The Lehman Trilogy To 22 September by Stefano Massini The story of a family and a company that changed the world, told in three parts on a single evening. Sam Mendes directs Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley and Ben Miles who play the Lehman Brothers, their sons and grandsons. An Octoroon To 18 July by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’extraordinary play comes to the National Theatre after a sold-out run at the Orange Tree Theatre. Exit the King From 17 July by Eugène Ionesco Patrick Marber directs his new version of Exit the King with a cast including Rhys Ifans in the title role and Indira Varma as his first Queen. It’s the last day of King Bérenger’s life. Queen Marguerite is preparing for the end and Queen Marie is in denial. Home, I’m Darling 24 July to 5 September by Laura Wade How happily married are the happily married? Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd, Humans) plays Judy in this unsettling new comedy about one woman’s quest to be the perfect 1950s housewife. SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE 56 PARK STREET, SE1 9AR 020 7261 9565 Hamlet To 26 August by William Shakespeare Learning of his father’s death, Prince Hamlet comes home to find his uncle married to his mother and installed on the Danish throne. As You Like It To 26 August by William Shakespeare Rosalind, the daughter of an unjustly exiled duke, falls in love with the wronged Orlando, a courtier deprived of his birthright by his brother. THE OLD VIC 103 THE CUT, SE1 8NB 020 7928 2651 A Monster Calls 7 July to 25 August by Patrick Ness Thirteen-year-old Conor and his mum have managed just fine since his dad moved to America. Then, one night, at seven minutes past midnight, Conor is woken by something at his window. A monster has come walking. THE YOUNG VIC 66 THE CUT, SE1 8LZ 020 7922 2922 Fun Home 18 Jun 2018 to 1 Sep 2018 Based on the graphic novel by Alison Bechdel Winner of 5 Tony Awards, this electrifying Broadway version of Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel took America by storm. Meet Alison at three stages of her life. MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY 53 SOUTHWARK STREET, SE1 1RU 020 7378 1713 SPAMILTON 12th July to 8th September by Gerard Alessandrini Gerard Alessandrini brings his singular wit to the all- conquering musical Hamilton – in the words of its creator Lin Manuel Miranda,“I laughed my brains out”. SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE 77-85 NEWINGTON CAUSEWAY, SE1 6BD 020 7407 0234 Infinite Joy 23 June to 14 July by Brendan Cull and Robert Scott A small stormy island, a tribe of teenagers and their “Mother”live in complete isolation. Cut-off from the outside world, when a piece of modern technology washes up on the rocks, it opens up a strange new world of endless possibilities. For King and Country 28 June to 21 July by John Wilson 1918. The Western Front. Private Hamp, a young working- class soldier from the North of England, has been in the frontline of a bloody battlefield for three years. One day he decides to walk away… Tense court-room drama. Home, I’m Darling. Katherine Parkinson as Judy | C U L T U R E | THE RIVER MAGAZINE | Summer 2018 29