The Fantastic Four

Little Shop of Horrors, photographer Alistair Muir

With such a varied choice of theatre, on and off London’s West End what do you plump for? From musicals, to comedy; serious drama to upbeat fringe, there is a copious amount of seemingly exciting stuff. But not all shows are worthy of their glittering – or critical - reviews. So we’ve trawled theatreland for four of the summer’s best shows so you don’t have to sit through anything duff.

Musical Theatre
Little Shop of Horrors, starring Alistair McGowan, and  Mike McShane, is a the stage a fantastic adaptation of the originall.
Seymour, a Skid Row florist, becomes famous when he discovers Audrey II, a foul-mouthed plant with a craving for  fresh blood.
Wonderful songs, choreography, laughs every minute and a talking, foul-mouthed  plant, this show will leave you feeling uplifted.
But you may want to avoid flower shops for a while.

New Ambassador’s Theatre, London, WC2



Comic Play
The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams, set in the Sicilian community of New Orleans, is an optimistic and intelligent piece. 
Zoe Wannamaker plays Serrafina, a widow who learns to love again after mourning the death of her husband, only to find he may not of been all he seemed. Directed by Steven Pimlott and Nicholas Hytner, this is the quality of production you’d expect to find at the National Theatre.

National Theatre, South Bank,  SE1 9PX



Period Piece
Kevin Spacey is doing The Old Vic justice and has put it right back on London’s theatrical map.
With the successful run of The Entertainer over, Gaslight doesn’t disappoint.
The beautiful Rosamund Pike stars in this wonderful Victorian thriller, about a young woman who is physiologically ruled by her husband.

Old Vic Theatre, The Cut, Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8NB



The Fringe
The Bridewell Theatre brilliantly does the Bard as part of its ‘lunchbox’  season.
Its 45 minute production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is probably one of the best ways to spend your lunch hour.
Red Handed Theatre Company present this Shakespearean favourite, about unrequited love, magic and fairies  with a fresh funny take.

Bridewell Theatre, 14 Bride Lane, Fleet Street, London,  EC4Y 8EQ

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