AMADEUS Leads October's Top 10 New London Shows
By: Marianka Swain Oct. 01, 2016
London is never short of theatre temptations, whether West End shows or bold fringe offerings. From Amadeus and a starry Stoppard revival to exciting new musicals, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews...
1. Amadeus, National Theatre
Peter Shaffer's iconic drama of genius, rivalry, faith and destruction in 18th-century Vienna had its premiere at the National in 1979; now, Michael Longhurst helms a highly anticipated revival. Lucian Msamati stars as Salieri and Adam Gillen as Mozart, accompanied by the Southbank Sinfonia.
2. Travesties, Menier Chocolate Factory
Tom Hollander returns to the stage for another major revival: Tom Stoppard's dazzling and typically tricksy comedy of art, love, revolution and memory. Patrick Marber directs a cast that also includes Freddie Fox, Clare Foster, Forbes Masson, Amy Morgan and Peter McDonald.
3. The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism With a Key to the Scriptures, Hampstead Theatre
Tony Kushner's latest play finally arrives in a Michael Boyd production, starring Tamsin Greig, David Calder, Sara Kestelman and Katie Leung. At an unusual family reunion in Brooklyn, a retired longshoreman and former trade union organiser grapples with a world that no longer makes sense to him.
4. Murder Ballad, Arts Theatre
Sam Yates directs the UK premiere of this American hit, and he's assembled an all-star cast: Kerry Ellis, Ramin Karimloo, Victoria Hamilton-Barrit and Norman Bowman. Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash's explosive rock musical features abandoned dreams, a secret love triangle and bloody consequences. Read our interview with Kerry Ellis.
5. One Night in Miami..., Donmar Warehouse
Kemp Powers places four American icons in a room together - boxer Muhammad Ali, activist Malcolm X, singer Sam Cooke and American football player Jim Brown - for a searing account of a pivotal historical moment. Kwame Kwei-Armah directs a cast that includes David Ajala, Francois Battiste, Sope Dirisu and Arinze Kene.
6. A Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer, National Theatre
Performance artists Bryonny Kimmings and Brian Lobel and composer Tom Parkinson offer strategies for handling serious illness in this alternative, darkly funny new musical - a co-production between the National and Complicite. The cast includes Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Akiya Henry, Gareth Snook and Hal Fowler. Read our interview with Brian Lobel.
7. The Boys In The Band, Park Theatre
Mark Gatiss and his husband Ian Hallard lead the stellar company of this revival of an iconic Mart Crowley play, which changed the landscape of gay theatre on its 1968 premiere. Adam Penford directs, and the cast also features Daniel Boys, Jack Derges and James Holmes. Read our interview with Ian Hallard.
8. OIL, Almeida Theatre
The exciting trio of writer Ella Hickson, director Carrie Cracknell and actress Anne-Marie Duff join forces for an epic production exploring our historic relationship with a precious but finite resource. The cast also includes Leo Bill, Nabil Elouahabi, Yolanda Kettle and Sam Swann.
9. Shopping and F***ing, Lyric Hammersmith
The Lyric marks the 20th anniversary of Mark Ravenhill's in-yer-face drama - which tackles capitalism and transactional relationships - with a revival helmed by artistic director Sean Holmes. The cast includes Ashley McGuire, Sophie Wu, Alex Arnold, David Moorst and Sam Spruell. Read our interview with Sean Holmes.
10. The Red Barn, National Theatre
Robert Icke directs David Hare's latest: an adaptation of Georges Simenon's psychological thriller about two couples stranded during a snowstorm in Sixties New England. Mark Strong, Hope Davis and Elizabeth Debicki lead an international company. Read our interview with Hope Davis.
Photo credit: Marc Brenner
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