Theatre News

Opening: Cool Hand, Veil, Sister George, Kitson & Cinders

Editorial Staff
London's West End Off-West End

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

OPENING TONIGHT, Monday 3 October 2011 (previews from 23 September), Marc Warren stars in a new adaptation of Donn Pearce’s 1965 novel Cool Hand Luke, which tells of a decorated WWII veteran and his refusal to conform to life in a Florida prison camp, at the West End’s Aldwych Theatre, where it’s booking until 7 January 2012.

OPENING TUESDAY, 4 October 2011 (previews from 27 September), Conor McPherson‘s new play The Veil, set in a haunted house in early 19th century rural Ireland, premieres at the NT Lyttelton, running in rep until 11 December.

ALSO ON TUESDAY, the Orange Tree in Richmond continues its 40th anniversary season with David Lewis’ new play How to be Happy, which continues until 5 November.

OPENING THURSDAY, 6 October 2011 (preview 4 October), the Tabard Theatre in Chiswick stages the London premiere of the revised version of Broadway musical You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, starring Leanne Jones and directed by lyricist Anthony Drewe and continuing until 30 October.

ALSO ON THURSDAY (previews from 4 October), St John Ervine’s searing Belfast tragedy Mixed Marriage, about a love affair between a Catholic and a Protestant, is revived at the Finborough Theatre. It runs until 29 October.

ALSO ON THURSDAY, the double bill of Harold Pinter’s One for the Road and Victoria Station transfers from The Print Room to the Young Vic.

OPENING FRIDAY, 7 October 2011, multi award-winning comedian and storyteller Daniel Kitson brings his 2010 Edinburgh Fringe hit It’s Always Right Now, Until it’s Later to the NT Lyttelton, where it runs until 21 October before returning in December for an additional six performances. 

ALSO ON FRIDAY (previews from 4 October), Meera Syal follows her Whatonstage.com Award winning performance in Shirley Valentine by playing the grotesque June Buckridge in The Killing of Sister George at the Arts Theatre. Until 29 October.

ALSO ON FRIDAY (previews from 4 October), Robin Norton-Hale directs Shakespeare’s classic comedy The Taming of the Shrew in a new production set in modern-day Brixton, at the Southwark Playhouse. Until 29 October.

OPENING SATURDAY, 8 October 2011, The Open Air Theatre’s acclaimed production of Crazy for You transfers to the West End’s Novello Theatre, where it’s initially booking until 28 July 2012.

OPENING SUNDAY, 9 October 2011, Stiles and Drewe premiere their new musical Soho Cinders in a one-off charity performance, in partnership with Whatsonstage.com, at the West End’s Queen’s Theatre. For tickets call 0844 482 5160.