The world premiere of *My Neighbour Totoro* triumphed at the 2023 Olivier Awards, winning six categories out of its nine nominations at the ceremony. It’s a good time for the Studio Ghibli stage adaptation, too, as *My Neighbour Totoro* will open in the West End next year, with performances at the [Gillian Lynne Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/gillian-lynne-theatre) from 8 March.

Based on Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 Studio Ghibli film, *My Neighbour Totoro* follows Satsuki and Mei,...

Here's why 'My Neighbour Totoro' deserved all the Oliviers

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Based on Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 Studio Ghibli film, *My Neighbour Totoro* will return to London later next year, opening at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.

Next year, the [Royal Shakespeare Company’s](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/royal-shakespeare-company) triumphant 2022 stage adaptation of [*My Neighbour Totoro*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/25389-my-neighbour-totoro) heads to the West End's [Gillian Lynne Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/gillian-lynne-theatre) for a third run due to enormous popular demand. The show won six Olivier Awards and broke the Barbican’s box office record for the most tickets...

What to expect from London shows based on Studio Ghibli films

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Studio Ghibli is a renowned Japanese animation film studio founded in 1985. They are known for creating imaginative movies, including *My Neighbour Totoro* and *Spirited Away*.

A stage adaptation of television comedy *Inside No 9* will arrive in the West End next year. The show opens for a 12-week run at Wyndham's Theatre from 18 January 2025.

The TV show's original writers and performers Steve Pemberton (*The Pillowman*) and Reece Shearsmith (*A Very Expensive Poison*) will star in the West End show, titled *Stage/Fright*, which will blend original material with familiar characters from the series. 

Speaking about the announcement, Pemberton and Shearsmith said:...

Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith's 'Inside No 9' to be adapted for the West End 

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The TV show's original creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith will star in the West End adaptation when it opens next year. 

The hit musical comedy *Titanique* has confirmed plans for a West End run later this year. The show is currently performing at Off-Broadway venue the Daryl Roth Theatre.

The musical, which is co-written by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, and Constantine Rousouli, has received critical acclaim and multiple awards since its premiere off Broadway at Asylum Theater in 2022.

The parody of James Cameron's Oscar-winning *Titanic* film features a raft of Celine Dion’s iconic songs including “My Heart Will...

'Titanique' confirms planned West End run

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The musical has received critical acclaim and multiple awards since its premiere off Broadway at Asylum Theater in 2022. It is currently at the Daryl Roth Theatre.

The British writer James Graham is on an incredible run at the moment. He just won the Olivier Award for Best New Play for *Dear England*, a fantastic drama about football manager Gareth Southgate, which enticed new audiences into theatre, and the musical *Tammy Faye*, for which he supplied the book, is opening on Broadway this autumn.

He’s also a prolific screenwriter, with recent hits including the crime series *Sherwood* and the dystopian drama *The Way*. Graham has that rare combination of...

Learn more about James Graham’s career ahead of 'Boys from the Blackstuff'

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From plays *Dear England* and *This House* to TV hits like *Sherwood*, Graham is unstoppable – and now his *Boys from the Blackstuff* is coming to the West End.

The bright lights of West End theatres are always appealing, but there are also a number of exciting Off-West End venues in the capital, such as the small but mighty [Bush Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/bush-theatre), which is nestled in west London.

This theatre has always punched above its weight, launching the careers of hugely successful writers such as James Graham and Lucy Kirkwood, as well as actors like Victoria Wood, Alan Rickman, Andrew Scott, and Phoebe...

A complete guide to the Bush Theatre

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Get to know this exciting new-writing venue in west London, which has launched the careers of Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Victoria Wood, among others.

The acclaimed screen and stage actor Ben Whishaw is back in town, starring in the premiere of Margaret Perry’s *[Bluets](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/39930-bluets)* at the Royal Court. The play is an adaptation of Maggie Nelson’s book and follows someone obsessed with the colour blue – taking in artists like Joni Mitchell and Billie Holiday as they navigate a devastating heartbreak.

Whishaw is joined in *Bluets* by *House of the Dragon* star Emma D’Arcy and *The Girl Before*’s Kayla...

Learn more about Ben Whishaw's career ahead of 'Bluets' at the Royal Court

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The James Bond and *Paddington* actor is co-starring in this new adaptation of Maggie Nelson's book *Bluets* with Emma D'Arcy and Kayla Meikle.

It’s another fantastic year for [Shakespeare plays](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/whats-on/shakespeare) in London, and as the weather (finally!) improves, you can start getting those outdoor shows in the diary, as well as all of the brilliant productions in the West End and beyond.

If you’re after a fresh take on the Bard, you’re definitely in luck. Sir Ian McKellen is already wowing audiences, giving his Falstaff a dynamic new spin in Robert Icke's adaptation of *Henry IV*, *[Player...

