WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE? Park Theatre RUNTIME: 140 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)
WHEN? 2/11, press night 5/11, runs to 30/11/19
Star Miriam Margolyes may be playing a woman who is housebound and sits predominantly in a wheelchair here but she has a hugely expressive face which leaves us in no doubt about what she is thinking.
WORTH A LOOK?: **1/2
WHERE? Dorfman Theatre, National RUNTIME: 110 minutes without interval
WHEN? 26/10 (matinee), press night 30/10, runs to 23/11/19
We’re at this preview of Annie Baker’s new play set in what appears to be a present-day US writers’ room because it has a mouthwatering ensemble cast.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE? Royal Court Theatre RUNTIME: 85 minutes (no interval)
WHEN? 26/10, press night 28/10, runs to 23/11/19
Owners John Daniel and Noni are not leaving their isolated shop on Bear Ridge despite the lack of custom and instead are reminiscing about the times when people were not divided and used the old language.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
WHERE? Prince Edward Theatre RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including 20-minute interval)
WHEN? 23/10, press night 13/11, runs to 29/3/20
This production is a revival of the show which ran at this very venue for more than three years and closed in January 2008 after winning a Tony and two Oliviers including Best Actress for then-titular star Laura Michelle Kelly.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE? Old Vic RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)
WHEN? 14/10, opens 19/10, runs to 9/11/19
Lungs is a two-hander with barely any scenery by People, Places and Things author Duncan Macmillan about a couple considering starting a family and asking themselves questions including whether it would be an environmentally-friendly decision.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE? New Diorama Theatre RUNTIME: 75 minutes (no interval)
WHEN? 12/10 (matinee), closes 12/10/19
Word reached us from this summer’s Edinburgh Festival that this new musical by Burnt Lemon Theatre was the show to catch.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE? Royal Court RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including 20-minute interval)
WHEN? 4/10, closes 12/10/19
This venue thrives on its reputation as ‘the writers’ theatre’ and the author of these four short plays with single-word titles is 81-year-old Caryl Churchill.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE? Dominion Theatre RUNTIME: 160 minutes (including 20-minute interval)
WHEN? 2/10, closes 2/11/19
Fans of TV’s Strictly Come Dancing are especially well served here by a former winner of the Saturday night ratings hit as the leading man and a finalist as his leading lady.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE? Greenwich Theatre RUNTIME: 130 minutes (including 20-minute interval)
WHEN? press night 30/9, closes 19/10/19 (press ticket)
‘When you change someone’s life, you change your own’, is the sentiment of this European premiere of a show which breaks your heart before helping you to piece it back together again, beautifully.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE? Underbelly Festival RUNTIME: 70 minutes
WHEN? 19/9/19
Cheryl Hole (pictured centre above) thinks Gals Aloud are more likely to be performing together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the formation of Girls Aloud in 2022 than the actual group.
