While the cultural behemoth of the National Theatre and the South Bank Centre dominate the stretch of the Thames alongside Waterloo Bridge, there's a flurry of cultural activity on the other side of Waterloo station, and a little beyond, that is also regularly worth embracing on any trip south of the river.

First, of course, there is the National's former home, the Old Vic, now a West End house-for-hire with a rather uncertain identity and one that suffers from its location which is perceived to be 'on the wrong side of the tracks'.

But it is not only one of London's most historic theatres, but also one of its most grandly beautiful, with its sweeping horseshoe auditorium that arranges the audience on three levels.

Next up here, Broadway legend Elaine Stritch - now 76 years-old - brings her retrospective of her amazing career for a limited season, from 1 October.

Original intentions

Just down the road from the Old Vic is the now unrelated Young Vic, originally created as a studio annexe to the National when it was based at the Old Vic.

It still honours its original intentions, seeking to draw younger theatre artists and a younger audience to see its productions, though it embraces anyone and everyone with a keen interest in seeing good theatre in a fantastically inclusive space.

Close-up of DH Lawrence's The Kiss, advertising his play The Daughter-in-Law

The flexible auditorium, capable of being configured for performances in the round or in other three-sided variations, is a wonderfully democratic place, with unreserved seating (and an ace café bar attached).

Now, through to 12 October, artistic director David Lan directs a rare London staging of DH Lawrence's aching play of mining life, The Daughter-in-Law.

It will be followed by Declan Donnellan's inaugural production for the RSC Academy Company, featuring recently graduated drama students in a new staging of King Lear, running from 24 October to 9 November, and then - invariably one of the treats of the capital's Christmas fare - the Young Vic will host a new production of Sleeping Beauty, which runs from 22 November to 25 January.

Growing reputation

The Southwark Playhouse enjoys a growing reputation for enterprising new work and classical revivals

A short walk east from the Young Vic brings you to Southwark Playhouse, an independent fringe theatre with a growing reputation for enterprising new work and classical revivals.

Currently, to 5 October, artistic director Thea Sharrock is directing the UK premiere of Phyllis Nagy's Trip's Cinch; then a revival of Middleton and Rowley's The Changeling, updated to a black middle-class household in London, will run from 8 October to 2 November.

Also in the area: the Union Theatre in Union Street is another address to keep an eye on.

Gorgeous reconstruction

Finally, it's back to the river and the gorgeous reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe that sits next door to the Tate Modern.

This outdoor space recreates conditions that would have pertained in Shakespeare's time, so there is no stage lighting or other sets or effects, only the actors, costumes, music and props, to illuminate the repertoire of Shakespearean revivals (this year, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Twelfth Night) and specially commissioned new plays, like The Golden Ass by Peter Oswald.

All run in rep to 29 September.

Take a Thames Tour of Rotherhithe including the home of London's whaling and timber trades

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