Theatre News

Off-West End Announcements – 13 November 2009

Please Sir, Can We Have Some
More

As Cameron Macintosh’s Oliver! continues
to pack the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, an alternative version of the
Dickens classic opens at Kentish Town’s Lion and Unicorn on 30 November. The
Giant Olive production promises to be truer to the grittiness of the original
with its brutal Fagan a world away from Atkinson/Djalili’s portrayal.
Light-hearted musical it isn’t, but if last year’s Christmas Carol
at the venue is anything to go by, a genuinely thought-provoking adaptation.

Telling Tales at Chelsea
Theatre

Tall Stories, the team behind the best-selling Gruffalo
stage shows, is also back in London this Christmas with Something
Else
at the Chelsea Theatre from 1 December. Based on the Unesco
award-winning picture book by Kathryn Cave and Chris Riddell, it’s the story of
a fantastical friendship between two unusual creatures, Something and Something
Else, featuring the mix of storytelling, songs and jokes that Tall Stories have
made their hallmark. For three to seven-year-olds.

Five Go
Adventuring Again

And in another coup, The Famous Five will
be brought back to life in a brand new adaptation of their best adventures at
the Tabard Theatre in Chiswick. West-end director Russell Labey (Chitty,
Old Boy at the Trafalgar Studios) returns to the fringe
venue alongside composer Leon Parris for a musical based on the popular Enid
Blyton books. Expect  ginger beer, japes a spot of danger and of course, a dog,
in what promises to be a Jolly Good Show all round!

And One For The Grown-Ups!

Meanwhile Oh No It Isn’t – the latest premiere to hit Southwark’s Union
Theatre– is an outrageous musical comedy fuelled by bawdy humour and the kind
of steamy choreography that makes Dirty Dancing look like kiddy
camp. A role-call of the characters says it all: young mum, Twirly, washed up
soap-star Regina Dripcock and down-on-his-luck genie Puff Cumnightly. Not to
mention a love-lorn gnome called Merkin. Running from 9 December and big on
audience participation, this one’s strictly not for the kids.