Network and Tiger Bay make our top openings of the week
© Anastasia Tikhonova
5. Inside Pussy Riot
Saatchi Gallery until 24 December
Les Enfants Terribles are no strangers to immersive theatre, having mounted their production of Alice's Adventures Underground within the ghoulish confines of the Vaults earlier this year. This time the company are back with a bold collaboration alongside the Saatchi Gallery and Nadya Tolokonnikova, the co-founder of the anarchist feminist group Pussy Riot. The show takes audiences through Tolokonnikova's experiences in a brutal Russian justice system, where she was ostracised and persecuted for her outspoken beliefs.
Find out more about the show here.
© Philip Tull
4. The Borrowers
The Watermill Theatre until 31 December
The Watermill Theatre has 'downsized' its Christmas plans this year, taking everyone's favourite thumbnail-sized family and putting them on the stage. Directed by Paul Hart with novel design from Toots Butcher, the family-friendly show sees the young Arietty, eldest daughter of the Borrower clan, desperate to escape her home to live in the blue-skied world beyond. The show stars Nenda Neurer and Matthew Romain.
You can watch our tour of the Watermill Theatre here.
© Anthony Robling
3. Little Women
Hope Mill Theatre until 9 December
Making its European premiere at the Hope Mill theatre, Little Women is based on the renowned novel by Louisa May Alcott. With music from Jason Howland (Beautiful), the piece sees four sisters trying to find their voice growing up in the midst of the American Civil War. The show is directed by Bronagh Lagan, and continues a season at the Hope Mill which has led to London transfers for their productions of Hair, Pippin and Yank.
See the full show announcement for Little Women.
© Nardus Engelbrecht
2. Tiger Bay the Musical
Millenium Centre until 25 November
Noel Sullivan and John Owen-Jones star in Wales Millennium Centre's biggest in-house production to date. It's an apt show to choose as well, given its setting in the Cardiff docklands. The piece details the extreme poverty of the city's residents, as well as the wealth disparity in the area. With book and lyrics by Michael Williams and an original score from Welsh composer Daf James, this is likely to be a punchy show with a relevant message. It will also be directed by Melly Still with co-direction from Max Barton.
See Noel Sullivan's top five showtunes here.
© Jan Versweyveld
1. Network
National Theatre until 24 March
Bryan Cranston comes to the National Theatre in Olivier Award-winning director Ivo van Hove's adaptation of the 1970s classic film. Also starring Michelle Dockery and Douglas Henshall, the show is based in a chaotic newsroom where a presenter (Cranston), prepares for his final broadcast. Interestingly, the show will also feature audience members dining live onstage, after being invited to witness warmups and the show's setup.
