London’s West End Rolls Out the Red Carpet to the Stage Door
London plays in 2015 will be all sparkly with the number of stars and celebrities that will be appearing on stage in and around London’s Theatreland.
Here are a dozen top names to watch out for, go and buy a ticket for (if you can) and sneak round back to the stage door and bother for an autorgraph.
Click on their photos to find out more about the shows they are in.
Kevin Spacey is back as Clarence Darrow at the Old Vic – this is the only one where tickets are not yet available! It will be Spacey’s final performance as artistic director of the theatre and audiences only have a short 6 week run to make sure they grab tickets when they go on sale.
Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet at the Barbican sold out in minutes when bookings were opened last year but we do have a contact who has breaks available. To be honest, they are quite expensive, but if you can’t stand the alternative of not seeing him then I guess you should go for it. The seats are good mind!
Kristin Scott Thomas probably gets fed up of being described as the one from The English patient and Four weddings… but as she is not leaning over my shoulder to complain… she will be taking on the role of HM Queen Elizabeth II in this look at her reign through the meetings that she has had with every Prime Minister who has served during her reign. It is a fascinating insight into the political life of the queen… and all completely imagined! The Audience is at the Apollo Theatre from 5 May 2015
Damian Lewis (Homeland) teams up with US comedian, John Goodman, in American Buffalo at the Wyndham’s Theatre. DAVID MAMET‘s explosive drama examines the fickle nature of honour among thieves. As three small-time crooks plan one big-time heist, a tragedy of errors spins this razor-sharp and darkly funny play into a blistering account of divided loyalties, insatiable greed… cool!
Penelope Wilton
is a Downton Abbey favourite but this is an altogether diferent role as she takes on the role she created at Chichester festival Theatre of Irmgard, the mother of celebrated lawyer Hans Litten who puts Hitler on the witness stand in 1930s Germany with devastating consequences in in Taken at Midnight at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket until 14 March 2015.
James McAvoy is back at the Trafalgar Studios, following his excellent portrayal of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”, this time staring in The Ruling Class – a razor-sharp comedy exposing the foibles of the English nobility.
Gemma Arterton continues to entertain musical lovers in Made in Dagenham – the musical adaptation of the hit film telling the tale of a group of women who fight the management, the trade unions and the politicians for (and win) equal pay for women workers at Ford’s Dagenham car plant. The show is on at the Adelphi Theatre on the Strand.
Bradley Cooper is Elephant Man – “we can’t cure you John, but we can help you!” New York loved the sexiest man alive (People Magazine) taking on John Merrick in this stage adaptation of his life, so hopefully we should too. If you are not convinced maybe you should see him in American Sniper instead!
Ralph Fiennes – I’ve never seen Man and Superman but the National Theatre’s re-invention of this part romantic comedy, part epic fairytale and part fiery philosophical debate will surely keep one interested for an evening as well as any four-act drama written by George Bernard Shaw in 1903 can!
David Suchet provides us with the antidote to too much “THEATRE” by getting the slap on for his performance as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest – should be excellent and runs at the Vaudeville Theatre, London, from June 24 2015
Nicole Scherzinger, well you’ve probably missed her, but she was in Cats at the London Palladium until Kerry Ellis took over her role of Grizabella (originally played by Elaine Paige) on 09 February 2015. Ah memories!
Two Tamsins complete this list.
Tamsin Greig 
who has most recently been seen on TV opposite Matt LeBlanc, Stephen Mangan in Episodes stars in the musical adaptation of the 1980’s hit movie and charades favourite “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” at the Playhouse Theatre. As well as being very funny, she can sing: who knew!
Tamsin Outhwaite is the last of our celebs. UK actress from Eastenders, Red Cap, Hotel Babylon and New tricks is now in Di and Viv and Rose – which, if you don’t know, is an extremely likeable comedy exploring the impact of friendship on our lives and runs to 23 May 2015