THEATRE
By Benedict Nightingale
LIPSYNCH
The great Quebecois auteur Robert Lepage returns to London with a nine-hour
epic.
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2 (www.barbican.org.uk
0845 1207500), opens Sept 1
RAIN MAN
Josh Hartnett joins Adam Godley in an adaptation of the Cruise/Hoffman film.
Apollo, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1 (www.rainmanonstage.com
0844 4124658), opens Sept 9
KICKING A DEAD HORSE
The British premiere of Sam Shepard’s play about a Manhattan art dealer
searching for authenticity in the Wild West.
Almeida, Almeida Street, London N1 (www.almeida.co.uk
020-7359 4404), opens Sept 10
IVANOV
The Donmar’s year-long residence in the West End launches with Kenneth Branagh
as the title character in Tom Stoppard’s translation of early Chekhov.
Wyndhams, Charing Cross Road, London WC2 (www.donmarwestend.com
0844 4825120), opens Sept 17
RIFLEMIND
Philip Seymour Hoffman directs John Hannah and Paul Hilton in the European
premiere of Andrew Upton’s play about the reunion of a once- famous rock
band.
Trafalgar Studios, 14 Whitehall, London SW1 (www.officiallon-dontheatre.co.uk
0870 0606632), opens Sept 18
ARISTO
Robert Lindsay, Elizabeth McGovern and Diana Quick are Aristotle Onassis,
Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas in Martin Sherman’s play about the famous
Greek/American love triangle.
Minerva, Oaklands Park, Chichester (www.cft.org.uk
01243 781312), opens Sept 25
THE NORMAN CONQUESTS
Matthew Warchus stages a major revival of Alan Ayckbourn’s imaginative trilogy
of comedies, starring Amanda Root.
Old Vic, The Cut, London SE1 (www.oldvictheatre.com
0870 0606628), opens Oct 6
NO MAN’S LAND
Michael Gambon plays the wealthy alcoholic and David Bradley the man who tries
to exploit him in Harold Pinter’s tantalising play.
Duke of York’s, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2 (www.nml-westend.com
0870 0606623), opens Oct 7
OEDIPUS
Ralph Fiennes finds that he’s not only a road-rage lunatic but an incestuous
patricide in Jonathan Kent’s revival of Sophocles.
Olivier, National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 (www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
020-7452 3000), opens Oct 15
COMEDY
By Dominic Maxwell
LEE EVANS – BIG
The physical observational comic returns to play a series of mind-bogglingly
big gigs around the country.
Nottingham Arena (www.offthekerb.co.uk
0870 1210123), Sept 2-Nov 19, then on nationwide tour
DOUG STANHOPE
After failing in his bid to become American president, the brilliant American
comic downsizes his ambitions for these first British dates for two years.
Widcome Social Club, Bath (www.dougstanhope.com
01225 425076), Sept 10, then on nationwide tour
THE MIGHTY BOOSH
They’re the comedy double act with a rock-star following: so the arena tour
was inevitable. Expect all the characters from the television show, plus the
Mighty Boosh band.
Edinburgh Festival Theatre (www.themightyboosh.com
0131-529 6000), Sept 11, then on nationwide tour
PETE FIRMAN: FLIMFLAM
He put on one of the most purely enjoyable shows at Edinburgh this year – now
the magician takes his deft mix of comedy and illusions on the road.
The Stand, Edinburgh (www.petefirman.co.uk
0131-558 7272), Sept 16, then on nationwide tour
RUSSELL HOWARD: DINGLEDODIES
His unfailingly fluent appearances on Mock the Week have turned the
boyish West Country comic from a Fringe favourite into a nationwide name.
Leeds City Varieties (www.russell-howard.co.uk
0113-243 0808), Sept 18, then on nationwide tour
STEVE COOGAN . . . AS ALAN PARTRIDGE AND OTHER LESS SUCCESSFUL CHARACTERS
The Peter Sellers of the 21st century returns.
Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent (www.ticketzone.co.uk
0870 0606649), Oct 1, then on nationwide tour
FRENCH AND SAUNDERS – STILL ALIVE
Their last ever London run, so they say. Expect old material and some new as
they wave goodbye to their days of sketch comedy.
Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine Street, London WC2 (www.theatre-royal.com
0870 8906002), Oct 15-Nov 8
ROSEANNE BARR
A London debut for the American sitcom queen.
Leicester Square Theatre, London WC2 (www.leicestersquaretheatre.com
0844 8472475), Oct 21 & 22
SIMON DAY: WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES
Him off The Fast Show – Tommy Cockles, Dave Angel: Eco Warrior etc –
mounts his first solo stand-up tour.
Salford Lowry (tinyurl.com/6bt68q
0870 1112000), Nov 8, then on nationwide tour
JOHN SHUTTLEWORTH: THE MINOR TOUR (AND OTHER MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES)
The character comic Graham Fellows – aka Jilted John, Brian Appleton, Dave
Tordoff – returns.
Pocklington Arts Centre (www.shuttleworths.co.uk
01759 301547), Nov 6, then on nationwide tour
OPERA
By Neil Fisher
LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST
Eva-Maria Westbroek returns to the Royal Opera House as the feisty heroine of
Puccini’s gold-rush era romp.
