Another day, another couple of pieces of London theatre news to share with you all. Let’s start at the Almeida Theatre where the full casting for James MacDonald’s production of Bakkhai has just been announced.
Anne Carson’s version of the tragedy will use three actors and a chorus – echoing the original Ancient Greek performance model. Kevin Harvey joins the previously announced Ben Whishaw (making his Almeida début as Dionysos) and Bertie Carvel as Pentheus.
Pentheus has banned the wild and ritualistic worship of the God Dionysos but a stranger arrives to change his mind…
Bakkhai appears at the Almeida Theatre from the 23rd July until 19th September.
Meanwhile, at St James Theatre they are preparing for Christmas already announcing a production Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days over the festive period.
The show will be directed by Lucy Bailey, who has recently directed Titus Andronicus at the Globe and Fortune’s Fool at the Old Vic. It is based on an adaptation by playwright Laura Eason, best known as a writer on the hit series House of Cards.
Talking about the new production, Lucy Bailey said: “This new stage version is off the wall, refreshingly unconventional and celebrates our world – what could be better!”
The show will run for eight weeks at the theatre, from the 26th November until the 16th January 2016.
If you have little ones and you want to take them to the theatre then you will be pleased to hear that there will be a limited season for the family show Aliens Love Underpants, based on the popular children’s book by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort.
As the title suggests, it is about some mischievous aliens who come to planet earth on an important mission to steal people’s underwear!
Having been on an extensive UK tour, the show will arrive on London at the Dominion Theatre from 1st August until the 5th September.
The show stars Abigail Carter-Simpson, Mark Collier, Eve Pearson-Wright, Alex James Ellison and is directed by Adam Bampton-Smith.
So there’s a few ideas for your next theatre trips over the next few months – go and enjoy!