The Sunday Preview: Theatre

Which Witch (Piccadilly, 071-437 4506, now previewing, opens Thurs). Norwegian pop opera with an outlandish plot: an Italian soprano becomes entangled with a German bishop, is deserted by him when his conscience strikes, and is finally put to death for being a witch.

Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Shaftesbury, 071-379 5399, now previewing, opens Tues). After the book, the film, and the hype: the musical.

The Way of the World (Lyric, Hammersmith, 081-741 2311, now previewing, opens Thurs). William Congreve's fizzing restoration comedy with Lyric veteran Sheila Hancock. Directed by Peter Gill.

Mortimer's Miscellany (Royal Court, 071-730 1745, tonight only). Chairman John Mortimer presents his favourite poetry and prose, aided by Joanna David and Gemma Jones, to raise funds for the theatre's building appeal.

Making It Better (Criterion, 071-839 4488, opens Wed). The cavernous Criterion reopens after four years with James Saunders's sharp post-Communism farce starring Jane Asher.

Assassins (Donmar Warehouse, 071- 867 1150, previews Thurs, opens 29

Oct). A new musical by Stephen Sondheim exposing the flipside of the American dream marks the realisation of Sam Mendes's dream: his own studio space in Covent Garden's spruced- up Donmar Warehouse.

Blues for Mister Charlie (Royal Exchange, Manchester, 061-833 9833, opens Thurs). James Baldwin's Sixties thriller highlighting the racism and ignorance of whites in Mississippi.

Emanuelle Enchanted (ICA, 071-930 3647, opens tommorrow). Five sleep- starved, wartime newsreaders escape into beautiful dream worlds in Forced Entertainment's award-winning blend of movement, dance and drama.

FURTHER AHEAD

As a fund-raiser for Shakespeare's Globe, Dame Wendy Hiller revives her one-woman show, GBS Remembered (Globe Museum Theatre, 071-928 7710, 27 Oct only). In it the actress recalls how, in the 1930s, George Bernard Shaw invited her to play in revivals of St Joan and Pygmalion. The pounds 30 ticket includes supper.