Theatre News

Opening: Women, Essex’s Fair, Reynolds, Macbeth

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

OPENING TUESDAY, 27 April 2010 (previews from 20 April), Marianne Elliott directs Thomas Middleton’s 1657 Jacobean tragedy Women Beware Women at the National’s Oliver as part of the Travelex £10 Tickets Season, with a cast including Harriet Walter and Samuel Barnett. It continues in rep until 4 July.

ALSO ON TUESDAY, Peter Brook’s 11 & 12 comes to the Rose Theatre, Kingston for a week-long run as part of its international tour.

ALSO ON TUESDAY, Trevor Griffiths‘ 1969 debut play The Wages of Thin gets a rare revival at the Old Red Lion, where it runs until 15 May.


OPENING WEDNESDAY, 28 April 2010 (previews from 17 April), seventies pop pin-up David Essex stars in his self-penned musical All the Fun of the Fair, which features many of his greatest hits, at the Garrick Theatre (See News, 8 Dec 2009).

** DON’T MISS our special offer on preview tickets to ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR for just £35 (usually £49.50) – click here for details! **

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY (previews from 17 April), Britain’s Got Bhangra, which has music by “beat guru” Sumeet Chopra and is billed as “the first British Bhangra musical”, premieres at Theatre Royal Stratford East before touring (See News, 23 Mar 2010).

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY (previews from 27 April), Huck, adapted by James Graham from Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is brought “crashing onto the stage” by award-winning theatre company Shapeshifter, for ages 8+. Until 15 May.


OPENING THURSDAY, 29 April 2010 (previews from 28 April), MGM legend Debbie Reynolds celebrates 50 years in showbusiness in her one-woman show Debbie Reynolds – Alive and Fabulous at the Apollo Theatre (See News, 13 Nov 2009).

** DON’T MISS the chance to get top-price tickets to DEBBIE REYNOLDS ALIVE AND FABULOUS for just £35 (usually £49.50) – click here for details! **

ALSO ON THURSDAY (previews from 23 April), Elliot Cowan plays the title role in Macbeth at Shakespeare’s Globe, directed by Lucy Bailey. Cowan, recently seen in the Donmar’s award-winning revival of A Streetcar Named Desire, stars alongside Globe regular Laura Rogers as Lady Macbeth, in a production that features the choreography of Olivier Award-winner Javier De Frutos (Cabaret). In rep until 27 June.

ALSO ON THURSDAY (previews from 27 April), Janet Suzman leads the cast in the European premiere of South African Craig Higginson’s Dream of the Dog at the Finborough Theatre, directed by Katie McAleese. Until 22 May.

ALSO ON THURSDAY (previews from 27 April), Sarah Henley’s Getting Away opens at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre, following the success of last year’s Getting Out. Until 22 May 2010.

ALSO ON THURSDAY (previews from 28 April), Montreal-based troupe The 7 Fingers returns to the Peacock Theatre with the UK premiere of a new circus show, Psy, running until 15 May.

ALSO ON THURSDAY (previews from 27 April), Southwark’s Union Theatre stages Ernest Hall’s new play Liars’ Market, centring on the lives of four individuals living and working in post WWII Bradford. Until 15 May.

ALSO ON THURSDAY, Howard Barker‘s new play Hurts Given and Received is presented by The Wrestling School at Riverside Studios as part of the venue’s mini festival of Barker’s work (See News, 9 Apr 2010). Until 9 May.

ALSO ON THURSDAY (previews from 27 April), Tom Wells’ Me, as a Penguin launches a national tour from the Arcola Theatre, where it runs until 22 May.


OPENING FRIDAY, 1 May 2010 (previews from 26 April), Dirty White Boy – Tales of Soho, adapted by Clayton Littlewood from his blog and book of the same name, opens at Trafalgar Studios 2. Based on his experience of running an Old Compton Street clothes shop, Littlewood stars alongside David Benson, with direction by Phil Willmott. Until 22 May.


OPENING SUNDAY, 2 May 2010, The Night of 1000 Voices concert at the Royal Albert Hall this year is dedicated to Stephen Sondheim, with Philip Quast, Kerry Ellis and Adam Pascal amongst those singing to celebrate the American composer/lyricist’s 80th birthday (See News, 11 Feb 2010).