ENTERTAINMENTTo dial the UnitedKingdom remove the first0 and add +44.KEY : TelephoneË : <strong>London</strong> UndergroundË : <strong>London</strong> OvergroundË : Docklands Light Railwayt : Overland Train : WebsiteBooking TicketsA visit to <strong>London</strong> isn’tcomplete without enjoyinga world-class stage show. visitlondon.com hasa secure online bookingservice for a range of events.Browse the ‘book tickets’section to reserve your seats,or buy from legitimate agents,such as members of theSociety of Ticket Agents andRetailers s-t-a-r.org.ukHalf price, discounted,full price, same day andadvance tickets are alsoavailable for many shows atthe Tkts booth in LeicesterSquare (map C5). Check thenoticeboards before joiningthe queue. Shows are listedalphabetically andby category. See theTheatreland Map on p. 75for ‘Key’ references.Do check performancetimes when booking, asthese may be subjectto last-minute alterations.Information is correctat the time of going topress, but be aware thatproductions may closeearly or be cancelled.Details ‘to be confirmed’are labelled TBC.Kids’ TheatreHORRIBLE HISTORIES:BARMY BRITAINFrom 14 Feb A live stageshow from Terry Deary, authorof the Horrible Historiesbooks. Expect stories ofblood, battles and murderfeaturing historic characterssuch as Henry VIII, GuyFawkes and FlorenceNightingale (p. 65). Wed-Fri13.00; Sat 10.30 & 12.00;Sun 15.00 & 17.00.Garrick Theatre,2 Charing Cross Road,WC2. 08444 124 662. barmybritainlive.comË t Charing Cross.Key 16.ISLANDFrom 15 Feb A young manholidays with his scientistmother on a remote islandin the middle of the ArcticOcean. Written by FeatherBoy author Nicky Singer, thisplay is suitable for audiencesaged eight and over.National Theatre, p. 71.MusicalsBACKBEATUntil 18 Feb A musicalabout the early days of TheBeatles. Songs include TwistAnd Shout and Money (p. 68).Times vary.Duke of York’s Theatre,45 St. Martin’s Lane, WC2. 08448 717 627. atgtickets.comË Leicester Square.Key 14.BILLY ELLIOTTHE MUSICALBased on the film abouta boy whose macho fathertries to quash his dream ofgoing to the Royal BalletSchool. Mon-Sat 19.30;Thurs & Sat 14.30.Victoria Palace Theatre,Victoria Street, SW1. 08708 955 577. billyelliotthemusical.com Ë t Victoria. Key 49.BLOOD BROTHERSSet in 1960s Liverpool, WillyRussell’s musical tells thetragic story of twin brothersseparated at birth, who meetyears later. Mon-Sat 19.45;Thurs 15.00; Sat 16.00.Phoenix Theatre,Charing Cross Road, WC2. 08700 606 629. theambassadors.com/phoenix Ë TottenhamCourt Road. Key 34.CHICAGOA song and dancespectacular about two femmefatales convicted of murder,who enlist a shady lawyer inan attempt to get away withtheir crimes. Mon-Thurs& Sat 20.00; Fri 17.00& 20.30; Sat 15.00.Garrick Theatre, 2 CharingCross Road, WC2. 08444 829 673. chicagothemusical.co.uk Ë t Charing Cross.Key 16.CRAZY FOR YOUA romantic comedyfeaturing George and IraGershwin’s upbeat tunes.Songs include I Got Rhythmand Someone To WatchOver Me. Times vary.Novello Theatre, Aldwych,WC2. 08444 825 170. crazyforyouthemusical.com Ë Covent Garden.Key 30.DREAMBOATSAND PETTICOATSUplifting rock‘n’roll musical,which transports the audienceback to the rip-roaring 1950sand 60s with hits includingC’mon Everybody. Times vary.Playhouse Theatre,Northumberland Avenue,WC2. 08700 606 631. dreamboatsandpetticoats.comË Embankment. Key 36.GHOST THE MUSICALA musical stage versionof the romantic 1990 film,boasting amazing specialeffects. It’s about undyinglove and features musicby Dave Stewart of Britishpop duo The Eurythmics.Mon-Sat 19.30, Sat& Thurs 14.30.Piccadilly Theatre,16 Denman Street, W1. 08448 717 618. ghostthemusical.comË Piccadilly Circus. Key 35.JERSEY BOYSThe story of Frankie Valli andthe Four Seasons. It wonBest New Musical at the2009 Olivier Awards. Songsinclude Can’t Take My EyesOff You, Walk Like A Manand Big Girls Don’t Cry.Tues-Sat 19.30; Tues, Sat& Sun 15.00.Prince Edward Theatre,28 Old Compton Street,W1. 08444 825 151. jerseyboyslondon.com Ë Leicester Square.Key 37.LEGALLY BLONDETHE MUSICALWinner of the Best NewMusical at the 2011 OlivierAwards. This is a lightheartedcomedy about a blondeairhead who tries to win backher ex-boyfriend by followinghim to law school. Mon-Sat19.30; Thurs & Sat 14.30.Savoy Theatre, SavoyMusical makes a splashFrom 4 Feb A new production of the musical comedySingin’ In The Rain comes to the Palace Theatre thismonth. The stage show is based on the 1952 MGMblockbuster film of the same name. It tells the story ofsilent movie star Don Lockwood, whose charmed life in thespotlight in 1920s Hollywood is about to be shaken by thearrival of the talking picture or ‘talkie’. Watch out for actorand dancer Adam Cooper (Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake)in the lead role, and listen out for much-loved songs suchas Make ‘Em Laugh, Good Morning, Moses Supposes and,of course, the tap-dancing classic Singin’ In The Rain.Singin’ In The Rain, p. 68.SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN © MANUEL HARLAN66 | visitlondon.com|LONDON PLANNER|February 2012
‘Bond’s magnificentplay excellentlyrevived … changesforever one’sperspective onShakespeare.’The GuardianPATRICKSTEWARTasinWILLIAMSHAKESPEAREA Young Vic/Chichester Festival Theatre co-production020 7922 2922 youngvic.org16 FEB – 31 MAR
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