Royal Opera House, Bow Street, London WC2 (www.royaloperahouse.org
020-7304 4000), opens Sept 16
OTELLO
Local hero Dennis O’Neill returns to Welsh National Opera to sing the title
role in Verdi’s late tragedy.
Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff (www.wno.org.uk
0870 0402000), Sept 19-Oct 11, then touring
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA & PAGLIACCI
The verismo twosome returns with new libretti by the poet Sean O’Brien (Cavalleria)
and the playwright Lee Hall (Pagliacci).
London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2 (www.eno.org
0870 1450200), opens Sept 20
LA CALISTO
Take one virginal nymph and one randy God and you have the saucy plot of
Cavalli’s 17th-century opera.
Royal Opera House (details above), opens Sept 23
OF THEE I SING
George and Ira Gershwin’s musical gets a timely revival as America elects its
next president.
Grand Theatre, Leeds (www.operanorth.co.uk,
0844 8482717), opens Oct 4, then touring
PARTENOPE
A new production by Christopher Alden, which boasts Rosemary Joshua in the
title role.
London Coliseum (details above), opens Oct 9
LE TRAGEDIE DE CARMEN/RUSALKA
English Touring Opera return with a double bill of Bizet and Dvorák.
Hackney Empire, London E8 (www.englishtouringopera.org.uk
020-8985 2424), Oct 9-11, then touring
HANSEL AND GRETEL
The first revival of Laurent Pelly’s Glyndebourne production stars the veteran
mezzo Sally Burgess as the ravenous witch.
Glyndebourne, Lewes (www.glyndebourne.com
01273 813813), opens Oct 25, then on nationwide tour
FOR YOU
Michael Berkeley and Ian McEwan’s new opera promises us a deep exploration of
the corrosive power of sexual jealousy.
Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House (details above), Oct 28-Nov 2
LA TRAVIATA
David McVicar said he didn’t like Verdi’s weepie, but here comes his new
production with Carmen Giannattasio playing the doomed heroine.
Theatre Royal, Hope Street, Glasgow (www.scottishopera.org.uk
0141-331 1234), opens Oct 30, then touring
DANCE
By Debra Craine
A TALE OF TWO CITIES
The choreographer Cathy Marston adapts Charles Dickens’s novel for the ballet
stage.
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds (www.northernballettheatre.co.uk
0113-213 7700) Aug 30-Sept 6
LES BALLETS TROCKADERO
“The Trocks”, ballet’s favourite comedians, return to London.
Peacock Theatre, London WC2 (www.sadlerswells.com
0844 8710090), Sept 16-Oct 4
RAMBERT DANCE COMPANY
Rambert presents the world premiere of a new work by artistic director Mark
Baldwin, featuring a specially commissioned score by Howard Goodall.
The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays (www.thelowry.com
0870 7875780), Sept 25-27, then on nationwide tour
MERCE CUNNINGHAM
Cunningham brings his company to London to showcase his latest creation, with
designs by Robert Rauschenberg and music by John Cage. Barbican Theatre,
London EC2 (www.barbican.org.uk
0845 1207553), Sept 30-Oct 4
RICHARD ALSTON
Alston celebrates his 60th birthday and his 40th anniversary as a
choreographer with two new works.
Sadler’s Wells, London EC1 (www.sadlerswells.com
0844 8710090), Oct 2-3
SWAN LAKE
The Royal Ballet season opens with Anthony Dowell’s handsome production.
Royal Opera House (details above), opens Oct 4
MARIINSKY BALLET
Formerly known as the Kirov, St Petersburg’s great company comes to London
with two modern programmes highlighting the work of William Forsythe, Alexei
Ratmansky and George Balanchine.
Sadler’s Wells (details above), Oct 13-16
MANON
English National Ballet kicks off its new season with Kenneth MacMillan’s
steamy full-length ballet (which is also being performed by the Royal in
October).
Bristol Hippodrome (www.ballet.org.uk
0844 8471735), Oct 22-26
OVERTURE 2012
The Dance Umbrella finale is a special event in which 120 dancers will take
part in a monumental production set to Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony.
Royal Albert Hall, London SW7 (www.royalalberthall.com
020-7589 8212), Nov 1-2
ROMEO AND JULIET
Bring an open mind along for Mark Morris’s contemporary dance rethink of the
Bard.
Barbican Theatre (details above), Nov 5-8
— LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST
Having proved himself far more than a bug-eyed space lord with his Hamlet,
David Tennant continues his stint with the RSC by playing the witty Berowne
in Shakespeare’s exquisite comedy.
Courtyard Theatre, Southern Lane, Stratford-on-Avon (www.rsc.org.uk
0844 8001110), opens Oct 8
In my role as amateur critic I would say I have just seen the play of the year at Windsor! 'An Ideal Husband' by Oscar Wilde saw a distinguished cast offering a powerful performance that riveted the audience to their seats for almost 3 hours. Kate O'Mara& Fenella Fielding were impeccable.....more
Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England
.....Tony Britton brought quiet sophistication whilst Robert Duncan's often Churchillian like style and unique comic timing always lights up the stage. Carol Royle and Michael Praed complimented the dynamic of this typically British classic!
(That's it folks back to the family law column)
Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England