Matthew Kelly as Pandarus in Troilus and Cressida at Shakespeare's Globe. Photo by John Tramper
Troilus and Cressida, the first full-scale production of one of the Bard's trickier plays, opens tonight at The Globe. It's got Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be... Kelly in it, as Pandarus. We'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.
Tomorrow sees the start of a jubilant new Caribbean musical called Once On This Island at the Hackney Empire. It's about a beautiful peasant girl who falls in love with a wealthy planter, and stars Sharon D Clarke from Holby City and Last Choir Standing.
Ibsen's attack on Victorian-era sexual hypocrisy Ghosts opens at the Arcola from Friday; it's got Charles Dickens' great-great-great-grandson in it, a pub-quiz fodder factoid which makes us smile.
Friday also sees the start of Cosmos and Culture at the Science Museum: four centuries of telescope technology reveal our changing perceptions of space... Stargazers, and anyone who once wanted to be a spaceman and live in the sky will love it.
If you've got kids, make sure you trip along to the London Transport Museum from Saturday, and get them "Street Smart" with their new road safety exhibition. If you're looking after the olds, you might want to pop into Buck Palace for a chance to see the Queen's dresses from this Sunday. There's also a chance to see all the gifts she's received from members of the commonwealth over the years... And you thought the useless tat you got for Christmas last year was bad...
Conchords fans (you know who you are) will be pleased to hear that Rhys Darby (Murray) is playing the Bloomsbury Theatre from Monday. It might be sold out, but you could chance your luck with returns.
Finally, the gorgeous Rachel Weisz stars as Blanche DuBois in Tennessee William's tragedy, A Streetcar Named Desire, at the Donmar Warehouse from Tuesday: again, knowing the Donmar, this is sure to be all about getting returns / standing tickets on the day if you can.
Last Chance To See: London Shows Closing
Cuban ballet superstar Carlos Acosta finishes his eponymous show at the London Coliseum on Saturday.
Sam Shaw's pictures of Audrey and Marilyn are only at Proud Galleries until this Sunday, if you want to catch them.
A Lament for Medea closes at the Arcola on Saturday. Read our review here: we thought it was a goodie! Sophisticated Sondheim musical A Little Night Music comes to a close on Saturday at the Garrick Theatre. Saturday is also your last chance to check out al fresco frivolity, courtesy of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Let us know if we've missed anything... and have fun!
