Walk across London and you walk across history. Layer upon layer of the city lies beneath our feet. It is an idea ingeniously explored in this promenade piece created in the crypt of St Andrew's Church by Sincera Productions.
Many so-called site-specific shows only use a sympathetic non-theatre location for atmosphere. But this piece is born directly from recent excavation work in the crypt of this Wren church. Thousands of coffins were found, some dating back to the 17th century, and in unearthing the bodies, they have also unearthed hidden personal histories.
The stories of some of the famous and infamous people linked with the parish provide a rich stew of tales that take in grave robbery, forced marriage, the suicide of young poet Thomas Chatterton (buried in the crypt), the gunpowder plot and the church's rector, Henry Sacheverell. Through the shifting centuries wanders Phyllis Pearsall, creator of the London A-Z, a woman who is emotionally lost even as she maps out the city.
The writing and the staging are uneven, but when they are good they are very good indeed. There is a tingle-down-the-back moment towards the end when you suddenly realise that you are watching the same scene you saw earlier but from an entirely different viewpoint. It underlines the sense of the city not just as a magic place wrapped in the whirligig of time, but also that history comes with many different perspectives.
A pin-up guide to some of the historical figures rather than a glass of red wine at the start would be helpful, and warm clothing is a necessity. Even if the piece occasionally seems more guided tour than theatre, when it comes together it offers the best of both.
· Until April 1. Box office: 020-8669 9648.
