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