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Off-West End Announcements – 10 July 2009

The Barbican's Got Bite
We're not even half way through July and already it’s time to look ahead to the autumn schedules. Tickets went on sale this week for the Barbican's ever popular Bite series, retiring indoors after the success of the venue's al fresco summer series in (variously) the Barbican car park, Gillett Square and Shoreditch Park. For the first time, the programme will feature a performance in St Giles, the medieval church nestling in the heart of the Barbican's modernist estate, as Polish theatre group Testr ZAR pay their first visit to the UK for the Polska! festival (24 Sep-2 Oct). Other highlights include the return of choreographer Michael Clark with a new commission inspired by Bowie and Iggy Pop (28 Oct-7 Nov), and a revival of Boy Blue Entertainment's Pied Piper (10 Dec-3 Jan), which proved a hit when it last transferred from Theatre Royal Stratford East.

A wealth of stars in Richmond
Meanwhile, a bevy of beauties - and Matt Lucas - will be treading the boards at Richmond Theatre. Former Good Life co-stars Penelope Keith and Felicity Kendall make welcome returns in Entertaining Angels (5-10 Oct) and Mrs Warren's Profession (15-21 Nov) respectively, while Susan Hampshire leads a new production of Pride and Prejudice (23-28 Nov). But first, Lucas, and not as Mr Darcy. The Little Britain comedian stars in Joe Orton biopic, Prick Up Your Ears, which test-drives in Richmond from 26-29 Aug before a West End run.

Troy, Gabriella and the Gang in SW19
But for musical fans, New Wimbledon Theatre looks the place to be come August, when the long-awaited UK premiere of High School Music 2 (22 Aug-5 Sep) opens a new season, setting the tone for later revivals of the Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret, Blues Brothers, Disney's Beauty and the Beast and Take That tribute musical Never Forget. Dance fans can also look forward to Matthew Bourne’s Dorian Gray in what has become Bourne’s unofficial second London home.

- by Nancy Groves - Theatregoer Reporter

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