WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Arcola Theatre
WHEN: 23/10 to 14/11
The state of tabloid journalism was tackled most recently in the National’s production of Great Britain but is done so far more vividly and successfully here.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE: National Theatre
WHEN: 17/10, runs to 21/10
We’ve seen three plays written by Patrick Marber this year: the revival of Closer at the Donmar, the non-league football-inspired Red Lion at the National and this Turgenev adaptation at the same venue, which is the most successful.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: Trafalgar Studios 2
WHEN: 15/10 (matinee), runs to 7/11
Trafalgar Studios 2 has to be one of our favourite theatrical spaces – 80 seats packed tightly around a stage makes for an intimate venue.
WORTH A LOOK? Young Vic: *****
The Globe: ****
WHEN: Young Vic 14/10 (matinee), runs to 14/11. The Globe 13/10 (matinee), last performance 17/10
Is Shakespeare’s Measure For Measure a tragedy or a comedy? It’s currently being played in an anarchic, sex doll-laden, rock’n’roll version at the Young Vic and more traditionally at The Globe.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2
WHERE: Almeida Theatre
WHEN: 10/10, runs to 14/11
The best thing about Rachel Cusk’s modern-day take on this Euripides classic is the recasting of the chorus as a group of mothers quite literally left holding their babies as their respective men go about their business.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: King’s Cross Theatre
WHEN: 9/10 (matinee), press night 13/10, runs to 3/1
This musical won four Tonys, had its UK premiere at the Southwark Playhouse last year and returns in 2015 with a mix of old cast and new including former Sugababe and Eurovision star Jade Ewen.
WORTH A LOOK?: **1/2
WHERE: Young Vic (The Maria)
WHEN: runs to 17/10
The most remarkable thing about this revival is the involving way it is staged. At first we see the two former lovers’ faces on screens before us as they sit on a platform above us with their backs to the audience, acting out what we see on screen.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE: Donmar Warehouse
WHEN: 5/10, press night 7/10 runs to 5/12
Gay suicides in US universities are a sensitive subject and one that receives no easy answers or solutions despite a great deal of exploration from all angles here.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2
WHEN: 2/10 runs to 18/10
Looking for something truthful, utterly of the West End yet edgy, heartfelt and celebratory? Look no further than Ushers – the front of house musical.
You may have read recently about plans for a tour by a hologram of Whitney Houston, well here the latest 3D technology and digital media makes it appear as if Dusty Springfield is actually singing before us. The hologram performs three songs and a giant screen means archive footage is also used throughout the production to ensure the image of the actual 60s singing sensation is rarely out of our thoughts.
