Features

Top 5 theatre openings this week: 16 – 22 May

From Birds to Shrews we take a look at this week’s major openings

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

17 May 2016

5. Bird – Sherman Theatre

Georgina Henshaw (Ava) and Connor Allen (Dan) in Sherman Theatre's Bird — Georgina Henshaw (Ava) and Connor Allen (Dan) in Sherman Theatre's *Bird*
© Kirsten McTernan

Rachel O'Riordan directs this new play by Welsh playwright Katherine Chandler. Winner of the Judges Award in the 2013 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting, Bird tells a story of unstoppable friendship.

17 May – 28 May, Sherman Theatre. More information and tickets here.

4. Ophelias Zimmer – Royal Court

Jenny König in Ophelias Zimmer — Jenny König in *Ophelias Zimmer*
© Gianmarco Bresadola

In a major collaboration between the Royal Court and the Schaubühne Berlin, Katie Mitchell (director), Chloe Lamford (design) and Alice Birch (text) examine the cultural portrayal of Hamlet's Ophelia in art and on stage.

In German with English subtitles.

17 – 21 May, Royal Court. More information and tickets here.

3. This is Living – Trafalgar Studios

Tamla Kari and Michael Socha
© Rekha Garton

The Aliens and This is England's Michael Socha stars alongside Tamla Kari in this two-hander about loss, grief and the meaning of saying goodbye.

17 May – 11 June 2016, Trafalgar Studios. More information and tickets here.

2. Blue/Orange – Young Vic

Daniel Kaluuya (Christopher) and Luke Norris (Bruce) in rehearsal for Blue/Orange — Daniel Kaluuya (Christopher) and Luke Norris (Bruce) in rehearsal for *Blue/Orange*
© Johan Persson

Matthew Xia directs Joe Penhall’s Olivier Award-winning 'state of the nation' classic with a stellar cast including Daniel Kaluuya, David Haig and Luke Norris.

19 May – 2 July, Young Vic. More information and tickets here.

1. The Taming of the Shrew – Shakespeare's Globe

Genevieve Hulme-Beaman (Bianca), Aaron Heffernan (Lucentio), Colm Gormley (Hortensio), Imogen Doel (Tranio) and Sean Fox (Ensemble)
© Matthew North

Emma Rice presents the second production in her debut season at the Globe. Directed by Caroline Byrne, Shakespeare’s controversial double-act gets a 'fresh, fast and distinctly Irish' makeover, transporting the action to the Easter Rising of 1916.

19 May – 6 August, Shakespeare's Globe. More information and tickets here.