Irish actor Paul Mescal is one of the biggest success stories of recent years. Born in 1996 in Maynooth, north County Kildare, Mescal initially aspired to be a footballer but discovered acting after an injury. He trained at Dublin’s Lir Academy of Dramatic Art and began his career as a stage actor.

Mescal’s mainstream breakthrough came in 2020 when he was cast as diffident student Connell Waldron in the television adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel *Normal People* opposite Daisy Edgar-Jones....

Learn more about Paul Mescal's career ahead of 'A Streetcar Named Desire'

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The *Normal People* and *Gladiator II* star reprises his role as Stanley Kowalski at the Noël Coward Theatre in the West End for three weeks in February.

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Find out more about Paul Mescal theatre roles in London.

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It’s been another fantastic, and fantastically varied, year of [London theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/). Multiple inventive revivals put a fresh spin on classic work, from Wilde and Shakespeare to Sophocles, while heartfelt new plays and musicals illuminated our complex world (and our obsession with true crime). 

Here are some of my top picks – and, happily, you still have time to catch a few of these gems.

![The Importance of Being Earnest - LT -...

The best of theatre 2024

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With 2024 drawing to a close, we look back on some of the year's theatrical highlights – from spectacular musicals to thrilling plays.

The Bush Theatre will host a one-night fundraising event with Sir Lenny Henry next year to raise vital funds for the venue. [*An Evening with Sir Lenny Henry*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/43517-an-evening-with-sir-lenny-henry) will take place on 25 January.

Comedian, actor, and writer Lenny Henry, whose playwriting debut *August in England* was produced by The Bush in 2023, will read from his play, as well as take part in a live Q&A with culture writer and podcaster Nancy Durrant.

The...

Bush Theatre to host fundraising event with Lenny Henry 

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The west London venue has nurtured countless writers such as Michaela Coel, James Graham, and Benedict Lombe, but finds itself in a difficult financial position due to rising costs.

It's that time of year! The evenings are dark by 4pm, Christmas trees are up, and the Royal Variety Performance is back on our screens. Presented by Amanda Holden and Alan Carr, the performance will return to ITV1 from 8pm on Sunday 15 December.

Every year, the Royal Variety boasts an impressive and extensive list of West End stars and shows. Casts from *The Lion King, Frozen*, and *Crazy For You* all performed last year, as well as stars such as Hannah Waddingham and Cher.

This year, there...

All the West End shows appearing at the Royal Variety Performance

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The Royal Variety 2024 will feature a number from new Elton John musical *The Devil Wears Prada*, as well as an exclusive medley from Cameron Mackintosh’s *Oliver!* 

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Born in North Carolina, USA, Marisha Wallace is a West End rising star who has appeared in many West End and Broadway productions.

Marisha Wallace - Stars on Stage | London Theatre

The full cast has been revealed for Mischief Theatre's new West End show *The Comedy About Spies*. Performances begin at the Noël Coward Theatre from 14 April 2025.

Starring members of the original Mischief company, the show's cast includes Dave Hearn, Chris Leask, Henry Lewis, Charlie Russell, Henry Shields, Greg Tannahill, and Nancy Zamit. They are joined by Adele James, who is making her Mischief debut. 

The new play from the company behind *The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong*,...

Full cast announced for 'The Comedy About Spies'

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Mischief Theatre's other West End shows include *The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong*, and *The Comedy About a Bank Robbery*.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s *Evita* will open at the London Palladium next summer. Performances will begin on 14 June 2025, running until 6 September.

As was announced in October, [director Jamie Lloyd will direct the production](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/andrew-lloyd-webber-reveals-jamie-lloyd-will-direct-evita-in-london-in-2025), with further cast and creative team to be announced.

Lloyd previously directed the musical at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2019 and he is...

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 'Evita' to open at the London Palladium next summer

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Jamie Lloyd previously directed the musical at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2019 and he is currently directing *Sunset Blvd.* on Broadway, starring Nicole Scherzinger.

