The magnificent Eve Best stars in this revival of John Webster’s Jacobean tragedy that…tells the dark and bloody story of the recently widowed Duchess as she struggles to retain strength and dignity in the face of death.

An esteemed director, Michael Attenborough and an excellent cast including Olivier-award-winning actress Samantha Spiro provide a lively update of Edward de Filippo’s original play.  In the balmy heat of late ’40s Naples, Filumena Marturano lies on her deathbed waiting to marry Domenico Soriano, the man who has kept her as his mistress for twenty-five years.  But no sooner has the priest completed the ceremony, than Filumena makes a miraculous recovery. As he reels in shock, Domenico discovers that this brilliant, iron-willed woman has a few more surprises for him.

If you’re a Noel Coward fan, it’s a good chance to catch a revival of this classic by Noted director Howard Davies starring Lindsay Duncan and Jeremy Notham.

Gifted actor David Suchet stars as James Tyrone in this revival of Eugene O’Neill’s classic play.  In addition to his theatre work, Suchet is well known for his role as Poirot in the Agatha Christie TV series.  As the Independent reviewer said so well about this very dark play: ...It’s not all grim, though. Anthony Page’s West End revival is beautifully modulated, quietly gripping and sometimes humorous. Suchet is on top form. His uxorious tenderness betrays a subtle trace of wary cosseting and he switches startlingly into an angry bark – directed at his decadent, whisky-swigging sons.

With an excellent cast headed by Bertie Carvel and Lauren Ward and directed by Matthew Warchus, The Royal Shakespeare Company’s musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel Matilda was sold-out when it played in Stratford earlier in the year and is a huge hit on the West End, having received excellent reviews from London and New York critics. It will mount a production in New York in 2012.

Running time: 2 hours 40 minutes

A very funny, really silly and much praised comedy by Richard Bean based on The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldini.  It is a little slow in the beginning, but the pace quickly picks up and there are bits of physical comedy which are simply brilliant.  It was a huge hit when it first played at the National Theatre and again after it transferred to the Adelphi Theatre in the West End where all the performances were sold-out. It has transferred once again to the Theatre Royal Haymarket with a brand new cast starring Owain Arthur and is just the ticket for anyone who just wants a good laugh.  The original cast is playing in the New York production which opened April, 2012.

Running time: 2 hours 45 minutes

Alert to Sondheim lovers – A terrific cast including Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, a huge hit at the Chichester Festival Theatre where in opened, Sweeney Todd has gotten rave reviews for its limited run in the West End.  As Sondheim himself said about the stars of this production in a recent interview:  ”You don’t necessarily want to see a piece of your own when you’ve worked on it that much and seen it that many times, but I think those two performances are extraordinary,”

We can’t say it better than the website:  4 actors, 130 characters in 100 hilarious minutes.  Based on the Hitchcock classic, our hero Richard Hannay must solve the 39 Steps to acquit himself of murder and save King & country! I say!

Mike Poulton’s adaptation of Chekov’s Uncle Vanya has received rave reviews from every London critic.  The extended run promises to be one of the hottest tickets in town.

Suitable for ages 12+
Running time: 2 hours 25 minutes

In association with Handspring Puppet Company, this highly acclaimed production is “… based on the celebrated novel by the Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo. Actors working with magnificent, life-sized puppets by the internationally renowned Handspring Puppet Company lead us on a gripping journey through history.” The London Times review was typical of the praise: “So exhilarating it makes you rejoice to be alive. Its sheer skill and invention are awe-inspiring.” The play has been nominated for a 2009 Olivier Award in the category of Most Popular Show.

Award-winning actor Jonathan Pryce stars as King Lear in Michael Attenborough’s upcoming production of one of Shakespeare’s great tragedies.

An extraordinary cast, including multi-award winning Mark Rylance and Samuel Barnett, a gifted young actor, distinguish this revival of Shakespeare’s play about the tyranical King Richard.

In Simon Stephens’ adaption of Mark Haddon’s award-winning novel, …Christopher, fifteen years old, stands beside Mrs Shears’ dead dog. It has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. He records each fact in the book he is writing to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington.

Recommended for 13+ years.

With a brilliant cast including Julie Waltes, Rory Kinnear, Matthew Marsh and Helen McCrory, this play by Stephen Beresford and directed by Howard Davies…examines the fate of the revolutionary generation and offers a funny, touching and at times savage portrait of a family full of longing that’s losing its grip.

Written in collaboration with Thomas Middleton, Timon of Athens is one of Shakespeare least known and least beloved plays.  In addition to presenting this rarely seen play, this modern dress production will star the great Simon Russell Beale and will be directed by Nicholas Hytner.

Harvey Fierstein’s award-winning musical returns and this time directed by Douglas Hodge who won both an Oliver and Tony award for his performance in the role of Albin.  In this production, David Bedelia will portray Arnold; Bedelia won an Olivier for his role as Satan in Jerry Springer The Opera.

The Globe will reprise it’s brilliant 2002 production of Twelfth Night noted for it’s all male cast with Stephen Fry playing Malvolio and the incomparable Mark Rylance as Olivia.  Rylance’s performance is not to be missed.  This will undoubtedly be a hard ticket to get.  But the good news is due to the anticipated popularity of the play, a transfer o the West End has already been announced.  This production will play at the Apollo Theatre from November 2, 2012 until February 3, 2013.  Booking is already open at:   http://nimaxtheatres.com/apollo-theatre/twelfth_night