Highlights: May's London theatre news, casting, highs, lows and a Q shaped celeb spot
02/06/2018
Theatre stuff that caught my eye
* Director Jamie Lloyd is back with more Pinter (at the Pinter). It's a season of the one-act plays with a cast including Tamsin Greig, Danny Dyer, Jane Horrocks and Martin Freeman and will run at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 6 September through to January 23. Directors joining Jamie Lloyd include Lia Williams, Patrick Marber and Lindsay Turner.
Southwark Playhouse's new venue at Elephant & Castle. Photo: Rev Stan on Instagram
* Southwark Playhouse is to get not one but two new homes from 2019. Its current spot in Elephant & Castle is hopefully the last of a string of temporary homes but as well as having a venue back under the arches at London Bridge, it's previous home, it will have a brand new theatre in Elephant. In order to secure these permanent homes the theatre needs to raise some more cash - and in return for a donation, you get the chance to have your name or other message inscribed on the wall. Dig deep.
* The Young Vic's rather brilliant production of The Inheritance gets a well deserved West End transfer. It opens at the Noel Coward Theatre Sep 21 until Jan 5.
* Andrew Scott returns to the stage with Simon Stephens superb Sea Wall. This time it has a two week run at the Old Vic from Jun 19. It is a punch in the guts short play (30 minutes) with a breathtaking performance by Scott. Need more convincing? Here's what I wrote about Sea Wall when it had its last short run at the NT's The Shed back in 2013.
* Lenny Henry is back on stage next year (still fangirling after shaking his hand during Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui). This time he's heading to Theatre Royal Stratford East to star in a production of August Wilson's King Hedley II which opens May 17.
Theatre highlight: The Inheritance, Young Vic. Photo: Rev Stan on Instagram
* The King's Head Theatre in Islington has launched a new playwriting season Playmill. It's a chance to see the best-emerging companies performing new works from comedies, dramas and musicals. It runs for three weeks from Jul 3.
Celeb spots
The Inheritance attracted a good haul, I sat behind Richard Wilson and Rufus Norris was in the row behind. My spies tell me Ben Whishaw (Q) was also in the audience during its final week. And then at the National Theatre Prasanna Puwanrajah was spotted front of house before a performance of Absolute Hell.
Theatre highs
The Inheritance, naturally, and from the crop of circus shows at Underbelly I'd thoroughly recommend Circolombia.
Theatre lows
Wasn't particularly taken with Barney Norris' new play Nightfall at Bridge Theatre. I didn't have time to write a proper review but I think the key problem was that I wasn't convinced by any of the characters.
Three things I'm looking forward to
In June I'm particularly excited about seeing An Octoroon at the National Theatre, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at the Donmar Warehouse and Sea Wall at the Old Vic.