This week sees London theatre put black actors and experiences centre-stage on consecutive nights. Given the current furore of the all-white nominees list for the Oscars, it is refreshing to see that in the theatre, at least — notwithstanding such antique attitudes as Trevor Nunn’s casting last year for The War of the Roses at the Rose in Kingston with an all-white cast for reasons, he stated, of “historical verisimilitude” — we’re able to see a more diverse world being reflected.
This week’s main openings
In London:
- Red Velvet – Garrick Theatre: Adrian Lester reprises his role as 19th-century Shakespearean actor Ira Aldridge in Lolita Chakrabarti’s play, first seen at the Tricycle in 2012, and now finally coming to the West End as part of the Branagh Theatre season, opening tonight (1 February) at the Garrick Theatre.
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – National’s Lyttelton Theatre: Dominic Cooke directs Sharon D Clarke in the title role of August Wilson’s play, returning to the National where it was originally given its British premiere back in 1989, opening in the Lyttelton on 2 February.
- The Master Builder – Old Vic: Matthew Warchus directs Ralph Fiennes in the title role of Ibsen’s play, presented in a new version by David Hare, opening on 3 February. Also in the cast are Broadway actress Linda Emond, James Dreyfus and Sarah Snook.
My top ten shows this week
While Florian Zeller’s The Father is soon to make a return West End date at the Duke of York’s, his earlier play The Mother is currently to be seen at the Tricycle where Gina McKee plays the title role of a middle-aged woman losing her family.
See my review for The Stage here.
My favourite new musical of last year was the stage version of the 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham, featuring the glorious and soaring music of Howard Goodall. It has sadly been announced that it will close on 5 March at the end of the original cast’s contracts, so catch it now – or catch it again, as I intend to, as much as possible in the next few weeks.
See my Stage review here.
Joyful concert revue of Burt Bacharach classics, mashed up and re-made for now, now extended at the Criterion to 14 February, when it gives its final (multiple) performances.
See my Stage review here.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2008 Tony winning Broadway musical returns to London in the exhilarating production first seen at Southwark Playhouse last year, and now at the new Olivier-eligible King’s Cross Theatre, where it is currently booking to 10 April.
See my Stage review here.
5. Les Liaisons Dangereuses
This grimly gripping portrait of human manipulation and sexual game playing casts a dark spell, superbly played by Janet McTeer and Dominic West, at the Donmar Warehouse.
My review for London Theatre Guide is here. It will also be broadcast live to cinemas in the UK and elsewhere in partnership with NT Live this week on Jan 28.
Check out details here on venues it will be screens in.
Originally only booking for a limited season at the Savoy before heading off on a UK tour, the Chichester transfer of the show I consider to be the greatest Broadway musical of all time is now moving to the Phoenix after it ends its run at the Savoy on March 12, to resume performances March 19. A separate company will fulfil the touring obligations.
See my review of the Savoy opening for The Stage here.
The entire run at the Menier (to March 5) is sold out – but it moves to the Savoy next from April 8 (to take over from Guys and Dolls), so book now to see the wonderful Sheridan Smith starring in the first major London revival of Jule Styne’s 1960s musical since its original premiere on Broadway and in the West End featured Barbra Streisand in the title role (as well as in the subsequent film version).
See my review for The Stage here.
My interview with Sheridan Smith for The Stage is here.
The 2006 Broadway musical based on the true story of a reclusive mother and daughter who lived in squalor in an East Hampton mansion and were related to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis receives its London premiere in a production starring the great Sheila Hancock and Jenna Russell, running to February 6.
See my review for The Stage here.
Jamie Lloyd directs an insinuatingly creepy, beautifully acted production of Pinter’s masterpiece about a family battle for possession and control, running at Trafalgar Studios to February 13. The cast features Keith Allen, Gemma Chan, Ron Cook, Gary Kemp, John Macmillan and John Simm.
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Mark Shenton has been a full-time freelance London-based theatre critic and journalist since 2002, and is proud to have co-founded MyTheatreMates with Terri Paaddock. He has variously (and sometimes simultaneously) been chief theatre critic for the Sunday Express, The Stage, WhatsOnStage, What's On in London magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. He has taught at ArtsEd London in Chiswick on musical theatre history since 2012. He was until recently President of the Critics' Circle, and is also on the board of Mercury Musical Developments and the National Student Drama Festival (NSDF). You can follow him on Twitter
@ShentonStage, and on instagram at
@ShentonStage. His personal website is
www.shentonstage.com.
Tags: /hangmen/, adrian lester, Andy Nyman, Bend it Like Beckham, Burt Bacharach, Close to You, David Morrissey, Donmar Warehouse, Florian Zeller, Funny Girl, Gina McKee, Grey Gardens, Guys and Dolls, In the Heights, Include in homepage slide?, Jamie Lloyd, Janet McTeer, Jenna Russell, Johnny Flynn, Laurence Olivier Awards, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Linda Emond, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Mark Shenton, Martin McDonagh, Mates co-founder, Matthew Warchus, Ralph Feinnes, Red Velvet, sharon d clarke, SHEILA HANCOCK, Shenton's Top Ten, ShentonStage, SHERIDAN SMITH, The Homecoming, Top Ten Tickets
Mark Shenton has been a full-time freelance London-based theatre critic and journalist since 2002, and is proud to have co-founded MyTheatreMates with Terri Paaddock. He has variously (and sometimes simultaneously) been chief theatre critic for the Sunday Express, The Stage, WhatsOnStage, What's On in London magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. He has taught at ArtsEd London in Chiswick on musical theatre history since 2012. He was until recently President of the Critics' Circle, and is also on the board of Mercury Musical Developments and the National Student Drama Festival (NSDF). You can follow him on Twitter
@ShentonStage, and on instagram at
@ShentonStage. His personal website is
www.shentonstage.com.
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