Cowards, Rebeccas and Vanyas abound in theatreland this month, as we take you through the best new shows coming to London this September.
Welcome back to whynow's monthly theatre guide! Looking for a cultural gift for a loved one? Want to show off your intellectualism to a date? Do you find yourself looking for things to do on a Wednesday afternoon? Then look no further! Here’s the rundown of the best new theatre shows in London this September.
Private Lives
Ambassadors Theatre, 31 August – 25 November
Written by Noel Coward; Starring Nigel Havers, Patricia Hodge
Nigel Havers and Patricia Hodge in Private Lives (Photo: Tristram Kenton)
Staged to celebrate the 5oth anniversary of the author’s death in 1973, Noel Coward’s classic comedy of marriage, monogamy and sex makes its return to the West End with a bang (behave). When ex-spouses Elyot (Havers) and Amanda (Hodge) accidentally book adjacent rooms for their honeymoons with their new partners, their newfound proximity rekindles passions and passive-aggressive insults in equal measure.
Get your Private Lives tickets here.
The Little Big Things
@sohoplace Theatre, 2 September – 25 November
Music by Nick Butcher; Lyrics by Nick Butcher & Tom Ling; Book by Joe White; Starring Jonny Amies, Ed Larkin, Linzi Hateley
The Little Big Things cast in rehearsal (Photo: Shona Louise)
Based on Henry Fraser's memoir of the same name, The Little Big Things is a brand new musical telling the story of a rugby rising star turned acclaimed mouth artist. When a tragic diving accident crushes the 17-year-old Fraser’s spinal cord, he and his family overcome adversity to adapt to the unthinkable new situation they find themselves in. All set to a theatrical pop soundtrack, of course.
Get your The Little Big Things tickets here.
Rebecca
Charing Cross Theatre, 4 September – 18 November
Music by Sylvester Levay; Book and Lyrics by Michael Kunze; Starring Richard Carson, Lauren Jones, Kara Lane
Rebecca during its run in Stuttgart in 2011. (Photo: Morris Mac Matzen)
Christopher Hampton’s English language adaptation of the sold-out German musical hit is finally making its way to the UK. Sticking closely to Daphne du Maurier’s original novel rather than Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 film, the 22-song production sees the wealthy Maxim De Winter brings his new wife home to his Cornish estate, where the manipulative housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, resents her intrusion. She persuades her that she is an unworthy replacement for the first Mrs. De Winter, the titular Rebecca, who perished in a mysterious accident.
Get your Rebecca tickets here.
Pygmalion
The Old Vic, 6 September – 28 October
Written by George Bernard Shaw; Starring Bertie Carvel, Patsy Ferran
It’s not a bad month for acclaimed adaptations of British satirical classics, and The Old Vic are getting in on the act with a new staging of George Bernard Shaw’s class-critiquing Pygmalion. After a chance meeting with Professor Henry Higgins and Colonel Pickering, Eliza Doolittle finds herself the subject of a rash bet to pass her off as a lady amongst the great and the good of London society.
Get your Pygmalion tickets here.
The Father and the Assassin
The National Theatre, 8 September – 14 October
Written by Anupama Chandrasekhar; Starring Hiran Abeysekera, Paul Bazely
Photo: Simon Sorted/Prarthna Singh
Just over a year after the play’s last stint at the National, Anupama Chandrasekhar’s stirring tale of nationalism and division is back for a victory lap at the Olivier theatre. Charting the story of Nathuram Godse, the man who murdered Gandhi, from devout acolyte to radical extremist over 30 years, director Indhu Rubasingham reunites with one of India’s most exciting playwrights for a second shot at this epic political tragedy.
Get your The Father and the Assassin tickets here.
Death of England: Closing Time
The National Theatre, 13 September – 11 November
Written by Clint Dyer & Roy Williams; Starring Jo Martin, Hayley Squires
Jo Martin and Hayley Squires (Photo: Spencer Murphy)
The final, standalone chapter of the award-winning Death of England series, Closing Time sees Denise (Martin) and her daughter-in-law Carly (Squires) grieving the loss of the family shop. With their dreams in tatters, the duo are left to pick up the pieces of their relatives’ mistakes.
Get your Death of England: Closing Time tickets here.
Vanya
The Duke of York’s Theatre, 15 September – 21 October
Written by Anton Chekhov; Adapted by Simon Stephen; Starring Andrew Scott
Continuing the trend of one-person performances currently gripping the London theatre scene (presumably it’s cheaper), Sherlock and Fleabag's Andrew Scott takes on every role in Simon Stephen’s radical new version of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. A classically tragic portrayal of Russian country life in the 19th century, the Duke of York’s website informs us this production “contains the smoking of real cigarettes and loud bangs”, so we know we’re in for a treat.
Get your Vanya tickets here.
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Staged to celebrate the 5oth anniversary of the author’s death in 1973, Noel Coward’s classic comedy of marriage, monogamy and sex makes its return to the West End with a bang (behave). When ex-spouses Elyot (Havers) and Amanda (Hodge) accidentally book adjacent rooms for their honeymoons with their new partners, their newfound proximity rekindles passions and passive-aggressive insults in equal measure.
Get your Private Lives tickets here.
Based on Henry Fraser's memoir of the same name, The Little Big Things is a brand new musical telling the story of a rugby rising star turned acclaimed mouth artist. When a tragic diving accident crushes the 17-year-old Fraser’s spinal cord, he and his family overcome adversity to adapt to the unthinkable new situation they find themselves in. All set to a theatrical pop soundtrack, of course.
Get your The Little Big Things tickets here.
Christopher Hampton’s English language adaptation of the sold-out German musical hit is finally making its way to the UK. Sticking closely to Daphne du Maurier’s original novel rather than Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 film, the 22-song production sees the wealthy Maxim De Winter brings his new wife home to his Cornish estate, where the manipulative housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, resents her intrusion. She persuades her that she is an unworthy replacement for the first Mrs. De Winter, the titular Rebecca, who perished in a mysterious accident.
Get your Rebecca tickets here.
Just over a year after the play’s last stint at the National, Anupama Chandrasekhar’s stirring tale of nationalism and division is back for a victory lap at the Olivier theatre. Charting the story of Nathuram Godse, the man who murdered Gandhi, from devout acolyte to radical extremist over 30 years, director Indhu Rubasingham reunites with one of India’s most exciting playwrights for a second shot at this epic political tragedy.
Get your The Father and the Assassin tickets here.
The final, standalone chapter of the award-winning Death of England series, Closing Time sees Denise (Martin) and her daughter-in-law Carly (Squires) grieving the loss of the family shop. With their dreams in tatters, the duo are left to pick up the pieces of their relatives’ mistakes.
Get your Death of England: Closing Time tickets here.
Continuing the trend of one-person performances currently gripping the London theatre scene (presumably it’s cheaper), Sherlock and Fleabag's Andrew Scott takes on every role in Simon Stephen’s radical new version of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. A classically tragic portrayal of Russian country life in the 19th century, the Duke of York’s website informs us this production “contains the smoking of real cigarettes and loud bangs”, so we know we’re in for a treat.
Get your Vanya tickets here.
