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The plays to book and pubs to visit
Want to know some of the best things to do in London this autumn? Head to the West End and beyond for theatre shows galore. Here’s our round-up of the best plays to book now for a cultural night out.
Two Ladies

When the partners of rival political leaders are left alone together at a time of international crisis, do they stick to polite chit-chat – or does something more complicated occur? That’s the premise of Two Ladies, directed by Nicholas Hytner and starring Zoë Wanamaker and Zrinka Cvitešić as the French and American first ladies. A glamorous political drama, shining a spotlight on the tense relationship between two powerful women. From £15; 14 September-26 October; Bridge Theatre, SE1

Chiaroscuro

In the last year alone, 29-year-old Lynette Linton has directed the Pulitzer Prize-winning Sweat at the Donmar Warehouse and the Globe’s all-women-of-colour production of Richard II. Now, she’s helming a revival of Chiaroscuro, a 1986 play by Scottish National Poet Jackie Kay. The “explosive gig-theatre event” explores the relationships between queer British women of colour, and is likely to seal Linton’s reputation as one of UK theatre’s brightest stars. From £15; 31 August-5 October; Bush Theatre, W12

A Very Expensive Poison

In November 2006, the MI6 employee and ex-Russian secret service operative Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned at a Mayfair bar. The radioactive substance polonium is thought to have been slipped into his tea by two Russian agents – and his death sparked an international outcry. With a script by Lucy Prebble (Secret Diary of a Call Girl), A Very Expensive Poison tackles the jaw-dropping twists and turns that preceded and followed Litvinenko’s shocking murder. From £10; 20 August-5 October; The Old Vic, SE1

The King of Hell’s Palace

Another riveting political thriller inspired by (relatively) recent world events: this time, China’s Plasma Economy scandal. In Henan Province, 1992, impoverished farmers are encouraged to sell their blood to the Ministry of Health, which then sells it on to pharmaceutical companies. But when young government official Yin-Yin discovers the horrifying truth about the blood extraction initiative, she’s forced to become a whistleblower. A gripping depiction of a forgotten disgrace. From £15; 5 September-12 October; Hampstead Theatre, NW3

My Brilliant Friend

Set in Naples in the second half of the 20th century and grappling with themes including female friendship, class, misogyny and violence, Elena Ferrante’s “Neapolitan Novels” were one of the biggest literary sensations of the 21st century. April de Angelis’s critically-acclaimed stage adaptation of My Brilliant Friend, the first book in the series, comes to the National in November – and some performances have already sold out. Don’t miss it. From £21; 12 November-18 January 2020; National Theatre, SE1

Hooray for the humble boozer! Two new lovely pubs have opened in London 
Hooray for the humble boozer! Two new lovely pubs have opened in London 

We’re loath to tell you about The Buxton, lest we’re not be able to get a seat at its beautiful burgundy marble bar again. Rare is it we find a menu we can’t fault, but every dish we ate at this teeny Brick Lane pub-with-rooms was better than the last – from gnocchi with parmesan-and-rosemary-dusted wild mushrooms to fluffy doughnuts fresh from the fryer served in a brown paper bag (nice touch). Drinks-wise, swerve the pints and head straight for the Davenport, a peachy East Sussex white wine, and a dessert-worthy Naughty Alexander cocktail of cognac, cold brew coffee liqueur and condensed milk to finish.

Further south, The Great Southern has just (re)opened in Gipsy Hill, transforming a very non-classy local into a properly nice beer-led boozer (craft, cocktails and garden). With genuinely great service, crowd-pleasing food (we demolished the hearty beef and ale pie), and nice touches – like the live train times running above the bar – it’s the perfect “meet you by the station” venue for a catch-up with mates. ● Words by Jenny Tregoning and Kat Poole

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Image credits: Bronwen Sharp; Manuel Harlan
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