King Lear To 14 October By William Shakespeare King Lear has three daughters, but no sons. Boldly he makes a decision to divide his kingdom among his children, but fails to anticipate the consequences of his actions. As he comes to realize the false values by which he has lived, he finally encounters his own humanity. Kevin McNally stars as Lear. Boudica 8 September to 1 October by Tristan Bernays The King of the Iceni has died and his widow Boudica has tried to claim her rightful throne. For her insolence in defying Rome, the queen has been flogged, her daughters have been raped, and they have been banished from their homeland. But now, Queen Boudica has returned. And this time she has an army. THE OLD VIC 103 THE CUT SE1 8NB 020 7928 2651 Girl From The North Country To 7 October Written and Directed by Conor McPherson Music and lyrics by Bob Dylan Duluth, Minnesota. 1934. A community living on a knife-edge huddle together in the local guesthouse. The owner, Nick, owes more money than he can ever repay, his wife Elizabeth is losing her mind and their daughter Marianne is carrying a child no-one will account for. And, when a preacher selling bibles and a boxer looking for a comeback show up in the middle of the night, things start to spiral beyond the point of no return… Dr. Seuss’s THE LORAX 15 October to 5 November Adapted by David Greig This dazzlingly funny, moving and inspiring show sees the go-getting Once-ler come face to face with the magical Lorax in a battle over the beloved truffula trees and the whole of Paradise Valley. Adapted for the stage by David Greig with music and lyrics by Charlie Fink, Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax is a brilliant riot of eye-popping colour, gorgeous puppetry and infectious music to enchant adults and children alike. A Christmas Carol 18 November to 20 January 2018 By Jack Thorne Matthew Warchus directs Charles Dickens’timeless classic A Christmas Carol in a joyous new adaptation. On a bitter Christmas Eve night a cold-hearted miser is visited by four ghosts. Transported to worlds past, present and future, Ebenezer Scrooge witnesses what a lifetime of fear and selfishness has led to and sees with fresh eyes the lonely life he has built for himself. THE YOUNG VIC 66 THE CUT SE1 8LZ 020 7922 2922 Cat On A Hot Tin Roof To 7 October by Tennessee Williams On a steamy night in Mississippi, a Southern family gather at their cotton plantation to celebrate Big Daddy’s birthday. The scorching heat is almost as oppressive as the lies they tell. Brick and Maggie dance round the secrets and sexual tensions that threaten to destroy their marriage. Wings 14 September to 4 November By Arthur Kopit Emily, a fiercely independent aviator and wing walker, suffers a stroke that destroys her sense of reality. Fragments of her life come together as she struggles to find her voice and her self. Arthur Kopit’s tremendously powerful Broadway hit hasn’t been seen in London for 30 years. MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY 53 SOUTHWARK STREET SE1 1RU 020 7378 1713 The Lie 14 September to 18 November By Florian Zeller The production sees the return of Zeller, Hampton and director Lindsay Posner to the Menier following the huge success of The Truth in 2016, which later transferred to the West End and was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Comedy. Featuring Samantha Bond. Boudica comes to The Globe | C U L T U R E | THE RIVER MAGAZINE | Autumn 2017 21