Anne-Marie Duff as Saint Joan
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Opening: Saint Joan, Elling, Eels, Labour, Car Man

Amongst the major openings in London this week are:

OPENING TONIGHT, Monday 9 July 2007 (previews from 5 July), Nell Leyshon’s new play Glass Eels, directed by Lucy Bailey who also helmed Leyshon’s award-winning Comfort Me with Apples, receives its London premiere at Hampstead Theatre, where it runs until 21 July (See News, 23 Nov 2006). At the height of summer on the Somerset Levels, a young girl reacts to her widowed father’s new girlfriend and embarks upon her own journey of sexual discovery with her father’s lonely friend.

ALSO TONIGHT, mind reader Marc Salem brings latest, Mind Games Extra to the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn for a run to 29 July 2007.

OPENING TUESDAY, 10 July 2007 (previews from 6 July), the Bush Theatre hit comedy Elling, starring Life on Mars’ John Simm, transfers to the West End’s Trafalgar Studios (See News, 6 Jun 2007). Elling (Simm) and his friend must convince their social that they’re ‘normal’ enough to survive in the real world after being institutionalised for years. The English-language premiere by playwright Simon Bent is based on Axel Hellstenius and Petter Naess’ adaptation of the cult 2001 Norwegian film comedy, which was based on the original novel by Ingvar Ambjornsen. Paul Miller directs a cast that also features Adrian Bower and Keir Charles.

OPENING WEDNESDAY, 11 July 2007 (previews from 5 July), Anne-Marie Duff (pictured) stars in Marianne Elliott’s National Theatre revival of Saint Joan, in rep in the NT Olivier as part this year’s Travelex £10 Season in the NT Olivier (See News, 15 Feb 2007). George Bernard Shaw’s 1923 play tells the story of the 19-year-old French girl, made a Catholic saint after being burnt at the stake by the English in Rouen in 1431. In the title role, Anne-Marie Duff follows in the footsteps of Sybil Thorndike (for whom the part was created), Uta Hagen, Joan Plowright and Judi Dench. Also in the cast are Oliver Ford Davies, Paterson Joseph, Angus Wright and Paul Ready.

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY (previews from 9 July), 9 July to 4 August 2007 at Sadler’s Wells, The Car Man Matthew Bourne’s award-winning take on Bizet’s Carmen, The Car Man, opens at his homebase at Sadler’s Wells, for a run to 4 August before launching an extensive regional tour (See News, 25 Jan 2007). First mounted at the Old Vic in September 2000, The Car Man is directed and choreographed by Bourne and designed by Lez Brotherston, with lighting by Chris Davey and sound by Paul Groothuis. Alan Vincent reprises his performance in the title role of Luca, alternating with James Leece and Adam Galbraith.

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY (previews from 1 July), artistic director Dominic Dromgoole directs Love's Labour's Lost at Shakespeare’s Globe. It continues in rep until 7 October as part of this year’s “Renaissance + Revolution” season (See News, 25 Jan 2007).

- by Terri Paddock

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