What’s On Stage In London: August 2014

By Londonist Last edited 116 months ago
What’s On Stage In London: August 2014

Welcome to August’s edition of our What’s On Stage In London series, where we look at the month ahead to give you our pick of new openings. Organised by (very general) category and opening date, we hope this will allow you to browse and book ahead of time so you don’t miss out on seeing your favourite London shows. Useful? Missing something? Please let us know.

The ninth Camden Fringe pigeon

Festivals

Ongoing - Camden Fringe at various venues — Back for a ninth year, Camden Fringe will see over 200 performances across 24 venues in and around the borough of Camden. Theatre, dance, comedy, kids and more than a few, um, unusual-sounding performances are on offer. Until 24 August

Ongoing - AbbeyFest at Merton Abbey Mills — A summer festival of music, theatre and comedy continues in south London with a strong local feel and great family options. Until 25 August

1 August - HopeFull Festival at Hope Theatre — The So and So Arts Club with the Hope Theatre present a repertory season of four new plays written by emerging writers, with two performing every night. Until 30 August

4 August - Grimeborn 2014 at Arcola Theatre — The annual opera festival returns for its eight year bringing unusual, innovative or simply unappreciated operatic productions to the capital. Until 7 September

The Immortal Hour at Finborough Theatre

Musicals and Opera

4 August - Grim at Charing Cross Theatre — What happens when the Grim Reaper and Cupid fall for each other? Two great powers, death and love, unite for a musical tale of doomed romance. £14.50-£19.50, until 30 August

5 August - The Music Hall Menagerie at Leicester Square Theatre — Museum of Comedy presents grand chanteuse Lady Veronica Burlington, poised and ready to take the audience down the sweeping corridors of variety entertainment. £19.50, until 13 September

5 August - La traviata at Soho Theatre — Following La bohème and Don Giovanni, Olivier Award-winning company OperaUpClose returns to Soho Theatre with its new English version of La traviata. £29.50/£25, until 15 August

8 August - Dogfight at Southwark Playhouse — Based on the 1991 movie of the same name, Dogfight tells the story of an unassuming waitress who changes the game for three young Marines before their deployment to Vietnam. £12-£22, until 13 September

10 August - The Immortal Hour at Finborough Theatre — Celebrating the exact centenary of its first performance (and more than 50 years since the first London production), Rutland Boughton’s 'music-drama' plays for a limited nine performance run. £18/£16, until 26 August

10 August - Seth Rudetsky Deconstructing Broadway at Leicester Square Theatre — In Deconstructing Broadway, radio host Seth Rudetsky gives an insightful, affectionate and, above all, hysterical take on some of the greatest musical theatre moments.. £15-£25, 7.30pm

11 August - The Hotsie Totsies at Colour house Theatre — Enjoy the dulcet tones of Lois, Dolores and Rita Roo and get a taste of 1940s entertainment with The Hotsie Totsies. £7, until 15 August

12 August - Top Hat at New Wimbledon Theatre — Top Hat is touring! Catch the London instalment of this tap-dancing, Hollywood glamour musical at New Wimbledon Theatre. £17.90-£49.40, until 23 August

12 August - The Apple Tree at Ye Olde Rose and Crown theatre — All Star Productions present The Apple Tree, comprising three musical miniatures: The Diary Of Adam and Eve, The Lady, or the Tiger? and Passionella. £15/£12.50, until 30 August

20 August - Anything Goes at Cadogan Hall — A celebration of the music of Cole Porter, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the great man's death. £22-£39, until 23 August

22 August - Some Girl I Used to Know at Arts Theatre — Denise Van Outen plays the lead in this one woman musical featuring a mix tape of songs from the 80s and 90s. £15-£49.50, until 13 September

26 August - Avenue Q at New Wimbledon Theatre — Following five years in the West End and runs around the world, this part-flesh part-felt musical comedy starts its brand new tour with a London residency. £17.90-£42.40, until 30 August

28 August - Terry Pratchett’s Soul Music at Rose Theatre Kingston — Follow Imp and his eclectic ensemble of wannabe rock stars through their chaotic musical career in this musical adaptation of Terry Pratchett's novel. £5-£25, until 31 August

31 August - The Blank Canvas at King’s Head Theatre — A world premiere opera about a celebrated painter who fears her hallucinations are a sign of madness, but has to confront the possibility that she may in fact be going blind. £10-£25, until 21 September

