Theatre News

Opening: Vernon, Knightley Hour, Heretic, Ordinary

Editorial Staff
London's West End Off-West End

Amongst the major London openings, in the West End and further afield, this week are:

OPENING TONIGHT, Monday 7 February 2011 (previews from 27 January), the stage version of DBC Pierre’s Booker-winning novel Vernon God Little, adapted by Tanya Ronder and directed by Rufus Norris, returns to the Young Vic (where it premiered in 2007), for a run to 5 March as part of the theatre’s 40th anniversary season.

ALSO TONIGHT (previews from 6 February), Ulster playwright Stewart Parker’s Northern Star receives its British premiere as part of the Finborough’s RediscoveriesUK season, running Sundays and Mondays to 21 February.

OPENING TUESDAY, 8 February 2011 (previews from 28 January), after its hit run at the Royal Court last year, Bruce Norris’ satire Clybourne Park transfers to the West End’s Wyndham’s Theatre, with Stephen Campbell Moore joining original cast members including Sophie Thompson.

ALSO ON TUESDAY (previews from 1 February), the Landor Theatre presents the 15th anniversary production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Alan Ayckbourn’s musical By Jeeves, based on PG Wodehouse’s stories, running until 5 March.

OPENING WEDNESDAY, 9 February 2011 (previews from 22 January), Keira Knightley and Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss play boarding school teachers accused of a lesbian affair in Ian Rickson’s revival of Lillian Hellman’s The Children’s Hour, running for a limited season at the Comedy Theatre until 30 April.

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, Southwark Playhouse stages the first musical in its 18-year history, a revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company, featuring Siobhan McCarthy and Rupert Young as Bobby, running until 12 March.

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, Sandra Bernhard brings her latest comedy-music gig Whatever It Takes to Leicester Square Theatre for five nights to 13 February.

OPENING THURSDAY, 10 February 2011 (previews from 4 February), Richard Bean’s new play The Heretic, starring Juliet Stevenson as a scientist at odds with the orthodoxy over man-made climate change, premieres at the Royal Court Downstairs, directed by Jeremy Herrin and running to 19 March.

ALSO ON THURSDAY (previews from 8 February), Daniel Boys, Julie Atherton and Alexia Khadime star in Adam Gwon’s coming-of-age musical Ordinary Days at Trafalgar Studios 2, running for four weeks to 5 March.

OPENING FRIDAY, 11 February 2011 (previews from 9 February), Over the Rainbow finalist Lauren Samuels stars in Jason Robert Brown’s song-cycle about marital breakdown The Last Five Years at the Tabard Theatre, running until 5 March.

ALSO ON FRIDAY (previews from 8 February), Waterloo East launches its Wet Rep season, four plays by three playwrights – Anna Jordan’s Bender and ShortStuff, Jo Stokes’ Laundry and Jonathan Bonfiglio’s Tatchell – performed by one company, running until 4 March.