Theatre News

Opening: Crook in Jerusalem, Koos & Violence

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

OPENING WEDNESDAY, 15 July 2009 (previews from 10 July), Mark Rylance and Mackenzie Crook star in the world premiere of Jez Butterworth’s new comedy Jerusalem at the Royal Court Downstairs, directed by former Court artistic director and frequent Butterworth collaborator  Ian Rickson (See News, 11 May 2009).

Butterworth’s previous plays for the Court include include The Winterling, The Night Heron and Mojo. Jerusalem, billed as “contemporary vision of life in our green and pleasant land”, continues until 15 August 2009.

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, Blink!, a collection of “showstoppers from musicals you might have missed”, opens at Victoria’s gay new writing venue Above the Stag. The show features numbers from flops including The Scarlet Pimpernel, Oscar and a musical version of Silence of the Lambs which never made it to opening night. Until 16 August.


OPENING THURSDAY, 16 July 2009 (previews from 14 July), the Tricycle Theatre’s South African Season continues with David Kramer’s Koos Sas: Last Bushman of Montagu, starring Kat and the Kings’ Loukmaan Adams and Jody Abrahams (See News, 18 May 2009).

ALSO ON THURSDAY (preview 15 July), The Container, Clare Bayley’s play about immigrants who try to smuggle themselves into the UK inside a lorry container, is presented at the Young Vic in association with Amnesty International, continuing until 30 July. Performed inside a real container outside the venue, it’s not one for the claustrophobic.

ALSO ON THURSDAY (previews from 14 July), Sasha Regan directs an all-male cast in the Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic The Pirates of Penzance at the Union Theatre. Until 8 August.


OPENING FRIDAY (previews from 9 July), Max Stafford-Clark directs Stella Feehily’s new comedy, Dreams of Violence, at Soho Theatre with a cast including Paula Wilcox. It continues until 8 August as part of a national tour.

** DON’T MISS our exclusive 2 for 1 offer on tickets to Dreams of Violence between 14-25 July. click here for further info! **