Top 5 theatre openings this week: 16 – 22 May
5. Bird – Sherman Theatre
Rachel O'Riordan directs this new play by Welsh playwright Katherine Chandler. Winner of the Judges Award in the 2013 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting, Bird tells a story of unstoppable friendship.
17 May – 28 May, Sherman Theatre. More information and tickets here.
4. Ophelias Zimmer – Royal Court
In a major collaboration between the Royal Court and the Schaubühne Berlin, Katie Mitchell (director), Chloe Lamford (design) and Alice Birch (text) examine the cultural portrayal of Hamlet's Ophelia in art and on stage.
In German with English subtitles.
17 – 21 May, Royal Court. More information and tickets here.
3. This is Living – Trafalgar Studios
The Aliens and This is England's Michael Socha stars alongside Tamla Kari in this two-hander about loss, grief and the meaning of saying goodbye.
17 May – 11 June 2016, Trafalgar Studios. More information and tickets here.
2. Blue/Orange – Young Vic
Matthew Xia directs Joe Penhall’s Olivier Award-winning 'state of the nation' classic with a stellar cast including Daniel Kaluuya, David Haig and Luke Norris.
19 May – 2 July, Young Vic. More information and tickets here.
1. The Taming of the Shrew – Shakespeare's Globe
Emma Rice presents the second production in her debut season at the Globe. Directed by Caroline Byrne, Shakespeare’s controversial double-act gets a 'fresh, fast and distinctly Irish' makeover, transporting the action to the Easter Rising of 1916.
19 May – 6 August, Shakespeare's Globe. More information and tickets here.