Theatre News

Opening: NT Passion, Street Scene & Mike Leigh’s Grief

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

OPENING TONIGHT, Monday 19 September 2011 (previews from 17 September), Jonathan Miller stages Paul Goodwin’s English translation of Bach’s St Matthew Passion, in collaboration with Southbank Sinfonia, at the National’s Olivier, where it runs until 2 October.


OPENING TUESDAY, 20 September 2011 (preview 19 September), John Fulljames’ acclaimed production of Kurt Weill’s Street Scene returns to the Young Vic for a run until 1 October.

ALSO ON TUESDAY, Whatsonstage.com Award-winning comedy Yes, Prime Minister, adapted from the classic BBC comedy series, moves from the Apollo to its Shaftesbury Avenue neighbour the Gielgud, where it’s booking until 19 November 2011.


OPENING WEDNESDAY, 21 September 2011 (previews from 14 September), Grief, the much-anticipated new play written and directed by Mike Leigh, premieres at the National’s Cottesloe with a cast including Lesley Manville, Ruby Bentall and Sam Kelly.


OPENING FRIDAY, 23 September 2011 (previews from 21 September), following dates in Israel and Palestine, Jericho House’s production of The Tempest is presented at St Giles’ Cripplegate Church as part of the Barbican’s bite11 season. It continues until 22 October.

ALSO ON FRIDAY, the Union Theatre in Southwark revives Stephen Schwartz’s musical The Baker’s Wife, set in a close-knit community in pre-war France. Directed by Michael Strassen (Assassins), it runs until 15 October.


OPENING SUNDAY, 25 September 2011, Tiata Fahodzi’s Tiata Delights festival returns for its fifth year, running at The Africa Centre, Covent Garden until 8 October and curated by new artistic director Lucian Msamati.