Opening: RSC Julius Caesar, Volcano & Aladdin

The flamboyant star of Olivier-winning show La Clique returns to London with his solo show at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Squeezing into lycra and singing range of hits from Radiohead to Bassey until 26 August.

Edinburgh Fringe 2012
All August
The world’s biggest arts festival, which opened on Friday rumbles on, with shows opening practically every day in August – there’s 2,695 to get through! Keep your eye on www.whatsonstage.com/scotland for our coverage throughout the month.

Gregory Doran‘s lauded production of Shakespeare’s iconic Romance play, transposed to the contemporary political landscape of Africa, makes its way to London’s Noel Coward Theatre. Read our interview with RSC artistic director Michael Boyd about the show here, and our review of the run at Stratford-upon-Avon here. At the Noel Coward theatre until 15 September.

Vieux Carré
15 August 2012
(Preview 14 August)
Robert Chevara‘s revival of Tenessee Williams’ autobiographical play makes its transfer to the Charing Cross Theatre after a run at the King’s Head Theatre. Billed as “the condensation of all Tennessee Williams’ plays”, the production has been altered slightly for the transfer, with Hildegard Neil now taking the central role of Miss Carrie.

Volcano
16 August 2012
(Previews from 14 August)

Noel Coward’s “lost” play, which has just finished a UK tour. Inspired by an affair between Coward’s friend Ian Fleming (author of the Bond novels) and a plantation-owning society beauty, it gives a “fascinating insight into the decadent, scandal-ridden lifestyle” that Coward and his fellow ex-pats enjoyed. Starring Jenny Seagrove at the Vaudeville Theatre until 29 September.

Carousel
17 August 2012
(Previews from 15 August)

Set on the New England coastline Carouselfollows an ill-fated love affair between “bad boy” Billy Bigelow and trusting Julie Jordan. Starring Katherine Manley, Sarah Tynan and Michael Todd Simpson at the Barbican Theatre until 15 September.

A Progress
17 August 2012
(Previews from 15 August)Beggarsbelief Theatre, headed by former National Theatre director Carl Heap, move on from staging the 1966 World Cup Final and Ben-Hur to this production of John Bunyan’s famous allegory, A Pilgrim’s Progress.

Billed as “seriously playful,” the adaption runs until 1 September at the Yard Theatre.

Aladdin

Ian Marshall Fisher‘s “Lost Musicals” series, which presents neglected works, continues with Aladdin, which featured the music and lyrics of Cole Porter and was originally written for a 1958 US television broadcast. At Sadler’s Wells’ Lilian Baylis Theatre until 2 September