London

35 CENTS
by Paul Anthony Morris

Blue Elephant Theatre 59a Bethwin Road/Thompson’s Avenue SE5 0XT To 26 May 2007
Tue-Sat 7.45pm
Runs 1hr 45min No interval

TICKETS: 020 7701 0100
www.blueelephanttheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 16 May

Fast-moving view behind the scenes in the Caribbean.

Oldham

HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES
by Alan Ayckbourn

Coliseum Theatre To 12 May 2007
Runs 2hr 40min One interval
Review: Timothy Ramsden 11 May

Decent revival of indecent goings-on.

London

SILVER BIRCH HOUSE
by Leyla Nazli

Arcola Theatre 27 Arcola Street E8 2DJ To 9 June 2007
Mon-Sat 8pm
Post-show discussion 31 May
Runs 2hr 15min One interval

TICKETS: 020 7503 1646
www.arcolatheatre.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 14 May

Opens up a part of the world other London plays don’t reach.

London.

FAME
based on Alan Parker's film lyrics by Jacques Levy music by Steven Margoshes.

Shaftesbury Theatre.
Mon-Fri 7.30pm Fri 8.30pm Mat Fri 5.30pm, Sat 3pm.
Runs 2hrs 35 mins One Interval.

Tickets: 020 7379 5399.
www.famethemusical.co.uk
Review: Geoff Ambler 15 May 2007.

One last high energy summer's dance with this aging format.

Richmond

NAN
by John Masefield

Orange Tree Theatre To 2 June 2007
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Sat 4pm & 10, 31 May 2.30pm
Audio-described 22 May, 26 May 4pm
Post-show discussion 25 May & Thu mats
Runs 2hr 15min One interval

TICKETS: 020 8940 3633
www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 7 May

Unseen jewel in a production as near-perfect as can be.

London

THREE SISTERS
by Anton Chekhov

Barbican Theatre To 19 June 2007
Wed-Sat 7.15pm Mat Sat 2.30pm
Runs 3hr 10min One interval

TICKETS: 0845 120 7511
www.barbican.org.uk/bite (reduced booking fee online)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 15 May

A bold, perceptive, fresh production.

Leeds

THE SUNSHINE BOYS
by Neil Simon

West Yorkshire Playhouse (Quarry Theatre) To 19 May 2007
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu 1.30pm & Sat 2pm
Audio-described 17 May 7.30pm
Captioned 16 May
Runs 2hr 15min One interval

TICKETS: 0113 213 7700
www.wyp.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 10 May

Simon revival gets it right big-scale and in detail.

Birmingham

HANG LENNY POPE
by Chris O’Connell

Theatre Absolute in co-production with Warwick Arts Centre Tour to 5 May 2007
Midlands Art Centre (MAC): Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH. Telephone: 0121 440 3838.
Runs: 1h 15m
Review: Jan Pick 17 April

Final Judgment!

TAKING CARE OF BABY: Dennis Kelly
Birmingham Rep till 19 May. then to Hampstead Theatre, London
Birmingham Tickets 0121 236 4455
Runs: 2h 50m, one interval
Review: Rod Dungate, 9 May 2007
(Play published by Oberon Modern Plays: link to Amazon follows the review)

Theatre forensics - fascinating

London

CHARLIE AND HENRY
by Peter Maddock

New End Theatre 27 New End Hampstead NW3 1JD To 27 May 2007
Tues-Sat 7.30pm. Mat Sun 3.30pm
Runs 2hrs One interval

TICKETS: 0870 033 2733
Review: Rachel Zedner 28 April 2007

Good centre, but the play leaves you wanting less

London.

BIG WHITE FOG
by Theodore Ward.

Almeida Theatre To 30 June 2007.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 3pm.
Audio-described 16 June 3pm (+ Touch Tour 1.30pm).
BSL Signed 27 June.
Captioned 19 June.
Runs 2hr 10min One interval.

TICKETS: 020 7359 4404.
www.almeida.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 18 May.

Politics and people come vibrantly alive.

Northampton

THE WAY OF THE WORLD
by William Congreve

Royal Theatre To 19 May 2007
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Audio-described 6 May
BSL Signed 9 May
Post-show discussion 10 May 7.45pm
Runs 3hr One interval

TICKETS: 01604 624811
www.royalandderngate.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 3 May

Clarity makes a fine revival.

London

SIZWE BANSI IS DEAD
by Athol Fugard, John Kani, Winston Ntshona French adaptation by Marie-Helene Estienne

Barbican Theatre (Pit) To 26 May 2007
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Wed 2.30pm
Runs 1hr 10min No interval

TICKETS: 0845 120 7511
www.barbican.org.uk/bite (reduced booking fee online)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 19 May 2007

Excels in every quality but one.

London

BARNSTORM
by Michael Holland

Union Theatre 204 Union Street SE1 To 2 June 2006
Tue-Sat 7.30pm
Runs 2hrs 10mins One interval

TICKETS: 020 7261 9876
www.uniontheatre.org
Review: Harriet Davis 16 May

Good barn but doesn’t raise much of a storm.

Liverpool

THE MAY QUEEN
by Stephen Sharkey

Everyman Theatre To 26 May 2007
Mom-Sat 7.45pm Mat 16 May 1.30pm 26 May 2pm
Audio-described 24 May
BSL Signed 23 May
Post-show discussion 15 May
Runs 2hr 15min One interval

TICKETS: 0151 709 4776
www.everymanplayhouse.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 12 May

Classic in inspiration and quite possibly a modern classic itself.

Tour

NOTHNG BUT THE TRUTH
by John Kani

UK Arts/Hampstead Theatre Tour to 16 June 2007
Runs 1hr 40min No interval
Review: Timothy Ramsden 9 May at West Yorkshire Playhouse (Courtyard Theatre)

whatever the dramaturgical bumps this is an illuminating evening.

Birmingham & touring

THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH
by Philip Holyman adapted from a short story by Edgar Allan Poe.

The Happiness Patrol
Midlands Art Centre (MAC): Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH. Telephone: 0121 440 3838.
Runs: 1h, no interval
Review: Jan Pick: 19 April

One hell of a party.

London

VERNON GOD LITTLE
by DBC Pierre adapted by Tanya Ronder

Young Vic To 9 June 2007
Mon – Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2.30pm
Audio-described 2 June 7.30pm
Captioned 24 May
Runs 2hr 30min One interval

TICKETS: 0207 922 2920
www.youngvic.org
Review: Harriet Davis 9 May

A suitably manic adaptation.

Colchester

SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER
by Oliver Goldsmith

Mercury Theatre To 5 May 2007
Runs 2hr 40min One interval
Review: Timothy Ramsden 1 May

Clear and comic production.

Bolton

ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR
by Alan Ayckbourn

Octagon Theatre To 12 May 2007
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat 9 May 2pm
Audio-described 9 May 7.30pm
BSL Signed 10 May
Runs 2hr 50min Two intervals

TICKETS: 01204 520661
www.octagonbolton.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 5 May

Too much absurdity, not enough personality.