London

DADDY COOL
book by Stephen Plaice with Amani Naphtali music by Boney M and Frank Farian

Shaftesbury Theatre To 24h February 2007
Mon-Thu 7.30pm, Fri 5.00 & 8.30pm, Sat 3.00 & 7.30pm
Runs 2hr 25min One interval

TICKETS: 020 7379 5399
Review: Geoff Ambler 22 September

Good moments lost in a muddled show.

Birmingham

GIZMO LOVE,
by John Kolvenbach.

ATC Theatre Company
The Door: Birmingham Repertory Theatre to 23 September 2006
Runs: 1h 15m: no interval
Start: 7.45p.m.

TICKETS: 0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
Review: Jan Pick: 19.9.06.

‘Strangely strange ………. But oddly normal’

Leeds/Birmingham/Tour.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
by Harper Lee adapted by Christopher Sergel.

West Yorkshire Playhouse (Quarry Theatre) To 7 October.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu 1.30pm Sat 2pm.
Audio-described 3 Oct.
BSL Signed 29 Sept.
Captioned 2 Oct.
then Birmingham Repertory Theatre 26 October-18 November 2006.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm except 31 October 7pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm.

Also tour between Leeds and Birmingham dates and subsequently.

Runs 2hr 35min One interval.

TICKETS: 0113 213 7700.
www.wyp.org.uk (Leeds).
0121 236 4455.
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk (Birmingham).
Review: Timothy Ramsden 22 September.

Reliability rather than excitement in adaptation and production.

Bolton

CLEO, CAMPING, EMMANUELLE AND DICK
by Terry Johnson

Octagon Theatre To 14 October 2006
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat 4, 7, 11 Oct 2pm
Audio0described 11 Oct 7.30pm
BSL Signed 12 Oct
Runs 2hr 25min One interval

TICKETS: 01204 520661
www.octagonbolton.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 25 September

Comedy's dark edge, but low on the recognition factor..

Manchester

MARY BARTON
by Elizabeth Gaskell adapted by Rona Munro

Royal Exchange Theatre To 14 October 2006
Mon-Fri 7.30pm Sat 8pm Mat Wed 2.30pm & Sat 4pm
Audio-described 30 Sept 4pm (+ Touch Tour 3pm)
BSL Signed 7 Oct 4pm
Post-show discussion 21Sept
Runs 2hr 45min One interval

TICKETS: 0161 833 9833
www.royalexchange.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 15 September

No doubt here of the author's qualities; but does it make for a drama?

Scarborough/Bwness-on-Windermere/Newcastle-under-Lyme

A ONE MAN PROTEST
(Intimate Exchanges)

by Alan Ayckbourn

The Old Laundry Theatre Bowness-on-Windermere
30 September-2; 13 October 8pm
then New Vic Theatre Newcastle-under-Lyme24-26 October; 3 November 2006 7.30pm
returning to Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough in 2007
Runs 2hr 30min One interval

TICKETS: 015394 88444 ext 223 (Bowness-on-Windermere)
01782 717962
www.newvictheatre.org.uk (Newcastle-under-Lyme
01723 370541
www.sjt.uk.com (Scarborough)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 23 September at Stephen Joseph Theatre

Intimate Exchanges plays Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters 31 May-1 July 2007 www.59e59.org

Hilarity and tragedy wonderfully mixed.

London

AMADEUS
by Peter Shaffer

Wilton’s Music Hall Grace’s Alley, off Ensign Street E1 8JB To 14 October 2006
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 3pm
Runs 2hr 45min One interval

TICKETS: 0870 060 1756
www.ticketweb.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 20 September

Beautiful music, splendid music-hall, imaginative production.

CYMBELINE: based on William Shakespeare
Kneehigh Theatre: www.kneehigh.co.uk
Runs: 2h 45m, one interval
The Swan, Stratford: till 30 September, then touring till 10 February
Review: Rod Dungate, The Swan, 26 September 2006

Quirky; inventive; huge, huge fun – and a conundrum

Manchester

PRIVATE FEARS IN PUBLIC PLACES
by Alan Ayckbourn

Library Theatre To 30 September 2006
Mon-Sat 8pm Mat Thu & Sat 8pm
Audio-described 23 Sept 3pm 28 Sept 8pm
BSL Signed 21 Sept
Captioned 26 Sept
Runs 1hr 45min No interval

TICKETS:0161 236 7110
www.librarytheatre.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 16 September

Human comedy of lives lived in quiet desperation, given a confident production.