Bah humbug! If you’re struggling to get in the festive spirit this year and want to see something other than a pantomime, children’s show or [ballet](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/whats-on/ballet), there are plenty of options on London’s stages. From dark plays such as *The Duchess [of Malfi]*, to the political satire *Dr Strangelove*, and Greek musical *Hadestown*, choose from a variety of thrilling West End and Off-West End shows. 

While festive fanatics should head over to [our top 10 list...

Non-festive shows to see this winter

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Struggling to get into the festive mood this Christmas? Fear not! Read on for our top non-festive shows to see during the Christmas period.

__UPDATE:__ This article was updated on 10 December with the announcement that Billy Byers will play Alternate Artful Dodger and Odo Rowntree-Bailly (*Love Never Dies*) will be one of the actors playing Oliver Twist. Other actors performing in the roles of Oliver and Dodger for later in the run will be announced in due course.

The complete cast has been set for Cameron Mackintosh and Matthew Bourne's revival of *Oliver!*, which opens at the Gielgud Theatre in the West End on 14 December.

New...

Full cast announced for 'Oliver!' in the West End

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The cast of *Oliver!* will include Simon Lipkin as Fagin, Shanay Holmes as Nancy, Aaron Sidwell as Bill Sikes, and Billy Jenkins as the Artful Dodger. 

The Donmar Warehouse’s production of [*Macbeth*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/39455-macbeth), starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, has broken box office records at the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End.

[Director Max Webster](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/interviews/director-max-webster-the-importance-of-being-earnest-macbeth-david-tennant-ncuti-gatwa)'s production, which opened at the Harold Pinter on 1 October following a run at the Donmar last year, achieved the...

'Macbeth' starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo breaks box office records

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Max Webster's production achieved the highest ever initial on sale at the Harold Pinter Theatre, reaching over £2,150,000 in just one day.

[*MJ the Musical*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/28638-mj-the-musical) has announced a new performer will take over the role of MJ in the West End production, as the booking period is extended through 13 September 2025.

Jamaal Fields-Green, who has already performed the role on Broadway, on the US national tour, and in the West End, replaces Myles Frost, with performances beginning on 14 January 2025.

Fields-Green said: “I’m deeply humbled and honoured to have the opportunity to perform...

Jamaal Fields-Green to play lead in 'MJ the Musical' in the West End

1200 LT Jamaal Fields-Green as MJ Photo by Matthew Murphy

Jamaal Fields-Green has already performed the role on Broadway and on the US national tour, as well as in the West End earlier this year. He replaces Myles Frost.

Following the news that [Emma Corrin will star in *Orlando* ](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/emma-corrin-to-star-in-virginia-woolf-orlando), find out the *Orlando* West End venue and performance dates. *Orlando* begins previews at the [Garrick Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/garrick-theatre) on 25 November, with an opening night on 5 December and performances to 22 Feb. 2023. 

Virginia Woolf’s *Orlando* follows the title character who journeys through five centuries to discover the courage it takes to be themselves. The *Orlando* story is inspired by novellist and Woolf's lover, Vita Sackville-West. Neil Bartlett adapts *Orlando* for the stage.

[Emma Corrin](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/emma-corrin) returns to the stage to play the title role in *Orlando*. They previously gave an Olivier-nominated performance in *Anna X* at the Harold Pinter Theatre. They are best known for portraying Lady Diana Spencer in The Crown.

Michael Grandage will direct an 11-strong cast in *Orlando*. Further casting and a creative team is to be announced. 

*Orlando* is at the Garrick Theatre.

Book *Orlando* tickets on London Theatre.

[![LT - CTA - 250](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/1t6HRGmhlYl70k6PmR0mOZ/3caac861bc1d4233cd7844652c925623/LT-CTA-250.png)](https://ticket.londontheatre.co.uk/booking/calendar?product_id=26188&content_product_id=26188&venue_id=117)

*Photo credit: Emma Corrin (Photo courtesy of production)*


‘Orlando’ starring Emma Corrin sets West End venue and performance dates

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Michael Grandage directs the Golden Globe-winning actor [Emma Corrin](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/emma-corrin) in Virginia Woolf’s *Orlando* at the Garrick Theatre. 