Solo For Two at London Coliseum

Dance

5 August - Groove On Down the Road at Southbank Centre — This exhilarating dance show for the whole family is brought to stage from award-winning company ZooNation Dance Company and Kate Prince. £27/£22+bf, until 26 August

6 August - Solo For Two at London Coliseum — Talented duo Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev perform a highly physical dance show, accompanied by members of Akadêmia from France. £79/£69, until 9 August

A staging of Romeo & Juliet will take place in Temple Church

Classic

5 August - Duchess of Malfi at New Diorama Theatre — The palaces of Italy are choked with corruption in Webster's vicious tragedy of madness, love and politics. Trouble begins when widowed Duchess of Malfi starts searching for a new husband. £12.50/£10.50, until 23 August

10 August - Merely Shakespeare: Twelfth Night at The Cockpit — The Merely Players are a core company of twenty actors who perform this Shakespeare play for one night only. There is no stage set and no costumes, just actors and their words. £9/£7, 6pm

13 August - Romeo & Juliet at The Cockpit — A modern retelling of Shakespeare's most famous love story in a post-apocalypse Verona. £15/£12.50, until 16 August

18 August - Troilus & Cressida at Tristan BatesShakespeare’s striking examination of conflict and its effect on those in the eye of the storm comes to the stage in this fresh and bold new adaptation. £15/£10, until 6 September

20 August - Twelfth Night at Southwark Playhouse — Oxford University Dramatic Society brings one of Shakespeare's most famous comedies to the stage, accompanied by a harpist and opera singer. £10, until 23 August

20 August - Wine, Wit & Mrs Wellfred at Wilton’s Music Hall — Discover the work of playwright Mary Pix, and see three of her script-in-hand comedies accompanied by music. £8/£6, until 22 August

26 August - The Odyssey at the Factory — This production directed by Tim Carroll combines movement, song, text and improvisation, recreating the spirit of one of the world’s oldest oral storytelling traditions. £10+bf, until 6 September

26 August - Diary of a Madman at Jack Studio Theatre — Gogol’s classic short story adapted for the stage by Howard Colyer and transported to London. £10/£8, until 30 August

28 August - To Kill a Mockingbird at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre — Winner of the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Play Revival last year, this production is the stage adaptation of Harper Lee's famous book. £55-£25, until 13 September

30 August - Romeo & Juliet at Temple Church — This production of Shakespeare's tragic romance takes place in the unique Temple Church, Fleet Street. £25/£15, until 7 September

When I Think About The Universe I Laugh For No Reason at Unicorn Theatre

Kids

3 August - Horrible Histories - Barmy Britain part 2 at Garrick Theatre — Explore the horrible histories of Britain's past in this fun family play. £19/£12, until 31 August

5 August - Hetty Feather Live at Vaudeville Theatre — Follow the life of Hetty Feather, abandoned at the Foundling Hospital as a newborn baby, and her adventures trying to live a better life. An adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's famous book. £15, until 6 September

8 August - I Believe in Unicorns at Vaudeville Theatre — This interactive show sparks imagination in both young and old, and challenges you not to believe in unicorns after joining Tomas's spellbinding journey. £17.50, until 31 August

8 August - The Magic Toy Theatre at Barons Court Theatre — A magic show for the whole family, this play is set in a miniature but fully-operational toy theatre. £12/£9+bf, until 29 August

26 August - An Evening of Magic and Astonishment at Barons Court Theatre — A spectacle that mixes magic, comedy, illusion and cabaret. Featuring Magic Circle Magicians: Julian James and Michael Vincent (suitable for over 14s). £12/£9 , until 28 August

27 August - When I Think About the Universe I Laugh for No Reason at Unicorn Theatre — Eight teenagers wondering about the origins of the universe and the origin of our planet. A Unicorn Young Company Production (suitable for over 11s). £16/£10, until 30 August

29 August - The Wonderfully Weird Magic Show at Barons Court Theatre — Magician Dee Riley performs dangerous magic tricks to make you hold your breath (suitable for over 14s). £12/£9, until 30 August

Sommer 14 at Finborough Theatre

Drama

1 August - Children of the Great War at Bridewell Theatre — This is the final product of a major World War One reminiscence project recording over 125 family stories across London, brought to stage by Age Exchange. £5, until 2 August

5 August - Crystal Springs at Park Theatre — A gripping drama about cyber-bullying and the challenges of parenting in the digital age. £19.50/£16, until 31 August

