Opening: La Cage, Varekai, Walking on Water, Tara

As things gear up again after the holidays, amongst the major openings in London this week are:

OPENING TUESDAY, 8 January 2008 (previews from 6 January), multi award-winning Canadian circus company Cirque du Soleil returns to the Royal Albert Hall for its twelfth London season with its new show Varekai, which runs until 10 February (See News, 31 Dec 2007).

OPENING WEDNESDAY, 9 January 2008 (previews from 27 November), the twice-postponed press performance of the Menier Chocolate Factory’s revival of Jerry Herman’s 1983 Broadway musical comedy La Cage Aux Folles takes place tonight at the Southwark venue. Originally scheduled for 3 December, the original press performance and a subsequent one arranged for 13 December were cancelled due to actors’ illnesses (See News, 28 Nov 2007).

Based on the 1973 French play by Jean Poiret and subsequent 1978 French-Italian screen version, the musical focuses on a gay couple – George (played by Philip Quast), the manager of a St Tropez nightclub featuring drag entertainment, and Albin, his star attraction (Douglas Hodge) – and the adventures that ensue when George’s son brings home his fiancée’s ultra-conservative parents.

The Menier production, directed by Terry Johnson and designed by David Farley, also features Tara Hugo, Neil McDermott, Jason Pennycooke, Iain Mitchell and Una Stubbs. Its limited season continues until 8 March 2008.

OPENING THURSDAY, 10 January 2008 (preview 9 January), British Asian theatre company Tara Arts blends East and West in its new production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, which is at the West End’s Arts Theatre until 27 January 2008 ahead of a nine-stop national tour, concluding at Sir Peter Hall’s newly inaugurated Rose Theatre, Kingston (See News, 27 Nov 2007). Tara artistic director Jatinder Verma directs.

OPENING FRIDAY, 11 January 2008 (previews from 8 January), Susannah York stars in American Paul Minx’s new play Walking on Water, which opens the 20th anniversary season at the fringe White Bear Theatre in Kennington, south London. Having run off to California, fashion designer Betsy returns home to visit her Alzheimer’s-stricken mother and her sister, who can’t cope. Lolly Susi’s production continues until 28 January 2008.

OPENING SATURDAY, 12 January 2008, the London International Mime Festival commences its 30th anniversary season with performances at various venues in the city, including the Barbican, ICA, Royal Opera House, Southbank Centre and Shunt Vaults. The 2008 festival concludes on 27 January.

– by Terri Paddock