On The Stage – Theatre in London This Week

There’s not much opening this side of Christmas in the West-end, but that doesn’t mean there’s little to write about regarding the theatre.  London welcomes back two shows that have wooed audiences before at the Wyndham’s and Tricycle – and there’s still a handful of festive themed shows getting underway down at the Ambassadors and Garrick.

The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas has entertained theatre-goers many times before both here in the Capital and across the UK on tour.  Its welcomed return later this month for a short run at the Wyndham’s is sure to stir up our love for some of the worlds best loved crooners including old classics from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davies-Jr.  For more information and tickets visit the show’s official website.

The Tricycle Theatre in North London welcomes home an old friend this week.  Marie Jone’s Stones in His Pocket opened here back in 1999 and proved so successful it transferred to the West-End where it stayed for three years.  It also run on Broadway and has picked up a handful of well earned awards through-out the years.  Billed as an Irish comedy, this is a story of how life in a rural part of Ireland is turned upside down when an American film crew arrive to shoot the latest Hollywood blockbuster.  Stones in His Pocket opens on the 20^th December.  More information and tickets are available from the theatre’s website.

There’s a few stragglers hoping to attract punters to their Christmas productions opening this week.  Directed by Carole Todd, Santa Claus and the Christmas Adventure is in rep at the Ambassadors until the end of the year.  This child friendly ‘fest of fun’ sees Santa turning to the audience for help in a bid to ensure Christmas isn’t cancelled, after the elves start to play-up and Rudolph goes AWOL.  To survive this one, best adopt a wee one for the afternoon, otherwise be prepared to be harassed for the entire show by a big hairy man in a red suit with a white beard.  Then again – for those of us partial to a cuddly bear or two – ditch the kids and get involved.  More information is available at the theatre’s website.

For those of us at a certain age, a night in the company of Sooty, Sweep, Soo and Richard is a sure fire winner and an opportunity to take a trip down memory lane.  The nation’s favourite teddy bear returns with his friends and foes to the Garrick in The Sooty Christmas Show.  As the housemates prepare for the festive season the show’s stuffed with the usual giggles and squabbles as the bunch get ready for Santa.  This is another child friendly performance and an opportunity for all us thirty-somethings to introduce the gang to a new generation of fans.  Get your tickets  from the theatre’s website.