Manchester

CHAPTER TWO
by Neil Simon

Library Theatre To 14 April 2007
Mon-Thu 7.30pm Fri-Sat 8pm Mat Thu & Sat 3pm no performance 9 April
Audio-described 12 April 7.30pm 14 April 3pm
BSL Signed 5 April 7.30pm
Captioned 10 April
Pre-show Talk before 27 March 31 March 3pm
Runs 2hr 45min One interval

TICKETS: 0161 236 7110
www.librarytheatre.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 23 March

A Manchester treat; laughter-flecked seriousness finely directed with a pair of well-matched performances.

London

LOVELY AND MISFIT
by Tennessee Williams

Trafalgar Studios (Studio 2) To 31 March 2007
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Wed & Sat 3pm
Runs 1hr 50min One interval

TICKETS: 0870 060 6632
www.theambassadors.com/trafalgarstudios (booking fee by ‘phone or online)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 21 March

Lovely and well-fitted to this intimate space.

London.

DAYS OF HOPE
by Howard Goodall book by Renata Allen.

King’s Head Theatre 115 Upper Street N1 1QN To 22 April 2007.
Tue-Sat 8pm Sat & Sun 3.30pm.
Rus 2hr One interval.

TICKETS: 020 7226 1916.
www.kingsheadtheatre.org
Review: Timothy Ramsden 25 March.

A musical where the music is all.

Southampton

THE CAGE
by Deborah Gearing

Nuffield Theatre To 30 March 2007
Mon-Sat 7.30pm
Runs 2hr 20min One interval

TICKETS: 023 8067 1771
www.nuffieldtheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 27 March

Ambitious new play presents more challenges than it meets.

Leeds

MACBETH
by William Shakespeare

West Yorkshire Playhouse (Quarry Theatre) To 24 March 2007
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu 1.30pm Sat 2pm
Audio-described 22 March 1.30pm
Captioned 20 March
Runs 2hr 25min One interval

TICKETS: 0113 213 7700
www.wyp.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 17 March

Thrilling, chilling Macbeth with an outstanding Macbeth.

Watford

HEARTBREAK HOUSE
by George Bernard Shaw

Palace Theatre To 14 April 2007
Mon-sat 7.45pm Mat 4, 11 April 2.30pm & 31 March, 14 April 3pm no performance 6, 9 April
Audio-described 14 April 3pm
Captioned 12 April
Post-show discussion 3 April
Runs 2hr 50min One interval

TICKETS: 01923 225671
www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 26 March

The ship of state rolling on the South Downs.

London.

THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE
by Edward Albee.

Theatre Royal Haymarket .
Mon-Sat 8pm Mat Wed & Sat 3pm.
Runs 1hr 45min One interval.

TICKETS: 0870 145 1171 (up to £3.50 per ticket booking fee).
Review: Timothy Ramsden 21 March.

Intriguing play, immaculate production.

London

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
by William Shakespeare

Wilton’s Music Hall Graces Alley Ensign Street E1 8JB To 28 April 2007
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed 2.30pm
Runs 2hr 40min One interval

TICKETS: 020 7702 2789
www.wiltons.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 22 March

A happy shrew with a sad servant who’s very funny and a pair of mutually appreciative lovers.

London

THE HOT ZONE
by Nirjay Mahindru

bac (studio 1) Lavender Hill SW11 5TN To 25 March 2007
Tue-Sat 8pm Sun 6pm
Runs 1hr 35min One interval

TICKETS: 020 7223 2223
www.bac.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 18 March

Grim view of the war on terror.

London

EUROPE
by David Greig

Barbican (Pit) To 31 March 2007
Mon-Sat 7.45pm
BSL Signed 27 March
Runs 2hr 15min One interval

TICKETS: 0845 120 7511
www.barbican.org.uk (reduced booking fee online)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 19 March

Borderland drama still has a strong impact.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE: William Shakespeare
Part of the Complete Works Festival
Swan Theatre: Stratford Upon Avon
Runs: 2h 50m, one interval, till Sat 31 March
Review: Rod Dungate, 27 March 2007

Remarkably different, refreshingly up-to-date

Tour

THE DATELESS WONDER
by Anjali Mya Chadha

Anjali Mya Chadha in Association With Watermans Arts Centre Tour to 17 March 2007
Runs: 1hr 20min one interval
Review: Alan Geary at the Bonnington Theatre Nottingham 17 March 2007

Laughs are few and far between.

Mansfield/Touring.

THE TEMPEST
by William Shakespeare.

Palace Theatre Mansfield: Tkts 01623 633133 palacetheatre@mansfield.gov.uk
Runs: 2hr 30min One interval: till 31st March [Then touring].
Performance times: 7.30pm.
Review: Alan Geary: 27 March 2007.

Great showmanship but the text always shines through.

Manchester

WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?
by Edward Albee

Royal Exchange Theatre To 14 April 2007
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2.30pm
Audio-described 31 March 2.30pm
BSL Signed 14 April 2.30pm
Post-show discussion 29 March
Runs 3hr 15min One interval

TICKETS: 0161 833 9833
www.royalexchange.co.uk/bookonline
Review: Timothy Ramsden 24 March

Nearly 2 hours to the interval but this play grips throughout.

NOT THE END OF THE WORLD
Bristol Old Vic
Adapted by Simon Reade from Geraldine McCaughrean’s novel
Running time 2 ½ hours: till March 31
Review: Stewart McGill, March 12 2007

Important, not ground-breaking, with surprises

Tour.

AFTER PLAY and THE BEAR
by Brian Friel by Anton Chekhov in a version by Brian Friel.

Attic Theatre Company Tour to 15 April 2007.
Runs: 2hr One interval.
Review: Rod Dungate 23 March at Old Joint Stock Theatre Birmingham.

A valuable chance to see two theatre gems.

UNCLE VANYA: Anton Chekhov, Adapted by Bryony Lavery
Birmingham Rep: www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
Runs: 2h 15m, one interval, till 14 April
Review: Rod Dungate, 28 March 2007

Perfectly captures the essence of Chekhovian comedy

London.

THE CARETAKER
by Harold Pinter.

Tricycle Theatre To 14 April 2007.
Mon – Sat 8pm, Mat Sat 4pm &21,28 March 2pm.
Runs 2hr 30min One interval.

TICKETS: 0207 328 1000.
www.tricycle.co.uk
Review: Harriet Davis 21 March.

Worth the journey from Sheffield to Kilburn.

Liverpool

THE ELECTRIC HILLS
by Michael McLean

Everyman Theatre To 31 March 2007
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat 21 March 1.30pm 31 March 2pm
Audio-described 29 March
BSL Signed 23 March
Post-show discussion 20 March

TICKETS: 0151 709 4776
www.everymanplayhouse.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 17 March

The Hills are alive, with the sound of music.

London

DYING FOR IT
by Moira Buffini freely adapted from The Suicide by Nikolai Erdmann, translated by Charlotte Pyke.

Almeida Theatre To 28 April 2007.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 3pm.
Audio-described 14 April 3pm.
BSL Signed 26 April.
Captioned 17 April.
Runs 2hr 15min One interval.

TICKETS: 020 7359 4404.
www.almeida.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 16 March.

Splendid title, fine acting but misses the jugular.