Theatre to watch in London and beyond FT critics review the latest and best shows in the West End, across the capital and the UK Andrew Scott, brilliance and dark mischief in Present Laughter at the Old Vic Superb performances and comic timing in Noël Coward’s bittersweet takedown of fame Monday, 19 August, 2019 Best new London theatre shows: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Wife and The Sweet Science of Bruising Gwendoline Christie in a joyous, immersive take on Shakespeare; time-travelling twist on Ibsen; Victorian women come out fighting Monday, 19 August, 2019 Rutherford and Son, National Theatre, London Githa Sowerby’s drama has drawn comparisons with Ibsen and Shaw, but she brings sharp humour and quiet empathy to the task Monday, 19 August, 2019 Lenny Henry shines in August Wilson’s King Hedley II The play pulses with humanity and rage at London’s Theatre Royal, Stratford East Monday, 19 August, 2019 Anna — binaural mics play a role in this ingenious cold war thriller Theatre-going becomes hi-tech surveillance in Ella Hickson’s drama, set in 1968 East Germany Monday, 19 August, 2019 The rise of the angry young women — two new plays at London’s Royal Court Selina Thompson’s salt. and Anchuli Felicia King’s White Pearl continue the theatre’s tradition of pioneering new drama Monday, 19 August, 2019 More from this Series Shakespeare’s Globe celebrates the joy of theatre with its history plays Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 and Henry V are performed by a versatile cast, led by Sarah Amankwah’s charismatic Hal Monday, 19 August, 2019 African-American twist on Death of a Salesman is a revelation A production at London’s Young Vic that finds fresh meaning in Arthur Miller’s play Monday, 19 August, 2019 The Provoked Wife — a boisterous staging of Vanbrugh’s cynical comedy at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon This Restoration comedy is hilariously frank, but problematic Monday, 19 August, 2019 Howard Brenton’s new drama Jude is ambitious but overloaded The playwright’s problematic response to Thomas Hardy’s novel has its world premiere at the Hampstead Theatre, London Monday, 19 August, 2019 Hayley Atwell stars in a glowing production of Rosmersholm at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London Ibsen’s drama is given sharp contemporary relevance in this staging Monday, 19 August, 2019 Small Island brings Windrush to the stage at the National Theatre, London Andrea Levy’s novel of arrivals and departures becomes a sweeping romance Monday, 19 August, 2019 Kelsey Grammer stars in a creaking Man of La Mancha at the London Coliseum The musical based on Don Quixote comes to the West End for the first time in half a century Monday, 19 August, 2019 Let them Roar — the London matinee attended by 200 babies The Vaudeville Theatre staged the first ever baby-friendly performance in the West End this week Monday, 19 August, 2019 All My Sons at the Old Vic, London — quietly devastating Bill Pullman and Sally Field star in a production that reminds us why Arthur Miller’s questions about moral compromise still resonate today Monday, 19 August, 2019 Young lovers are the beating heart of Noughts & Crosses at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, London Heather Agyepong is the star of this adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s young adult novel Monday, 19 August, 2019 Anne-Marie Duff is irresistible in the Donmar Warehouse’s revival of Sweet Charity Duff excels in Josie Rourke’s London revival of the classic 1966 musical Monday, 19 August, 2019 A dreamlike production of Three Sisters at the Almeida Theatre, London Rebecca Frecknall’s staging of Chekhov’s play creates a mood of drifting strangeness Monday, 19 August, 2019 A brilliant performance from Maggie Smith in A German Life at the Bridge Theatre, London Maggie Smith plays Joseph Goebbels’ former secretary in this chilling one-woman show Monday, 19 August, 2019 A handsome revival of Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls at the National Theatre, London Katherine Kingsley excels in fantasy dinner party drama Monday, 19 August, 2019 Child-sex offenders — and their antagonists — are the subjects of Bruce Norris’s new play Downstate The performances at London’s National Theatre are largely flawless, though the play has its problems Monday, 19 August, 2019 Alexandra Palace Theatre reopens with a shambling Richard III Headlong production fails to light up £18.8m restored space Monday, 19 August, 2019 Tom Hiddleston gives a powerfully brittle performance in Betrayal at the Harold Pinter Theatre The final production of London’s magnificent Pinter at the Pinter season digs deep into ideas of identity, need and certainty Monday, 19 August, 2019 Admissions — a tricky exploration of race and identity At London’s Trafalgar Studio 1, Joshua Harmon’s play sets out to examine of the difficulties of liberalism Monday, 19 August, 2019 Learning to love American pie in Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre, London Bouncy tunes and a strong narrative propel this musical set in a diner Monday, 19 August, 2019 Showstoppers, defiance and flair: Sondheim’s Follies returns to the National Theatre Dominic Cooke’s production combines rousing musical numbers with an expertly conjured atmosphere Monday, 19 August, 2019 Come From Away — a moving new musical at the Phoenix Theatre, London The story of airline passengers stranded by the September 11 attacks makes an uplifting show Monday, 19 August, 2019 9 to 5: The Musical — Dolly Parton movie gets workaday stage makeover New songs by singer enliven reworked story of office sexism and revenge at Savoy Theatre, London Monday, 19 August, 2019 An acting masterclass from Gillian Anderson in All About Eve Anderson plays the star usurped by Lily James’s Eve in Ivo van Hove’s video-heavy production Monday, 19 August, 2019