5 August - Sommer 14 at Finborough Theatre — A revisit to Rolf Hochhuth’s play to commemorate the beginning of World War One. £16/£14, until 30 August

5 August - The Cagebirds & Can You Hear The Music at Colour House Theatre — Two plays by David Campton are brought on stage during the same evening, characterised by a fringe-style feel. £10/£8+bf, until 9 August

5 August - Killed: July 17th 1916 at Jack Studio Theatre — Another play commemorating the tragedies of World War One, inspired by the eye witness account of Private P.J. Kennedy. £14/£11, until 9 August

26 August - Anna Weiss at The Space — Hypnotherapist Anna Weiss, a specialist in revealing 'lost' memories, meets unexpected difficulties during the case of twenty-year-old Lynn. £12/£10, until 13 September

26 August - Keeping Up with the Joans at Greenwich Theatre — Susan Penhaligon and Katy Manning perform in this play characterised by failing memory, friendship and the mimicking of martyrs. £18.50/£16+bf, until 30 August

The Kilburn Passion at Tricycle Theatre

Contemporary

2 August - Above Romance at Hackney Empire — Written by Hackney comedian Kojo, this comedy is about a woman who has given up on love and believes Valentines Day is just media hype, until she finds she is the last single in her circle. £25.50/£15.50+bf, 9pm

5 August - The Kilburn Passion at Tricycle Theatre — Written by a former Kilburn resident, this is the story of a stranger moving to Kilburn High Road and the series of weird events that happen after the move. £13/£11, until 9 August

11 August - Sleeping Truths Lie at Tristan Bates — A journey inside the mind of Anna, who has fallen into a coma. The play charts her experiences facing powerful memories. £10/£8, until 16 August

19 August - Bas-Shallow Death at The Cockpit — A Welsh minister and an Irish guard become trapped in a dug-out after a German night raid, leaving the rest of their regiment outside. They will need to find a common language in order to communicate. £12/£9, until 23 August

26 August - Little Revolution at Almeida Theatre — The audience is invited to sit down at the heart of the action, while a London-based imagined revolution takes place around them. £36-£9, until 4 October

27 August - Autobahn at King’s Head Theatre — This short-play cycle follows colourful people making their way across America’s highways and their stops, starts, and stalls along the way. By renowned American playwright Neil LaBute. £10-£25, until 20 September

27 August - Eye of a Needle at Southwark Playhouse — A UK immigration offer. A Ugandan gay rights activist. A provocative play that gets under the skin of a system. £10-£18, until 20 September

29 August - Spoiling at Stratford East Theatre — Scotland is newly-independent and the Foreign Minister is about to deliver a speech about the nation's relationship with the former UK. But she has something else she wants to say. £15/£10, until 13 September

The Ring Cycle at The Scoop

Alternative

4 August - Instructionally Invited at The Space — What happens when social conventions fall apart? Four inhabitants of a cold, dark church invite you in for a romp/occasion/soirée/shindig. But they've been on their own for a long time and things may not be that simple. £12/£10, until 13 August

6 August - The Ring Cycle plays at The Scoop at More London — Unfolding over four hours, Wagner's celebrated opera is to be performed... without the opera. Instead they are re-imagined as plays, comedies and dramas for London's sunken open-air theatre. Free, until 31 August

14 August - The Boy Who Climbed Out Of His Face at Greenwich Peninsula Jetty — Theatre company Shunt is back, having created a temporary space out of shipping containers on Greenwich Peninsula. All we know about the show is the title, the location, and the fact audience members have to go in barefoot. £10, until 28 September

15 August - The Dobson Experience at Barons Court Theatre — Wayne Dobson is one of the most successful TV magicians of the early 90s in Britain, with over 11 million viewers tuning into his TV show at its height. But he doesn't perform anymore. So instead he's tutored Mike Sullivan to perform his tricks for him. Makes sense. £9-£12, until 16 August

17 August - Medieval Festival at Compass Theatre — Okay, not technically theatre, but how often do medieval festivals come along? And there will be medieval re-enactments alongside hog roasts, mounted jousts, combat displays and buxom wenches* (*not really). Free, from 11am.

19 August - Buttons at The Space — Joni is a puppeteer, Dana is not. Dana is a Jew, Joni is not. Buttons uses performance, spoken word, shadow puppetry and object manipulation to recount the story of their journey to Auschwitz. £14/£10, until 23 August

What are you planning on seeing on stage in London this August? Seeing something not listed here? Tell us in the comments.

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Last Updated 24 July 2014