ENTERTAINMENT on the book A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Songs include Thank You Very Much. Mon-Sat 19.30; Thurs & Sat 15.00. <strong>London</strong> Palladium, Argyll Street, W1. 08444 124 655. reallyuseful.com Ë Oxford Circus. Map B5. SHREK THE MUSICAL This irreverent fairytale tells the story of Shrek the ogre, whose bravery wins the heart of a beautiful princess. The show is based on William Steig’s book and the 2001 animated film. Mon, Thurs, Fri & Sat 19.30; Wed 19.00; Thurs, Sat & Sun 15.00. Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine Street, WC2. 08448 718 810. shrekthemusical.co.uk Ë Covent Garden. Key 45. SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN A musical comedy based on the 1952 MGM blockbuster film. It’s about a silent movie star getting to grips with talking pictures. Mon-Sat 19.30; Wed & Sat 14.30. Palace Theatre, Cambridge Circus, 109-113 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1. 08444 124 656. singinintherain. co.uk Ë Leicester Square. Key 33. SPAMALOT A rip-roaring musical by Eric Idle, inspired by his team’s 1975 comedy film Monty Python And The Holy Grail. Times vary. Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, WC2. 08448 717 627. atgtickets.com Ë t Charing Cross, Ë Embankment. Key 36. THRILLER LIVE Non-stop hit songs, multimedia effects and razor-sharp choreography bring to life this celebration of the career of the late Michael Jackson, and the group that launched his career – the Jackson 5. Songs include Can You Feel It, Billie Jean and Thriller. Tues-Fri 19.30; Sat 16.00 & 20.00; Sun 15.30 & 19.30. Lyric Theatre, Top: Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre. Bottom: Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Theatre. 29 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1. 08444 829 674. thrillerlive.com Ë Piccadilly Circus. Key 25. TOP HAT A famous American tap dancer pursues the girl of his dreams in this dazzling romantic musical. Songs include Let’s Face The Music And Dance. Tues-Sat 19.30; Tues, Thurs & Sat 14.30. Aldwych Theatre, Aldwych, WC2. 08448 471 712. tophatonstage.com Ë t Charing Cross. Key 3. VIVA FOREVER! A new musical based on the songs of 1990s girl group the Spice Girls. The story centres on a rising star struggling to come to terms with fame and fortune. Times vary. Piccadilly Theatre, 16 Denman Street, W1. 08448 717 618. vivaforeverthemusical. com Ë Piccadilly Circus. Key 35. WE WILL ROCK YOU An Olivier Award-winning musical set in a bleak futuristic world where rock music has been banned. It boasts anthems by the band Queen, including Bohemian Rhapsody, Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Radio Ga Ga. Mon-Sat 19.30; Sat 14.30; plus 14.30 on the last Wed of each month. Dominion Theatre, 268-269 Tottenham Court Road, W1. 08448 471 775. wewillrockyou. co.uk Ë Tottenham Court Road. Key 11. WICKED This multi award-winning show is the tale of two girls from the Land of Oz. It’s the backstory of the witches made famous in L. Frank Baum’s iconic book The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz. Mon-Sat 19.30; Wed & Sat 14.30. Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, SW1. 08448 268 000. wickedthemusical.co.uk Ë t Victoria. Key 5. Performance FUERZA BRUTA Until 26 Jan A unique and hard to categorise theatrical experience from Argentina. Sights range from a man bursting through moving walls to performers frolicking in water on a transparent sheet overhead (p. 66). Times vary. Chalk Farm Road, NW1. 08444 828 008. roundhouse.org.uk Ë Chalk Farm. Off map. KOOZA From 5 Jan The UK premiere of Cirque Du Soleil’s spectacular show featuring storytelling, dance, acrobatics and clowning (p. 66. VIP Rouge tickets bit.ly/viprougelondon). Times vary. Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7. 020 7589 8212/08454 015 045. cirquedusoleil. com/kooza Ë South Kensington. Off map. LONDON INTERNATIONAL MIME FESTIVAL Catch top mime acts from around the globe (p. 66). Times vary. Various venues. 020 7637 5661. mimelondon.com SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW Until 7 Jan A visually spectacular mime show. Audiences are immersed in a dream-like wintry wonderland, where they interact with webs, balls, blizzards and more. Times vary. Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1. 08448 750 073. southbankcentre.co.uk Ë t Waterloo. Key 61. STOMP A multi award-winning fusion of theatre, dance, comedy and percussion. Eight performers innovate with everyday items (like dustbin lids, lighters and a kitchen sink), to create music and spectacle. Mon & Thurs-Sat 20.00; Thurs, Sat & Sun 15.00; Sun 18.00. Ambassadors Theatre, West Street, WC2. 08448 112 334. stomplondon.com Ë Leicester Square. Key 2. WALKING WITH DINOSAURS Until 6 Jan Witness 20 life-sized pre-historic giants stalking the arena, including the fearsome Tyrannosaurus Rex. This educational but fun show is based on the classic BBC television series Walking With Dinosaurs. Times vary. The O 2, Peninsula Square, SE10. 08448 560 202. theo2.co.uk Ë North Greenwich. Map inset. Plays THE 39 STEPS Comic Hitchcock adaptation where four actors play more than 139 roles between them. British hero Richard JERSEY BOYS AND MAMMA MIA! © BRINKHOFF & MÎGENBURG 72 | visitlondon.com|LONDON PLANNER|January 2013
ENTERTAINMENT January 2013|LONDON PLANNER|visitlondon.com | 73
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