Ten must-see theatre shows opening in February 2017

After a fairly slow January the West End really hots up this month, with four high-profile Shakespeare productions, a new musical from Gary Barlow and the opening of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Other Palace!

The Glass Menagerie at the Duke of York’s Theatre

John Tiffany certainly is a busy man. After directing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the biggest hit of last year, he brings his 2013 version of Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie to the Duke of York’s Theatre, complete with West End debut for Broadway legend Cherry Jones.

The Glass Menagerie is at the Duke of York’s Theatre from 26^th January until 29^th April 2017, with a press night on Thursday 2^nd February, for more information or to book visit here.

The Girls at the Phoenix Theatre

After premiering in Leeds, and a quick run in Salford last month, Gary Barlow’s The Girls (based on, but inexplicably not called, Calendar Girls) finally makes an appearance in the West End. Early word has been good, and if the film is anything to go by expect plenty of tears among the chuckles.

The Girls is at the Phoenix Theatre from 28^th January until 22^nd April 2017, with a press night on Tuesday 21^st February, for further information or to book visit here.

Photo: Johan Persson

Travesties at the Apollo Theatre

After wowing audiences at the Menier Chocolate Factory last year, Patrick Marber’s version of Travesties by Tom Stoppard transfers to the Apollo Theatre for just 12 weeks. The literary lark comes complete with original cast-members Tom Hollander and Freddie Fox.

Travesties is at the Apollo Theatre from 3^rd February until 29^th April 2017, with a press night on Wednesday 15^th February, for further information or to book visit here.

Beware of Pity and Richard III at the Barbican

The Barbican brings over two treats from Schaubühne Berlin this month. First up is an adaptation of Stefan Zweig’s Beware of Pity directed by Simon McBurney in a co-production with Complicite; a bit later in the month is a Richard III reinvention from Thomas Ostermeier.

Beware of Pity is at the Barbican from 9^th until 12^th February 2017, for further information or to book visit here.

Richard III is at the Barbican from 16^th until 19^th February 2017, for further information or to book visit here.

The Wild Party at The Other Palace

Directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie, who nabbed an Olivier for his work on In the Heights, and starring Tony Award winner Frances Ruffelle, Michael John LaChiusa’s The Wild Party kicks off a new era for the Andrew Lloyd Webber-owned The Other Palace.

The Wild Party is at The Other Palace from 13^th February until 1^st April 2017, with a press night on Monday 20^th February, for further information or to book visit here.

Twelfth Night at the National Theatre

The National Theatre’s first big new show of 2017, Twelfth Night is notable for seeing a gender-swapped Malvolio played by Green Wing and Black Books star Tamsin Greig. Directed by Simon Godwin the rest of the cast includes King Charles III’s Oliver Chris, A View From the Bridge’s Phoebe Fox and Black Mirror’s Daniel Rigby.

Twelfth Night is at the National Theatre from 15^th February until 17^th April 2017, with a press night on Wednesday 22^nd February, for further information or to book visit here.

Low Level Panic at Orange Tree Theatre

In the first major revival since it premiered at the Royal Court in 1990, Clare McIntrye’s Low Level Panic comes to the Orange Tree Theatre this month. The triple-hander includes Sophie Melville, who astonished in Iphigenia in Splott at the National Theatre last year.

Low Level Panic is at Orange Tree Theatre from 16^th February until 25^th March 2017, with a press night on Monday 20^th February, for further information or to book visit here.

Hamlet at Almeida Theatre

Arguably the pick of the month, and one of the most exciting productions on offer in 2017, is the Almeida’s version of Hamlet. Directed by boy wonder Robert Icke, fresh off the triumphant Mary Stuart, and led by Sherlock’s Andrew Scott, this is one not to be missed!

Hamlet is at Almeida Theatre from 17^th February until 8^th April 2017, with a press night on Tuesday 28^th February, for further information or to book visit here.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Young Vic

Something nightmarish is promised at the Young Vic this month, with Joe Hill-Gibbins’s version of Shakespeare’s fantastical comedy. Hill-Gibbins had great success in this venue with Measure for Measure in 2015, so expectations are high this time around.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is at the Young Vic from 16^th February until 1^st April 2017, with a press night on Thursday 23^rd February, for further information or to book visit here.

Speech and Debate at Trafalgar Studios 2

After winning the Tony Award for Best New Play with The Humans last year, Stephan Karam brings Speech and Debate to the Trafalgar Studios’ smaller space. The cast includes The Grand Budapest Hotel’s Tony Revolori and The Riot Club’s Douglas Booth.

Speech and Debate is at Trafalgar Studios 2 from 22^nd February until 1^st April 2017, with a press night on Friday 24^th February, for further information or to book visit here.

Connor Campbell