Alexander Jones in The Barber of Seville [Lidia Crisafusili]

ROSSINI’S popular comic opera, The Barber of Seville (Upstairs at the Gatehouse), follows Count Almaviva (Robert Tilson) as he attempts to win the hand of Rosina (Laura Curry), confined by her guardian Dr Bartolo (Massimo Modoni), who plans to marry her himself. Figaro (Alexander Jones), the quick-witted barber, helps Almaviva disguise himself to gain access to Bartolo’s home – first as a drunken soldier, then as a music teacher. Opera Kipling’s pared-back production adds a 1960s twist that feels a little arbitrarily tacked on, but is performed with great panache in Italian (with surtitles), accompanied by gifted pianist and MD Giannis Giannopoulos. LP

Is Lilly “broken”? Is there a demon inside her? Tim Stubbs Hughes’ wrenching new play asks how someone can rebuild themselves after assault, and poses questions as to how we treat victims. Walls are littered with images of women who have “gone mad”, trapping Lilly with constant echoes of shame. Saving Myself is a difficult watch, thanks to Jessamy James’ agonising portrayal of suffering; at turns reflective and spiky. Julia Stubbs’ direction ensures a dynamic, layered performance, with a disorientating set allowing dream sequences to easily flow. A heavy, important play. 6pm, Aug 20, The Libra Theatre Café. LB

In Mates, a meta-theatrical comedy about friendship and artistic ambition, four actor-friends, Ciaran Duce, Joseph Ollman, Jack Staddon and Kieran Urquhart, reunite to create a show together – they have financial backing, and liability if they don’t deliver. What begins as a thrilling opportunity quickly descends into farce as they reject themes like “toxic masculinity” and “radical empathy”, unable to agree on a central idea. Old tensions and creative differences resurface, exposing fragile egos. It’s a playful piece, though the sound sometimes overwhelms the actors’ voices, and the production would benefit from a little more light and shade. 9pm, Aug 23, The Courtyard Theatre. LP

Perils of Youth [Panche Ignov]

Julian Guassardo delivers something special with Perils of Youth, his debut play. It’s a simple premise: an argument between mother and son over who should answer the door. A convincing two-hander, Guassardo stars alongside Maggie Rose, who oozes weary bitterness. Pared-back staging allows this pair to shine. They meander through family politics, misplaced pride and mortality, all the while speaking in near-Shakespearean prose. That may be a polarising choice; some monologues veer towards over-indulgence. But there are flashes of brilliance and moments of dark comedic wit which keep the pace in this promising and surprisingly tender Gothic. 9pm, Aug 28 & 30, Rosemary Branch Theatre. LB

In Yamas! (Theatro Technis), Vic Holt, Camden resident, psychiatrist, storyteller and actor, takes us through her eventful life. Born and raised in Cyprus, she moved to the UK to study medicine before working as a child psychiatrist. She then retrained as an actor. Along the way she shares her adventures in Cyprus, holidays in Lesbos and her years in the UK. Holt offers a deliberately understated performance as she relates her anecdotes. The transitions between periods, relationships and jobs can be abrupt, but this roughness around the edges is part of the show’s charm. LP

Murder on The Allotment (The Cockpit) isn’t explicitly advertised as a musical – indeed, the tale of tensions between a refugee and Middle Englanders may seem like serious play territory. Elizabeth Wood instead decides to walk the tightrope by providing joyous, sometimes hilarious, songs, while keeping an undercurrent of real political tension. This is a proper feast of theatre. We meet two locals on the allotment, who are disturbed by the arrival of Karwan, a refugee who has “skipped the queue” to secure a patch through a government integration scheme. All three leads give heart to their performances, the music is neat and there’s a genuinely grown-up tale of belonging thrown in. A very special show. LB

In Dinner with the Sl*ts, Laura Moss and Amelia Fritz offer an hour of comedy and relationship advice. It’s a mix of banter and two 20-minute stand-up sessions. Laura is from a Canadian Pentecostal background while Amelia grew up in Crouch End as part of a posh hippy family. Both bisexual, they play on their orientation and upbringing. Their slapdash humour, clearly aimed at a young demographic, doesn’t always land, but could sharpen with more honing before futuredates. The strongest part is an improv segment where the sl*ts respond to dilemmas audience members have written down as they enter. 8pm, Aug 20, Aces and Eights; 9pm, Aug 27, Camden Comedy Club. LP

Lighthouse [Ben Rector]

Three lighthouse keepers are stationed together, isolated from the world. They’re all running from something, and the memory of the First World War looms large over these men. Writer Justin Cartledge, who also stars, has created a darkly claustrophobic piece which lends itself to the cramped auditorium of the Etcetera Theatre. When a figure appears in the distance, and then knocks at the door, our keepers descend into a primal frenzy. A strong cast does justice to a dynamic script, one which shifts between deep character study and an Agatha Christie play. Lighthouse proves a thoroughly enjoyable and thoughtful show. LB

Soul Renaissance [Central Standard Theatre]

Beats + Strings is a virtuoso trio from Kansas City. D Dot Prof on keys and beats, some pre-programmed, K’Tina is on violin and RMJ Music plays cello. In their charming show Soul Renaissance, they blend rhythm, blues and soul to terrific effect, creating beautifully layered instrumental takes on classics from Luther Vandross to Marvin Gaye, along with Roberta Flack’s Killing Me Softly with His Song. It’s exquisitely delivered in the Hen and Chicken’s intimate venue – a relaxed hour in which each musician is given the opportunity to shine. Keep an eye out for them next year. LP

Tech bro seeks female to populate new planet following human extinction. You may have guessed who inspired Fidel Asante’s “dystopian thriller”, Point of No Return, which is a thinly veiled critique of those already looking elsewhere while our planet burns. Eguono Miller plays the lead, alongside a trio of female suitors unaware they’re pitted against each other for the top job. It’s a compelling setup which fails to break much new ground. Saying that, Carly Hendricks, Alia Yakupova and Samantha Kanu give inspired, sharp performances as the three contenders for the role, staging is tight, and our billionaire’s AI assistant provides welcome moments of comic relief. 7.30pm, Aug 25 & 26, Upstairs at the Gatehouse. LB

• Camden Fringe festival runs until August 30 Tickets and full details of venues and productions at https://camdenfringe.com/