Theatre News

Opening: London Fringe, Berkoff Tales, State Fair

Amongst the major London openings in the West End and beyond this week are:

OPENING TONIGHT, Monday 2 August 2010, the first-ever London Fringe Festival kicks off, with shows presented at venues across the capital until 27 August. See londonfestivalfringe.com for more info.

ALSO TONIGHT, After the Tone, the debut musical by 18-year-old Oliver Fenwick, premieres at the Bridewell Theatre, where it continue to 14 August.


OPENING TUESDAY, 3 August 2010, Biblical Tales, Steven Berkoff’s 21st-century adaptation of four Old Testament stories, premieres at Hampstead’s New End Theatre (See News, 5 Jul 2010). Until 28 August.

ALSO ON TUESDAY (previews from 2 August), ZIP – A Streetdance Musical, based on work with people affected by gun and knife crime, opens at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre, where it runs to 5 September.


OPENING WEDNESDAY, 4 August 2010 (previews from 3 August), National Youth Music Theatre revives Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd with a 60-strong company at Village Underground, for four nights only.

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY (previews from 3 August), Cyrano de Bergerac is revived at the White Bear Theatre by Black and White Rainbow theatre company. Until 4 September.


OPENING THURSDAY, 5 August 2010 (previews from 3 August), Thom Sutherland’s revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s State Fair, originally a 1945 film musical, transfers to Trafalgar Studios 2 for a month-long run, following its premiere at the Finborough last summer (See News, 30 Apr 2010).

ALSO ON THURSDAY, the month-long Scoop Festival of free theatre  kicks off at More London, with family musical Toad Hall! playing in rep with new play Don Juan in Love (See News, 28 Jul 2010).


OPENING FRIDAY, 6 August 2010, Femme Fatale, Nada D Wiesel’s song cycle about deadly women, opens at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, where it continues to 13 August as part of the Camden Fringe Festival.

ALSO ON FRIDAY, Roger Parlsley and Andy Graham’s adaptation of EM Forster’s Maurice returns to Victoria’s Above the Stag Theatre, directed by Tim McArthur. Until 25 September.