Debbie Gilpin - Page 6

East meets west, as the RSC's latest production of Shakespeare's comedy gets a TOWIE makeover. Following a popular summer run at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Stratford-upon-Avon base, it transfers to the Barbican for a limited engagement over the winter. David Troughton stars as the infamous knight Falstaff, who is at the peak of his lecherous and womanising ways during the course of this play - until he meets his matches in Mistresses Ford and Page.

Ex Nihilo Theatre Group bring the world premiere of Jacky Ivimy's Dialektikon to Park Theatre to close out the year in Park90, playing alongside Peter Pan in Park200. Directed by Adebayo Bolaji, this 100-minute play is an alternative option to the usual festive fare that's on offer at this time of year.

When Sam Shepard's play True West made its New York debut back in 1980 it was something of a flop - since then, however, it has been recognised as an insightful piece of theatre, with the likes of John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Philip Seymour Hoffman and John C Reilly taking on the roles of Lee and Austin at one point or another in their careers. It's taken until now for the play to have its UK premiere; Matthew Dunster's production at the Vaudeville Theatre is as much a way to celebrate Shepard's career (who died last year) as it is to make a point about our ongoing need to label people as certain things.

The festive season isn't everyone's favourite annual event, and this year in particular is not working out for Brendan: his fiancee has left him, he's failing at work, and his friends can't take the hint that he's not a New Year's Eve kind of person. All he wants to do is sit in his flat with a beer and be in bed by 11pm. But will an encounter with a slightly odd girl selling lightbulbs, and finally finding out how The Little Match Girl ends, end his year on a more positive note? This is the basis for Brendan Milburn, Valerie Vigoda and Rachel Sheinkin's musical Striking 12, which makes its UK debut at the Union Theatre this Christmas.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… Star Wars celebrated its 40th anniversary last year, and the first instalment in the multi-trilogy film series has now made its way to the Royal Albert Hall as part of its ongoing 'film in concert' series. It also follows hot on the heels of a concert in the same venue dedicated to the work of composer John Williams, bringing the London Symphony Orchestra back (under the conductorship of Ludwig Wicki) to perform this iconic music once again.

This year sees the 40th anniversary of John Williams' first concert with the London Symphony Orchestra, which was performed at the Royal Albert Hall in February 1978. Friday's concert would have heralded Williams' return to perform in London for the first time in over 20 years, though this was sadly prevented by illness. One of Williams' long-time colleagues Dirk Brosse instead took up the conductor's baton, and the event became a big celebration of and expression of love for a composer whose career has spanned six decades, finding a place in millions of people's hearts thanks to his legendary film and television scores.

For three performances only, renowned director/choreographer Stephen Mear has brought his own semi-staged version of the classic musical Guys and Dolls to the Royal Albert Hall. The Royal Philharmonic Concert orchestra bring Frank Loesser's much-loved score to life, along with a cast that includes Adrian Lester (Sky Masterson), Lara Pulver (Sarah Brown), Meow Meow (Miss Adelaide), Jason Manford (Nathan Detroit), Clive Rowe (Nicely Nicely Johnson), Joe Stilgoe (Benny Southstreet), and Sharon D Clarke (General Cartwright). Whilst they're not presenting the entire show, all of the musical numbers are intact and any gaps in the story are covered by narrator Stephen Mangan.

The Notting Hill Carnival comes to Illyria, bathing its mournful sadness in music and colour; this concept couldn't be more apt, given the tragedies the West London community has gone through in recent times, though coming out as resilient as ever. In 2016, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Oskar Eustis and Shaina Taub reimagined Shakespeare's popular comedy as a shortened musical version, forming part of the Public Theater's Public Works Programme (it also had another run this summer, during Shakespeare in the Park) - and now opening Kwei-Armah's tenure as Artistic Director of the Young Vic.

First performed at the Royal Court in 2009, Mike Bartlett's play Cock has been revived as part of the Chichester Festival season at the Minerva Theatre, following on from Michael Frayn's Copenhagen. Despite being written almost a decade ago, the themes of this play are arguably more relevant now than they ever have been, so this revival could not have been timed much better.

Over 30 years since The Art of Success was first performed, beginning in Stratford-upon-Avon and running in both New York and London (where it picked up an Olivier Award nomination), and Nick Dear's play has been revived alongside the world premiere of his new work The Taste of the Town. William Hogarth is the focal point of both plays, alongside wife Jane, fittingly set 30 years apart. They show a marked contrast between the up-and-coming, angry young artist and the disgruntled establishment figure - neither quite fitting in, instead blazing a trail for themselves. Together they form Hogarth's Progress, a curious but entertaining double bill of plays.

