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Ready, Steady, Book: The London theatre shows you must see in 2019

Cate Blanchett in When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other: Gillian Hyland
Cate Blanchett in When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other: Gillian Hyland

When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other, the National Theatre

Previews from Jan 16..

The mesmerising Cate Blanchett makes her National Theatre debut in a new work by cult playwright Martin Crimp.

Inspired by Pamela, Samuel Richardson’s 18th-century novel of sexual politics, it is billed as an exploration of the nature of desire.

It’s directed by Katie Mitchell, often hailed as the country’s most daring director, and features Stephen Dillane (Stannis Baratheon in Game of Thrones) appearing at the National for the first time since 2002.

nationaltheatre.org.uk

9 to 5 The Musical, the Savoy Theatre

Previews from Jan 28..

Dolly Parton fans will always treasure her big-screen performance in 9 to 5 — as Doralee Rhodes, one of a group of office workers who fantasise about getting even with bullying boss Franklin Hart.

Now the Eighties film has become a musical with a score by Parton. Louise Redknapp plays office supervisor Violet (a whip-smart Lily Tomlin in the movie), alongside Natalie McQueen as Doralee and the irrepressible Brian Conley as bigoted Franklin.

9to5themusical.co.uk

Come From Away, the Phoenix Theatre

Previews from Jan 30.

This tender, inspiring show is grounded in events that sound like a highly improbable subject for a musical. A sleeper success on Broadway, it’s a portrait of extraordinary hospitality, telling the story of 6,579 air passengers stranded after 9/ 11 and welcomed by the people of a small Newfoundland town.

The work of husband-and-wife writing team Irene Sankoff and David Hein, it’s sensitive rather than earnest in its depiction of mass generosity.

comefromawaylondon.co.uk

All About Eve, the Noël Coward Theatre

Lily James and Gillian Anderson will star in All About Eve (Perou)
Lily James and Gillian Anderson will star in All About Eve (Perou)

Previews from Feb 2.

Gillian Anderson and Lily James star in a fresh adaptation of the classic Bette Davis film, in which Davis’s character Margo Channing (here played by Anderson) memorably says: ‘Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.’

'Bumpy’ isn’t a word associated with Belgian auteur Ivo van Hove, who adapts and directs; audiences can instead expect a sophisticated, innovative approach.

There’s music from PJ Harvey, and a classy cast includes Monica Dolan, Sheila Reid, Rhashan Stone and Julian Ovenden.

delfontmackintosh.co.uk

The Price, Wyndham’s Theatre

David Suchet in Arthur Miller’s The Price (©Nobby Clark Photographer)
David Suchet in Arthur Miller’s The Price (©Nobby Clark Photographer)

Previews from Feb 5.

This is one of Arthur Miller’s most engrossing plays, as well as one of his most autobiographical, shaped by his experience of the Great Depression.

Jonathan Church’s 50th anniversary revival, praised at its summer run in Bath, highlights the satisfying meatiness of the main roles.

A twinkly David Suchet plays Gregory Solomon, a furniture dealer appraising the goods of a family selling off its possessions, while Brendan Coyle and Adrian Lukis are the estranged Franz brothers, picking over their legacy.

delfontmackintosh.co.uk

Only Fools and Horses: The Musical, the Theatre Royal Haymarket

Only Fools and Horses the Musical will open next year
Only Fools and Horses the Musical will open next year

Previews from Feb 9.

A musical based on this most beloved of British sitcoms? Lovely jubbly, to use a favourite phrase of Peckham wheeler dealer Del Boy Trotter.

He’s played here by Tom Bennett, a sweetly amusing comic actor, while Ryan Hutton is his ‘plonker’ sibling, Rodney. The role of crafty Grandad belongs to Paul Whitehouse, who shares writing duties with Jim Sullivan, son of the TV show’s creator John Sullivan.

Some songs are courtesy of the late Chas Hodges of Chas & Dave fame.

trh.co.uk

Shipwreck, the Almeida

Previews from Feb 11.

Anne Washburn is one of America’s most original playwrights, and her audacious Mr Burns ruffled a few feathers at the Almeida in 2014.

Now she returns with a nightmarish comedy about Donald Trump, which is being sold with the tagline ‘You are formally invited to dinner with the 45th President of the United States.’

Almeida boss Rupert Goold, who directs, describes it as being about the seductive effects of power.

almeida.co.uk

Richard II, Shakespeare’s Globe

Adjoa Andoh as Richard II
Adjoa Andoh as Richard II

Previews from Feb 22.

Though far from being the best-known of Shakespeare’s history plays, Richard II is a psychologically astute consideration of pride, loyalty and patriotism.

This production, which boasts a cast consisting entirely of women of colour, is sure to offer a bold new reading.

Co-directed by Adjoa Andoh (who takes the title role) and Lynette Linton, it promises to ask searching questions about Britain’s identity, informed by recent debates around both Brexit and Windrush.

shakespearesglobe.com

Alys, Always, the Bridge Theatre

Previews from Feb 25.

Joanne Froggatt, best known as lady’s maid Anna in Downton Abbey, stars in this adaptation of a gripping novel by Harriet Lane.

A psychological thriller, it portrays a character who appears ordinary — a downtrodden sub-editor on a failing newspaper — but is in fact unnervingly ruthless.

Lane’s tightly woven story is also a satire on journalism and literary London, and has been adapted by Lucinda Coxon, whose past credits include the screenplay for The Danish Girl. Bridge Theatre supremo Nicholas Hytner directs a cast that includes Hustle star Robert Glenister.

bridgetheatre.co.uk

Top Girls, the National Theatre

Running in heels: Top Girls
Running in heels: Top Girls

Previews from March 26.

Caryl Churchill’s Eighties play is a modern classic, which begins with a surreal dinner party drawing together female characters from multiple historical eras — including a ninth-century pope who disguised herself as man.

It’s a vision of powerful women, their careers and notions of success. Here it will be interpreted by in-demand director Lyndsey Turner, with Katherine Kingsley taking the lead as Marlene, opportunistic boss of the Top Girls employment agency.

nationaltheatre.org.uk

Death of a Salesman, the Young Vic

Previews from May 1.

It feels as if this is the year of Arthur Miller, with The Price in the West End as well as All My Sons and The American Clock due to open at The Old Vic. This revival of his most famous play sounds especially enticing.

Directed by Marianne Elliott (of Evening Standard Theatre Award-winner, Company), it boasts homegrown talent in Sharon D Clarke and Arinzé Kene, alongside Wendell Pierce, who played Bunk in The Wire and Meghan Markle’s dad in Suits.

youngvic.org

Dear Evan Hansen, the Noël Coward Theatre

The current cast of Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway (Matthew Murphy)
The current cast of Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway (Matthew Murphy)

From November.

The winner of six Tony Awards, this gentle yet at times raw musical is a certified tearjerker. It focuses on teenage misfit Evan, who is terrified of almost everything and is required by his therapist to write motivational letters to himself.

When a student at his school commits suicide, a misunderstanding leads to Evan becoming a viral news sensation.

It’s a thrilling but hazardous state of affairs, given heartfelt life via a pop/rock score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who won an Oscar as lyricists for the song ‘City of Stars’ in La La Land.

dearevanhansen.com/london