Opening: Spamalot, NT’s Curious Incident & London Road
Among this week’s major London theatre openings, in the West End and further afield, are a fringe revival of Broadway musical Curtains, the National’s adaptation of the bestselling novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and the West End return of Spamalot:
Opening Monday
30 July 2012
(Previews from 25 July)
European premiere of the 2006 Broadway whodunnit musical comedy, charting a performance interrupted when its leading lady drops dead. At the Landor Theatre until 1 September.
Taking Part & After The Party
30 July 2012
(Previews from 26 July) Olympic-themed two-hander Taking Part at the Criterion theatre sees a Congolese security guard make an ill-advised grab for Olympic glory.Straight after at the same venue, Olympic actions continues with After The Party, the story of a down-on-their-luck music duo using London 2012 as a springboard to fame.
Opening Tuesday
Spamalot
31 July 2012
(Previews from 24 July)
The “lovingly ripped off” Python musical comes to the West End’s Harold Pinter Theatre after an extensive tour. Telling the story of King Arthur and the quest for the Holy Grail, the cast will feature Todd Carty as Patsy, Bonnie Langford as The Lady of the Lake. Jon Culshaw starts out as King Arthur before abdicating to Marcus Brigstocke in September. Runs until 9 September.
Philadelphia, Here I Come
31 July 2012
(Previews from 26 July)Posh
director Lyndsey Turner makes her Donmar Warehouse debut with this
Brian Friel play about the days before an Irishman leaves for America
to find a new life. Starring Rory Keenan and Paul Reid, the play
runs until 22 September.
Opening Wedesday
London Road
1 August 2012
(Previews from 28 July)
Upgrading to the NT Olivier from its previous home at the Cottesloe, the Whatsontage.com award-winning musical about the 2006 Ipswich sex worker murders returns. Directed by Rufus Norris, the cast includes original members Clare Burt, Kate Fleetwood, Hal Fowler and Nick Holder. Runs until 6 September.
Opening Thursday
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
2 August 2012
(Previews from 24 July)
Lauded playwright Simon Stephens adapts the wildly popular Mark Haddon novel for the stage. The play tells the story of Christopher, an apparently autistic 15-year-old, and his search to solve the murder of his neighbour’s dog. Runs in rep at the NT Cottesloe until 27 October, starring Matthew Barker, Niamh Cusack and Maggie Service.
Opening Friday
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
3 August 2012
The biggest arts festival in the world takes over the Scottish capital until 27 August. Featuring 2,695 shows, the most ever, all tastes will be catered for. You can follow all of our coverage from our Scottish site, www.whatsonstage.com/scotland.