Most people will associate Samuel Pepys with the Great Fire of London, but there were more to his extensive diaries than that. In fact, he would note down pretty much anything that happened during his day - even if it only resulted in an entry about his bowel movements! Annie-B Parson and Big Dance Theater have taken this larger-than-life character as the starting point for their current show 17c, which aims to give his long-suffering wife Bess a bit more of an input - as well as sharing some of Pepys' more colourful stories. It is at the Old Vic as part of Dance Umbrella UK for only a few days.

A pair of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers make their return to the National Theatre for Simon Godwin's much-anticipated production of Antony and Cleopatra, that sees Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo follow in the footsteps of the likes of Anthony Hopkins and Judi Dench. For those who can't make it to the theatre to see it, this production will be part of the NT Live series, and will be broadcast live to cinemas on Thursday 6 December.

Following a workshop in 2017 and a work-in-progress run over the summer, The Other Palace's production of cult hit Heathers The Musical makes its West End debut at Theatre Royal Haymarket; starring Carrie Hope Fletcher as Veronica Sawyer, it has a strictly limited engagement prior to incoming Take That musical The Band taking up the reins.

Theatre and puppetry director Mervyn Millar's latest book is a practical insight into the use of puppets in theatre. Millar is incredibly well-equipped to provide this thorough guide, having been part of the creative and performing teams of the National Theatre's War Horse from the very beginning, as well as extensive puppet design and direction for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Bristol Old Vic, Schauspielhaus Zurich and many others. He's also Chair of the Puppet Centre Trust, and regularly runs teaching sessions and workshops for a range of organisations.

A favourite at the Proms since its first inclusion in the programme in 1956, Giuseppi Verdi's tribute to the Italian poet Alessandro Manzoni had a standalone performance this week, helmed by conductor Andres Orozco-Estrada. Verdi's Requiem has a strong connection with the Royal Albert Hall, having first been heard there in 1875 - just a year after its debut in Milan's San Marco church. Written for orchestra, double choir and four soloists, it was performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir and soloists Lise Davidsen (soprano), Dmytro Popov (tenor), Tomasz Konieczny (bass) and Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano) stepping in for Karen Cargill at short notice.

Michelle Terry's first season at the Globe continues apace, with what some will have marked out as a highlight since its announcement back in January. Mark Rylance returns to the Globe stage, once again directed by Claire van Kampen, starring as Iago alongside American actor Andre Holland in the title role. This is another strand in Terry's Emilia arc, which will culminate in Morgan Lloyd Malcolm's new play about Shakespeare's 'Dark Lady', Emilia Bassano.

The London Tap Dance Intensive is the UK's top tap festival, and took place from Friday to Sunday last week. Over the course of three days a variety of workshops were offered at three different studios; led by talented teachers from across the tap spectrum, they covered everything from rhythm choreography, partner work, call & response, and the crossover between tap and Irish dancing. The festival culminated in a gala performance last night, hosted by Adam Garcia and Kane D. Ricca - the ultimate showcase for the genre, with some mind-blowing routines performed by a selection of top dancers.

Reunited following successful runs of The Lorax, the director-composer team of Max Webster and Charlie Fink bring a new version of the Shakespeare classic to the picturesque (and rather appropriate) setting of Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. This well-loved comedy is in demand this year, with it being this year's Shakespeare in the Squares play of choice, and a production also making up part of Michelle Terry's inaugural season at Shakespeare's Globe - coincidentally, the last Shakespeare play performed at this theatre saw Terry starring in Henry V. This particular piece is ideal seasonal fare, however, with love, laughter and hijinks overflowing in the Forest of Arden.

Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson's play had such a good reception during its run at the Young Vic Theatre back in the winter that it has transferred across the river to the Playhouse Theatre in the West End, bringing its cast with it (along with some additions). It is based on Murphy and Robertson's experience of being out in Calais, witnessing the refugees' plight first-hand. While they were there, they set up 'Good Chance', which allowed residents to express themselves through the arts - its key words are disrupt, explore, innovate, welcome, connect and create.

Following a hit run at New York's Lincoln Center Theater in 2015, Bartlett Sher's production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic makes its way to London's West End for a limited run at the London Palladium. Transferring with it is Tony Award nominee Ken Watanabe and Tony Award winner Kelli O'Hara, in the title roles.