Opening: Donmar Classes, Crucible & Joe Turner

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

OPENING TONIGHT, Tuesday 1 June 2010 (previews from 27 May), Simon Gray’s The Late Middle Classes is revived at the Donmar Warehouse, directed by David Leveaux and starring Helen McCrory. Until 17 July.

ALSO TONIGHT, Tony Award-winning tenor Alfie Boe leads the cast in English National Opera’s new production of Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers, directed by Penny Woolcock and continuing at the Coliseum until 8 July.

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OPENING WEDNESDAY, 2 June (previews from 24 May), artistic director Timothy Sheader revives Arthur Miller’s The Crucible to kick off the summer season at the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park (See News, 10 Sep 2009). It continues to 19 June.

OPENING THURSDAY, 3 June (previews from 27 May), Hollywood star Delroy Lindo stars in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, August Wilson’s account of a people’s recovery from slavery, directed by artistic director David Lan at the Young Vic (See News, 16 Apr 2010), where it continues to 3 July.

ALSO ON THURSDAY(previews from 2 June), Evan Placey’s Mother of Him has its British premiere at the Courtyard Theatre, directed by Guy Retallack. Until 4 July.

ALSO ON THURSDAY, the Sky Arts Playhouse season, running until 4 July, launches with Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s new play The Typist. It’s followed by premieres of Mark Ravenhill’s Ghost Story, Alia Bano’s Hens,Frank McGuinness’ Crocodile and Eve Ensler’s Here, all of which are staged at Riverside Studios for four performances and broadcast on the Sky Arts TV channel (See News, 19 Apr 2010).

ALSO ON THURSDAY, children’s show Guess How Much I Love You visits Greenwich Theatre, where it runs until 5 June as part of a national tour.

OPENING FRIDAY, 4 June 2010 (previews from 2 June), David Egan’s new play Tom’s A-Cold and Joe Orton’s 1964 play The Ruffian on the Stair are staged at the Orange Tree by the theatre’s trainee directors Lora Davies and Emma Faulkner. Until 19 June.