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theatre reviews archive: more theatre reviews |
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Rough Crossings
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Lyric Hammersmith, London
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Rupert Goold directs the stage adaptation of Simon Schama's book about the abolition of the slave trade.
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Romeo And Juliet
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Greenwich Playhouse, London
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A staging of Shakespeare's love play set against a backdrop of Mussolini's Race Law.
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Pure Gold
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Soho Theatre, London
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Money and male pride bring a family close to cracking in Michael Bhim's tense new play.
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Tom Waits For No Man
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Riverside Studios, London
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Stewart D'Arrietta presents his acclaimed cabaret celebrating the music of Tom Waits
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Life After Scandal
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Hampstead Theatre, London
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Caroline Quentin stars as Christine Hamilton in Robin Soans' latest verbatim play.
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Moonwalking in Chinatown
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Soho Theatre, London
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An ambitious and entertaining promenade piece through the busy streets of London's Chinatown.
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Flight Path
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Bush Theatre, London
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David Watson's well observed drama about A levels, older brothers and parental pressure.
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Subway
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Lyric Studio, London
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A seven-piece Kosovan band provide the music in Vanishing Point's dystopian two-hander.
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The Merchant Of Venice
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Arcola Theatre, London
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Julia Pascal's contemporary re-telling of Shakespeare's problematic play.
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A Disappearing Number
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Barbican Theatre, London
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Complicite bring their distinctive theatrical vision to the world of pure maths.
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When Midnight Strikes
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Finborough Theatre, London
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Charles Miller and Kevin Hammond's new musical, set on the night of December 31st, 1999.
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The Years Between
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Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond
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The Orange Tree kicks off its new season with Daphne Du Maurier's Second World War drama.
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The Sexual Neuroses of Our Parents
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Gate Theatre, London
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Carrie Cracknell directs an unsettling study of the sexual awakening of a young woman with learning disabilities.
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Awake And Sing!
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Almeida Theatre, London
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Stockard Channing stars as a Bronx matriarch in Clifford Odets' family drama.
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The Bacchae
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Lyric Hammersmith, London
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Alan Cumming plays Dionysus in the National Theatre of Scotland's visually striking production.
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Venus As A Boy
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Soho Theatre, London
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Luke Sutherland's moving novella, brought to the stage by Tam Dean Burn.
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Yoga Bitch
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Theatre 503, London
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Suzanne Morrison's one-woman show about a yoga training camp in Bali.
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The Confidential Clerk
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Finborough Theatre, London
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T S Eliot's verse play is revived at the Finborough 50 years after its last London production.
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Get Happy!
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King's Head Theatre, London
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Debbie Saloman stars as Judy Garland in an entertaing one-woman show.
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Take Flight
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Menier Chocolate Factory, London
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The Menier stages a new musical about the early pioneers of aviation by David Shire and Richard Maltby Jr.
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Ours
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Finborough Theatre, London
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The Finborough stages a revival of TW Robertson’s play, performed for the first time since 1909.
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Glass Eels
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Hampstead Theatre, London
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A young girl deals with her burgeoning sexuality in Nell Leyshon's new play.
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Baghdad Wedding
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Soho Theatre, London
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Three friends grapple with their sexual, cultural and political identity in Hassan Abdulrazzak's Baghdad-set drama.
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Longwave
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Lyric Studio, London
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Signal to Noise present a two-hander in which two scientists try to make sense of the world.
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Future Me
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Theatre 503, London
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Stephen Brown's unsettling new play explores issues of rehabilitation and forgiveness.
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From The Hart
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New End Theatre, London
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An entertaining musical journey through the life and work of Lorenz Hart.
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Men Without Shadows
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Finborough Theatre, London
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Jean Paul Sartre's infrequently performed existential Second World War thriller.
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Trance
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Bush Theatre, London
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Reality and identity become increasingly blurred in Shoji Kokami's intense three-hander.
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The Christ OF Coldharbour Lane
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Soho Theatre, London
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Oladipo Agboluaje's satirical comedy about a self-styled prophet spreading the word in Brixton.
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Taking Care Of Baby
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Hampstead Theatre, London
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A woman stands accused of killing her two children in Dennis Kelly's powerful new documentary-style play.
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Nakamitsu
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Gate Theatre, London
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The Gate stages Ben Yeoh's award-winning adaptation of the classic noh play.
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Cymbeline
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Barbican Theatre, London
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Cheek by Jowl's intriguing production of Shakespeare's problematic tragedy.
