Theatre: The Five Best Plays In London

1

The Colour of Justice Theatre Royal Stratford East

Enormously potent staged re-enactment of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry. It coincides with the furore surrounding the fate of the policemen involved in the case. Ends tonight

2

The Street of Crocodiles Queen's Theatre

Triumphant revival of Theatre de Complicite's surreal, funny and searing plunge into the imagination of the Polish-Jewish writer Bruno Schulz.

3

Oklahoma! Lyceum Theatre

Widely regarded as the best ever, Trevor Nunn's glorious production of the Rogers and Hammerstein classic fully deserves its West End transfer.

4

Intimate Death Gate Theatre

Can dying be life's most intense experience? Yes, claims this sensitively directed, very moving piece about work in a Parisian palliative care unit.

5

The Forest Lyttelton Theatre

Frances de la Tour is deliciously amusing as the skinflint cradle- snatching widow in Ostrovsky's attractive comedy about tyrants and thespians. See review, left

... AND BEYOND

The Winter's Tale RSC, Stratford

An amazingly rich and complex performance from Antony Sher in Gregory Doran's Romanov-style production.

2

Martin Guerre West Yorkshire Playhouse

It's third time lucky for this much-rewritten musical. In Conall Morrison's starkly involving production, it finally emerges as a tighter, magnificent show.

3

The Tempest West Yorkshire Playhouse

Having just played Garry Essendine, Coward's theatrical control freak, Ian McKellen rounds off this heartening repertory experiment with his Shakespearian equivalent, Prospero.

4

Two Pianos, Four Hands Birmingham Rep

Very funny demonstration of the trials and tribulations of youthful piano practising by a Canadian duo who combine the talents of the Labeque sisters and Reeves and Mortimer.

Darkness Falls Palace Theatre, Watford

Jonathan Holloway's entertainingly creepy double-bill of ghostly chillers about our deepest wishes and the price we pay for them.