The Independent Recommends

The Five Best Plays

The Street of Crocodiles (Queen's)

A triumphant revival of Theatre de Complicite's surreal, funny and seering plunge into the imagination of Polish-Jewish writer Bruno Schulz, shot dead by the Nazis in 1942. To 20 Feb

The Colour of Justice (Tricycle)

Enormously potent staged re-enactment of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry. It coincides with the uproar surrounding the fate of the policemen involved in the case. To 6 Feb

The Memory of Water (Vaudeville)

Alison Steadman pulls off one of the funniest and truest drunk scenes ever in Shelagh Stephenson's fine play about sisters brought back together for their mother's funeral. To 10 Apr

Martin Yesterday (Royal Exchange, Manchester)

Marianne Elliot (right) directs this sharp new play from the cult Canadian dramatist Brad Fraser. To 6 Feb

A Month in the Country (RSC, Stratford)

Michael Attenborough directs this Brian Friel adaptation of Turgenev's portrait of all-consuming desire. In rep to 20 Feb