18 THEATRE
Edinburgh’s Mr Entertainment picks his Hot Tickets to see in the Capital and beyondA brace of theatrical blockbusters head to
Edinburgh this month along with a couple
of classic titles and an exciting new piece
of writing, but which will you see?
Dear Evan Hansen is alone on
the capital’s stages this monthTHE WEST END beckons. I love the challenge of cramming as many shows as possible into a London review trip and this month
I’ve some exciting shows on my list, all up for a review on MustSeeTheatre.com – if you’ve not paid my website a visit yet, please
do.
My London marathon, six shows in four days, begins with an invitation to meet the spirits, sprites and magical creatures of My
Neighbour Totoro (Gillian Lynne Theatre), a title I admit meant little to me but has sparked excitement amongst pals familiar with
the original 1988 Japanese animation. Consequently, I’m now expecting great things... a review shall follow.
Clarkston (Trafalgar Theatre) is next on my list. A new play by Samuel D Hunter, the cast brings together Joe Locke, the star of
Net ix comedy-drama Heartstopper, with Sophie Melville and, Edinburgh’s very own Ruaridh Mollica, a Broughton High FP and
one time member of the capital’s Strange Town Youth Theatre. Having hosted the Edinburgh launch of his latest lm, Sebastian, at
The Cameo not that long ago, it’s great to see another local talent being recognised. It will certainly be interesting to see one of
Screen International’s 2024 Rising Stars on a stage rather than a screen.
Another star who boasts Edinburgh as an adopted home is recent Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa, and he too is currently treading
the London boards, in Born With Teeth (Wyndham’s Theatre), so he too makes my Must See list, as does Witness For The
Prosecution (City Hall), a site-speci c production of Agatha Christie’s courtroom whodunnit.
Reeve Carney, I last saw as Spider-Man in Turn O The Dark on Broadway. This month he comes to the UK to lead the Cabaret
(Kit Kat Club) company, and should prove a suitably mercurial Emcee in what will be my nal show in the West End before
rounding o my four day trip slightly further out, seeing the new production of Jonathan Harvey and Pet Shop Boys cabaret
musical, MUSIK (Wilton’s Music Hall), starring the glorious Frances Barber. Hard to believe six years have passed since I attended its
World Premiere at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe.
Again, you’ll nd coverage of my travels on MustSeeTheatre.com along with my reviews of this month’s Edinburgh highlights
all of which, bar one, are old favourites.
October’s choices start at the Festival Theatre with the return of War Horse (2-11 October), in which spellbinding puppetry will
once again transport audiences back to the horrors of the First World War for the story of Joey, a bay Irish Hunter bought by the
British Army to help the war e ort. Breathtaking in it’s scope, if you’re going, don’t forget your hankie, it’s a sad one.
Running time 2 hours and 50 minutes including interval. Tickets here https://www.capitaltheatres.com/shows/war-horse/
The other big-hitter this month is Miss Saigon (28 October-1 November), which lands back on The Playhouse stage for the rst
time in a number of years. This smash hit musical has been reborn, the posters promise, but be assured it still features Boublil and
Schönberg’s soaring score including The Heat is On in Saigon, The Movie in My Mind, Last Night of the World and The American
Dream.
A bittersweet tale that starts in the last days of the Vietnam War. When 17-year-old Kim meets and falls in love with American GI,
Chris, the pair are quickly torn apart by the fall of Saigon, forcing Kim to embark on a three year journey of survival to nd her
lover, who has no idea he’s fathered a son.
Running Time 2 hours 40 minutes including interval. Tickets here https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/miss-saigon/edinburgh-
playhouse/
Exciting new writing is the order of the day at The Traverse this month, where Black Hole Sign (8-18 October), by practising NHS
critical care nurse Uma Nada-Rajah, explores the realities and politics of our National Health Service. When a hole appears in the
roof of a crumbling and understa ed A&E department, patients, porters and nurses do what they must to make it through the
night.
Running time 90 minutes. Tickets here https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/event/black-hole-sign-autumn-
Around the corner on Grindlay Street, the Royal Lyceum welcomes Men Behaving Badly and Blue Murder star Caroline Quentin to
lead an ensemble company in the rst production from new artistic director James Brining, The Seagull (9 October-1 November).
