Theatre News

Key Openings in the South-East Region for Early August

OPENING 3 August. Deceptions by Paul Wheeler is at the Theatre Royal, Windsor as part of the tour which began in June at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester (WoS review 12 June). It’s a two-hander battle of wits between a psychiatrist and her client starring Michelle Collins and Rupert Hill and runs until 8 August.

OPENING 3 August. High School Musical 2 steps out at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne until 8 August as part of its national tour. This Disney stage show is based on the successful film and can also be seen at the New Theatre, Wimbledon between 22 August and 5 September.

OPENING 4 August. Beauty and the Beast at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking. This is also the stage version of a Disney musical film which is on an extended national tour. It runs until 8 August.

OPENING 10 August. Last of the Summer Wine starts its national tour at the Theatre Royal, Windsor after a preview season which ends on 8 August at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne. It’s by Roy Bolt, script-writer for every episode of television’s longest-running sitcom, and The Moonbather, as this particular story is titled, promises all the quintessential British humour of his original. Tony Adams, Ruth Madoc and Steven Pinder lead a cast which includes Harry Dickman, Timothy Kightley and John Pennington. After 15 August, Chris Jordan‘s production goes to the Mecury Theatre, Colchester from 17 to 22 August.

OPENING 10 August. The Browning Version by Terence Rattigan and Chekhov‘s Swan Song make up a double-bill directed by Peter Hall at the Arts Theatre, Cambridge. It comes from the Theatre Royal, Bath (WoS review 14 July) and runs at the Arts until 15 August before going to the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford between 24 and 29 August.

OPENING 11 August. Singin’ in the Rain is at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne as part of its national tour. This stage version of the musical film which starred Gene Kelly runs until 15 August.

OPENING 14 August. The Comedy of Errors in the Shakespeare’s Globe scaled-down touring production (WoS review 4 June) is at the South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell until 16 August and then comes into the Master’ Garden at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge from 18 to 23 August.