Features

Tina, Titanic and An Officer and a Gentleman make our top openings of the week

We round up the hottest shows opening across the UK

Alex Wood

16 April 2018

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith in Tina and Jonny Fines in An Officer and a Gentleman — Kobna Holdbrook-Smith in *Tina* and Jonny Fines in *An Officer and a Gentleman*
© Manuel Harlan

It's a week full of musicals and Bard revivals – with four high-profile shows opening across the UK. What have you got tickets to see? Let us know via Facebook or Twitter.

Mel Giedroyc in rehearsals for Much Ado About Nothing — Mel Giedroyc in rehearsals for *Much Ado About Nothing*
© Mark Douet

5. Much Ado About Nothing

Rose Theatre Kingston, until 6 May

Before she joins Rosalie Craig and Patti LuPone in the new West End production of Company, Mel Giedroyc goes back to the Bard with this new production of Much Ado About Nothing, performing as Beatrice opposite John Hopkins as her nemesis-turned beau Benedick. Co-produced by Antic Face, the company responsible for the anarchic Collective Rage at Southwark Playhouse earlier this year, the show looks set to be a fun-filled reimagining of the Shakespeare classic.

Danielle Steers and Wayne Robinson in Bat Out of Hell — Danielle Steers and Wayne Robinson in *Bat Out of Hell*
© Specular

4. Bat Out of Hell

Dominion Theatre, booking until 27 October

Bat is back! After storming the West End ramparts with its run at the Coliseum last year, Jim Steinman's show, based on music from the Bat Out of Hell album, heads over to the equally cavernous Dominion for an open-ended run at the Tottenham Court Road theatre. After bagging a ton of nominations at the WhatsOnStage Awards, you should forget about love and do anything for a ticket.

The previous cast of Titanic at the Charing Cross Theatre — The previous cast of *Titanic* at the Charing Cross Theatre
© Scott Rylander

3. Titanic

Mayflower Southampton, until 21 April then UK tour

The musical, based on the historical tragedy, made waves when it opened in London and ran at both Southwark Playhouse and the Charing Cross Theatre. Now it embarks on a major UK tour, with stops including Cardiff, Birmingham and Liverpool, after opening in Southampton – coincidentally the same city where the Titanic first sailed away from back in 1912.

The company of An Officer and a Gentleman — The company of *An Officer and a Gentleman*
© Manuel Harlan

2. An Officer and a Gentleman

Curve, Leicester until 21 April then UK tour

The second of our nautical shows opening its tour this week comes courtesy of Curve in Leicester. Based on the Oscar-winning film of the same name and chock-full of classic tunes including "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", "Livin' On A Prayer" and "Heart of Glass", Nikolai Foster directed the world premiere of the piece, which sails away on a UK tour and follows a US Navy pilot who falls for a nearby resident Paula Pokrifki while training at boot camp.

Adrienne Warren as Tina Turner in Tina the Musical — Adrienne Warren as Tina Turner in *Tina the Musical*
© Manuel Harlan

1. Tina – the Musical

Aldwych Theatre, booking until 20 October

Rock'n'roll legend Tina Turner is making her way to the West End with the world premiere of the new musical Tina, based on the star's life and rise to fame over the 20th century. Adrienne Warren steps into Tina's iconic wig, belting out numbers including "The Best" and "Proud Mary". We can't wait.

Last chance to see: Caroline, Or Change (Hampstead Theatre), Great Apes (Arcola Theatre), The Country Wife (Southwark Playhouse)