A fading actress. A restless writer. A family estate simmering with desire, ambition, and regret. All three collide in this darkly comic
reimagining of Chekhov’s classic; Once-celebrated actress Arkadina (Quentin) leaves little chance for anyone else to shine. Her
playwright son, Konstantin, yearns to escape her shadow and win the heart of Nina. But when Nina’s gaze turns instead to
Arkadina’s lover, celebrated writer Trigorin, egos clash with devastating consequences.
Running Time to be con rmed. Tickets here https://lyceum.org.uk/events/the-seagull
Finally, another classic enjoying an airing right now stops o at the Festival Theatre, Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird (21-
October). Actor Richard Coyle returns to this production as Atticus Finch, reprising his role from the 2022 West End Production.
Running time 2 hours 50 minutes including interval. Tickets here https://www.capitaltheatres.com/shows/to-kill-a-mockingbird/
Until next month, happy theatre-going, Liam
THE WEST END beckons. I love the challenge
of cramming as many shows as possible into a
London review trip and this month I’ve some
exciting shows on my list, all up for a review on
MustSeeTheatre.com – if you’ve not paid my
website a visit yet, please do.
My London marathon, six shows in four days,
begins with an invitation to meet the spirits,
sprites and magical creatures of My Neighbour
Totoro (Gillian Lynne Theatre), a title I admit
meant little to me but has sparked excitement
amongst pals familiar with the original 1988
Japanese animation. Consequently, I’m now
expecting great things... a review shall follow.
Clarkston (Trafalgar Theatre) is next on my
list. A new play by Samuel D Hunter, the cast
brings together Joe Locke, the star of Net ix
comedy-drama Heartstopper, with Sophie
Melville and, Edinburgh’s very own Ruaridh
Mollica, a Broughton High FP and one time
member of the capital’s Strange Town Youth
Theatre. Having hosted the Edinburgh launch
of his latest lm, Sebastian, at The Cameo not
that long ago, it’s great to see another local
talent being recognised. It will certainly beinteresting to see one of Screen International’s
2024 Rising Stars on a stage rather than a
screen.
Another star who boasts Edinburgh as an
adopted home is recent Doctor Who, Ncuti
Gatwa, and he too is currently treading the
London boards, in Born With Teeth
(Wyndham’s Theatre), so he too makes my
Must See list, as does Witness For The
Prosecution (City Hall), a site-speci c
production of Agatha Christie’s courtroom
whodunnit.
Reeve Carney, I last saw as Spider-Man in
Turn O The Dark on Broadway. This month he
comes to the UK to lead the Cabaret (Kit Kat
Club) company, and should prove a suitably
mercurial Emcee in what will be my nal show
in the West End before rounding o my four
day trip slightly further out, seeing the new
production of Jonathan Harvey and Pet Shop
Boys cabaret musical, MUSIK (Wilton’s Music
Hall), starring the glorious Frances Barber. Hard
to believe six years have passed since I
attended its World Premiere at the 2019
Edinburgh Fringe.Again, you’ll nd coverage of my travels on
MustSeeTheatre.com along with my reviews
of this month’s Edinburgh highlights all of
which, bar one, are old favourites.
October’s choices start at the Festival Theatre
with the return of War Horse (2-11 October), in
which spellbinding puppetry will once again
transport audiences back to the horrors of the
First World War for the story of Joey, a bay Irish
Hunter bought by the British Army to help the
war e ort. Breathtaking in it’s scope, if you’re
going, don’t forget your hankie, it’s a sad one.
Running time 2 hours and 50 minutes
including interval. Tickets here https://www.capitaltheatres.com/shows/war-horse/
The other big-hitter this month is Miss Saigon
(28 October-1 November), which lands back on
The Playhouse stage for the rst time in a
number of years. This smash hit musical has
been reborn, the posters promise, but be
assured it still features Boublil and Schönberg’s
soaring score including The Heat is On in
Saigon, The Movie in My Mind, Last Night of
the World and The American Dream.
A bittersweet tale that starts in the last days of
the Vietnam War. When 17-year-old Kim meets
and falls in love with American GI, Chris, the
pair are quickly torn apart by the fall of Saigon,Image by Laurence WinramUma Nada-Raja delves
into the politics of our
NHS in BlackHole Sign
at the TraverseMiss Saigon makes
a return to
The Playhouse stage