There has been lots written about the hit London theatres are going to take during the Olympics and whether some will just close their doors for the duration. So sparked by a rather bare looking diary for August I decided to test the waters and see which theatres are actually producing new (or any) work during the Olympics.
There are an alarming number which don't have anything listed post the end of July, their programmes picking up again at the end of August, but some do.
This is going to be a changing/growing list as stuff is (hopefully) announced and as I gradually work my way through researching more of London's vast array of theatres starting initially with smaller and non-West End theatres*. If you discover something I've missed, I'd love to add it to the list, just email me production name, theatre, dates and web link to production page and I'll post it with a credit.
So if you'd rather watch actors than runners or swimmers in Jul/August** here's what is on offer so far:
Finborough Theatre
Fear of Breathing – July 17 to Aug 11
Incident at the Border – Sun, Mons & Tues in late July and beginning of Aug, check website for dates
Old Red Lion Theatre
Henry V and Revenger's Tragedy in rep – July 24 – Sept 29
Southwark Playhouse (It's technically after the Olympics but still August)
Much Ado About Nothing – Aug 15 to Aug 18
The Illusion – Aug 22 to Sept 8
Mack and Mabel – Jul 5 to Aug 25 in The Vault
Soho Theatre
John Peel's Shed – Jul 25 to Aug 4
Soho Cinders – Aug 2 to Aug 9
National Theatre
Is keeping calm and carrying on with its normal array of offerings in rep plus War Horse at the New London Theatre and One Man Two Guv'nors at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
Landor Theatre
Curtains (musical) Jul 25 to Sep 1
Donmar
Philadelphia, Here I Come Jul 26 – Sep 22
Royal Court
Birthday Jun 22 – Aug 4
Ten Billion Jul 31 – Aug 11
Of the transfers Posh runs at the Duke of York's until Aug 4 and Jumpy starts on the Aug 16
New additions:
New Diorama Theatre
The Rover Aug 7 – 25
Young Vic
A Doll's House – Run has been extended to Aug 4
Theatre 503
A couple of one off Edinburgh fringe previews towards the end of July
Charing Cross Theatre
Mountview postgraduate shows run in two chunks from Jul 23 – 28 then Aug 6-11
The Globe
Like the National Theatre, it is keeping calm and carrying on with is usual selection of Shakespeare's in rep
Arcola Theatre Tent (theatre is being renovated over the summer)
More graduate shows this time from the Giles Foreman Centre for Acting which is performing Oedipus Rex and One Minute as a double bill from July 31 – Aug 4
Grimeborn – series of operas Aug 21 – Sep 8
Bush Theatre
Bush Bazaar – interactive theatre from Jul 31 – Aug 18
Camden Fringe
14 venues hosting variety of theatre, comedy, puppet shows etc from Jul 30 – 26 Aug
* for the time being – I'm planning to do posts nearer the time on special offers at the big theatres if they materialise
** The London Olympics run from Friday Jul 27 until Aug 12 and Paralympics 29 Aug until 9 Sept
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