Features

Top 5 theatre openings: 19 – 25 June

From an open air Arthur Miller to a post-apocalyptic take over of the London Coliseum, we round up this week’s most exciting openings

Ben Hewis

| London | London's West End | Off-West End |

19 June 2017

De Roovers' A View from the Bridge — De Roovers' *A View from the Bridge*
© Stef Sessel

5. A View From the Bridge

Greenwich and Docklands International Festival, 22 to 25 June 2017

As London enjoys a rare but welcome heatwave, what better way to take advantage of the weather than with an open air production? Belgian company de Roovers' adaptation of Arthur Miller's classic, about dock workers and illegal migrants, gets its UK premiere at Meridian Quays, right beside the Thames.

Find out our top 10 events at this year's festival

Arthur Darvill in Hir — Arthur Darvill in *Hir*
© Ellie Kurtz

4. Hir

Bush Theatre, 20 June to 22 July

Doctor Who and Broadchurch star Arthur Darvill returns to the stage in Taylor Mac's play about challenging gender expectations and notions of the typical American family. The piece, which is a Pulitzer Prize finalist will be directed by Nadia Fall. In his 2015 review for TheaterMania during the show's run off-Broadway, David Gordon said the play was "sharp, shocking, and really, really funny."

Read our interview with Taylor Mac

Tanya Moodie in Terror — Tanya Moodie in *Terror*
© Tristram Kenton

3. Terror

Lyric Hammersmith, 20 June to 15 July

Ever fancied yourself as the next Judge Rinder? Well the Lyric's production of Ferdinand von Schirach's courtroom drama is probably the closest you're going to get. Against orders, a fighter pilot has shot down a hijacked plane and it's your job to decide whether he's guilty of murder or not. Sounds like fun and it also features a great cast including Ashley Zhangazha and Tanya Moodie.

Read our casting story

Bayo Gbadamosi and Colin Morgan in Gloria — Bayo Gbadamosi and Colin Morgan in *Gloria*
© Marc Brenner

2. Gloria

Hampstead Theatre, 21 June to 22 July

Merlin fans assemble, Colin Morgan returns to the stage for the first time since Mojo in 2014, to star in Michael Longhurst's production of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' new play. Gloria takes place in the offices of a New York magazine where the writers are constantly looking for ways to make their way up the hierarchy at the publication.

Check out our first look gallery of production photos

Christina Bennington and Andrew Polec in Bat Out of Hell — Christina Bennington and Andrew Polec in *Bat Out of Hell*
© Jim Ross

1. Bat Out of Hell

London Coliseum, 20 June to 5 August

You've likely heard most of the songs in this show, Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman's album of the same name has sold over 43 million copies worldwide. But you won't have seen it in this way before, cue motorbikes, tunnels and an onstage escalator transforming the Coliseum into the post-apocalyptic Obsidian. Imagine We Will Rock You but with more tattoos and leather.

Video: Take a backstage tour of Bat Out of Hell