You can count on London’s Theatreland to deliver plenty of drama. Judith Schrut samples what’s on offer this year in the West End and beyond.
Count on London Theatreland to deliver plenty of drama in 2020. In the West End, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Hamilton, the Lion King and Wicked continue to thrill, while a rollicking new Mary Poppins is playing to awards and 5-star reviews. As for new shows, my money’s on the upcoming premiere of Hello Dolly! with Olivier and BAFTA winning Imelda Staunton (Follies, Gypsy, Harry Potter); Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George in a sizzling hot transfer from Broadway starring Jake Gyllenhaal as that famed post-impressionist painter of dots, Georges Seurat; and the return of Sister Act, with the ingenious casting of Jennifer Saunders as Mother Superior and Whoopi Goldberg as Deloris. The outrageous Ms Goldberg is reprising the role she originated 27 years ago in the hit comedy film.
The always impressive National Theatre premieres Lucy (Chimerica) Kirkwood’s latest play The Welkin, a courtroom drama about morality, the female experience in rural 18th century Suffolk and a 12-woman jury led by the astonishing Maxine Peake. You can also see the bewitching Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread, Mum) in Dürrenmatt’s revenge drama, The Visit. If you missed out on tickets last year for NT’s remarkable, sold out run of Small Island, there’s a second chance to book and see it this autumn. You can also catch topnotch NT-originated productions like War Horse, a Taste of Honey and the Lehman Trilogy in the West End or on tour. Even more exciting to know that friends and family outside London can also enjoy all these wonderful shows, as NT broadcasts in cinemas across the UK and the world as part of National Theatre Live.
It’s always worth checking out London’s many off-West End venues, offering a pleasure and quality match at a fraction of West End prices. I’m a massive fan of beautiful, historic and inexpensive Wilton’s Music Hall. This one-of-a-kind gem in the heart of London is the oldest Grand Music Hall in the world, now splendidly restored. Wilton’s proudly hosts a year round programme of exceptional and original shows, guided tours and community events. Coming highlights include Gilbert and Sullivan’s infectiously tuneful blockbuster H.M.S. Pinafore; the premiere of Horse Country, an anarchic and surreal satire with echoes of Waiting for Godot, and the hysterically funny The Burglars’ Opera.
I’ve seen many outstanding shows over the years at another personal favourite, the Young Vic, with its brilliantly flexible theatre space and adventurous programme and casting. This year is no exception, with bold productions of Hamlet, with Cush Jumbo (the Good Wife, the Good Fight) as the ill-fated Prince of Denmark, and Portia Coughlan, a haunting tale of love and kinship starring Ruth Negge. Our hoped-for long, hot, healthy summer will bring another great theatrical season at the multi-award winning Regents Park Open Air Theatre. This is the best place in London, if not the planet, for pre-theatre BBQ picnics, drinks under the twinkling lights of the West End’s longest bar, and top shows with easy-on-the-pocket ticket prices and tons of atmosphere. I can’t wait to see its staging of the timeless Carousel, Romeo and Juliet and a debut musical version of 101 Dalmations.
Early 2020 saw the opening of revamped Riverside Studios in West London. First up on its sparkling Studio 3 Stage was the world premiere of Persona, a psychological thriller adapted from Ingmar Bergman’s eponymous Scandi classic followed by a powerful double bill of a love story, Love, Loss and Chianti. Now opened too are Riverside’s state of the art cinemas, rehearsal spaces, TV studio, art gallery, café, restaurant and bar.
Finally, when treating yourself to a show in 2020, remember our Golden Rule: there’s no need to pay full price! You’ll be amazed how many theatres have hugely discounted on-the-day tickets to in-person callers, students and over-60s. Do also check out Leicester Square’s official half-price ticket booth or the numerous online theatre discount sites. For really useful tips on choosing seats and insider reviews, consult Theatre Monkey.
Don’t miss the final post in our 2020 Vision miniseries, coming soon.
