An inspirational story by Glenn Benenbeim following the lives of ordinary people trapped in the Warsaw Ghetto; IMAGINE THIS is a personal journey through one of the most devastating periods in world history.  But this is a story of hope; where laugher rises above the tears; where freedom is found through imagination; where love knows no boundaries. With a soaring and lyrical score by Shiki Levy and David Goldsmith transporting you to the heart of this uplifting story, IMAGINE THIS is exhilarating and passionate, funny and optimistic.

In 1934, a group of Ashington miners hired a professor to teach an art appreciation evening class. Rapidly abandoning theory in favour of practice, the pitmen began to paint. Within a few years the most avant-garde artists became their friends and their work was acquired by prestigious collections; but every day they  worked, as before, down the mine.
Following sell-out seasons at Live Theatre Newcastle and in the Cottesloe, The Pitmen Painters returns, this time to the Lyttelton. Lee Hall's new play is a humorous, deeply moving and timely look at art, class and politics.

Lloyd Newson's DV8 Physical Theatre has won 16 awards over the last three years for its stage and film works including a Prix Italia and the Rose D'Or.
The company's latest work, To Be Straight with You, is a poetic but unflinching exploration of tolerance, intolerance, religion and sexuality. It incorporates dance, text, documentary, film and animated projections to create a unique piece of theatre.

A major new work of dance theatre created by one of the world's leading dancer/choreographers, Akram Khan, and actress Juliette Binoche.
Throughout their careers, Binoche and Khan have both sought out surprising and daring collaborations. Akram Khan has always taken an inter-disciplinary approach to dance and his collaborators have included Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Antony Gormley and Nitin Sawhney (zero degrees), Sylvie Guillem (Sacred Monsters) and Hanif Kureishi.
Similarly, Juliette Binoche has made artistically challenging choices with directors such as Michael Haneke (Hidden) and Louis Malle (David Hare's screenplay Damage), and has starred in award-winning films including The English Patient and Chocolat.

Creating the environment for the duet is Turner Prize-winning artist Anish Kapoor.
in-i is a unique collaboration between three of today's most exciting artists.

he Year of Magical Thinking, adapted for the stage by Joan Didion from her best-selling memoir of the same name, chronicles the aftermath of her husband's sudden death.
Grief turns out to be a place none of us know until we reach it. We know that someone close to us could die. We might expect to feel shock. We do not expect this shock to be obliterative, dislocating to both body and mind. We might expect to be prostrate, inconsolable, crazy with loss. We do not expect to be literally crazy - cool customers who believe that their husband is about to return and need his shoes.

Following a sell-out run on Broadway in 2007, Vanessa Redgrave repeats her award-winning solo performance in David Hare's celebrated production which now receives its UK premiere.

With this exclusive packaged hotel deal you receive ticket(s) to "Rain Man" at the Apollo Theatre and choose your duration at our selection of London hotels.


“I didn’t take Raymond. I took half the money”

When 16 year old Charlie Babbit borrows his dads car, he calls the cops. Determined to make it on his own, Charlie leaves.

When his dad dies, Charlie gets the car and some rose bushes – but not the money. Hot on the trail of the cash Charlie discovers an unknown autistic brother, Raymond with an extraordinary talent for numbers. Intent on saving his business, Charlie takes Raymond on a rollercoaster journey involving Las Vegas, gambling, learning to dance, kissing. Raymond discovers a world beyond the hospital gates and Charlie, the meaning of unconditional love.

Based on Barry Morrow’s original Oscar winning screenplay and re-imagined for the stage by Dan Gordon and director David Grindley, the play examines the nature of love, understanding and connection. Leading the cast in this funny, heart-warming and touching contemporary story is Hollywood movie actor, Josh Hartnett in his West End debut as Charlie and Olivier nominated actor, Adam Godley as Raymond.

“I didn’t take Raymond. I took half the money”
 
When 16 year old Charlie Babbit borrows his dads car, he calls the cops. Determined to make it on his own, Charlie leaves.
 
When his dad dies, Charlie gets the car and some rose bushes – but not the money. Hot on the trail of the cash Charlie discovers an unknown autistic brother, Raymond with an extraordinary talent for numbers. Intent on saving his business, Charlie takes Raymond on a rollercoaster journey involving Las Vegas, gambling, learning to dance, kissing. Raymond discovers a world beyond the hospital gates and Charlie, the meaning of unconditional love.
 
Based on Barry Morrow’s original Oscar winning screenplay and re-imagined for the stage by Dan Gordon and director David Grindley, the play examines the nature of love, understanding and connection. Leading the cast in this funny, heart-warming and touching contemporary story is Hollywood movie actor, Josh Hartnett in his West End debut as Charlie and Olivier nominated actor, Adam Godley as Raymond.

‘You are in no man’s land. Which never moves, which never changes, which never grows older, but which remains forever, icy and silent'

From the pen of one of our greatest living playwrights, comes Nobel Prize laureate Harold Pinter's superb tragicomic gem about two aging writers, Hirst and Spooner. After meeting on Hampstead Heath, they return home for a late-night session of witty banter, sinister power games and the worship of alcohol, watched over by Hirst’s henchmen, Briggs and Foster.

Starring Michael Gambon, David Bradley, David Walliams, in his West End debut, and Nick Dunning, this unique and haunting play, directed by Rupert Goold, is part mystery drama, part homage to the ghosts of the past and the fiction of memory.

The award-winning sell-out sensation returns. 

FIVE STARS
Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, The Times, Sunday Times, Time Out, Sunday Express


'So exhilarating it makes you rejoice to be alive. Its sheer skill and invention are awe-inspiring.' The Times

'War Horse only confirms the National's extraordinary knack of turning children's literature into the finest drama. Stunning.’ Sunday Times

'An extraordinary piece of theatre which is both epic and intimate. Guaranteed to move the heart.' Sunday Express

At the outbreak of World War One, Joey, young Albert's beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. he's soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary odyssey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man's land. But Albert cannot forget Joey and, still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.

The National's epic is based on the celebrated novel by the Children's Laureate (2003-05) Michael Morpurgo. Actors working with magnificent, life-sized puppets by the internationally renowned Handspring Puppet Company lead us on a gripping journey through history.

Twelfth Night
By William Shakespeare
4 June - 30 July 2008

Separated in a shipwreck from her twin brother and believing him dead, Viola disguises herself as a boy and is employed by Count Orsino to woo the reluctant Lady Olivia.  Olivia is indeed finally awoken from her own grief by a new love, but for the servant and not the master, whilst Viola herself has fallen head over heels for the Count. 

Shakespeare’s comedy of mistaken identities, unrequited love, trickery and drunken revelling was the first play ever staged at the Open Air Theatre in 1932 and we are delighted to invite Edward Dick to direct this new production.