, all for sale by the jar and all our teas can be bought by the ounce online (to view our range click here). Our meat comes from our local butcher and our fruit and vegetables from the local market gardens around us.

We are trying to be different. We will not hurry you. If you visit us on your lunch break, then have one, you will be more productive in the afternoon. If you want to have a meeting, we will not disturb you. If you are ‘working from home’, we have wifi. If you have children, we have highchairs, a chest of toys, and milkshakes. We always have the daily papers, so please, relax, and share in what we are trying to create, take a load off, and have a cuppa.

Back to All Events

"It's Not All Shrovetide for the Cat" "Не всё коту Масленица"

  • Tea House Theatre 139 Vauxhall Walk London, SE11 5HL United Kingdom (map)

Alexander Ostrovsky (1823-1886) is considered the greatest representative of Russian literary realism. Lesser known in the West as compared to Chekov or Tolstoy, he stands tall in talent and originality. Author of 47 original plays, Ostrovsky excels in both prose and poetry inspiring two operatic adaptations of his fairytale drama "Snow Maiden."

“It’s not all Shrovetide for the Cat” is the play we have chosen to perform. It is a late work of Ostrovsky written in 1871 and remains remarkably relevant to date! Its title is unusually long as it is a part of a Russian proverb with the second part “The Great Lent will come!” frequently left unspoken. It is similar in meaning to the English “After Christmas comes Lent” - good things or luck cannot continue indefinitely, they come to an end.

The play is a delightful blend of strong characters and rich language adorned with colourful comparisons and folk sayings. Comical situations, tender moments, hard choices.. like life itself the play will take you on a journey with some unexpected turns.

BOOK HERE

Александр Островский (1823–1886) считается крупнейшим деятелем русского литературного реализма. Менее известный на Западе по сравнению с Чеховым или Толстым, он отличается высоким талантом и оригинальностью. Автор 47 оригинальных пьес, Островский прекрасно исполняется как прозой, так и поэзией, вдохновленный двумя оперными адаптациями своей сказочной драмы «Снегурочка».

"Не все коту масленица" - пьеса, которую мы выбрали для постановки. Это позднее произведение Островского, написанное в 1871 году и сохраняющее удивительную актуальность до сих пор! Название пьесы необычно длинное, так как представляет собой часть русской пословицы, вторая часть которой "Великий пост настанет!" часто остается непроизнесенной.

Пьеса представляет собой восхитительное сочетание сильных характеров и богатого языка, украшенных колоритными сравнениями и народными поговорками. Комичные ситуации, нежные моменты, трудный выбор... Как и сама жизнь, зрелище отправляет вас в путешествие с неожиданными поворотами.