Arcola Theatre, The Space and Bromley's Churchill Theatre
Of the January London openings covered here, the first off the starting blocks is the Spanish Golden Age Season presented by Arcola Theatre with Theatre Royal Bath and Belgrade Theatre Coventry.
This repertory season brings to the stage the comedies Don Gil of the Green Breeches and A Lady of Little Sense and the tragedy Punishment Without Revenge, all in new translations and performed by a company of ten actors.
The directors are the Arcola's artistic director Mehmet Ergen—Don Gil of the Green Breeches (Don Gil de las Calzas Verdes) by Tirso de Molina translated by Sean O'Brien—and Bath’s Ustinov Studio artistic director Laurence Boswell—A Lady of Little Sense (La Dama Boba) and Punishment Without Revenge (El Castigo sin Venganza), both by Lope de Vega, translated by David Johnston and Meredith Oakes respectively.
Alongside these three productions, there are readings of classic and contemporary Spanish plays, discussions, music, dance and food.
Spanish Golden Age Season runs at the Arcola Theatre from 9 January to 15 March. For further information and booking visit the theatre's web site.
Also taking place in east London this month is the One Festival at The Space, a performing arts venue on the Isle of Dogs.
Celebrating the solo performer, the One Festival presents 16 pieces of new writing performed in four programmes over two weeks and covering topics as wide-ranging as sex trafficking, split personalities, death and mops.
Artistic Director Adam Hemming says: "We wanted to recognise the challenges and dedication of the solo performer and provide a network of support that is often lacking when you’re working on such a piece.
"What is already a great test of a performer’s ability, can also be quite a lonely process, especially when the piece has been written and directed by the performer.
"We had a high number of applications once again. The 16 we have selected will provide four distinct and thought-provoking programmes of solo work and we’re extremely confident each one will be well worth coming to see."
For further information and booking visit The Space web site.
The Churchill Theatre always has a varied mix of visiting productions and shows with short runs, and this year's post–panto programme is no exception.
The new musical Happy Days opens its tour in Bromley and is followed by West end hit Buddy on its 25th anniversary tour. Also coming round again is Dreamboats and Petticoats.
Other musicals in the line up include Tonight’s the Night—The Rod Stewart Musical, Rock Of Ages and West Side Story which features Jerome Robbins’s original choreography and a 19-piece live orchestra.
Plays at the Churchill include the award-winning drama Kindertransport and the comedies The Play That Goes Wrong, See How They Run and The Dishwashers, whilst for family audiences The Gruffalo makes a return visit and What the Ladybird heard provides an adventure for the little ones.
A range of classical and contemporary dance events are in the programme along with comedy from the likes of Jim Davidson, Richard Digence and Lesley Joseph.
For further information and booking visit the ATG Bromley web site.