See modern adaptations and outdoor productions of Shakespeare plays in London

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From Ian McKellen in *Player Kings* to an incredible open-air season at Shakespeare's Globe, there's a wide variety of shows on offer in London.

You just can’t beat family when it comes to riveting drama. Perhaps that’s because no one gets under your skin quite like the people you love and who know you best – and who are bonded to you by blood, like it or not. From Greek tragedy through Shakespearean slanging matches and contemporary clans, shows with family drama at their centre have always ruled our stages.

That’s certainly true of London theatre this year, which features a range of bickering families – from plays like *[Long Day's...

Watch West End family dramas on the London stage

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Enter the homes of these loving but fraught families in West End plays such as *Long Day's Journey Into Night* and musicals like *Back to the Future*.

Get ready for what promises to be the most talked-about play of the year. Hollywood star John Lithgow will play Roald Dahl in a new drama, *[Giant](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/39984-giant)*, which sees the famous author about to release his children’s book *The Witches*, but then rocked by a scandal surrounding anti-Semitic comments he made in an article.

Mark Rosenblatt’s debut play, directed by Nicholas Hytner (artistic director of the Bridge Theatre), also stars Elliot Levey...

Learn more about John Lithgow's career ahead of him playing Roald Dahl in 'Giant'

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The Tony and Emmy-winning Hollywood actor is starring in Mark Rosenblatt’s provocative new play *Giant* at the Royal Court in London this autumn.

The Academy Award-winning actor Timothy Hutton will star in the world premiere of [*The Sex Party*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/26673-the-sex-party) in London. *The Sex Party* begins previews at the [Menier Chocolate Factory](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/menier-chocolate-factory) on 7 November, ahead of an opening night on 15 November, and performances to 7 Jan. 2023.

Terry Johnson writes and directs the relationship drama which follows four couple as they congregate for a cheese and wine evening. As they grow curious of one another, the evening takes unexpected twists. Press material states *The Sex Party* “promises to surprise, perhaps shock, and most certainly entertain!”

Timothy Hutton makes his London stage debut in *The Sex Party*. He’s best known for playing Conrad Jarrett in the 1980 film *Ordinary People*, and became the youngest recipient of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor at 20 years old.

*The Sex Party* cast includes Will Barton, Lisa Dwan, John Hopkins, Jason Merrells, Pooya Mohseni, Molly Osborne, Kelly Price, and Amanda Ryan.

The show features design by Tim Shortall, lighting design by Ben Ormerod, and sound design by John Leonard. 

Upcoming shows at the Menier Chocolate Factory include Alex Edelman’s [*Just For Us*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/27326-alex-edelman-just-for-us) and the European premiere of the Pulitzer-winning play *Marjorie Prime*. [Find out more about shows at the Menier Chocolate Factory.](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/menier-chocolate-factory-announces-2022-season)

*The Sex Party* is at the Menier Chocolate Factory. 

*Photo credit: The Sex Party cast (Photo courtesy of production)*

Timothy Hutton to star in Terry Johnson’s ‘The Sex Party’

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The Olivier Award-winning playwright Terry Johnson returns with *The Sex Party* at the Menier Chocolate Factory. *The Sex Party* tickets are available on London Theatre soon.

As *The Sex Party* is a new play, not much is known about what could happen. The living room drama centres around four couples in a suburban London home. One evening, the four pairs enjoy a cheese and wine evening, with some intimate pleasures on the side. A few individuals raise an eyebrow at the evening’s events, while others aren’t put off by what’s going on. Ultimately, *The Sex Party* goes beyond what anyone expects of an evening in — get ready to be shocked, surprised, and entertained.

*The Sex Party* marks the first time a Terry Johnson play premieres at the Menier Chocolate Factory. His award-winning works have been staged across the West End and beyond: *Hysteria* at the Royal Court, *Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle, and Dick* at the National Theatre, and *Dead Funny* at the Hampstead Theatre. He’s also adapted popular stories too: *The Graduate* and Alfred Hitchcock tropes in *Hitchcock Blonde* are now immortalised in theatre thanks to Johnson.

Timothy Hutton stars in *The Sex Party* play. He’s best known for playing Conrad Jarrett in the 1980 film *Ordinary People*. A cast of nine star in *The Sex Party* London performances, including Lisa Dwan.

## Where is the Menier Chocolate Factory? 

The Menier Chocolate Factory is located in Southwark, London, and is on Southwark Street. The Menier Chocolate Factory theatre is close to Shakespeare’s Globe and the Bridge Theatre.

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Buy The Sex Party Tickets showing at Menier Chocolate Factory, London. Choose your own seats with the best availability from London Theatre.

The Sex Party Tickets | Menier Chocolate Factory | London Theatre

Four couples gather in a suburban London home for an evening of wine, cheese, and more intimate pleasures. 
See the world premiere of Terry Johnson's *The Sex Party* at the Menier Chocolate Factory. 
Book tickets to *The Sex Party* in London today.

