Anjana Vasan News

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From new musicals to Shakespeare, Pinter and Magic Mike, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld reviews, interviews and features!

'But men are men...' Gender is taking centre stage in the current climate, telling her story not history. From new writes like SIX and The Old Vic's Sylvia, to the reframing of classics from a female perspective, the Liverpool Everyman's female led Othello and the Globe's Imogen prove the relevance of these texts to modern audiences. Elayce Ismail and Jude Christian's othellomacbeth is a hybrid of these: retelling two of Shakespeare's greatest plays, with the emphasis on the women and new additions. While bold it may be, the result is a mixed bag of 'confused events, new hatch'd to [this] woeful time'.

To celebrate less than six weeks until the West End transfer, an exclusive trailer for Tennessee Williams' intoxicating and rarely staged classic, Summer and Smoke, has been released.

Documenting his grandparent's experiences of moving overseas, Vinay Patel has written a three-hour epic, which puts ethical choice and identity at the forefront of the narrative. Spanning 60 years and a couple of generations, Madani Younis' production is a beautiful reminder of the importance of family, and the values we place upon it.

A drama of unprecedented scope and heart, spanning seven decades and three continents, inspired by the experiences of his immigrant grandparents, Vinay Patel's An Adventure opens at Bush Theatre on 6 September (press night 11 September).

Following a critically acclaimed, sold-out run at the Almeida Theatre, Rebecca Frecknall's production of Tennessee Williams' SUMMER AND SMOKE transfers to the West End's Duke of York's Theatre for a strictly limited season. Book tickets here!

The West End transfer of Tennessee Williams' intoxicating and rarely staged classic, Summer and Smoke, follows a sold-out and critically lauded run at the Almeida Theatre. Directed by the Almeida's Associate Director Rebecca Frecknall with the full cast reprising their roles for the West End run, this innovative new production of Summer and Smoke has a limited run from 10 November 2018 - 19 January 2019, at the Duke Of York's Theatre, with press night on Tuesday 20 November at 7pm.

Further events are today announced for Almeida For Free - Summer & Smoke, the Almeida Theatre's free festival for anyone aged 25 and under taking place from Tuesday 3 - Thursday 5 April.

Bold re-imagining of an early Tennessee Williams play that gives its themes a universality in a uniquely theatrical experience.

The girl who said 'no' - she doesn't exist anymore, she died last summer - suffocated in smoke from something on fire inside her. In the heat of summer - under the wings of an angel - Alma meets John. Trapped between desire and fear in a life of obligation, her world turns upside down in the search for salvation. Check out photos from the production below!

The girl who said 'no' - she doesn't exist anymore, she died last summer - suffocated in smoke from something on fire inside her. In the heat of summer - under the wings of an angel - Alma meets John.

Joining the previously announced Patsy Ferran are Seb Carrington, Nancy Crane, Eric MacLennan, Forbes Masson, Matthew Needham, Tok Stephen and Anjana Vasan. The production is designed by Tom Scutt, with lighting design by Lee Curran, composition by Angus MacRae, sound by Carolyn Downing and casting by Julia Horan.

Nancy Meckler makes her Globe debut with the penultimate show of the season, a well-known tragedy to contrast with recent comedies: King Lear. It casts a darker shadow over the Summer of Love, looking more at familial love and various struggles for power.

A timely revival of the Brecht epic continues the 2017 Young Vic season with a vengeance. Joe Wright directs a wholly modern production, which also features music composed by Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers.

BAFTA winner Joe Wright's production of Brecht's masterwork Life of Galileo will be accompanied by an original score composed by Tom Rowlands, founding member of the English electronic music duo The Chemical Brothers. Joe and Tom first collaborated on the 2011 feature film, Hanna. 

Galileo Galilei: father, hero, heretic. When a chance discovery leads to evidence of a seismic shift in scientific thinking, Galileo sparks a dangerous dispute with authority. To challenge the idea that the earth is the centre of the universe is to challenge the all-powerful Roman Catholic Church.

New artistic director Emma Rice has made a statement of intent with a major piece of casting at her inaugural Globe Wonder Season. Performance artist Meow Meow will debut as Titania in opening production A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM this April, which Rice directs.

Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre, Christopher Haydon, today announces the cast for his production of the world premiere of Elinor Cook's Image of an Unknown Young Woman - Oliver Birch (Chorus), Susan Brown (Candace), Wendy Kweh (Nia), Emilie Patry (Chorus), Isaac Ssenbandeke(Chorus), Anjana Vasan (Leyla), Eileen Walsh (Yasmin) and Ashley Zhangazha (Ali). The production opens on 8 June, with previews from 4 June, and runs until 27 June.

DARA, adapted by Tanya Ronder from Shahid Nadeem's play, originally performed by Ajoka Theatre, Pakistan, opened in the Lyttelton Theatre on 27 January, directed by Nadia Fall. The show runs through 4 April 2015.