COMPANY Leads October's Top 10 New London Shows

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From gender-flipped Sondheim to David Hare and Martin McDonagh, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld reviews, interviews and features!

1. Company, Gielgud Theatre

Thirtysomething bachelor Bobby becomes Bobbi in Marianne Elliott's hugely anticipated take on Stephen Sondheim's musical, and other gender swaps also give the production a same-sex couple. The star-studded cast features Rosalie Craig, Patti LuPone, Mel Giedroyc, Jonathan Bailey and Alex Gaumond. Read our interview with the latter pair, and watch a preview

Until 22 December. Book tickets here

2. Wise Children, Old Vic

Emma Rice's new company debuts with a production bearing the same name: an adaptation of Angela Carter's magical realist novel, centring on twin chorus girls and their eccentric theatrical family. Expect puppetry, animation, music and movement, with choreographer Etta Murfitt also starring, plus Paul Hunter, Bettrys Jones, Gareth Snook, Katy Owen and Mike Shepherd.

8 October-10 November. Book tickets here

3. I'm Not Running, National Theatre

David Hare's zeitgeist-y new play focuses on the inspiring leader of a local health campaign who ponders whether to sacrifice her private life in order to run for political office. Neil Armfield directs a cast that includes Siân Brooke, Joshua McGuire, Alex Hassell, Amaka Okafor and Liza Sadovy. Read our interview with Joshua McGuire

2 October-31 January, 2019. Book tickets here

4. Twelfth Night, Young Vic

New Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah opens with his and Shaina Taub's musical version of Shakespeare's play, first seen at New York's Public Theater. He co-directs with Oskar Eustis, joining pros - including Gabrielle Brooks, Natalie Dew, Martyn Ellis, Jonathan Livingstone, Gerard Carey, Melissa Allen and Rupert Young - with a local community chorus.

2 October-17 November. Book tickets here

5. The Height of the Storm, Wyndham's Theatre

Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins lead this latest from French playwright Florian Zeller - featuring a long-married couple, a family weekend, and a mysterious visitor from the past - which opened in Bath before coming to the West End. The company also includes Amanda Drew, Anna Madeley, Jamies Hillier and Lucy Cohu.

2 October-1 December. Book tickets here

6. Measure for Measure, Donmar Warehouse

Continuing the role-swapping trend, Hayley Atwell and Jack Lowden will alternate as virtuous novice Isabella and her tormentor, the hypocritical puritan Angelo. This intriguing Shakespeare production is directed by outgoing AD Josie Rourke, and the cast also includes Nicholas Burns, Sule Rimi, Helena Wilson and Rachel Denning.

Until 24 November. Book tickets here

7. A Very Very Very Dark Matter, Bridge Theatre

Martin McDonagh's no doubt aptly named new play tells the story of Hans Christian Andersen - and the true source of his tales tucked away in a Copenhagen attic. Matthew Dunster directs, and the cast features Jim Broadbent, Phil Daniels, Elizabeth Berrington, Lee Knight, Johnetta Eula'Mae Ackles, Paul Bradley, Graeme Hawley and Ryan Pope.

12 October-6 January, 2019. Book tickets here

8. The Wild Duck, Almeida Theatre

The great contemporary interpreter Robert Icke is back, this time tackling Ibsen's 1884 play about a family struggling with deceit and infidelity - with the titular duck a potent symbol. The cast includes Lyndsey Marshall, Edward Hogg, Nicholas Farrell, Kevin Harvey, Andrea Hall, Nicholas Day and Rick Warden.

15 October-1 December. Book tickets here

9. The Wolves, Theatre Royal Stratford East

A high school girls' soccer team is the focus of American playwright Sarah DeLappe's award-winning work (a companion piece, perhaps, to Clare Barron's Dance Nation). Ellen McDougall directs Rosie Sheey, Nina Bowers, Hannah Jarrett-Scott, Annabel Baldwin, Francesca Henry, Lauren Grace, Salisha James-Davis, Seraphina Beh, Rosabell Laurenti Sellers and Kristin Hutchinson.

24 October-17 November. Book tickets here

10. The Inheritance, Noel Coward Theatre

Matthew Lopez's major two-part play about a gay life, generational influence, property and love gets a West End encore following its hit Young Vic run. Stephen Daldry is at the helm, and the cast includes John Benjamin Hickey, Kyle Soller, Paul Hilton, Andrew Burnap, Samuel H. Levine and Vanessa Redgrave.

Until 19 January, 2019. Book tickets here

Want more recommendations? Find previous Top 10 lists here

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