Oldham

SWEET CHARITY
by Neil Simon Music by Cy Coleman Lyrics by Dorothy Fields

Coliseum Theatre To 30 September 2006
Tue-Thu; Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm Mat 20, 30 Sept 2.30pm
Audio-described 20 Sept 7.30pm
BSL Signed 21 Sept
Runs 2hr 35min One interval

TICKETS: 0161 624 2829
Review: Timothy Ramsden 16 September

A sttrong sense of big-scale musical builds at Oldham.

Tour

LOSING LOUIS
by Simon Mendes da Costa.

Borderline Theatre Tour to 7 October 2006.
Runs 1hr 45min One interval.
Review: Thelma Good 21 September.

Geographically-adrift production.

London

PARTICULARLY IN THE HEARTLAND
by The TEAM

bac (Studio 1) To 17 September 2006
Tue-Sat 8pm Sun 6pm
Runs 1hr 20min No interval

TICKETS: 020 7223 2223
www.bac.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 27 August at Traverse 2 Edinburgh

Racing-pulse theatre packs some punches.

Tour

THE MAN WITH TWO GAFFERS
by Blake Morrison adapted from Carlo Goldoni

Northern Broadsides Tour to 9 December 2006
Runs 2hr 20min One interval
Review: Timothy Ramsden 26 September at The Lowry Salford

Trouble enough up at t’t’inn
When Northern Broadsides mob drops in.

Scarborough/Bowness-on-Windermere/Newcastle-under-Lyme

EVENTS ON A HOTEL TERRACE
(Intimate Exchanges)
by Alan Ayckbourn

The Old Laundry Theatre Bowness-on-Windermere
27-29 September; 12 October 8pm
then New Vic Theatre Newcastle-under-Lyme
17-19; 28 October, 2 November 2006 7.30pm
returning to Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough in 2007
Runs 2hr 20min One interval

TICKETS: 015394 88444 ext 223 (Bowness-on-Windermere)
01782 717962
www.newvictheatre.org.uk (Newcastle-under-Lyme)
01723 370541
www.sjt.uk.com (Scarborough)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 23 September at Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough

Intimate Exchanges plays Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters 31 May-1 July www.59e59.org

Unhappy marriage works a treat in this fine Intimate Exchange.

Tour

SLAVA'S SNOWSHOW
by Slava Polunin

Tour
Runs 1hr 30min No real interval
Review: Geoff Ambler 26 September at Milton Keynes Theatre (to 30 September)

A magnificent and marvellous evening of distilled clownery of the highest order.

London

A VOYAGE ROUND MY FATHER
by John Mortimer.

Wyndhams Theatre To 16 December 2006.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2.30pm.
Runs 2hr 30min One interval.

TICKETS: 0870 950 0925 (24 hrs).
www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk (£1.50 per ticket for ‘phone/online bookings).
Review: Timothy Ramsden 21 September.

As ideally-produced a portrait of an unideal husband and father as is likely to be found.

SUMMER AND SMOKE
by Tennessee Williams.

Nottingham Playhouse to Saturday 7th October 2006, followed by West End.
7.45 pm. Matinees: Saturday 30th Sept, Thursday 5th October, 13.30,
Audio described performances: Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th October.
Signed interpreted Friday 6th October.
Runs 2hr 35min. One interval

TICKETS: 0115 9419419
www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
Review: Jen Mitchell 28th September 2006

Ever boiling pot of sexuality - lid on, lid off

One of Tennessee Williams lesser performed plays, Summer and Smoke explores his familiar themes of sexuality, repression and longing.

Chichester

THE FATHER
by August Strindberg adapted by Mike Poulton

Minerva Theatre To 30 September 2006
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat 21. 23, 27, 20 Sept 2.15pm
Runs 1hr 45min No interval

TICKETS: 01243 781312
www.cft.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 19 September

Vivid, psychologically compelling revival.

An EMI Treasure Trove opened.

Rod Dungate passes on details of a welcome initiative from EMI on their Classics for Pleasure label.

EMI has launched an intriguing set of plays. Among them are Laurence Oliver playing Archie Rice in the original The Entertainer by John Osborne. Also a recording of the original Birthday Party by Harold Pinter.

Here are some details from EMI’s press release. I’m hoping to review the plays a bit later when I’ve had chance to listen to them. But in case you can’t wait, here are the details . . .

MEASURE FOR MEASURE: William Shakespeare
Peter Hall Company/ Theatre Royal Bath – part of the Complete Works Festival
Runs: 3h, one interval, Stratford Upon Avon till Sat 16, touring
Review: Rod Dungate 14 September

Sound and sensible, but not inspiring