Theatre Round-Up:

The Lightning Ensemble will be performing at the Soho New Writers Theatre in December. Part of the Lightning Ensemble's 5th birthday production entitled "Four Play in Soho", in which four short one act plays written, directed & performed by members of the Lightning Ensemble and will be running December 6 (7:00 p.m.), 7 & 8 (4:30 & 7:00 p.m.) at Soho.

The four plays that will be showcased are: ‘Heads’ by Glen Supple, ‘A Brilliant Fast’ by Erin Courtney, ‘She’ by Imogen Smith, and ‘Given A Way’ by Aileen Gonsalves. As a previous performer at the Soho New Writers Theatre myself, I can say that this will be a programme of exciting new work that should both challenge the audience, the actors and the fundament of playwrighting itself.

The Bush Theatre is housing “Hijra”, a play about the transvestites in India. A funny and refreshing piece of theatre.

The Donmar Warehouse’s winter musical is yet another Sondheim. Following the success of ‘Company’, ‘Into The Woods’, and ‘Assassins’ the Sam Mendes powerhouse stages ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ opens on the 1st of December and runs to March 3rd. Directed by Michael Grandage.

The festive season is in full swing with a lighter programme of events throughout the West-End and Off West-End venues. The Young Vic Theatre’s Christmas show includes ‘The Three Musketeers’ directed by Julian Webber, adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, until Jan 13th. The Battersea Arts Centre hosts ‘A Christmas Carol’

Shelagh Stephenson follows her Olivier award-winning ‘Memory of Water’ with ‘Ancient Light’, directed by Ian Brown at the Hampstead Theatre. From November 29th to January 20th.

‘I Just Stopped By To See The Man’, by Stephen Jeffreys, opened on November 30th Downstairs at the Jerwood Theatre at the Royal Court. Directed by ‘One Foot In The Grave’ actor Richard Wilson, stars Ciaran McMenamin and Sophie Okonedo, and follows the life story of Jesse Davidson, the last of the Delta Blues singers. Also at the Royal Court is Caryl Churchill’s new play, ‘Far Away’ directed by Stephen Daldry upstairs at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs.

The Royal National Theatre hosts ‘Life x 3’ by Yasmina Reza, starring Mark Rylance and shows at the Lyttleton Theatre. Also featured in the new season at the National is ‘Peer Gynt’, and an adaptation of the Harold Pinter scripted film of Proust’s ‘Remembrance Of Times Past’  by director Di Trevis.

 © 2000 Jamie Zubairi ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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