Theatre

Arcola
A former clothes factory in Dalston, the Arcola Theatre recalls the early days of the fringe.
Also Almeida, Alan Ayckbourn

Burlesque
Suddenly nipple tassels are everywhere. Thanks to the success of The Whoopee Club and Duckie’s cabarets (and our own Social Club section), burlesque is booming on the British stage.
Also BAC, Richard Bean, Alan Bennett, Michael Boyd, Mike Bradwell, Peter Brook Feature continues

Churchill
Self-effacing dramatist Caryl Churchill established herself as a major talent in the ’70s when some believed that women didn’t have the balls to write serious plays. For the Royal Court she wrote such influential works as ‘Cloud Nine’ (1979) and ‘Top Girls’ (1982). Her new play, ‘Drunk Enough To Say I Love You?’, will be seen this autumn.
Also Cheek by Jowl, Dominic Cooke

Dromgoole
Dominic Dromgoole is the outspoken ex-director of new writing powerhouse the Bush Theatre and twentieth-century-drama specialists the Oxford Stage Company. He has continued his journey back in time, and now runs Shakespeare’s Globe. His book,‘The Full Room’, is a deliciously indiscreet almanac of contemporary playwriting.
Also Stephen Daldry, Donmar Warehouse

Elliott
After impressive work at the Royal Court and the Donmar, Marianne Elliott hit the big time with her production of Ibsen’s ‘Pillars of the Community’ at the National. She’s now an associate director there.
Also David Edgar, David Eldridge

Friedman
TV viewers will know Sonia Friedman as theatre’s answer to Simon Cowell after her stint on C4’s ‘The Play’s the Thing’. In real life, Friedman is the uncrowned queen of Theatreland, a stage manager turned co-founder of Out of Joint (see below), turned impresario responsible for a string of hits on the West End and Broadway.
Also David Farr, Vicky Featherstone, Forced Entertainment, Frantic Assembly, Michael Frayn

Grandage
Michael Grandage is the artistic supremo of the Donmar Warehouse. He was perceived to have a hard act to follow when he took over from Sam Mendes, but has very much made the building his own. His production of ‘Guys and Dolls’ is a big West End hit, designed by his equally talented partner Christopher Oram.
Also Bill Gaskill, Peter Gill, Rupert Goold