Features

Top 5 theatre openings this week: 4 – 10 July

From ping pong to people smuggling, we take a look at what you should be seeing this week

5. The Mighty Walzer – Royal Exchange, Manchester

Elliot Levey in The Mighty Walzer
Elliot Levey in The Mighty Walzer
© Jonathan Keenan

Elliot Levey and Tracy-Ann Oberman star in the world premiere of Howard Jacobson’s play, which pays homage to the Manchester of his youth via the medium of ping pong. Obviously.

5 to 30 July, Royal Exchange, Manchester. More information and tickets here.

4. I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road – Jermyn Street Theatre

Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford's musical returns 35 years after it was first seen in the West End. Despite its annoyingly long name, we're excited about seeing Sister Act stars Landi Oshinowo and Rosanna Hyland back on stage together.

9 to 23 July, Jermyn Street Theatre. More information and tickets here.

3. Needles and Opium – Barbican

Needles and Opium
Needles and Opium
© Nicola-Frank Vachon

Boundary pushing Canadian theatre maker Robert Lepage returns to the Barbican with the UK premiere of his production exploring addiction and disorientation through the lives of Jean Cocteau and Miles Davis. It's all set in a tilting cube but Phillip Schofield is nowhere to be seen, we promise.

7 to 16 July, Barbican. More information and tickets here.

2. Cargo – Arcola

Footage of refugees attempting to cross seas into safer territories has become all too common on news broadcasts recently, it's a timely world premiere then for Tess Berry-Hart's thriller, set in the hull of a container ship. Evening Standard Award-nominee David Mercatali directs.

9 July to 6 August, Arcola Theatre. More information and tickets here.

1. Unreachable – Royal Court

Tamara Lawrence and Matt Smith
Tamara Lawrence and Matt Smith
© Johan Persson

It's been a while since a Doctor Who or Sherlock actor has been on stage, but fangirls can relax as Matt Smith returns to tread the boards for the first time since his acclaimed performance in American Psycho. Playwright Anthony Neilson returns to the Sloane Square venue with a new play about a filmmaker that has been devised in rehearsals.

The Royal Court's website says it contains a gun shot, so it must be good, right?

8 July to 6 August, Royal Court. More information and tickets here.