THEATRE / Previews and First Nights
THYESTES
See feature above. The tragedy of the House of Atreus begins here, in Seneca's Latin version, thought to be the inspiration for Elizabethan revenge drama. A new translation by Caryl Churchill. Royal Court, Theatre Upstairs, SW1 (071-730 1745). Previewing, opens Thursday.
THE QUEEN AND I / ROAD
Max Stafford-Clark's Out of Joint Company arrives in London. Sue Townsend's futurist republican fantasy, set on a South London council estate, is in rep with a revival of Jim Cartwright's 1986 street drama. As above. Previewing, opens Saturday.
CASTE
Thomas William Robertson's 1867 drama of love defying social divides launches a new multiracial company, the Ensemble Theatre Company. BAC, SW11 (071-223 2223). Previewing, opens Friday.
RIVER FEVER
A season of work by Liverpool theatre-makers continues at the Watermans with Jef Young's poetic tale of drifters and dreamers, inspired by American road movies. The London premiere of Tim Hibberd's Rejects Revenge follows on 10 June. Watermans Arts Centre, Brentford (081-568 1176). Opens
tonight.
SOMEONE WAITING
Based on a real murder case, Emlyn Williams' 1953 thriller sees a father attempting to inveigle his way into the household where the murder his son was hanged for took place. Peter Leslie Wild directs. Orange Tree, Richmond (081-940 3633). Previews from Thurs, opens Mon.
THE ANGER DYES
Insight Theatre's devised play questioning identity and the causes of crime. The cast includes three ex- offenders and will be performed in prisons throughout the nation. New Grove, NW1 (071-383 0925). Opens tonight.
HAMLET
Tim Piggott-Smith directs Hamlet in the open air (adapted and shortened by the director and Roger Warren). Open Air Theatre, NW1 (071-935 5756). Previews from 13 June, opens 15 June.
THE LADY FROM THE SEA
Josette Simon plays the mysterious Ellida, happily married but haunted by the memory of her childhood mariner lover. Lindsay Posner's production comes to London in July to launch Neil Bartlett's tenure at the Lyric Hammersmith. West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds (0532 442111). Previews from tomorrow, opens Tues.
THE THREE MUSKETEERS
With The Count of Monte Cristo running in Manchester, Alexandre Dumas's reputation is further revived with Willis Hall's adaptation of his archetypal adventure story, directed by Alan Cohen.
Sheffield Crucible (0742 769922). Previews from tomorrow, opens Tues.
MYSTERY BRUISES
Another hefty measure of Ken Campbell's inimitable humour, this show takes as its starting-point as the bruises which sometimes appear the morning after a night on the tiles. Almeida, N1 (071-226 4001). Previews from 13 June.
HALF THE PICTURE
Dramatised transcripts of the Scott 'Arms to Iraq' inquiry. Tricycle, NW6 (071-328 1000). Previews 14 June, opens 15 June.
DARK FRUIT
Pomo Afro Homos' show about US black gay life. Drill Hall, WC1 (071-637 8270). From Tues.
SIMPLY HOSTILE
Cheryl Robson's play looks back at the last two decades and the thorny issue of 'having it all'. Man in the Moon, SW3 (071-351 2876). Opens tonight.
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