Theatre News

Opening: Irregular, Really Old, Richard & Hostage

Theo Bosanquet
London's West End Off-West End

Amongst the major openings – in the West End and further afield – this week are:

OPENING TONIGHT, 1 February 2010 (previews from 30 January), Nightsongs, Norwegian Jon Fosse’s exploration of the effect of a newborn child on a young couple, opens at the Cock Tavern Theatre, marking the first UK revival since it premiered at the Royal Court in 2003. Until 20 February.

OPENING TUESDAY, 2 February 2010 (previews from 28 January), Breathing Irregular, inspired by transcripts of real 999 calls, premieres at the Gate Theatre. Directed by co-artistic director Carrie Cracknell and choreographed by Jane Mason, the show combines dance and spoken word in a “haunting celebration of our instinct to survive”. Until 27 February 2010.

ALSO ON TUESDAY, 2 February 2010, Rob Becker’s Defending the Caveman, the one-man show which takes a light-hearted look at the battle of the sexes from the male perspective, returns to the Leicester Square Theatre for a three-week run, with former Neighbour Mark Little reprising his performance.

OPENING WEDNESDAY, 3 February 2010 (previews from 27 January), Really Old, Like Forty Five, Tamsin Ogleby’s new comedy which “confronts head-on our embarrassment and fear about old age”, opens at the NT Cottesloe, directed by Anna Mackmin.

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, Hedda, adapted and directed by Terje Tveit, is presented at the Riverside Studios by Ibsen Stage Company, continuing until 14 February. The second International Ibsen Seminar, featuring speakers including theatre director Stephen Unwin and novelist Paul Binding, is at the same venue on 6 February at 10am.

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, former glamour model Abi Titmuss continues to cut her acting teeth in the premiere of Lynn Howes’ comedy Stage Fright at the Canal Cafe Theatre, where it continues for a three-week run (See News, 28 Dec 2009).

OPENING THURSDAY, 4 February 2010 (previews from 2 February), Shakespeare’s Richard III joins the Love&Madness rep season at Riverside Studios (See News, 27 Nov 2009), directed by Ben Kidd and featuring Sadie Frost as Lady Anne and Carl Prekopp in the title role. Until 21 March.

ALSO ON THURSDAY, Gary Lilburn, Ben James-Ellis and Stephanie Fayerman lead the cast in Brendan Behan’s The Hostage at Southwark Playhouse, the first London revival of the play since the RSC’s 1994 production (See News, 7 Jan 2010). Until 20 February.