It’s wonderful to welcome back, after a period of refurbishment, the [Menier Chocolate Factory](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/menier-chocolate-factory) and a season of programming that includes a long-overdue sighting of Stephen Sondheim’s *Pacific Overtures* this time next year. So it’s something of a surprise that its reopening venture is a new play from the veteran writer-director Terry Johnson that feels at least one draft away from completion, if not more. As it is, [*The Sex Party*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/26673-the-sex-party) is, well, quite limp. 

Johnson, as director, staged the Menier revival some while back of *La Cage aux Folles*,  which transferred in triumph to the West End and Broadway. But he seems stymied by what to do with his own bluntly titled play, which suggests the swingers-themed 1997 movie *The Ice Storm* as it might look rewritten by Alan Ayckbourn or Mike Leigh and updated to accommodate the zeitgeist of the here and now.

The Iranian American actor and trans activist Pooya Mohseni arrives late in the first act to extend the discussion into contentious modern-day realms that could have been pulled directly from Twitter, with JK Rowling getting a predictable shout-out in the often-sententious second act. (John Updike, who trawled comparable terrain in print, is referenced, too.) 

An eclectic cast further includes Beckett specialist Lisa Dwan, here looking very glam indeed, and onetime Oscar winner Timothy Hutton to play several of the guests at the carnal gathering of the title. 

The location is an inviting Islington home beautifully designed by Tim Shortall, whose set is one of the genuine achievements of a wayward night and rewards closer inspection following the performance: notice, for instance, an attention to detail that extends into the wings – areas most playgoers won’t see from their seats but that make for delightful post-show viewing as you exit. 

In full view is a poster of the iconic Fellini film *La Dolce Vita*, whose title couldn’t be more ironic given the far-from-dolce goings-on that soon transpire in the kitchen; such rumpy-pumpy as there is happens unseen in the living room nearby. 

The host is Alex (Jason Merrells), who some while back fancied Dwan’s barbed Gilly but has in the meantime settled down with the far-younger Hetty (Molly Osborne), a free spirit who can’t wait for the frolics to start. Gilly arrives alongside her husband, Jake (John Hopkins), who before long is on bare-chested view for most of the night: Dwan and Hopkins are defined by an acidulous banter that might be profitably revisited if this address ever turns its attentions to, say, Noel Coward or Edward Albee.

Along for the bumpy ride are the bumptious Tim, a Boris Johnson-lookalike played by an actor, Will Barton, who in fact starred in a Jonathan Maitland play about BoJo at north London’s Park Theatre: as typecasting goes, Barton’s groove is certainly an unusual one. 

An apology-prone ageing hippie with a fondness for the drug MDMA, Tim arrives in seemingly subservient thrall to an inclusivity-obsessed girlfriend, Camilla (musicals actress Kelly Price, sporting thigh-high boots), who is caustic and not much else. 

Far too much, by contrast, is the overripe Magdalena (Amanda Ryan, replacing the originally announced Amanda Donohoe), a mouthy Russian who must be one of the more insultingly conceived characters to appear on a London stage this year. She is tethered to the older, deeply irksome American, himself at times bare-chested and played by the authentically American Hutton, whose choice of this play for a London stage debut is genuinely bewildering. 

Mohseni’s coolly elegant Lucy at least shifts the conversation away from jokes about the Tooting Lido and broadsides aimed in the direction of the Saatchi Gallery, only to mire the play in a ticker-tape parade of hot-button topics that made me briefly nostalgic for the more innocent theatrical era of *No Sex Please, We’re British*. 

It’s actually not surprising that, notwithstanding some coital breathiness heard offstage near the start, sex itself barely features in *The Sex Party*. Anyone expecting an evening of vicarious fun will find instead a catalogue of concerns embracing “textbook transphobia” one minute and cis-male self-definition the next. (Penis size is on the menu, as well.) You leave marvelling at the design and wondering quite what it is there to serve, beyond suggesting the participants as candidates for couple’s counselling in a sequel we don’t need to see.

*The Sex Party is at the Menier Chocolate Factory through 7 Jan. 2023. Book The Sex Party tickets on London Theatre.*

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*Photo credit: The Sex Party (Photo by Alastair Muir)*

'The Sex Party' review — a limp and confusing play suffers from questionable stereotyping

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The Menier Chocolate Factory Theatre opened in 2004. It is located in a former 1870s chocolate factory and is made up of a theatre, a rehearsal space, as well as an on-site restaurant and bar. UK premieres at the Menier Chocolate Factory include *Tick, Tick... Boom!*, *The Color Purple* and *The Last Five Years*. Many musicals staged at the Menier Chocolate Factory transfer to the West End, including *Sunday in the Park with George* and *[Fiddler on the Roof](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/fiddler-on-the-roof)*. 

Timothy Hutton to star in Terry Johnson’s ‘The Sex Party’

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