Opening: Mystery of Charles Dickens, Private Peaceful, What You Will & JCS

Dominique Morisseau’s play, billed as a “vibrant and witty look at the point where the personal and political collide” runs at the Gate Theatre until 20 October. Read our interview with artistic director Christopher Haydon here.

The Mystery of Charles Dickens
17 September 2012
(Previews from 13 September)
Giving an insight into the Victorian life and times of Dickens, interweaving his own turbulent story with some of his most memorable fictional characters. Starring Simon Callow, it runs at the Playhouse Theatre until 3 November 2012.

Julietta
17 September 2012
Based on a 1930s French surrealist play set in a poetical no-man’s-land poised between dreams and reality, Julietta is composed by Martinu, here in a new production by ENO at the London Coliseum until 3 October.

Oh, The Humanity & Other Good Intentions
17 September 2012
(Previews from 12 September)
Coming to London after a run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Oh, The Humanity & Other Good Intentions features five short plays about being alive, from the writer of Thom Pain (based on nothing) Will Eno. It runs at the Soho Theatre until 13 October.

Private Peaceful
18 September 2012

Adapted and directed by Simon Reade from Michael Morpugo’s novel, about a young First World War soldier awaiting the firing squad who relives his short but vivid past, Private Peaceful runs at Theatre Royal Haymarket until 29 September. Read our interview with Morpugo here.

What You Will
18 September 2012

This “hysterical (and occasionally historical) 90-minute gallop through all things Shakespearean” is an irreverent one-man everything there is ‘to be or not to be’ about William Shakespeare. Starring Roger Rees, it runs at the Apollo Theatre until 6 October. Don’t miss out OUTING on 27 September.

Zelda
19 September 2012
(Previews from 18 September)

The story of Zelda Sayre, wife of F Scott Fitzgerald, from the start to the end of their marriage, runs at the Trafalgar Studios until 4 October.

Bully Boy
19 September 2012
(Previews from 18 September)
Sandi Toksvig’s play, starring Anthony Andrews and Joshua Miles comes to London following a run at the Nuffield Theatre last year. Bully Boy runs at St James Theatre until 27 October 2012. Read our interview with Toksvig from the Nuffield run here

Barbershopera – Cabaret Sauvignon
20 September 2012
(Previews from 18 September)
Barbershopera is a comedy barbershop quartet, and Cabaret Sauvignon promises an “informal evening of musings and musical miscellany”. It runs at Trafalgar Studio 2 until 6 October.

Mademoiselle Julie
20 September 2012
(Previews from 18 September)

Juliette Binoche stars in this modern-day production of Strindberg’s 19th-century classic, where issues of gender, class and forbidden desire collide with seemingly unbreakable social conventions. It runs at the Barbican Theatre until 29 September.

Celebrity Night at Cafe Red
21 September 2012
(Previews from 20 September)

This new play by Lily Bevan features a cast of 8 and 2 French mimes, and promises to “surprise and delight”. It runs at Trafalgar Studio 2 until 6 October.

Jesus Christ Superstar
21 September 2012

The arena tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s hit musical, with Superstar winner Ben Forster plus Tim Minchin, Melanie C and Chris Moyles plays at the O2 arena until 23 September before touring the UK.

Twelfth Night
22 September 2012

Mark Rylance and Stephen Fry are among those starring in the all-male production of Twelfth Night, with Rylance reprising his role after a ten-year gap. It runs at Shakespeare’s Globe until 14 October before transferring to the Apollo Theatre on 2 November.