Key North-East Openings this May

Amongst the major openings in the North-East (Yorkshire region) this month are:

>OPENING 1 May 2010, Death of a Salesman is at West Yorkshire Playhouse with a cast including Philip Jackson and Lex Shrapnel. In Arthur Miller’s tragic 1949 classic, salesman Willy Loman’s fervent belief in the American Dream threatens the downfall of his family. As he hits his sixties, Willy’s materialistic hopes are a cause for the despair of his helpless wife Linda, and their sons, Biff and Happy. Sarah Esdaile directs. The season continues until 29 May.

>OPENING 6 May 2010, Boston Marriage is at Stephen Joseph Theatre with an all-female cast including Claire Corbett and Julie Jupp. David Mamet exchanges his trademark gritty drama for the social niceties of a Victorian drawing room in Boston Marriage (1999). Or does he? Anna is the mistress of a wealthy older man; Claire is in love with his daughter. Tensions spiral out of control when she arrives in their parlour only to recognise the jewellery arrayed upon Anna’s neck. Chris Monks directs. The season continues until 30 June.

>OPENING 13 May 2010, True West is at Sheffield Theatre Crucible with a cast including John Light, Nigel Harman and Abigail Mckern. In keeping with the opposition of the brothers in Sam Shepard’s 1980 play of duality, American identity and the desert, Light and Harman will alternate the roles of Austin and Lee each night, depending on the flip of a coin before the curtain call. Paul Miller directs. The season continues until 5 June.

>OPENING 13 May 2010, Catcher is at York Theatre Royal with a cast including Ronan Summers and Mitzi Thaddeus. On 8 December 1980, John Lennon was assassinated. Penned by award-winning writer Richard Hurford, Catcher explores the events of the previous night, re-imagining the hotel-room musings of Lennon’s killer Mark Chapman. Suzann McLean directs. The season continues until 5 June.

>OPENING 27 May 2010, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is at Hull Truck Theatre with a cast including Joshua Richards and Heather Peace. John Godber has newly adapted the underwater adventures of Captain Nemo and the crew of Nautilus from Jules Verne’s novel (1869), in an innovative collaboration with the city’s submarium, The Deep. John Godber directs. The season continues until 19 June.

– Vicky Ellis