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England

Theatre entertainment in England

  1. A

    Rondo Theatre

    This small rep theatre mixes up a varied programme of comedy, music, dance and drama.

    reviewed

  2. B

    New Theatre

    For West End shows, ageing pop stars, comedians and plenty of fanfare.

    reviewed

  3. C

    Theatre Royal

    Features programs by touring drama, opera and ballet companies.

    reviewed

  4. D

    Hull New Theatre

    A traditional regional theatre hosting popular drama, concerts and musicals.

    reviewed

  5. E

    New Alexandra Theatre

    This Brummie institution has been around even longer than the veteran comedians and touring stage shows walking its boards.

    reviewed

  6. F

    Library Theatre

    Old plays and new work in a small theatre beneath the Central Library.

    reviewed

  7. G

    Pegasus Theatre

    Set in a sparkly new building off Iffley Rd, just five minutes' walk from the Plain, this is the place for alternative independent productions.

    reviewed

  8. H

    Oxford Playhouse

    The city’s main stage for quality drama also hosts an impressive selection of touring music, dance and theatre performances, and the Burton Taylor Studio has quirky student productions.

    reviewed

  9. I

    West Yorkshire Playhouse

    The Playhouse has a reputation for excellent live drama, from the classics to cutting-edge new writing.

    reviewed

  10. J

    York Theatre Royal

    Stages well-regarded productions of theatre, opera and dance.

    reviewed

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  12. K

    Little Theatre

    Other venues for plays include the Little Theatre.

    reviewed

  13. L

    Haymarket Theatre

    Haymarket Theatre has some innovative theatre.

    reviewed

  14. M

    Green Room

    The premiere fringe venue in town.

    reviewed

  15. N

    Gulbenkian Theatre

    Out on the university campus, this large long-established venue puts on plenty of contemporary plays, modern dance and great live music.

    reviewed

  16. O

    Wilton’s

    A gloriously atmospheric example of one of London’s Victorian public-house music halls, Wilton’s hosts a real variety of shows, from comedy and classical music to literary theatre and opera. You can also take a one-hour guided tour of the building to hear more about its fascinating history. The hall’s Mahogany Bar is a great way to get a taste of the place if you’re not attending a performance.

    reviewed

  17. Shakespeare’s Globe

    If you love Shakespeare and the theatre, the Globe will knock you off your feet. This authentic Shakespearean theatre is a wooden O without a roof over the central stage area, and although there are covered wooden bench seats in tiers around the stage, many people (there’s room for 700) do as 17th-century ‘groundlings’ did, standing in front of the stage, shouting and heckling. Because the building is quite open to the elements, you may have to wrap up. No umbrellas are allowed, but cheap raincoats are on sale.

    The theatre season runs from late April to mid-October and includes works by Shakespeare and his contemporaries such as Christopher Marlowe. The theatre’s…

    reviewed

  18. P

    National Theatre

    England’s flagship theatre showcases a mix of classic and contemporary plays performed by excellent casts in three theatres (Olivier, Lyttelton and Cottesloe). Outstanding artistic director Nicholas Hytner has overseen some recent landmark productions and slashed ticket prices. There are constant surprises and recent triumphs have included the powerful War Horse with its life-sized equine puppets, Phèdre with the incomparable Helen Mirren, and the extraordinary musical London Road – focussing on the murder of five prostitutes in Ipswich.

    Travelex tickets costing just £12 are available to certain performances during the peak period; otherwise, standby tickets (usually…

    reviewed

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  20. Q

    Almeida

    A plush venue that can be relied on to provide the city with an essential program of imaginative theatre, the Almeida, under its creative artistic director, Michael Attenborough, attracts directors such as Richard Eyre and Rufus Norris, and stages plays such as The Mercy Seat and the acclaimed Duet for One.

    reviewed

  21. R

    New Marlowe Theatre

    The old Marlowe Theatre was bulldozed in 2009 and the spanking new, state-of-the-art building bolted together in its place opened in late 2011. Established from day one as the southeast's premier venue for performing arts, the New Marlowe attracts top companies and quick-selling productions. Check out the bizarre auditorium, with its dark faux veneers contrasting sharply with life-jacket orange seats.

    reviewed

  22. S

    Theatre Severn

    This much-acclaimed and expansive new riverside theatre and music venue hosts everything from pop gigs and comedy nights to plays and classical concerts.

    reviewed