Top ten theatre shows opening in June 2017

There is no summer slowdown this June, with a couple of mega West End transfers, a string of imports from the US and new works from two of the UK’s most exciting playwrights.

Common at the National Theatre

Labelled “an epic tale of England’s lost land”, DC Moore’s Common has an impressive pedigree both on and off stage. The play, directed by Headlong’s artistic directer Jeremy Herrin and starring Anne-Marie Duff as Mary and Cush Jumbo as Laura, promises to bring the industrial revolution to the National Theatre’s expansive Olivier.

Common is at the National Theatre from 30^th May until 5^th August 2017, with a press night on 6^th June, for further information or to book visit here.

Barber Shop Chronicles at the National Theatre

This sounds like a lot of fun. Spanning the globe, Inua Ellams’s Barber Shop Chronicles centres on the various roles the titular establishment plays for African men. The cast is pretty stacked, including Fisayo Akinade (the standout in the Donmar’s Saint Joan), Simon Manyonda (Edmund in the Old Vic’s King Lear) and NT regular Hammed Animashuan.

Barber Shop Chronicles is at the National Theatre from 30^th May until 8^th July 2017, with a press night on 7^th June, for further information or to book visit here.

Anatomy of a Suicide at the Royal Court Theatre

After teaming up for Ophelias Zimmer back in 2016 – a collaboration The Upcoming gave five stars – Alice Birch and Katie Mitchell are back at the Royal Court with Anatomy of a Suicide. The play deals with three generations of women simultaneously, and stars Torn’s Adelle Leonce, Hattie Morahan and Olivier-nominee Kate O’Flynn.

Anatomy of a Suicide is at the Royal Court from 3^rd June until 8^th July 2017, with a press night on 8^th June, for further information or to book visit here.

Hamlet at the Harold Pinter Theatre

If you missed it the first time then hurry, as one of the biggest productions of 2017 is back for a West End engagement! Andrew Scott and Robert Icke’s Hamlet is truly stunning, the pair focusing on the family dynamics that fuel Shakespeare’s most famous narrative.

Hamlet is at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 9^th June until 2^nd September 2017, with a press night on 15^th June. Book your tickets here.

Photo: Manuel Harlan

Terror at the Lyric Hammersmith

A fighter pilot disobeys orders and shoots down a hijacked plane heading for a packed stadium. Was he right? The decision is in the audience’s hands in Terror, the worldwide phenomenon that sees its UK premiere at the Lyric Hammersmith.

Terror is at the Lyric Hammersmith from 14^th June until 15^th July 2017, with a press night on 22^nd June. Book your tickets here.

The Wind in the Willows at the London Palladium

One of the lighter openings this month, The Wind in the Willows heads for the London Palladium in a new musical version from Julian Fellowes, George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, the team behind Half a Sixpence. Rufus Hound plays Toad, with Simon Lipkin as Rat, Craig Mather as Mole and Gary Wilmot as Badger.

The Wind in the Willows is at the London Palladium from 14^th June until 9^th September 2017, with a press night on 29^th June. Book your tickets here.

Hir at the Bush Theatre

The newly refurbished Bush Theatre continues its run of main stage American imports with Taylor Mac’s subversive Hir, an exploration of the notions of masculinity and femininity. Doctor Who’s Arthur Darvill leads as Isaac, a marine who returns home to find his family life has been turned upside down.

Hir is at the Bush Theatre from 15^th June until 22^nd July 2017, with a press night on 20^th June, for further information or to book visit here.

Gloria at Hampstead Theatre

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is having quite the moment. With his riotous An Octoroon having just opened at the Orange Tree, the playwright now sees his Pulitzer Prize-nominated Gloria arrive at the Hampstead Theatre. Michael Longhurst directs a bunch of familiar faces, including Merlin’s Colin Morgan and Game of Thrones’ Ellie Kendrick.

Gloria is at Hampstead Theatre from 15^th June until 22^nd July 2017, with a press night on 21^st June, for further information or to book visit here.

Ink at the Almeida Theatre

Arguably the pick of the month, the uber-prolific James Graham seems set to court controversy with Ink, a look at the birth of Rupert Murdoch’s Sun. Bertie Carvel takes on the odious Aussie billionaire, while Richard Coyle plays the newspaper’s editor, Larry Lamb.

Ink is at the Almeida Theatre from 17^th June until 5^th August 2017, with a press night on 27^th June, for further information or to book visit here.

The Ferryman at the Gielgud Theatre

The Royal Court and Sonia Friedman were so confident in Jez Butterworth’s The Ferryman that they booked a West End transfer before the thing had even opened. Luckily, it’s the best new play of 2017 so far, an honour it will likely still hold by the end of the year.

The Ferryman is at the Gielgud Theatre from 20^th June until 7^th October 2017, with a press night on 29^th June. Book your tickets here.

Photo: Johan Persson

Connor Campbell