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The Lower Depths
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Finborough Theatre, London
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Phil Willmott directs his new version of Maxim Gorky's drama of poverty and desperation.
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Poprygunya
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Greenwich Playhouse, London
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Art and science battle it out in an engaging new play based on the life and work of Anton Chekhov.
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Feelgood
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Rosemary Branch Theatre, London
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New staging of Alistair Beaton's political satire on the culture of spin.
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Nan
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Orange Tree, Richmond
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The Orange Tree continues its season of rarely staged plays with John Masefield's drama.
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Absolute Beginners
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Lyric Hammersmith, London
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Liam Steel directs a stage version of Colin MacInnes' novel of 1950s London.
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Elling
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Bush Theatre, London
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John Simm excels in an odd couple comedy based on a cult Norwegian film.
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Coriolanus
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Barbican Theatre, London
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Samurai-inspired staging of Shakespeare by the Ninagawa Theatre Company.
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All Mouth
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Menier Chocolate Factory, London
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Jonathan Lewis and Miranda Foster's comedy set in the world of voice-over recording artists.
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Tapestry
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Greenwich Playhouse, London
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Amanda Fawsett's catharthic black comedy, staged by the graduate students of the GSA Conservatoire.
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Called To Account
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Tricycle Theatre, London
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The latest of the Tricyle Theatre's 'tribunal' plays puts Tony Blair on trial.
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The Importance Of Being Earnest
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Jermyn Street Theatre, London
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Solid staging of Oscar Wilde's sparkling comedy by fringe company Antic Disposition.
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Menopause The Musical
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Shaw Theatre, London
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Hot flushes and night sweats abound as the globally successful musical arrives in London.
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Aalst
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Soho Theatre, London
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The National Theatre of Scotland's intense production about an unthinkable crime comes to London.
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Spread
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Greenwich Playhouse, London
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An entertaining exploration of women's complex relationship with food by Hourglass Theatre.
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Total Eclipse
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Menier Chocolate Factory, London
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Revival of Christopher Hampton's drama about the relationship between poets Rimbaud and Verlaine.
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Blame
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Arcola Theatre, London
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Beatrix Campbell and Judith Jones's drama tackles issues of poverty and powerlessness.
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Little Shop Of Horrors
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Duke Of York's Theatre, London
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The Menier Chocolate Factory's production of the cult musical transfers to the West End.
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The Entertainer
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Old Vic, London
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Robert Lindsay plays faded music hall star Archie Rice in John Osborne's still-powerful play.
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Generations
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Young Vic, London
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Debbie Tucker Green's short but powerful new play is a lyrical study of a South African family.
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Equus
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Gielgud Theatre, London
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Finally, after all the hype, Daniel Radcliffe makes his West End debut in Peter Shaffer's disturbing drama.
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The Soldier's Fortune
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Young Vic, London
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Anne-Marie Duff and David Bamber star in a revival of Thomas Otway's bawdy Restoration comedy.
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The Reporter
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National Theatre, London
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Ben Chaplin stars as BBC correspondent James Mossman at the National.
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John Gabriel Borkman
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Donmar Warehouse, London
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Michael Grandage directs David Eldridge's powerful adaptation of the Ibsen drama.
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Boeing Boeing
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Comedy Theatre, London
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Mark Rylance and Frances de la Tour star in a revival of the French farce.
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The Dumb Waiter
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Trafalgar Studios, London
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Lee Evans and Jason Isaacs star in Harold Pinter's sinister two-hander.
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The Man Of Mode
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National Theatre, London
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Nicholas Hytner directs an updated version of George Etherege's Restoration comedy.
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Relative Values
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Greenwich Playhouse, London
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Showdon'ttell theatre stage Noel Coward's sparkling social comedy.
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La Dispute/Scenes Of Love
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Plesance Theatre, London
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Big Brother meets Marivaux meets Shakespeare in this Anglo-French production.
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A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Roundhouse, London
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Tim Supple's Indian cast perform Shakespeare's comedy - in eight languages.
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Platonov
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Barbican Theatre, London
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The Maly Theatre of St Petersburg bring their production of Chekhov's early play to London.
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Plunder
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Greenwich Theatre, London
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The Watermill's production of Ben Travers' Aldwych farce transfers to London.
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King of Hearts
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Hampstead Theatre, London
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Royal weddings and political back-stabbing feature in Alistair Beaton's topical farce.
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Mr Sole Abode
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Lyric Studio, London
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Leo Kay stars in an inventive devised piece about urban overload and the need for escape.