Emma Corrin leads the 11-strong *Orlando* cast, and Michael Grandage directs. The pair previously worked together on the 2022 Michael Grandage Company film, *My Policeman*, starring Harry Styles. Grandage’s previous theatre credits include *The Lieutenant of Inishmore* with Aidan Turner, and *Photograph 51* featuring Nicole Kidman. 

The *Orlando* play is a time-travelling story like no other. Meet Orlando, born as a male in Elizabeth I’s reign. After a sex change in their early 30s, they live through five centuries without aging and meet key figures in English literary history. As Orlando continues to ask thought-provoking questions, the hero-heroine is left with a major question — how can we find the courage to be ourselves?

Although the *Orlando* protagonist is fictional, Woolf's lover and contemporary novelist, Vita Sackville-West, is said to inspire the story. Sackville-West had an open relationship with her husband, Sir Harold Nicholson, and the pair had same-sex relationships before and during their wedding. Sackville-West believed that the feminine side of her personality was attracted to men, while the harsher side leaned to women.

Neil Bartlett adapts Virginia Woolf’s *Orlando* in London. He’s previously collaborated with *War Horse* creators Handspring Theatre Company, as well as the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. 

### Who is Emma Corrin?

Emma Corrin is an award-winning actor. They are best known for playing Lady Diana Spencer in *The Crown*. Corrin made their West End debut in 2021, playing Anna in *Anna X* at the Harold Pinter Theatre and picking up their first Olivier nomination for Best Actress. Corrin plays Orlando in *Orlando*. 

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Buy Orlando tickets showing at Garrick Theatre, London. Choose your own seats with the best availability at London Theatre.

Orlando Tickets | Garrick Theatre | London Theatre

Orlando wants to answer one question. What does it mean to be ourselves? Journeying over five centuries, Orlando realises it's a lifelong mission. Emma Corrin stars as the title character in Virginia Woolf's classic. Get *Orlando* tickets at the Garrick Theatre today.

Sadly, we can't live throughout five centuries. But, elements of the *Orlando* story are based on truths. Virginia Woolf's *Orlando* is inspired by Woolf's close friend, Vita Sackville-West, told from the time of her ancestor, Thomas Sackville. 

While Sackville-West was married to her husband, Sir Harold Nicholson, the pair often engaged in consensual same-sex relationships on the side. Sackville-West believed she had a split personality: her dominating side leaned to women, while her passive side was geared towards men. Neil Bartlett adapts Virginia Woolf’s *Orlando* into a joyous, inspiring tale fit for the 21st century. Don't miss the *Orlando* play in London.

## What to Watch For:

- Virginia Woolf’s *Orlando* was published in 1928. Other books published in 1928 include D. H. Lawrence’s *Lady Chatterley’s Lover*, A. A. Milne’s *The House at Pooh Corner*, and Bertolt Brecht’s *The Threepenny Opera*.
- Corrin works alongside director Michael Grandage for *Orlando*. The pair previously collaborated on the 2022 film, *My Policeman*, starring Harry Styles.

Orlando - LON - TodayTix

How do we define those most fundamental questions in life: who we are and who we love? And what happens when our feelings about gender, sexuality and identity come into conflict with rigid social structures? A century ago, Virginia Woolf ploughed headlong into what feels like a shockingly modern debate with *[Orlando](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/26188-orlando-tickets)*, her forward-thinking 1928 novel. Now, [Emma Corrin](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/discover-emma-corrin-award-winning-performances-on-tv-in-films-and-on-stage) – who rose to fame as Princess Diana in *The Crown* – stars in a new stage version of Woolf’s remarkable work.

The non-binary-identifying Corrin is particularly exciting casting for Orlando, an Elizabethan nobleman who wakes up one day to find that he is now physically a she, and who then proceeds to question the distinctions of gender as the centuries pass (Orlando is immortal and forever young, too). We know that the character is anatomically male at the start of the production, thanks to a flash of prosthetic genitals, but the transformation is left deliberately, and effectively, ambiguous.

Instead, Woolf’s playful tale shows up the absurdities – why should Orlando have to eat daintily as a woman, but not a man? – and the raging inequalities: Orlando can no longer inherit the family estate when he becomes female. Amusingly, some elements remain the same, too. Society keeps pressuring Orlando to marry, presenting first a collection of eligible wives, then potential husbands. 

