Richard II To 21 April by William Shakespeare Adjoa Andoh and Lynette Linton direct the first ever company of women of colour in a Shakespeare play on a major UK stage, in a post-Empire reflection on what it means to be British in the light of the Windrush anniversary and as we leave the European Union. Beset by problems at home and abroad, a capricious king is forced to relinquish his‘hollow crown’. As his supporters abandon him and his power trickles away, Richard reflects with startling eloquence on the disintegration of his status and identity. SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE 77-85 NEWINGTON CAUSEWAY, SE1 6BD 020 7407 0234 Billy Bishop Goes To War To 6 April by John Gray Based on the true story, and brought to life with musical numbers, this‘poignantly beautiful’(Libby Purves) production of Billy Bishop Goes to War transfers to Southwark Playhouse from 13 March after a critically acclaimed run at the Jermyn Street Theatre. Billy Bishop, a failing Canadian military college student, overcomes intense prejudice from British High Command and astonishing danger to become the most successful fighter pilot of his generation. The Rubenstein Kiss To 13 April by James Phillips 1953. In the midst of the Cold War and with McCarthyisim at its height the world watched as Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were sent to the electric chair for allegedly passing US atomic secrets to the Soviet Union – protesting their innocence to the last. Inspired by this haunting true story, James Phillips‘ multi-award winning play The Rubenstein Kiss comes to Southwark Playhouse in its first London revival. Other People’s Money 17 April To 11 May by Jerry Sterner The Wire and Cable Company of New England is a sleepy family-run business – that is until Larry-the-Liquidator threatens to bring a little corporate pillage to the village. With a jam-today approach to both doughnuts and investments, Larry is accustomed to grabbing life by the assets. But CEO Jorgy has a different approach. Will his small town ideas stack up against booming Wall Street? In this darkly funny 80’s play, it all comes down to whether‘values’ have their price. THE OLD VIC 103 THE CUT, SE1 8NB 020 7928 2651 All My Sons 13 April to 8 June by Arthur Miller America, 1947. Despite hard choices and even harder knocks, Joe and Kate Keller are a success story. They have built a home, raised two sons and established a thriving business. With the return of a figure from the past, long buried truths are forced to the surface and the price of their American dream is laid bare. Jeremy Herrin directs Sally Field and Bill Pullman in Arthur Miller’s blistering drama, All My Sons. The American Clock To 30 March 2019 by Arthur Miller The American Clock turns, fortunes are made and lives are broken. In New York City in 1929, the stock market crashed and everything changed. In an American society governed by race and class, we meet the Baum family as they navigate the aftermath of an unprecedented financial crisis. The world pulses with a soundtrack fusing 1920s swing and jazz with a fiercely contemporary sound, creating a backdrop that spans a vast horizon from choking high rises to rural heartlands. THE YOUNG VIC 66 THE CUT, SE1 8LZ 020 7922 2922 Jesus Hopped the‘A’Train To 6 April by Stephen Adly Guirgis Inside the lockdown wing of Rikers Island prison, a frightened young man accused of murdering a cult leader is confronted with a charismatic born-again serial killer and a sadistic guard. Will one man’s redemption lead to another’s damnation? Death of a Salesman 1 May To 29 June by Arthur Miller Following her recent award-winning success for Company and Angels in America, Marianne Elliott co-directs with Miranda Cromwell, bringing a unique vision to one of the greatest plays of the twentieth century, seen through the eyes of an African American family. Wendell Pierce (The Wire, Suits, Selma) makes his UK stage debut as Willy Loman. THE RIVER MAGAZINE | Spring 2019 25 Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train at the Young Vic P H O T O B Y J O H A N P E R S S O N