London

PORGY AND BESS
by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, Ira and Ira Gershwin adapted by Trevor Nunn.

Savoy Theatre To 5 May 2007.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2.30pm (to 7 April).
from 9 April Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat Tue, Thur, Sat 2.30pm.
Runs 2hr 55min One interval.

TICKETS: 0870 164 8787.
www.porgyandbess.co.uk (£3 transaction fee by ‘phone & online).
Review: Timothy Ramsden 21 November.

Reduced circumstances can’t stifle this story and its score.

London

YOUNG WOODLEY
by John Van Druten

Finborough Theatre 118 Finborough Road SW10 9ED
22, 24 Nov 8pm 25 Nov 3pm
Runs 2hr 10min Two intervals

TICKETS: 0870 4000 838 (24hr No booking fee)
www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 19 November

Another love that found it hard to speak its name.

Richmond

OVERRULED/HOW HE LIED TO HER HUSBAND/VILLAGE WOOING
by George Bernard Shaw

Orange Tree Theatre In rep to 25 November 2006
18, 20-22 7.30pm Mat 25 Nov 2.30pm
Runs 2hr 35min One interval

TICKETS: 020 8940 3633
www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 17 November

Humorous battle-lines drawn up between the sexes.

Tour

BIRDS WITHOUT WINGS
by Louis de Bernieres adapted by Ivan Cutting

Eastern Angles Tour to 2 December 2006
Runs2hr 30min One interval
Review: Timothy Ramsden 22 November at Upstairs at the Gatehouse

Despite the different ways plays and novels work, the point gets made.

London

NOT ABOUT HEROES
by Stephen Macdonald

Trafalgar Studios (Studio 2) To 18 November 2006
Mon-Sat 7.445pm Mat Sat 3pm
Runs 2hr 5min One interval

TICKETS: 0870 060 6632
Review: Amanda Hodges 16 November

Great friendship, great poetry, but a more prosaic production.

THE WINTER’S TALE: William Shakespeare.
Part of the Complete Works Festival.
Swan, Stratford Upon Avon.
Runs: 3h 10m, one interval, till Saturday 6 January.
Review: Rod Dungate, 21 November 2006.

Enthralling.

Colchester

OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD
by Timberlake Wertenbaker

Mercury Theatre To 18 November 2006
Runs 2hr 40min One interval
Review: Timothy Ramsden 18 November

Lustrous, sensuous production aptly celebrating ensemble theatre in Colchester.

London.

WHIPPING IT UP
by Steve Thompson.

Bush Theatre To 23 December 2006.
Mon-Sat 8pm.
Runs 1hr 55min One interval.

TICKETS: 020 7610 4224.
www.bushtheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 24 November.

The mother of parliaments governed from a chamber of comic horrors.

Tour

SCROOGE
by Leslie Bricusse

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton To 18 November then tour to 10 February 2007
Runs: 2hrs 15min One interval
Review: Ranjit Khutan 15 November at Grand Theatre Wolverhampton

A warm, well packaged and magical musical that deserves the ovations it has been receiving.

Tour

KING LEAR
by William Shakespeare translated by Zhu Sheng Hao adapted by David Tse Ka-Shing
Yellow Earth Theatre Company with Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre Tour to 9 December 2006
Runs: 2hr One interval
Review: Jan Pick: 16 November at The Cube Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare Shanghaied.

London
THE BITCHES' BALL
by Dawn King and Penny Dreadful Theatre Company

Hoxton Hall To 10 December 2006
Tue-Sat 8pm Sun 3pm
Runs: hr 30min No interval

TICKETS: 0207 684 0060
Review: Harriet Davis 24 November 2006

Fast, frantic, enjoyable – and weighty questions.

Tour

MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN
by Bertolt Brecht translated by Michael Hofmann songs translated by John Willett

English Touring Theatre Tour to 2006
Runs 3hr 20min Two intervals
Review: Timothy Ramsden 15 November at Cambridge Arts Theatre

A few moments might have more definition, but this is a strong, individual Courage that respects, yet is never trapped by, the name of Brecht.

London.

BLONDEL
lyrics by Tim Rice music by Stephen Oliver.

Pleasance Theatre, Carpenters Mews, North Road, Islington. London N7 9EF To 31 December 2006.
Tue-Sat 7:30pm Sundays 5pm Mat Sat 2.30pm.
Runs 2hr One interval.

TICKETS: 020 7609 1800.
www.pleasance.co.uk
Review: Geoff Ambler 23 November 2006.

The medieval musical comedy Spamalot should have been.

London.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC
book by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse, music by Richard Rodgers lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.

London Palladium To 28 February 2009.
Mon, Wed-Sat 7.30, Tues 7pm Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm.
Runs 2hrs 20 mins One interval.

TICKETS : 0870 123 4567.
Review: Geoff Ambler 20 November 2006.

A doughy production with an occasional ray of musical sunshine for me.

Edinburgh

DO I MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU OR AM I JUST PASSING BY?
by Gerald McInulty

Traverse Theatre (Traverse 2) To 25 November 2006
Tue-Sat 8pm.
Runs 60 min No interval.
Review: Thelma Good 22 November 2006.

Experiment alone is insufficient.

London

AMY’S VIEW
by David Hare

Garrick Theatre
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Runs 2hr 25min One interval

TICKETS: 0870 890 1104
www.nimaxtheatres.com (booking fee in both cases)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 20 November 2006

Revival plays to this play’s strengths.

Cardiff

MEMORY
by Jonathan Lichtenstein

Chapter Arts Centre 5-9 December 2006
Tue-Sat 8pm
Runs 1hr 30min No interval

TICKETS: 029 2030 4400
www.chapter.org
Review: Timothy Ramsden 25 November at Clwyd Theatr Cymru (Emlyn Williams Theatre)

Intense and gripping drama of history’s impact on human nature.

London

FROST/NIXON
by Peter Morgan

Gielgud Theatre to 2007
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2.30pm
Runs 2hr 15min No interval

TICKETS: 0870 950 0915
Review: Timothy Ramsden 16 November

Contest tries both combatants in fast-paced show.

PERICLES: William Shakespeare.
RSC, The Swan (Part of the Complete Works Festival).
Runs 2h 55, one interval, till 6 January 2007.
Review: Rod Dungate, 15 November 200.6

Delightful and rewarding storytelling.

Glasgow/London

TOM FOOL
by Franz Xaver Kroetz translated by Estella Schmid and Anthony Vivis

Citizens’ Theatre (Circle Studio) To 18 November 2006
Tue-Sat 7.30pm
Runs 2hr 5min One interval

TICKETS: 0141 429 0022
www.citz.co.uk

Downbeat reality filled with strong performances.