Top ten theatre shows to see in September 2019, including new work by Caryl Churchill and Lucy Prebble and rising star Shiloh Coke in Chiaroscuro at Bush Theatre

Now that the Edinburgh Fringe is over and done with, London’s theatre scene suddenly feels a lot busier this September – here are our top picks.

A Very Expensive Poison at the Old Vic Theatre

Photo: Marc Brenner

Perhaps the most exciting new opening this month, Luke Harding’s A Very Expensive Poison gets the full-blown Lucy Prebble treatment at the Old Vic. John Crowley – whose past work includes The Pillowman on stage and Brooklyn on screen – directs a cast including Reece Shearsmith as a rather familiar leader.

A Very Expensive Poison is at the Old Vic Theatre from 20^th August until 5^th October 2019, with a press night on Monday 9^th September. Book your tickets here.

Hansard at the National Theatre

Spending the evening watching a play about a Tory political couple doesn’t sound like a particularly appealing prospect. However, Simon Woods’s new play stars theatre royalty in Alex Jennings and Lindsay Duncan, and is helmed by Simon Goodwin, with the production something of a National Theatre swansong for the director before he heads to Washington to run the Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Hansard is at the National Theatre from 22^nd August until 25^th November 2019, with a press night on Tuesday 3^rd September. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Chiaroscuro at Bush Theatre

The opening production of the new Lynette Linton-era of the Bush, Jackie Kay’s Chiaroscuro – whose cast includes rising star Shiloh Coke – also brings to a close the theatre’s Passing the Baton programme, a series that has brought us Leave Taking and Strange Fruit.

Chiaroscuro is at Bush Theatre from 31^st August until 5^th October 2019, with a press night on Friday 6^th September. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Total Immediate Collective Imminent Terrestrial Salvation at the Royal Court Theatre

Photo: Eoin Carey

In salt and seven methods of killing kylie jenner the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court has produced two of the year’s standout productions. Here’s hoping Tim Crouch’s Total Immediate… can follow suit this month after a well-received run in Edinburgh.

Total Immediate Collective Imminent Terrestrial Salvation is at the Royal Court Theatre from 3^rd until 21^st September 2019, with a press night on Thursday 5^th September. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

A Doll’s House at the Lyric Hammersmith

Rachel O’Riordan makes her debut as Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith with a new adaptation of A Doll’s House from Tanika Gupta. The always-excellent Anjana Vasan stars as Niru, while Elliot Cowan plays her husband Tom.

A Doll’s House is at the Lyric Hammersmith from 6^th September until 5^th October 2019, with a press night on Wednesday 11^th September. Book your tickets here.

Amsterdam at Orange Tree Theatre

This month sees the UK premiere of Maya Arad Yasur’s Amsterdam, translated by Eran Edry and helmed by Matthew Xia, in his first production as the Artistic Director of ATC. Daniel Abelson, Fiston Barek, Michal Horowicz and Hara Yannas make up the four-person cast.

Amsterdam is at Orange Tree Theatre from 6^th September until 12^th October 2019, with a press night on Wednesday 11^th September. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

What Girls Are Made Of at Soho Theatre

Photo: Mihaela Bodlovic

Coming to London after a smash-hit, sold-out run in Edinburgh, Cora Bissett brings What Girls Are Made Of to Soho Theatre. It’s the story of her “rollercoaster journey from the girl she was to the woman she wanted to be”, directed by Orla O’Loughlin.

What Girls Are Made Of is at Soho Theatre from 9^th until 28^th September 2019, with a press night on Thursday 12^th September. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Faith, Hope and Charity at the National Theatre

After Beyond Caring and the devastating LOVE, Alexander Zeldin brings his trilogy to a close with Faith, Hope and Charity, a story of a “run-down community hall on the edge of town”. The cast includes Nick Holder, who appeared in LOVE, now-National Theatre regular Cecilia Noble and Susan Lynch.

Faith, Hope and Charity is at the National Theatre from 9^th September until 12^th October 2019, with a press night on Tuesday 17^th September. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp. at the Royal Court Theatre

Rivalling A Very Expensive Poison for being the month’s hottest ticket, the Royal Court is presenting not one, not two, not three but FOUR new short plays by living legend Caryl Churchill. Regular collaborator James Macdonald directs, with a cast tantalisingly including Sarah Niles, Sule Rimi, Tom Mothersdale and Toby Jones.

Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp. is at the Royal Court Theatre from 18^th September until 12^th October 2019, with a press night on Wednesday 25^th September. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Blood Wedding at the Young Vic Theatre

Photo: Marc Brenner

Expect something epic. Yaël Farber comes to the Young Vic directing a new version of Federico Garcia Lorca’s Blood Wedding by Marina Carr. The cast is led by Aoife Duffin, with support including Steffan Rhodri and Thalissa Teixeira.

Blood Wedding is at the Young Vic Theatre from 19^th September until 2^nd November 2019, with a press night on Wednesday 25^th September. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Connor Campbell