HADESTOWN Leads November's Top 10 New London Shows

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!

1. Hadestown, National Theatre

Playing at the National prior to Broadway, director Rachel Chavkin has helped develop Anaïs Mitchell's concept album into a fully-fledged musical. Orpheus and Eurydice's journey through the underworld becomes a 1930s tale, mixing New Orleans jazz and American folk music. The cast features Patrick Page, Amber Gray, Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada and André De Shields. Read our interview with Eva and Reeve

2 November-26 January, 2019. Book tickets here

2. Don Quixote, Garrick Theatre

This joyous 2016 RSC hit gets a belated West End run, complete with star pair Rufus Hound and David Threlfall. James Fenton adapts Cervantes' classic novel about a wandering knight with chivalric delusions and his faithful servant, and there are original songs from Grant Olding. Angus Jackson directs.

Until 2 February, 2019. Book tickets here

3. Summer and Smoke, Duke of York's Theatre

Another welcome encore, as Rebecca Frecknall's incandescent resurrection of Tennessee Williams' play transfers from the Almeida. Patsy Ferran stars as buttoned-up Mississippi girl Alma, who becomes entangled with the doctor's dissolute son, and the cast also features Matthew Needham, Forbes Masson, Nancy Crane and Anjana Vasan - plus wonderful music from Angus MacRae.

10 November-19 January, 2019. Book tickets here

4. White Teeth, Kiln Theatre

Zadie Smith's acclaimed novel about north London's "melting pot" is brought to stage by adaptor Stephen Starkey and Kiln AD Indhu Rubasingham, with music from Paul Englishby and movement from Polly Bennett. The cast includes Ayesha Antoine, Naomi Frederick, Richard Lumsden, Ayesha Dharker, Philip Bird, Tony Jayawardena, Assad Zaman, Sid Sagar and Karl Queensborough.

Until 22 December. Book tickets here

5. Macbeth, Shakespeare's Globe

Hot on the heels of the RSC and National productions, Robert Hastie presents his take on Shakespeare's Scottish tragedy. Globe head honcho Michelle Terry stars as Lady Macbeth, alongside Paul Ready, and the cast also features Philip Cumbus, Joseph Marcell, Anna-Maria Nabirye, Kirsty Rider, Kit Young and Marc Elliott.

7 November-2 February, 2019. Book tickets here

6. Pinter at the Pinter, Harold Pinter Theatre

Jamie Lloyd's season of Harold Pinter shorts continues: Pinter Three features A Kind of Alaska, Landscape and comic sketches, performed by Tamsin Greig, Lee Evans, Meera Syal, Keith Allen, Tom Edden and Penelope Wilton; while Pinter Four features Moonlight and Night School - cast includes Janie Dee, Jessica Barden, Robert Glenister and Peter Polycarpou.

Until 8 December. Book tickets here

7. Switzerland, Ambassadors Theatre

The Swiss Alps hideaway of novelist Patricia Highsmith (The Talented Mr Ripley) is invaded by a charming stranger worthy of her twists-and-turns fiction. Joanna Murray-Smith's teasingly metaphysical play, directed by Lucy Bailey, began at Theatre Royal Bath this summer, and stars Downton's Phyllis Logan and Calum Finlay.

10 November-5 January, 2019. Book tickets here

8. All We Ever Wanted Was Everything, Bush Theatre

Middle Child's part-theatre, part-gig Edinburgh Fringe hit comes to London. Set across three decades, Luke Barnes's play (with original live music from James Frewer) explores generational expectations and a looming apocalypse. Paul Smith directs a talented actor-musician cast, featuring Joshua Meredith, Alice Beaumont, Emma Bright, James Stanyer, Bryony Davies and Marc Graham.

31 October-24 November. Book tickets here

9. Romeo and Juliet, Barbican

Erica Whyman's RSC production brings the tragic love story bang up to date, with gender-fluid casting and modern framing - plus it features local amateur performers from each touring stop. Bally Gill and Karen Fishwick star, and the cast also features Charlotte Josephine, Ishia Bennison, Raphael Sowole, Michael Hodgson and Andrew French. Read our interview with Charlotte

2 November-19 January, 2019. Book tickets here

10. Magic Mike Live, Hippodrome Casino

And now for something completely different. Channing Tatum has adapted his male stripper film into a live stage experience, and - with booking already extended - clearly London is more than ready for it. The show is co-directed by Tatum and Alison Faulk; expect dancing, acrobatics, and other delights of an 18+ entry variety...

10 November-27 October, 2019. Book tickets here

Want more recommendations? Find previous Top 10 lists here

Photo credit: Topher McGrillis

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