THEATRE / The Theatre Shows of 1994

JANUARY

An Absolute Turkey Opens 4 Jan Peter Hall directs the Feydeau farce (Le Dindon). With Griff Rhys Jones and Felicity Kendal. Globe Theatre, London (071-494 5065).

The Cavalcaders Opens 7 Jan Billy Roche's latest play. Royal Court, London SW1 (071-730 1745).

The Three Lives of Lucie Cabrol Opens 12 Jan Theatre de Complicite with a new show based on a novel by John Berger. Dancehouse Theatre, Manchester (061-242 2555).

Fatzer Material Opens 17 Jan Rare showing of Brecht's unfinished piece about four deserting soldiers. Gate, London W11 (071-229 0706).

Unfinished Business Opens 19 Jan New play by Michael Hastings directed for the RSC by Steven Pimlott. Barbican, London EC2 (071-638 8891).

The Skriker Opens 27 Jan Olivier Award-winning actress Kathryn Hunter plays the lead in Caryl Churchill's new piece. Cottesloe, National, London SE1 (071-928 2252).

FEBRUARY

April in Paris Opens 1 Feb Gary Olsen and Maria Friedman play a couple with marriage problems in John Godber's comedy. Ambassadors Theatre, London (071-836 6111).

Private Fears in Public Places Opens 2 Feb Alan Ayckbourn's latest (No 46). A chance encounter makes a woman question her life. Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough (0723 370541).

Dead Funny Opens 2 Feb New Terry Johnson comedy about sex therapy. Cast includes Zoe Wanamaker and Niall Buggy. Hampstead Theatre, London NW3 (071-722 9301).

The Life of Galileo Opens 3 Feb New translation by David Hare of Brecht's play about principles and integrity. With Richard Griffiths as Galileo. Almeida, London N1 (071-359 4404).

The Lodger Opens 3 Feb First showing of the winner of the 1992 Mobil Playwriting Competition, Simon Burke's thriller, set in contemporary England. Manchester Royal Exchange (061-833 9833).

Maxwell the Musical Review Opens 21 Feb Stephen Rayne directs Colin Bostock-Smith's musical. Criterion, London (071-839 4488).

The Madness of Esme and Shaz Opens 15 Feb New play by Sarah Daniels about a relationship between an ageing woman and her disturbed niece. Royal Court Upstairs, London SW1 (071-730 1745).

My Mad Grandad Opens 20 Feb New play by Mike Stott about the relationship between an eight-year- old boy and his grandad. Coliseum, Manchester (061-242 2555).

The Kitchen Opens 22 Feb Stephen Daldry directs Arnold Wesker's comedy. Royal Court, London SW1 (071-730 1745).

Of Mice and Men Opens 24 Feb Dominic Cooke directs a stage version of John Steinbeck's classic. Nottingham Playhouse (0602 419419).

MARCH

Peer Gynt Opens 3 Mar New version of Ibsen, adapted by Frank McGuinness and directed by Ninagawa. Barbican, London EC2 (071-638 8891).

Wicked, Yaar] Opens 8 Mar Garry Lyons uses bhangra and rap music to tell a story about demonic forces. Cottesloe, National, London SE1 (071-928 2252).

Oedipus Tyrannos Opens 11 Mar Promenade production of Timberlake Wertenbaker's translation. Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh (031-229 9697).

The Man Who . . . Opens 16 Mar Peter Brook's production, based on Oliver Sacks' book. Also tours Britain. Contact, Manchester (061-242 2555).

La Gran Sultana Opens 23 Mar The Compania Nacional de Teatrico Clasico with Cervantes' classic. Sadler's Wells, London EC1 (071-278 8916).

The Mill on the Floss Opens 17 Mar Shared Experience reunites the team behind its successful Anna Karenina. Wolsey, Ipswich (0473-253 725).

The Birthday Party Opens 17 Mar Sam Mendes directs a major revival of Pinter's contemporary classic. Lyttelton, National, London SE1 (071-928 2252).

King Lear Opens 18 Mar Norman Beaton becomes the first black Lear for 134 years when he takes the lead in Talawa's production. Cochrane, London.

The Queen and I Opens 23 Mar Max Stafford-Clark launches his new company, Out of Joint, with an adaptation of Sue Townsend's comic novel. Haymarket, Leicester (0533 539797).

Johnny on a Spot Opens 31 Mar British premiere of a wisecracking American comedy by Charles MacArthur written in 1942. Directed by Richard Eyre. Olivier, National, London SE1 (071-928 2252).

Pygmalion Opens 24 Mar With Josie Lawrence. Nottingham Playhouse (0602 419419).

APRIL

Butterfly Kiss Opens 7 April New play about the breakup of an American family, by Phyllis (Weldon Rising) Nagy. Almeida, London N1 (071-359 4404).

Hated Nightfall Opens 8 April New Howard Barker play that focuses on the discovery of the bodies of the Russian Imperial Family. Royal Court, London SW1 (071-730 1745).

A Mongrel's Heart Opens 8 April Bill Paterson stars in an adaptation of Bulgakov's novel Heart of a Dog. Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh (031-229 9697).

Maly Theatre Opens 14 April The renowned theatre company from St Petersburg visits Britain with a season of work from its repertoire, including The Cherry Orchard (Lyric Hammersmith), Brothers and Sisters and Stars in the Morning Sky (Glasgow Mayfest) and a three-part staging of Dostoyevsky's The Devils (tours to Glasgow, Nottingham, Newcastle, Londonderry).

Les Parents Terribles Opens 21 April Cocteau's play. National, London SE1 (071-928 2252).

MAY

The Count of Monte Cristo Opens 18 May David Threlfall leads an epic two-part staging of Dumas' novel. Manchester Royal Exchange (061-833 9833).

Pericles Opens in May Phyllida Lloyd directs. Olivier, National, London SE1 (071-928 2252).

JUNE

Copacabana Opens 23 June Premiere of Barry Manilow's first full-scale musical. Gary Wilmot leads. Prince of Wales, London (071-839 5972).

Fiddler on the Roof Opens 28 June Topol returns. London Palladium (071-494 5020).

AUGUST

Edinburgh International Festival 14 Aug-3 Sept (031-226 4001).

NOVEMBER

Oliver] Opens 15 Nov Jonathan Pryce plays Fagin. London Palladium (071-494 5020).