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Venus And Adonis
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Little Angel Theatre, London
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Gregory Doran's magical staging of Shakespeare's poem - with puppets.
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The Skin Game
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Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond
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Old Money and New Money family values collide in a staging of John Galsworthy's drama.
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Thankfully There Is Moonlight!
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Greenwich Playhouse, London
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The Galleon Theatre Company stages Portuguese playwright Sttau Monteiro’s political drama.
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Love Child
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Finborough Theatre, London
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Joanna Murray-Smith's moving two-hander concludes the Finborough's new plays season.
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Diana Of Dobson's
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Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond
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The Orange Tree continues its ambitious season of Edwardian social drama.
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Strassman
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Pleasance Theatre, London
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Ventriloquist David Strassman brings his new show to North London's Pleasance.
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An Oak Tree
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Soho Theatre, London
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Tim Crouch's experimental new two-hander features a different actor every night.
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Pinter's People
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Theatre Royal Haymarket, London
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Bill Bailey, Kevin Eldon and Sally Phillips star in a series of Harold Pinter's comic sketches.
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Ramayana
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Hammersmith Lyric, London
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David Farr brings the epic story of Rama and Sita to the stage.
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The War Next Door
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Tricycle Theatre, London
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Tamsin Oglesby's new play explores issues of conflict, domestic and otherwise.
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Nothing But The Truth
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Hampstead Theatre, London
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South African playwright John Kani's moving post Apartheid drama.
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Fanny And Faggot
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Finborough Theatre, London
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Jack Thorne's new play tackles the story of the Mary Bell murders.
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A Model Girl
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Greenwich Theatre, London
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Emma Williams stars in a new musical exploration of the Profumo Affair.
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The Receipt
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Lyric Studio, London
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Will Adamsdale and Chris Branch dissect modern urban living in this inventive comedy.
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Chasing The Moment
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Arcola Theatre, London
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Music takes centre stage in Jack Shepherd's atmospheric drama set in an East London jazz club.
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Happy Days
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National Theatre, London
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Deborah Warner directs Fiona Shaw in Samuel Beckett’s study of existentialist angst.
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The Atheist
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Theatre 503, London
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A foul-mouthed journalist with a tall tale to tell features in Ronan Noone's misanthropic monologue.
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Blasted
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Soho Theatre, London
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A new staging of Sarah Kane's intense and brutal three-hander by the Graeae Theatre Company.
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Cymbeline
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Lyric Hammersmith, London
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Kneehigh's energetic and inventive staging of Shakespeare's tragicomedy.
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Product: World Remix/What Would Judas Do?
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Bush Theatre, London
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Double-header of controversial monologues penned and performed by Mark Ravenhill and Stewart Lee
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Antony and Cleopatra
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Novello Theatre, London
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Patrick Stewart and Harriet Walter shine in Shakespeare's tragedy at the Novello.
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Bash: Latterday Plays
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Trafalgar Studios, London
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Juliet Rylance stars in a revival of this trio of early plays by Neil LaBute.
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Much Ado About Nothing
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Novello Theatre, London
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Tamsin Greig stars in the RSC's entertaining Cuban set staging of Shakespeare's comedy.
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Coram Boy
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National Theatre, London
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Melly Still's dark seasonal production returns to the National for a second run.
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Waves
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National Theatre, London
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Katie Mitchell adapts Virginia Woolf's complex novel for the stage.
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Drunk Enough To Say I Love You?
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Royal Court, London
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The Royal Court continues its 50th anniversary celebrations with Caryl Churchill's latest.
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GBS
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Theatre 503, London
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A father's illness causes two brothers to reunite in Jason Hall's tender but comic two-hander.
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The Glass Room
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Hampstead Theatre, London
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Ryan Craig's issue-laden drama about a human rights lawyer defending an infamous academic.
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Not About Heroes
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Trafalgar Studios, London
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Revival of Stephen Macdonald's moving study of the friendship between war poets Sassoon and Owen.
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Soul-etude
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Old Abattoir, London
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Site specific performance piece, part of Riverside Studios' Feast of Eastern European Theatre.
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The Mouse Queen
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Unicorn Theatre, London
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An original and exciting show for children at the Unicorn Theatre pulls no punches.
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Orestes
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Tricycle, London
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Shared Experience bring Euriprides to the stage in a visceral production by Nancy Meckler.
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pool (no water)
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Lyric Hammersmith, London
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Renowned physical theatre company Frantic Assembly tackle Mark Ravenhill's play of artistic jealousy.
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Major Barbara
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Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, Surrey
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The Orange Tree Theatre continues its celebration of the works of George Bernard Shaw.
