Ten must-see theatre shows to kick off 2013

So the world didn’t end in December, the hangovers are over, and we’ve all got to accept that 2013 is officially here, but don’t despair! With it comes an exciting year of off-the-beaten-path theatre and performance for the educated Londonite. Check out our list of the must-see shows kicking off the first year of the new Mayan calendar.

The Master and Margarita, The Barbican (run ends 19^th January)

Simon McBurney and Complicité bring all their tools to the table in this adaptation of the 1930s novel by Mikhail Bulgakov.  Fusing extreme movement with music, puppetry and media, this marks the play’s return to the Barbican since the sell-out tour of March 2012.  

For more information, check out our in-depth review on The Master and Margarita here. 

Fuerzabruta, The Roundhouse (run ends 26^th January)

Another return of a sell-out show, Fuerzabruta is back by popular demand for a four-week appearance at the Roundhouse.  Under the motto “brutally happy”, this is a spectacular show featuring incredible effects, water and nudity.  An interactive, visually stunning piece of theatre that originated in Buenos Aires and having enjoyed immense box-office success both here and on Broadway, Fuerzabruta is not to be missed.

For more information, check out our in-depth review on Fuerzabruta here. 

Streets of… A Living Archaeology, Rich Mix (run ends 27^th January)

Not exactly theatre per se, Streets of… mixes video, sound, smell, and audience interaction to create the virtual-reality interactive experience of living in seven different cities at the same time.  The culmination of artist Alda Terracciano’s long-time interest in London as a cultural hub, this exhibition fuses live experience with art installation to create something you won’t forget soon. 

Learn more about the project and artist here.

The Architects, The Biscuit Factory (run ends 2^nd February)

SHUNT is synonymous with amazing theatrical experiences.  From the wonders of the SHUNT tunnels, to their year-long run of the mind-blowing Money in Bermondsey, they have consistently produced jaw-dropping work to astound and edify.  The Architects is no exception.  Working once again with the National Theatre, SHUNT unpacks the mythical Minotaur in typically disorienting fashion. 

Read our full review of The Architects here. 

Top Story: It’s the End of the World (As We Know It), The Old Vic Tunnels (run ends 2^nd February)

This latest work by Manchester-born playwright Sebastian Michael comically tells the apocalyptic tale of the last seven days of life of an alternative Earth in the path of a LA-sized meteor.  The story of two friends preparing for the worst, Top Story is described as “Godot meets Rosencrantz & Guildenstern for the Facebook Generation.” 

To book tickets click here.

Salad Days, The Riverside Studios (runs ends 2^nd March)

The Riverside Studios see yet another returning event in Salad Days, the hit production of the classic musical comedy from company Tête à Tête.  A 1950’s tale of young love, Salad Days is described as a “sure fire cure for the winter blues”.  This is just for fun, a theatrical romp of song-filled revelry at the chic Hammersmith theatre-cum-film studio, down the road from the Apollo. 

Find out more and book tickets here. 

The Paper Cinema’s Odyssey, Battersea Arts Centre (run ends 9^th March)

Originally appearing at BAC in February 2011, this is one retelling of The Odyssey that is sure to be a unique mixture of story telling, shadow puppetry, and delicate delight.  The show has grown up with Scratch (BAC’s ground-breaking programme) bringing the audience into contact with artists during the developmental phases of their work, which results in richer theatrical experiences for audiences and more robust performances for makers. 

Find out more about Scratch and book for The Paper Cinema’s Odyssey here.

A Thousand Miles of History, the CLF Art Café (run ends 30^th March)

In March, the CLF Art Café brings Harold Finley’s new work, A Thousand Miles of History, to their Theatre Local, a great space originally set up in Peckham by the Royal Court, as part of their outreach programme.  If you’ve not been to the Bussey Building, you’re missing out on a vibrant, vital space that’s thrumming with the pulse of some of London’s most exciting work.  Finley’s latest offering is a story of love, loss, and the underground art movement of the early 80s.

Learn more about the show and book here.

Doctor Brown: Befrdfgth, The Soho Theatre (run ends 20^th March)

Comic genius Doctor Brown returns to the Soho Theatre with his latest opus, Befrdfgth.  Hard to pronounce?  Perhaps.  But that doesn’t change the fact that this is sure to be a feather in the cap of the most avid collector of eclectic theatrical experiences.  Doctor Brown’s unique brand of eccentric clown has brought him sell-out success on both sides of the Atlantic for many years. 

To find out why, book tickets here. 

The Book of Mormon, The Prince of Wales Theatre (run begins 25^th February)

It’s mainstream, it’s perhaps a little cheesy, but we’re willing to take a chance on just about anything the makers of Cannibal the Musical have to offer.  Touted as the latest work of comic genius from Trey Parker and Matt Stone, The Book of Mormon promises to be a side-splitting, blasphemous romp of deliciously naughty musical theatre, and it’s definitely in our diaries! 

Book tickets here. 

So there you have it:  a cornucopia of theatrical delights to thrill you, chill you, and knock your socks off as we kick 2013 into gear.  With everything in store, it looks like it’s going to be a fantastic year!

William Glenn