The Royal Shakespeare Company's (RSC) popular and critically acclaimed production of Henry V has transferred from the company's home in Stratford Upon Avon to London's Barbican Theatre, where it's promoted as the latest in their cycle of history plays.
Things kicked off with David Tennant playing Richard II. He was deposed by Jaspar Britain's Henry IV and, in a two part play, we saw him struggle to groom his son into a suitable monarch. Anthony Sher was the star of these plays, portraying the Prince's most dissolute compnanion, John Falstaff.
Things are changing at The Old Vic.
There are certain shows where you are painfully aware that you are just not the target audience. Arriving at Elf, which is playing a Christmas season at the Dominion Theatre, I tried vainly to go with the flow and just accept the evening for the light, Christmas treat it is meant to be. However the relentless predictability and lack of theatrical imagination left me frustrated. Yet despite the controversially inflated ticket prices for a family show, the rest of the audience appeared to be having a great time and the show delivered the kind of family entertainment they were clearly anticipating.
There were dramatic scenes on and off stage at the National Theatre last night when an audience member in the front row suffered a suspected heart attack four minutes before the end of the press night performance, which had to be stopped so the man could receive medical help.
A new musical stage adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novel The War of the Worlds is due to come to the West End in early February 2016.