Torn 🤷‍♀️

The Guilty leaves me at odds, plus offers from £10

It was back to the theatre this week with a trip to Seven Dials and therefore one of my favourite off-West End theatres, the Donmar Warehouse. It may be small but it’s mighty. I’ve seen some fantastic shows there and as well as some big names. This week’s visit was no different, with an hour-long thriller starring Russell Tovey.

The Guilty is based on a Danish film that The Guardian once described as ‘a must-see masterclass in cinematic suspense’. This stage adaptation lived up to that review too - it is incredibly gripping. There’s barely a moment’s let-up in the 60-minute glimpse into police officer Joe’s night shift answering crisis calls. There’s humour and eye rolls as we hear from entitled callers and their non-emergencies. But it quickly turns sour as you realise a young woman and her family may be in danger.

I cannot fault the script - I’ve not felt such focus in a theatre for a long time. And there’s some really powerful statements made on the state of mental health care and lack of support available, something I have experienced personally. Interestingly, there’s almost two twists to this play - a narrative one and a theatrical one. They are both excellent curveballs boasting some incredible artistic talent, but one almost manages to distract from the other. It’s hard to go into detail without some major spoilers, but it did leave me conflicted. I’m not sure both were needed for the piece, but I’m also glad I experienced both! It was a very strange post-performance feeling to have.

It’s perhaps for this reason that I’d recommend seeing it (as well as Russell Tovey being on form of course). Frustratingly the remaining few weeks are sold out, but that doesn’t mean getting tickets is an impossible task. The Donmar is renowned for their last-minute access, with a small amount of tickets being released seven days prior to performances. You can also check for returns - you have until 15 August to see it!

Happy ticket-buying!

Rochelle 🎭🎫

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Carrying the banner

In the news this week…

• Once star and composer Glen Hansard has died aged 56

• Government’s business rates announcement labelled ‘disappointing’ for theatres

• West End performers and stage managers accept new deal supporting better pay and work-life balance

• BECTU issues statement regarding Burlesque musical’s postponement

Hey big spender

Here’s your discounts, offers and cheap seats this week.

• 🏃 New rush alert! Loads of new ones for the summer… You can get £25 tickets for Now You See Me Live, The Car Man and How the Other Half Loves. There’s £27.50 tickets for The Comedy About Spies. And there’s £30 tickets for Cats, Midnight at the Never Get and the immersive Grease. These are all available at 10am each morning on the TodayTix app.

• 🎲 New lottery alert! You can enter for the chance to win £15 tickets to Dinosaur World Live, and £25 tickets to Now You See Me Live. Both lotteries are available through In You Go.

• The ATG Summer Saver is now live! You can get 25% off selected shows and performances at ATG theatres all over the country. There’s big shows involved like Mean Girls, Back to the Future, Matilda and Jersey Boys!

• In London, there’s still plenty of time to take advantage of free kids tickets thanks to Kids Week!

• There’s £10 tickets for The Enormous Crocodile.

• Move quick on this one - get £10 tickets for My Name is Rachel Corrie in Greenwich. Use code RC10, ends midnight on 30 July.

• Get £15 tickets for Cyrano de Bergerac.

• There’s £15 tickets for How the Other Half Loves.

• Get £15 tickets for Titanique.

• There’s £15 tickets for Hot Mess.

• Get £15 tickets for Arcadia (or there’s £25 stage seats on this offer).

• There’s £15 tickets for Be Like Blippi.

• Get £17.50 tickets for Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show in Manchester.

• There’s £20 tickets for Teechers in Bath. (£10 for U16s). Use code SCHOOLSOUT, valid for all performances.

• Get amazing £24 front stalls seats for Allegra.

• There’s £25 tickets for Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

• And there’s £30 dress circle seats for Trainspotting: The Musical.

Don’t throw away your shot

Competitions, on-sales and announcements.

• Lesley Manville and Anna Maxwell Martin will star in a new West End production of August: Osage County from January. Tickets are on sale now.

• Pixie Lott will play Marilyn Monroe in a new play, Who Killed Marilyn?, at the Emerald Theatre this summer. Tickets are on sale now.

• The Donmar Warehouse has announced new shows for 2026/27, which includes Rupert Everett in Pinter’s No Man’s Land. Public booking opens at midday on 31 July. And don’t forget if you’re 35 and under you can get £20 tickets.

• Ewan McGregor and Alan Cumming will star in an adaptation of Supernova at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre next summer. General sale opens at 10am on 12 August.

• Battersea Arts Centre has announced a new season, which includes an immersive horror show that sounds really cool. Tickets are on sale now, including loads of Pay What You Can options.

• A stage adaptation of The King’s Speech will tour the UK in 2027. Check the website for venues and on-sales.

• The Broadway revival of Fallen Angels starring Rose Byrne and Kelli O’Hara will be shown in UK cinemas later this year. You can find your local screening and book tickets here.

• Aaron Tveit is hosting a concert at the Royal Albert Hall on 6 October. Tickets go on general sale at midday on 31 July.

• The BBC has just added a load of filmed theatre to iPlayer as part of a new season celebrating British and Irish theatre.

• Win two tickets to see The Turn of the Screw.

• Win a family ticket to Brainiac Live.

• And finally, win a West End LIVE print by Eve Leoni Art.

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That’s all for this week. If you enjoyed the newsletter, please tell your friends. I’m also open to suggestions and requests for certain discounts, so do drop into my DMs. Right, time to tidy the flat for another viewing tomorrow! 🤞