Fall is a great time to visit London and soak up culture with new theatrical productions presented in the popular West End district, for the enjoyment of lovers of Shakespeare’s language.
We recommend three of the best plays that will soon debut in the British capital.
Electra
The Old Vic Theater // From September 20 to December 20
British actress Kristin Scott Thomas, known worldwide for her performances in the films The English Patient and Four Weddings and a Funeral, joins Ian Rickson, one of the most popular British theater directors to represent at the Old Vic what is considered Sophocles greatest tragedy: Electra, in an imaginative adaptation by Frank McGuinness, full of emotion, passion, power and revenge.The play tells the story of Electra, a Greek noble woman that is forced to forgive the murder of her father Agamemnon. Consumed by a fierce desire for vengeance, her anger builds up. After the return of her brother Orestes, Electra’s fury explodes mercilessly against her mother Clytemnestra, leading to a bloody and terrifying conclusion. Electra is a theatrical production that excels in emotional performances and a sober mise-en-scène that focuses the viewer on the terrible events narrated in the story.
East Is East
Trafalgar Studio One // From October 4 to January 3
East Is East is a revival of a modern classic that takes a humorous approach to telling the story of a group of Pakistani youngsters growing up in multicultural England in the crowded neighborhood of Salford during the 1970’s. George “Genghis” Khan, owner of a typical Fish & Chips establishment is determined to give his children a strict Muslim education. Ella, his English wife, is a housewife who finds herself caught between two fires: her loyalty to her husband and the free will of her children. Ayub Khan Din wrote the witty and ingenious play and will also share the stage with award-winning actress Jane Harrocks.
Great Britain
Theatre Royal Haymarket // From September 9 to January 10
Paige Britain is the ambitious news editor of a London newspaper. She quickly learns everything there is to know about wiretapping, and before long she starts blackmailing members of the Metropolitan Police and the charismatic leader of the British Conservative Party. The play, written by Richard Bean, is a montage that flows fast and furiously without stopping. This anarchic, foul-mouthed satire on the press, police and politicians, now comes to the West End after its tremendous success at the National Theatre. Great Britain is a hilarious, poignant and sharp criticism of our society, in which no one is free from guilt and where no one is good nor bad. A timely exploration of the oft complicated relationship between the press and the powers that be. ■
