Mark Shenton's theatre picks: December 18

There’s a final flurry of new shows opening in London and around the country ahead of Christmas – and not much of a break after it as the theatre schedule resumes almost immediately in the new year. Here’s a round-up of some of those openings for the next three weeks.

Jack and the Beanstalk – Birmingham Hippodrome

While pantos inevitably take over theatres up and down the land, most have already opened by now – but Birmingham, which styles itself as producing ‘Britain’s biggest panto’, likes to save itself till last. This year’s entry, Jack and the Beanstalk, opens on December 22, with a cast that includes Jane McDonald, Duncan James, Gary Wilmot and Paul Zerdin.

The Shoemaker’s Holiday – Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

The Royal Shakespeare Company is also still in holiday mood at Stratford-upon-Avon, where it opens a new production of Thomas Dekker’s classic city comedy of class, conflict and cobblers in love The Shoekamaker’s Holiday on December 18 under the direction of Philip Breen, who previously directed The Merry Wives of Windsor for the RSC in 2012.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Lowry Theatre, Salford

Still playing in the West End at the Gielgud and now also a hit at Broadway’s Barrymore Theatre, Simon Stephens’ stage adaptation of Mark Haddon’s novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time now hits the UK road, launching a 31-city tour at Salford’s Lowry Theatre from December 18 (prior to an official opening on January 9). The touring cast is led by Joshua Jenkins as Christopher Boone, with Geraldine Alexander as his teacher, Siobhan.

Theatre Quiz 2014 – National Theatre, London

An annual one-off highlight at this time of year is the National’s Theatre Quiz, taking place at the Olivier Theatre on December 19 at 5.30pm. This year, teams NTSouthBank pits its wits against NTWestEnd – from the South Bank, Arthur Darvill and Patsy Ferran from Treasure Island, and Gavi Singh Chera and Shane Zaza from Behind the Beautiful Forevers, compete against Richard Katz from War Horse, Gay Soper from Curious Incident and Robert Glenister and Joseph Wilkins from Great Britain. Emma Freud hosts.

Lionboy – Tricycle Theatre, London

Complicite reprises Lionboy, its stage adaptation of the trilogy of novels by Zizou Corder, that was previously seen at the Unicorn and on a national tour, now opening at the Tricycle on December 18. Post-show events include a book signing with Zizou Corder on December 23, a talk with playwright Marcelo Don Santos about his adaptation of the book on December 23 and a Q&A with Corder, Louisa Young and Isabel Adamakoh Young on January 7.

Almost Maine – Park Theatre, London

Go People presents the UK premiere of John Cariani’s 2005 Off-Broadway play Almost, Maine, opening on December 17. It has apparently been produced by over 2,000 companies around the United States and performed in dozens of countries, making it one of the most frequently performed plays of the past decade. Now it is London’s turn.

Widowers’ Houses – Orange Tree Theatre, London

The Orange Tree’s new artistic director Paul Miller has already been galvanising the theatre by programming acclaimed new plays by Deborah Bruce and Alistair McDowell, while himself directing DH Lawrence and now Bernard Shaw’s rarely-seen first play Widowers’ Houses, opening on December 19 with a cast that includes Simon Gregor and Alex Waldmann.

Tangram Theatre Company at Southwark Playhouse, London

A residency at Southwark Playhouse’s Little Theatre features Yevgeny Schwartz’s The Dragon, opening on December 19, and John Hinton’s Albert Einstein: Relatively Speaking, opening on December 20, presented in two versions – one for adults and children over 11, and a junior edition for 6-11 year olds.

Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown – Playhouse Theatre, London

While composer/lyricist David Yazbek and book writer Jeffrey Lane’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels continues to run at the Savoy Theatre, but the pair has a second musical now in previews at the Playhouse Theatre, Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, ahead of an official opening on January 12. I saw the original short-lived production on Broadway twice, and am looking forward to seeing this revised new version, also directed by Bartlett Sher, with a cast led by Tamsin Greig and also featuring Haydn Gwynne, Jerome Pradon and Willemijn Verkaik.

Kooza – Royal Albert Hall, London

Cirque du Soleil’s annual residency at the Royal Albert Hall sees a reprise run for David Shiner’s production of Kooza, also seen there last year, opening on January 6 for a run to February 19.

The Grand Tour – Finborough Theatre, London

Jerry Herman’s short-lived 1979 Broadway musical The Grand Tour, which ran for just 61 performances then, gets its belated European premiere at the Finborough, opening on January 6 for an eight-week run. Based on the play Jacobowsky and The Colonel by Franz Werfel as adapted by SN Behrman, it stars Alistair Brookshaw as Jacobowsky, who was so good in Parade at the Southwark Playhouse, also directed by Thom Southerland.

The Fever – May Fair Hotel, London

Robert Icke directs Tobias Menzies in a site specific staging of Wallace Shawn’s The Fever, performed for an audience of 28 in the intimate surroundings of a suite at The May Fair Hotel, beginning performances January 7 for a run to February 7 only.

Last chance to see…

Finally, it’s the last chances to see Tim Firth’s Neville’s Island at the Duke of York’s, Ayub Khan Din’s East is East at Trafalgar Studios, White Christmas at the Dominion and Dance ‘Til Dawn at the Aldwych, all closing on January 3 (though the latter promptly goes on a national tour at the end of January.

Read more columns from Mark Shenton