- Caroline, or Change at the Hampstead Theatre
Two highlights for us of last year were the National Theatre’s production of Angels In America by Tony Kushner and Sharon D. Clarke in musical The Life at Southwark Playhouse. This year D. Clarke is in Kushner’s musical Caroline, Or Change set in Louisiana in 1963 which runs 12/3 to 21/4 at Hampstead Theatre. Transferred from Chichester’s Festival Theatre. Tickets
- Read on for reasons including Will Young, Strictly Ballroom, Sigrid and Vanessa Redgrave
2. Will Young in Strictly Ballroom
Will Young may have underwhelmed in Strictly Come Dancing but here appears in the musical version of the film that inspired its name. Runs at the Piccadilly Theatre 29/3 through 21/7. Tickets
3. Sigrid plays Shepherd’s Bush
This 21-year-old Norwegian won the BBC Sound Of Music 2018 and tours the UK 12 to 24/3 including an 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire gig 14/3 where we join her. Tickets
4. Vanessa Redgrave’s Inheritance at the Young Vic
Looking for 2018’s Angels In America? Legend Vanessa Redgrave (reviewed on this site in Richard III, Almeida) stars in the second of this two-part epic running at the Young Vic 2/3 through 19/5 including two-play days. Tickets
5. Macbeth stars Rory Kinnear and Anne-Marie Duff
Kinnear and Duff are West End regulars. Check out this site for Kinnear’s reviews in Young Marx at the Bridge, The Threepenny Opera at this venue and The Trial at the Young Vic. Duff was shortlisted for a Best Actress monsta last year for Heisenberg. Their Macbeth runs 26/2 through 23/6. Tickets
6. Linda Bassett in The Way Of The World
National treasure Linda Bassett stars in William Congreve’s Restoration comedy at the Donmar. We reviewed her last year at the Royal Court in Escaped Alone. Runs 29/3 through 26/5. Tickets
STOP PRESS: Bassett is replaced by Haydn Gwynn, who we sat behind at the National at a performance of Follies late last year.
7. Tracie Bennett gets Ruthless
We shortlisted Tracie Bennett for our Best Performance Of A Song monsta last year for Follies at the National (which won Best Revival last year) and here she joins the cast for Ruthless! The Musical at the more intimate Arts Theatre. Runs 23/3 to 26/6. Tickets
8. Samuel Barnett in the Kiss Of The Spider Woman
We’ve reviewed Barnett here in The Beaux’ Stratagem at the National and he stars here. Runs at the Menier 8/3 to 5/5. Tickets
9. Arinzé Kene plays Misty for us
We didn’t review Girl From The North Country, which originated at the Old Vic before its West End transfer, in which Kene starred, because we felt the story was weak. Kene, who starred in our Best Film of 2016 The Pass, wrote this which runs at the Bush Theatre 15/3 to 21/4. Tickets
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