Theatre News

Off-West End Announcements – 26 Mar 2010

From Mountaintop to Gutter at 503

Still nursing their sore heads after a historic win at
last weekend’s Oliviers, the Theatre 503 team is now preparing for the forthcoming Porn, The Musical,
which opens at the venue on 6 April. Written by Boris Cezek, Malcom Galea and
Kris Spiteri, this slice of anarchic fun includes such ditties as ‘I’ll Stick
To You Like Herpes’ and ‘The Song Where Everybody Bitches’. Theatre 503’s own Paul
Robinson directs, with choreography by Ally Holmes and the show will runs until
1 May.

Holmes’ Twelfth Night Back in
Town

The critically acclaimed Filter/RSC co-production of Twelfth
Night
is back in London this spring for a month long run at the
Tricycle in May. Originally commissioned as part of the RSC’s Complete Works Festival,
Filter’s radical interpretation of Shakespeare’s comedy is directed by Sean Holmes,
artistic director at the Lyric Hammersmith, where his most recent Filter collaboration,
Three Sisters, played. The cast includes company’s founders
Oliver Dimsdale and Ferdy Roberts.

Studies for Another
Portrait

Artistic director Adam Spreadbury-Maher marks his arrival at the King’s Head Theatre with a revival of his
much-praised production of Studies for a Portrait. Daniel
Reitz’s play about the power of modern art and artistic legacy first played at
Kennington’s White Bear in January 2009, transferring to the Oval House later
in the year. A Time Out Critics’ Choice, the King’s Head production will feature rewrites and a new cast for a mammoth two month run from 30 March.

Audience Get in on the Action

Interactive theatre is an overused label but it certainly
applies to Southwark Playhouse’s latest show. Running from 1 – 17 Apr, Beyond
the Pale
draws on the turbulent history of the local area to imagine
an alternative reality where audience members can manipulate actors and shape
the action. It’s the work of JMK award-winner Jamie Harper and the London Quest
Company, whose artistic director Andrew Pawlby is well known for creating mixed
media projects and interactive games.

And Finally…

City Boys looking for a pre-weekend treat should head to Proud
Cabaret, which has secured The Globe Girls as its new Thursday night regulars. Beloved
of Elton John, this trio of drag delights will be performing their brand new
weekly show in costumes custom-made for the occasion, including wigs and sequins from
Vegas and eight inch heels from Paris. The girls will be joined by a different
West End star each week, starting with the wonderful Rachel Wooding, recently seen as
Eva Peron in Evita.