*Orlando* is essentially an extraordinary love letter from Woolf to her paramour Vita Sackville-West, written to capture all of her many and contradictory facets. That boundless generosity comes blazing through Neil Bartlett’s adaptation: the joy of seeing Corrin’s androgynous, fiercely independent Orlando slipping in and out of different guises, boldly seeking adventure and growth, and pursuing lovers of the same or opposite sex, simply because that’s where happiness lies. 

There are profound moments that speak soberly to us, as well – most poignantly when Orlando emphasises, twice, that when he changed gender, some people wanted to kill him. That rings out with terrible force during a World Cup in a nation where homosexuality is criminalised, and at a time when many in the trans community face hostility and violence.

Michael Grandage’s nimble production also captures some of Woolf’s formal inventiveness. A chorus of Woolfs (fracturing her identity between them) narrates in fragmented, overlapping, layered language, glorying in the power of words to create and complicate. And a wonderful Deborah Findlay, acting as Orlando’s housekeeper and, here, dresser, breaks the fourth wall with panto vigour.

However, in zipping through hundreds of years in just 90 minutes, Bartlett resorts too often to comic zaniness – *Horrible Histories* style. There are so many quotes and references that it grows distracting, whether it’s lyrics from *Cabaret*, the peerless final line of *Some Like It Hot*, or even a riff on the Just Eat ad, alongside dodgy cod-Shakespearean blank verse.

Likewise, with casting that is cheerily gender- and colour-blind, Orlando ceases to be such a radical figure; it’s just one more person putting on a costume. That means nothing is “real”: not just the exterior constructs that Woolf was challenging, but the people within them as well, reduced to cameos. In particular, I wanted more of Lucy Briers’s world-weary Elizabeth I, and Millicent Wong’s smouldering princess and shrewd sex worker. Lampshading the latter as the “working-class supporting character” in a comic aside doesn’t excuse this use of her.

And yet this *Orlando* worth seeing for Corrin alone. Their performance is a glorious feat of shapeshifting, from wide-eyed boy to swaggering, sexy nobleman and self-possessed lady – while always retaining the soul of the character, their curious mind, quick wit and passionate heart. Corrin’s Orlando feels deeply: “I could taste her,” they gasp as lust overcomes them, and their heartbreak is all-consuming. 

Though Bartlett references how the past can speak to the here and now, his script stops short of really engaging with contemporary concerns. He over-emphasises some fairly obvious takeaways (of course you were better off as a man than a woman in most of recorded history, and still today really) and is too heavy-handed, even slightly tasteless, in how he prefigures Woolf’s suicide. 

But I was charmed by Peter McKintosh’s evocative design, which whisks us from the great frost of 1607 (dry ice and exquisite stillness) to a raucous Russian banquet, sumptuous tent in Constantinople, or the splendour of court – all juxtaposed with blasts of rock music. A flawed but engaging experiment, and one given a beating heart by the magnificent, mercurial Corrin.

*Orlando is at the Garrick Theatre through 25 February. Book Orlando tickets on London Theatre.*

[![LT - CTA - 250](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/1t6HRGmhlYl70k6PmR0mOZ/3caac861bc1d4233cd7844652c925623/LT-CTA-250.png)](https://ticket.londontheatre.co.uk/booking/calendar?product_id=26188&content_product_id=26188&venue_id=117)

*Photo credit: Emma Corrin in Orlando (Photo by Marc Brenner)*

'Orlando' review – Emma Corrin is magnificent in this experimental Virginia Woolf adaptation

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Born in Tunbridge Wells in 1995, Emma Corrin is a Golden Globe-winning actress, best known for playing Lady Diana Spencer in Netflix’s *The Crown*. She made her West End debut as Anna in *[Anna X](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/anna-x)* at the [Harold Pinter Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/harold-pinter-theatre).

While at school, Corrin developed a keen interest in the performing arts, eventually taking a gap year by doing a Shakespeare course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. After twelve months at LAMDA, Corrin then began a drama degree at Bristol University, later leaving to pursue Education, English, Drama and the Arts at St John’s College, Cambridge. While studying, Corrin appeared in two films: *Cesare* and *Alex’s Dream*, later graduating from Cambridge University in 2018.

