Liz Cearns

Although the West End is still waiting for a production of Dave Malloy's Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, his more recent creation, Preludes, has its UK premiere at the Southwark Playhouse.

'Measure still for measure': justice is still a tricky concept. Gregory Doran's insightful realisation of Shakespeare's notorious 'problem play' highlights Measure for Measure's enduring, perhaps even increasing, relevance.

Craig Lucas, Daniel Messe and Nathan Tysen's musical adaptation of the acclaimed film Amelie, which ran on Broadway in 2017 and now kicks off a UK tour, fills the Watermill's stage with the music, bustle and romance of Paris.

Fiddler On the Roof brings the Menier Chocolate Factory to the Playhouse Theatre. As the audience enters, the walls are bedecked with hangings as drab as most of the costumes - the wardrobe is black, save for prayer shawls and wedding garb.

Some shows might transfer or extend their run. The cast of Austentatious, however, have commenced a season's residency at the Fortune Theatre, and might thereby hope to introduce their improvised 'Jane Austen novels' to much of London's theatrical society. Their prospects seem favourable.

The Tango Fire Company of Buenos Aires have returned to London. This night of surprising variety, offers awe-inspiring escapism from the winter's chill and seems to be scheduled just in time for Valentine's Day.

The Other Palace was intended to be a 'space where writers and producers can try out and refine new work'. Showstopper! The Improvised Musical only seems to be aiming for half of this ethos. Alas, it seems doubtful that last night's Cream of Yorkshire will ever be further refined. Yet, the performers' wits and synchronicity are such that the result is quite incredibly refined - considering the whole show is spontaneously made up, based on prompts from the audience.

One of the most instantly noticeable things about War Horse is the diversity of its audience's ages: a children's book if enjoyed by many a parent or independent adult turned into a play and attended by schoolchildren, twenty-somethings and those, like Michael Morpurgo himself, who spent childhoods playing in the bomb sites created by the Second World War.

A year after its first run, Caryl Churchill's Escaped Alone returns to the Royal Court Theatre. This rather strange play is split between garden chit-chat and apocalyptic horrors, though directly juxtaposing or linking Churchill's two worlds seems naively simplistic. Its dual settings do lead to an odd overall effect; while individual moments shine, the piece as a whole seems stilted.

The Royal Shakespeare Company have burst back to the West End with their double bill of Love's Labour's - both Lost and Won. This pairing really is a remarkable achievement. Set in the summer of 1914 and the winter of 1918, director Christopher Luscombe has combined the charm and elegance of an Edwardian country estate with a wit, silliness and sense of play that would surely have made Will proud.

With their new season of site-specific work, Theatre of Europe have achieved the almost impossible: an original take on the world's most-performed play, Ibsen's A Doll's House.

It's been twenty years since Mark Ravenhill's notoriously titled Shopping and F**king was first staged at the Royal Court. In his foreword for the Lyric Hammersmith's anniversary production, Ravenhill describes the show's scandalous reputation - and its actual reception. 1996 audiences may have been - largely - ready to nod seriously at plays highlighting such 'issues', but this production, directed by Sean Holmes, seems aimed at a broader demographic than just the theatrical intelligentsia.

The Freeman Studio, the Tribeca-based acting studio led by Scott Freeman, is offering three exciting master classes through October with three distinguished theatre luminaries.  These classes are open to non-Freeman Studio students. Reed Birney shares his insights on Monday October 10, 10am to 5pm; Adam Rapp leads the way on Sunday October 23, 1pm to 5pm, and Dakin Matthews delivers a Shakespeare master class for actors on Sunday October 30, 11am to 2pm.

About: As part of a series of conversations at the intersection of disability and dance, Town Hall turns our attention to disability and its national synergies with dance. Judith Smith and Alice Sheppard (pictured above) will discuss some of the learnings of AXIS Dance Company's regional convenings, their experiences as artists and advocates in the field, perspectives on the other topics of the town halls, and pathways to a future where disabled artists flourish. This Town Hall will be moderated by DDA (Inter)national Voices Curator Simi Linton.

???????The King's is warming up for a spell of brighter weather next week as the hit musical based on the true story of The Kinks arrives for a five night run at the venue.  Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and Ambassador Theatre Group, the show, which received four awards at the 2015 Olivier Awards including Best New Musical and Outstanding Achievement in Music for Ray Davies, opened at the Manchester Opera House on Friday 19 August 2016 before rocking out on a national tour.

Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network are delighted to announce that Harry Blake will be The Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer at West Yorkshire Playhouse, commencing October 2016.

Simon Jay's "remarkable satiric performance" (British Theatre Guide) as Donald Trump comes to the King's Head after a critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Fringe. As the American presidential election comes to a head, come and quiz the most dangerous man in politics about what's next for the world - because if he gets his way, he'll be in charge of it.

After Gershwin success, Mark Bebbington embarks on busy new season - in concert hall and studio. After his "Recording of the Month" Gershwin album, the British pianist's new season ranges from the London Philharmonic to the Buffalo Philharmonic, from Grieg to John Ireland, from two national tours to a new CD.

Rabbi David Baron of the Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre has announced several additional High Holy Day Guests for Kol Nidre (the Eve of Yom Kippur) on Tuesday,  October 11th and for Yom Kippur on Wednesday, October 12th.  Evelyn Markus, the daughter of Jewish Dutch Holocaust survivors will talk about her Dutch non-profit organization called "Network on Antisemitism," and her new documentary film, "Never Again Is Now."  Some excerpts from the film will be screened as well.