As the clocks jump forward and Summertime officially begins, it’s time to take a look at our top ten shows which have their first performance in April. This is the month that sees a festival of European theatre and Kelsey Grammer take to the London stage.
Fighter
Stratford Circus Arts Centre 25th – 27th April
Inspired by the pioneering British female boxers who fought for their right to fight, Fighter is a raucously visceral show, combining theatre and live boxing, that packs a real punch. Featuring a cast of genuine young boxers, this show blurs boundaries in an unexplored style that will leave you on the edge of your ringside seat!
Fresh off the back of acclaimed show Muvvahood, writer/performer Libby Liburd and director Julie Addy present this piece of powerhouse theatre, using their trademark mix of hard-hitting facts, humour and lived experience.
![[title of show] credit Danny Kaan](https://eghcszbxego.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/title-of-show-credit-Danny-Kaan-120x86.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
Intra Muros
Park Theatre 3rd April – 4th May
Intra Muros will have its UK première at Park Theatre. Alexis Michalik’s latest play opened in Paris in 2017 and is still running at LaPépinière Théâtre. This metatheatrical production will be directed by Ché Walker who will also feature as the director within the play, Richard. The full cast includes Summer Strallen as Alice, Victor Gardener as Angel, Emma Pallant as Jane and Declan Perring as Kevin. Popular jazz artist Rio Kai will provide live music and digital sound mixing as an on-stage DJ.
A Piece of The Continent Festival
Tristan Bates Theatre 8th – 27th April
A Piece of the Continent Festival is presented by The Actors Centre and Voila! Europe, and will be staged at The Actors Centre’s Tristan Bates Theatre. The festival features nine works and is designed to offer a platform for artists from across Europe as well as extending a welcome to EU citizens who may feel isolated or disenfranchised following the passing of Article 50. The festival will showcase theatre from Italian, French, Polish, Greek, German, Dutch, Lithuanian, Austrian and Spanish artists based in the UK or overseas.
Mouthpiece
Soho Theatre 2nd April – 4th May
Following a sold out, critically-acclaimed run at the Traverse Theatre in 2018, Fringe First winner Kieran Hurley brings Mouthpiece to Soho. The production, directed by former Traverse Artistic Director Orla O’Loughlin, sees Neve McIntosh and Lorn Macdonald reprise their roles.
A frank, funny and unflinching look at the polarities of social inequality in a city, Mouthpiece asks when does the portrayal of poverty become poverty porn?
Book Tickets Interview with Kieran Hurley
Queen of the Mist
Brockley Jack Studio Theatre 9th April – 27th April
Queen of the Mist is based on the astounding and outrageous true story of Anna Edson Taylor, who in 1901 on her 63rd birthday set out to be the first person to survive a trip over Niagara Falls in a barrel of her own design. This story explores the fickle world of celebrity and sensationalism at the turn of the century with an unconventional heroine determined not to live an ordinary life. With a soaring score that incorporates turn of the century themes with LaChiusa’s insightful and engaging style, this award-winning musical is the story of how one woman risked death so that she could live.
Three Sisters
Almeida Theatre 8th April – 1st June
Following her critically acclaimed production of Summer and Smoke, Almeida Associate Director Rebecca Frecknall directs Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters, in a new adaptation by Cordelia Lynn (One For Sorrow, Lela & Co). The cast includes Pearl Chanda, Patsy Ferran and Lois Chimimba.
Do you ever wonder what would happen if we could live our lives all over again but be fully conscious of it the second time?
Rosmersholm
Duke of York’s Theatre 24th April – 20th July
An election looming. A country on the brink. A rabid press baying for blood. At the centre of the storm is Rosmersholm, the grand house of an influential dynasty. This is where the future will be decided by John Rosmer – a man torn between the idealised hope of the future and the ghosts of his past.
Henrik Ibsen’s classic examination of a country in state of political flux has been adapted by Duncan Macmillan (People, Places and Things, 1984, Every Brilliant Thing). Directed by Ian Rickson it stars Hayley Atwell and Tom Burke.
Tumulus
Soho Theatre 16th April – 4th May
Ian Hallard, Ciarán Owens and Harry Lister Smith star in the transfer to Soho Theatre of Christopher Adams’s play, Tumulus, a fast-paced noir-style murder mystery thriller set against the backdrop of London’s gay scene.
When Anthony’s one-night stand is found dead on Hampstead Heath, everyone assumes that he is another casualty of London’s chemsex culture. When a second body is discovered, Anthony suspects foul play and is thrust into a heart-pounding journey to uncover the truth.
Ain’t Misbehavin’
Southwark Playhouse 19th April – 1st June
Celebrating the legendary jazz musician Fats Waller and his energetic, exuberant and effervescent music, Ain’t Misbehavin’ steps back into the 1920’s and the raunchy nightclubs of Manhattan. Join an extraordinary group of performers on a journey through a defining period of American musical history, the Harlem Renaissance – where musicians were free to experiment with new styles, and joints were jumpin’ with talented dancers, singers and instrumentalists jamming to a new beat known as swing.
Ain’t Misbehavin’ is directed by Tyrone Huntley, making his directorial debut, and choreographed by Oti Mabuse.
Man of La Mancha
London Coliseum 26th April – 6th June
Michael Linnit and Michael Grade – the producers who brought Chess, Carousel, Sunset Boulevard and Sweeney Todd to the London Coliseum – are collaborating again with English National Opera to bring a brand new production of the multi-Tony award winning Broadway musical, Man of La Mancha to London, the first West End production of this acclaimed musical in over 50 years.
Man of La Mancha will play a limited season, and will be performed with ENO’s 35 piece orchestra. It stars Kelsey Grammer, Danielle de Niese, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Cassidy Janson and Peter Polycarpou.
![[title of show] credit Danny Kaan](https://eghcszbxego.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/title-of-show-credit-Danny-Kaan-350x250.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
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