It didn’t take long for Corrin to make her television debut. In 2019, she played Esther Carter in an episode of *Grantchester*, starring alongside Jemma Redgrave and Robson Green. She then played Esme Winikus in *Pennyworth*, an American crime drama using characters from DC Comics. She’s also starred in *Misbehaviour*, a British comedy film with Rhys Ifans, Keeley Hawes, Jessie Buckley and Keira Knightley.

Corrin’s breakout role came in 2020, cast as Diana, Princess of Wales in Netflix’s *The Crown*. She joins an illustrious line up of British actresses in the show, including Claire Foy, Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter. To date, Corrin has won Best Actress categories at the Critics Choice and Golden Globe Awards, with this number likely to grow.

Corrin made her professional stage debut in Joseph Charlton’s play *Anna X*. She played the title character who tries to find herself in a mix of New York parties.

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Born in Tunbridge Wells in 1995, Emma Corrin is a Golden Globe-winning actress, best known for playing Lady Diana Spencer in Netflix’s The Crown. She made her West End debut as Anna in Anna X at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Emma Corrin - Stars on Stage | London Theatre

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The Garrick Theatre is a renowned and historical theatre venue located in the heart of London, Charing Cross Road, near Leicester Square. Opened in 1889, it was named after the stage actor David Garrick. Designed by Walter Emden and C.J. Phipps, it is built with an exquisite blend of classical and baroque architectural styles, giving it a unique touch of elegance. The theatre boasts a theatrical heritage unrivalled in its history of performances, artists, and premieres, hosting a variety of world-class productions ranging from dramatic plays, farces, comedic performances, to Shakespearean plays. With a seating capacity of 656 spread across three levels - stalls, dress circle, and grand circle - the theatre offers an intimate atmosphere, drawing audience closer to the performances and making it a favourite venue for both theatre-goers and performers. Along with the splendid auditorium, the theatre contains bars at each level providing a comfortable space for refreshment. The theatre is equipped with state-of-the-art systems offering excellent audio and visual experiences. A visit to the Garrick Theatre is a step back into time, offering classic London theatre experience in a beautiful and iconic venue. 

## How to Get There
The Garrick Theatre is easily accessible by various modes of transport. If you are using the London Underground, the closest Tube stations are Leicester Square (Northern, Piccadilly) and Charing Cross (Bakerloo, Northern). By bus, several bus routes pass close to the theatre, including the numbers 24, 29 and 176. If driving, the nearest car park is Q-Park Chinatown.

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The Garrick Theatre opened in 1889, and is named after actor David Garrick. When the theatre was built, architects discovered an underground river on the site!

The theatre became associated with comedy in 1982 with a four-year run of the farce *No Sex Please, We’re British*. This was the longest-running show at the Garrick, until J. B. Priestley’s *An Inspector Calls* transferred from the [Aldwych Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/aldwych-theatre) in 1995 and resided for six years.

In recent years, a number of musicals have played here, including *A Little Night Music*, *Chicago*, and *The Scottsboro Boys*. In 2015, [Kenneth Branagh](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/kenneth-branagh) took up residency at the Garrick for a year-long season of plays with his own theatre company. 

## Garrick Theatre Seating Information

The auditorium has three levels – Stalls, Dress Circle and Grand Circle. In the Stalls, the view of the top of the stage is slightly obscured by the overhang of the Dress Circle from Row N onwards. 

In the Dress Circle, the view of the stage is not obscured by the overhang of the Upper Circle, but the ceiling can feeel low for those in the last row. The seats are designed in a horseshoe shape around the theatre and the Dress Circle offers good sightlines.

Garrick Theatre - London Theatre

The Garrick Theatre, opened in 1889, is associated with comedy and musicals, and has housed popular shows like 'An Inspector Calls'. It features three seating levels.

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The Garrick Theatre is an iconic London venue, known for its architectural elegance, rich history, and hosting top-tier productions.

‘Orlando’ starring Emma Corrin sets West End venue and performance dates

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