Opening: Soho Cinders, Penny Arcade, Great Gatsby & EdFringe

Immersive visual art-cum-theatre event at the Conway hall, topically imagining what fresh hell we may be plunged into by the time of the next London Olympics (in 2040 by this show’s reckoning). Bills itself as “terrifying location of the darkest fragments of the human psyche.” Until 31 August.

Edinburgh Fringe 2012
All August
The world’s biggest arts festival, which opened on Friday rumbles on, with shows opening practically every day in August – there’s 2,695 to get through! Keep your eye on www.whatsonstage.com/scotland for our coverage throughout the month.

Part two of the Old Red Lion’s rep season, which opened last week with Henry V. Thomas Middleton’s violent and cynical creation is updated to a 1980s society of riotous excess and division. Until 29 September. Read our interview with the directors here.

Soho Cinders
9 August 2012
(Previews from 3 August)

Pure London waltzes onto the scene in the form of Stiles and Drewe’s latest creation, which relocates the Cinderella fairy tale to modern Old Compton Street. Starring Michael Xavier and Jenna Russell, running at the Soho Theatre until 9 September. Click here for our interview with Jenna Russell.

Penny Arcade:Bitch! Dyke! Faghag! Whore!
10 August 2012
(Previews from 8 August)

Presented as part of Time Out Live, the notorious Penny Arcade‘s ” celebration of sex, freedom, comedy, politics and art” transfers from the Arcola to challenge a more central audience. At the Old Vic Tunels until 1 September.

The Great Gatsby
10 August 2012
(Previews from 7 August)Musical version of Fitzgerald’s classic novel of the self-made man whose glamour and success is too good to be true, which has recently emerged from copyright restrictions. Featuring original music and lyrics, the show runs at the King’s Head Theatre until until 1 September.