By Aline Mahrud
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2 RUNTIME: 100 minutes (no interval)
WHEN?: 5 August, opens 9 August and runs through 7 October 2023
Clinical psychiatrists Dr Lorna James and Dr Toby Sealey are setting up a trial to discover whether they have found a ‘Viagra for the heart’.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHEN?: Saturday 29 July, opens 5 August runs through 16 September 2023 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval) UPDATE: now running until 23 September 2023
Close your eyes and this 40th anniversary revival of the classic musical comedy could almost be set not on the French Riveria but in a rundown British seaside town that’s seen better days.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 80 minutes (no interval)
WHEN?: Saturday 1 July (matinee), runs through 22 July 2023
There are 2 moments during this monologue when Will Young as grieving hedge manager Willem interacts remarkably and seamlessly with his enrapt audience
By Aline Mahrud
WORTH A LOOK?: *** RUNTIME: 125 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)
WHEN?: Saturday 8 July, opens Thursday 13 July runs through 5 August 2023 (public ticket)
The rise of Artifical Intelligence has fuelled fears that it could wipe out humanity or, at the very least, threaten our jobs and so AI as a topic for theatre couldn’t be more now.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Saturday 1 July (matinee), runs through 20 January 2024 RUNTIME: 165 minutes (including a 20-minute interval) Update: now closing 31 December 2023
Channelling Michael Crawford as Frank Spencer, Norman Wisdom and Tommy Steele, Blackheath’s Charlie Stemp is an unconventional leading man although he was nominated for a Best Actor in a Musical Olivier for Half A Sixpence.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
WHEN?: Friday 30 June, runs through 2 September 2023 RUNTIME: 145 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
Returning Doctor Who David Tennant (Good, Harold Pinter Theatre) played writer Katurian in the original National Theatre production of this Martin McDonagh play and much has been made of the gender swap of this role now played by Lily Allen (2.22 A Ghost Story, Noel Coward Theatre).
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHEN?: Monday 26 June, runs through 9 September 2023 RUNTIME: 100 minutes (no interval)
‘The Bible says homosexuality is worse than murder,’ the mother of our hero, Usher, tells him three-quarters of the way through this 2 Tony-winning musical.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHEN?: Tuesday 13 June, runs through 11 August 2023 RUNTIME: 180 minutes (including a 20-minute interval) BREAKING: This production transfers to the Prince Edward Theatre 9 October through 13 January 2024 Tickets
Can it really be true that England’s football team are the ‘premature ejaculators’ of penalty taking and the quick speed with which they take them corresponds directly to their lack of success?
By Aline Mahrud
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHEN?: Saturday 10 June, opens 22 June and runs through 13 January 2024 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
There are 2 memorable songs in this new musical based on the 1993 film which starred the late Robin Williams as an out of work voice actor who poses as Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire to be closer to his 3 children during a messy divorce.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Friday 9 June, opens 14 June and runs through 29 July 2023 RUNTIME: 120 minutes (no interval)
Candles burn and flicker against the brick back wall of this beautiful intimate venue and we’re reminded why director Rebecca Frecknall has been shortlisted as best director in 3 of the last 5 Olivier Awards.
