Originally published on Tuesday, 12th March 2013

Theatreland

Cool runnings for London’s theatre scene
 

Something’s been happening with theatre lately. The shift started with Kevin Spacey’s direction at the Old Vic, moved on with the cult following of Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem, and Wayne McGregor and Mark Ronson’s ballet last year blew traditionalism sky high with its avant-garde take on the classic form. Now more than ever, the stage has been gaining some street cred.

The uncool, unsexy musical has gained popularity among London’s in-the-know (and we’re not referring to the Glee club). Book Of Mormon has redefined the genre – a naughty, audacious take on Mormonism from South Park’s creators – while the West End will welcome Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Sam Mendes, no less, in June. We’ve even been given the seal of approval for The Bodyguard. By a DJ. We’re just saying.

Alternatively, there’s no-longer-niche opera. Traditionalists should stick to the ENO's five-star La Traviata but we'll be looking to The Perfect America – about the darker side of Walt Disney – will come in May to, we’re convinced, sell-out popularity. Plus, Opera di Peroni starts its second season today. They’ve updated Puccini’s La Rondine so that it’s 80-minutes long and set in warehouse: one for the opera rookies.

Down to the plays. If anything has set the tone for the year ahead it’s Rupert Everett’s incredible performance as Oscar Wilde in The Judas Kiss (a Twitter frenzy was just the start). Big bill shows are order of the day: Judi Dench and Ben Whishaw in Peter and Alice; James McAvoy as Macbeth; Jude Law as Henry V; Helen Mirren in The Audience and Kim Cattrall in Sweet Bird of Youth. Now we somehow need to coax Scarlett Johansson’s Maggie from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof over the pond.

Now just prepare yourself for the returns queue.

by JC