Theatre News

Opening: NT Dance, Fantasticks, Tricycle Women

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

OPENING TUESDAY, 8 June 2010 (previews from 27 May), Terence Rattigan’s After the Dance is revived at the NT Lyttelton, with Thea Sharrock directing a cast led by Nancy Carroll, Benedict Cumberbatch, John Heffernan, Adrian Scarborough and Jenny Galloway.


OPENING WEDNESDAY, 9 June (previews from 24 May), the record-breaking Off-Broadway musical phenomenon The Fantasticks is given a Japanese-style West End makeover by director Amon Miyamoto and a cast including Clive Rowe and David Burt at the Duchess Theatre (See Photos, 22 Apr 2010).

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY (previews from 4 June), as the World Cup kicks off this week, two football-inspired pieces hit town. The musical Who Ate All the Pies? is at the Tristan Bates Theatre, while Beating Berlusconi, a comedy about a Liverpool FC fan’s beef with the Italian prime minister, is at the King’s Head.

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY (previews from 8 June), the New Diorama Theatre presents Marlowe’s The Tragicall History of Dr Faustus, continuing until 26 June.

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, Dandy in the Underworld, written and directed by Tim Fountain based on the memoirs of Soho character and failed suicide Sebastian Horsley, opens at Soho Theatre for a month-long run.


OPENING THURSDAY, 10 June (previews from 8 June), Lilies on the Land, based on letters and interviews with Second World War land girls, opens at the Arts Theatre following a regional tour (See News. 16 Mar 2010).

 ALSO ON THURSDAY(previews from 2 June), a timely revival of Barrie Keeffe’s 1979 play Sus, set on the eve of Margaret Thatcher’s election victory, arrives at the Young Vic, where it runs to 26 June.

ALSO ON THURSDAY, actors Samantha Bond and Sam Kenyon direct the suffragette comedy Knickerbocker Glories at the Union Theatre. Until 26 June.


OPENING FRIDAY, , 11 June 2010 (previews from 4 June), the Tricycle Theatre new cycle of 12 plays – Women, Power and Politics – explores the history and current role of women in UK politics, directed by Indhu Rubasingham (See News, 17 Mar 2010).