The Independent Recommends: Theatre

HETTIE MACDONALD'S powerful revival of Ostrovsky's disgusted portrait of mid-19th-century Russian provincialism, The Storm (below) details, as subtly as the text allows, a Volgan merchant community crushed by the weight of its own blinkered conformity. Susan Lynch is extremely touching as Katerina, the young woman trapped in a loveless marriage and ossifying under the gaze of a Gorgon-like mother-in-law (Maggie Steed).

Almeida, London N1 (0171-359 4404) 7.30pm

The newly refurbished Barbican theatre in Plymouth has scored something of a coup by securing the rights to adapt Lee Hall's hugely popular radio play, Spoonface Steinberg, for the stage. Martine Palmer stars as the terminally ill autistic Spoonface, who finds consolation in opera, supplied live by Claire Hughes. The production will tour the UK from Saturday.

Barbican Theatre, Plymouth (01752 267131) 7.30pm