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Boys Plays
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Barons Court, London
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"Two homoerotic tales of hero worship" by Jack Heifner and Howard Walters, produced by Shamelessboyz.
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Krapp's Last Tape
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Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court, London
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Harold Pinter stars in the Samuel Beckett play as part of the Royal Court's 50th Anniversary celebrations.
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Seduced
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Finborough, London
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Michael Kingsbury directs his own play about the merits or otherwise of swinging.
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Faust
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21 Wapping Lane, London
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Site specific specialists Punchdrunk work their magic in an East London warehouse.
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King Lear
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Barbican, London
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The acclaimed St Petersburg Maly theatre company bring their version on the Bard's greatest tragedy to London.
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Metamorphosis
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Lyric Hammersmith, London
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Kafka's most famous work, with music by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.
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Piano/Forte
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Royal Court, London
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Terry Johnson's sensationalist new play with Alicia Witt and Kelly Reilly.
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How To Live
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Barbican Theatre, London
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Performance artist Bobby Baker shares the stage with a pea at the Barbican.
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Fabulation
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Tricycle Theatre, London
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The ups and downs of a New York PR diva in a fast-paced new play at the Tricycle Theatre.
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Amadeus
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Wilton's Music Hall, London
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Peter Shaffer's play about Mozart and Salieri is revived at Wilton's Music Hall.
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Pumpgirl
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Bush Theatre, London
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Abbie Spallen's new play at the Bush, set in a border town in Northern Ireland.
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The Madras House
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Orange Tree, Richmond
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Harley Granville Barker's turn-of-the-century drama at The Orange Tree Theatre.
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Between Worlds
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Union Theatre, London
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A new play at Union Theatre set in a bureaucratic halfway station between life and death.
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Yerma
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Arcola Theatre, London
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Kathryn Hunter stars as the tragic heroine in a revival of Lorca's classic play.
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On The Third Day
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New Ambassadors Theatre, London
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Kate Betts makes her West End debut with the winning entry in The Play's The Thing.
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Beautiful Thing
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Sound Theatre, London
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Jonathan Harvey's gay coming-of-age romance returns to central London.
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The Last Five Years
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Menier Chocolate Factory, London
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Jason Robert Brown's clever two-way song cycle depicts a marriage in decline.
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Under The Black Flag
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Shakespeare's Globe, London
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Simon Bent's new play depicts the early life of Long John Silver - before he lost his leg.
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The Representative
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Finborough Theatre, London
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The Finborough continues its ambitious Rediscoveries season with Rolf Hochhuth's drama.
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Fuerzabruta
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Roundhouse, London
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The famous London venue reopens with a spectacular new show from Argentine troupe De La Guarda.
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Oblomov's Dream
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Jermyn Street Theatre, London
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Australian playwright Julia Britton adapts Ivan Goncharov's novel of apathy for the stage.
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Woyzeck
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Barbican Theatre, London
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Iceland's Vesturport Theatre return to the Barbican with an energetic version of Georg Buchner's tragedy.
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The Bee
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Soho Theatre, London
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Kathryn Hunter stars in Hideki Noda's Japanese revenge drama.
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Blowing Whistles
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Sound Theatre, London
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Relationships in the age of Gaydar explored in Matthew Todd's comedy.
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A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Barbican Theatre, London
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Inventive Korean production of Shakespeare's comedy by the Yohangza theatre company.
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Woman And Scarecrow
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Royal Court, London
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Fiona Shaw stars in Marina Carr's lyrical drama about a woman facing death.
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No Exit (Huis Clos)
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Landor Theatre, London
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A stifling staging of Jean Paul Sartre's 1944 vision of hell by the Chelsea Players.
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Show Boat
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Royal Albert Hall, London
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Spectacular in-the-round staging of Kern and Hammerstein's musical.
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The Seagull
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National Theatre, London
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Katie Mitchell directs Juliet Stevenson and Ben Whishaw in a pared down staging of Chekhov's drama.
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Market Boy
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National Theatre, London
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Rufus Norris directs David Eldridge's big, brash comedy of 1980s excess.
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Twelfth Night
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Barbican Theatre, London
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Cheek By Jowl's superb production - performed by an all-male troupe of Russian actors.
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Cruising
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Bush Theatre, London
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Slight but entertaining verbatim production about old people looking for love.
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Dido, Queen Of Carthage
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The Chapel of the House of St Barnabas, London
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Inventive production of Marlowe's tragedy by site specific specialists Angels in the Architecture.
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