Debbie Gilpin - Page 10

Following stints in Bath and Richmond, Sean Foley and Phil Porter's new adaptation of the Moliere classic is now in the West End's Garrick Theatre for a limited run. Whilst it does retain a satirical edge, its main aim is to entertain - and does so in spades.

Following wildly successful runs in Paris and New York, four-time Tony Award-winning An American in Paris is currently previewing at London's Dominion Theatre and is set to officially open in just over a week's time. It brings with it original cast members Robert Fairchild and Leanne Cope to star as Jerry and Lise, with the rest of the cast including Zoe Rainey, Jane Asher, Haydn Oakley and David Seadon-Young.

Based on the graphic novel of the same name, Alexander Parker and Amy Ewbank's production of The Diary of a Teenage Girl is the latest show in The Little at Southwark Playhouse. This dark, irreverent comedy stands alone in a theatre scene that is largely preoccupied with politics, and as such is a breath of fresh air (despite it taking a sinister turn).

The final Wonder Noir production to play in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is one of Shakespeare's tragedies: Othello. Running in tandem with Webster's The White Devil, it concludes the winter season in suitably dark fashion, as befits Emma Rice's vision. This tale on the consequences of letting rumour guide your actions is highly apt in our scaremongering world.

Last night Wicked officially welcomed its new West End cast, including the return of Willemijn Verkaik to the role of Elphaba. The show has recently celebrated its 10th anniversary in London, welcomed its 8 millionth audience member, and won its 10th WhatsOnStage Award; its longevity is almost unheard of in a Broadway transfer, and it shows no sign of slowing down any time soon.

Now playing in rep with The Pitchfork Disney, Killer is Philip Ridley's newest work; a darkly comic piece (quite literally) that pushes the boundaries of fear and suspense. It stands alone from everything on offer at the moment - you will not find anything else quite like this.

A rock musical about a suspected Victorian murderess - not your average night at the theatre, by any stretch of the imagination. Enter Lizzie, making its UK premiere at Greenwich Theatre. Tim Maner's book takes the infamous real life case and draws on several of the theories that have been devised over the years to try and explain the (as yet) unsolved crimes.

'The course of true love never did run smooth.' A famous line from one of Shakespeare's most well known and well loved plays - and when Joe Hill-Gibbins is at the helm, you can be certain that the production won't be straightforward either.

Awards season is in full swing now, so this weekend was the turn of the 17th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards. Held at the Prince of Wales Theatre, it prides itself on being the only event where winners are voted for exclusively by theatregoers.

Action To The Word are celebrating what would have been Anthony Burgess' 100th birthday with the London return of their production of the notorious A Clockwork Orange. It has previously run at the Edinburgh Festival and at venues worldwide, and takes over from Raising Martha at the Park Theatre.

Following a stint at London's Park Theatre and a UK tour, the revival production of Mart Crowley's The Boys in the Band has a brief run on the West End; it takes over from Dead Funny in the Vaudeville prior to Stepping Out. Revolutionary when it first premiered on Broadway in 1968, it still has the potential to shock today - making its presence more important than ever.

Out goes the American Dream, and in its place is the Arabian Dream - but is everything as perfect as it seems? Carmen Nasr's Dubailand, currently playing in rep with Run The Beast at Finborough Theatre, attempts to look behind the glossy brochures at the human stories behind the city of Dubai.

Philip Ridley's widely acclaimed 1991 play has been revived by Jamie Lloyd, and is back in its native East End for a limited run in conjunction with its partner production Killer. In a change from Lloyd's usual big, brash West End style, The Pitchfork Disney is being played in the basement of Shoreditch Town Hall. It follows in the footsteps of Trainspotting as an immersive piece of theatre with cult appeal.

Maury Yeston, Peter Stone & Thomas Meehan's latest show to hit the stage, continuing Thom Southerland's season at Charing Cross, is a musical adaptation of the old Italian play La Morte In Vacanza. With echoes of The Phantom of the Opera in story and music, it stands out in the current crop of new musicals whilst not really breaking new ground.

Opening Southwark Playhouse's 2017 season, following a seasonal run of Kiki's Delivery Service in The Large, is a revival of Neil Simon's musical Promises, Promises. Based on the Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond film The Apartment, it incorporates the music of Bacharach and David, including hits such as 'I'll Never Fall In Love Again'.

Opening the Old Vic's 2016-17 season, and following on from the Glenda Jackson-led King Lear, 'Art' is a new translation of Yasmina Reza's French play that celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. It is a comedy of friendship that brings Rufus Sewell, Tim Key and Paul Ritter back to the London stage, and reunites the original production's creative team.

George Bernard Shaw's 1923 play about the rise and fall of Joan of Arc closes the Donmar's autumn season, following One Night In Miami. Its main focus is female emancipation, highlighting the struggles that Joan faced to make her way through a man's world - as well as doing her best to stay true to her religion and loyalty to her country.

Buckland Theatre Co. return to Park 90, following their critically acclaimed production Some Girl(s), with their revival of 1960s Broadway hit LUV, a comical look at the enduring struggle to get to grips with the meaning of love. It provides some welcome variety from the more festive offerings over the Christmas period.

The Royal Albert Hall is rapidly becoming synonymous with London's Christmas festivities, even being voted the 'Most Prestigious Christmas Venue' at the Prestigious Star Awards 2016. It continued its seasonal programme last night with a concert from Guy Barker's Big Band, with the help of a number of special guests.

After a 2016 programme that included Blue/Orange and Yerma, the first offering in the Young Vic's new season is a revival of George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's Once in a Lifetime, which also marks comedian Harry Enfield's stage debut.