London

GAUDEAMUS
by Peter Morris

Arcola Theatre 27 Arcola Street E8 To 15 April 2006
Mon-Sat 8pm Mat Sat 3pm
Runs 2hr 20min One interval

TICKETS: 020 7503 1646
www.arcolatheatre.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 27 March

As good a new play as you could expect to find with performances to match those any theatre could provide.

Liverpool

UNPROTECTED
by Esther Wilson, John Fay, Tony Green, Lizzie Nunnery

Everyman Theatre To 1 April 2006
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat 1 April 2pm
Audio-described 28 March
BSL Signed 29 March
Runs 2hr 20min One interval

TICKETS: 0151 709 4776
www.everymanplayhouse.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 25 March

Outstanding production, examining society and humanity: gripping and unmissable.

Tour

THE GRAND INQUISITOR
from The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoievski adapted by Marie Hélène Estienne
Runs 1hr No interval
Review Hazel Brown 15 March at Nuffield Theatre Southampton

Stillness and intellectual argument distilled into a fascinating hour of theatre.

Tour

MARRYING THE MISTRESS
by Joanna Trollope adapted by David Taylor

Tour to 6 May
Runs 2hr 25min One interval
Review: Hazel Brown 20 February at Lighthouse Poole

Eternal triangle given an interesting twist, but they should have lost the Aga.

Ipswich

PRIVATE LIVES
by Noel Coward

New Wolsey Theatre To 1 April 2006
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat 1 April 2.30pm
Runs 2hr 10min Two intervals

TICKETS: 01473 295900
www.wolseytheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 29 March

Flippancy covers embarrassment in Coward’s load of Sollocks.

Tour

AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE
by Henrik Ibsen

Tara Arts Tour to 27 May 2006
Runs 2hr 30min One interval
Review: Timothy Ramsden 30 March at arts depot Finchley

Illuminating cultural transition which should develop depth on tour.

Leicester

EAST IS EAST
by Ayub Khan-Din

Haymarket Theatre To 1 April 2006
7.30pm Mat Sat 2.30pm
Runs 2hr 30min One interval

TICKETS: 0870 330 3131 (booking fee)
Review Hazel Brown: 11 March 2006 at Lighthouse, Poole

Superb, funny and moving picture of a family with one foot in the East and the other in the West.

London

A KIND OF ALASKA/A SLIGHT ACHE
by Harold Pinter

Gate Theatre To 6 May 2006
Mon-Sat 7.30pm no performance 14, 15 April
BSL Signed 28 April
Runs 1hr 55min One interval

TICKETS: 020 7229 0706
www.gatetheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 1 April

A family split and a family brought together; both with immaculate clarity and economy.

Nottingham

THE WHITE ALBUM
by Michael Pinchbeck from an original concept by Giles Croft

Nottingham Playhouse To 8 April 2006
Tue-Sat 7.45pm Mat 1 April 2.30pm, 6 April 1.30pm
Audio-described 4, 5 April.
BSL Signed 31 March.
Runs 2hr 5min. One interval

TICKETS: 0115 9419419
www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
Review: Jen Mitchell 22nd March 2006

An exciting, challenging, at times confusing journey exploring music, obsession and love, and how all three can inspire, influence and change people's lives.

Exeter

JOKING APART
by Alan Ayckbourn

Northcott Theatre To 8 April 2006
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat 1, 8 April 2.30pm
Audio-described 6 April
Post-show discussion 30 March
Runs from 23 March – 8 April
Running time 2 hours 15 minutes with one interval

TICKETS: 01392 493493
www.northcott-theatre.co.uk
Review: Hazel Brown 23 March 2006

Ayckbourn’s picture of a happy marriage and the havoc it causes makes for a pleasant but pointless evening.

Tour

THE HOLLOW
by Agatha Christie

The Agatha Christie Company Tour to 1 July 2006
Runs 2hrs 35 minutes: One interval

Review Mark Courtice: Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth; 27 March 2006

Cockeyed Set Can't Save Christie Codswallop.

Manchester

THE FLAGS
by Bridget O'Connor

Royal Exchange Studio To 25 March 2006
Mon-Fri 7.30pm Sat 4pm & 8pm
Runs 1hr 55min One interval

TICKETS: 0161 833 9833
www.royalexchange.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 23 March

Downbeat fun at the seaside.

Salisbury

THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL
by Richard Brinsley Sheridan

Salisbury Playhouse To 22 April 2006
Mons-Weds; 7.30pm; Thur – Sat 8pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm
BSL Signed 19 April.
Audio-described 20 Apri 230pm & 8pm
Runs 2hr 45min One Interval

TICKETS: 01722 320333
www.salisburyplayhouse.com
Review Mark Courtice: 31 March

A lesson in how to do it – at Salisbury’s “School”.

Tour

TARTUFFE
by Molière, translated and adapted by Ranjit Bolt

Watermill Theatre Tour to 27 May 2006
Runs 2hr 20min One interval
Review Hazel Brown 29 March 2006 at Lighthouse Poole

A marvellous monster, a witty script and perfect performances – modern Molière at its best.

London

LARKIN WITH WOMEN
by Ben Brown

Orange Tree Theatre To 29 April 2006
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Thu 2.30pm, Sat 4pm
Audio-described 18 April, 22 April 4pm
Post-show discussion after Thursday mats
Saturday seminar: 22 April 11am
Runs 2hr 20min One interval

TICKETS: 020 8940 3633
www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk

Wild laughter in the ever-present throat of death.

London

RUSSIAN NATIONAL MAIL
by Oleg Bogaev translated by Noah Birksted-Breen

BAC (studio 2) To 9 April 2006
Tue-Sat 8.30pm Sun 6.30pm
Runs 1hr 20min No interval

TICKETS: 020 7223 2223
www.bac.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 27 March

Fantasy and reality contrast and collide in a pointed Russian fantasy.

Tour

KENSUKE’S KINGDOM
by Michael Morpurgo adapted by Stuart Paterson.

Birmingham Stage Company Tour to 15 July 20.
Runs 1hr 40min One interval.
Review: Timothy Ramsden 24 March ay Gateway Theatre Chester.

Stay with it: this story grows as it goes on.

PROMISES AND LIES; Music and Lyrics: UB40; Book, Jess Walters; Original idea, John Dixon
Birmingham Rep: 0121 236 4455, www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
Runs: 20 March – 15 April, 2h 20m, one interval
Review: Rod Dungate, 28 March 2006-03-30

Good things, but the whole lacks real impact

London

BEDTIME STORY/THE END OF THE BEGINNING
by Sean O’Casey

Union Theatre 204 Union Street SE1 To 1 April 2006
Tue-Sat 7.30pm
Runs 2hr One interval

TICKETS: 020 7928 6363 (Mon-Fri 10am-2pm, in advance)
020 7261 9876 (on the day)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 28 March

Rare chance to see O’Casey in comic mode, in an adventurous, if not wholly apt staging.

London.

THE OLD COUNTRY
by Alan Bennett.

Trafalgar Studios (Studio 1) To 6 May 2006.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm.
Runs 2hr 25min One interval.

TICKETS: 0870 060 6632 (booking fee).
www.theambassadors.com (booking fee).

Review: Timothy Ramsden 20 March.

A dacha despair: the English abroad living lives of typically quiet desperation.