| London's West End is famous for its | | | | Girls to translate well into a musical, |
| theatrical productions, and this year's | | | | but theatre has always been a medium to |
| programme is as exciting as ever, with | | | | defy conventions, and Bad Girls: The |
| three of the hottest new shows being | | | | Musical is a prime example. The musical, |
| adaptations from the silver screen, | | | | like the show, is set in fictional HMP |
| books and TV. | | | | Larkhall and incorporates characters |
| All About My Mother is based on the | | | | from the TV show as well as new ones. |
| Oscar-winning Pedro Almodóvar film of | | | | The plot focuses on the suspicious death |
| the same name. It marks the first time | | | | of inmate Rachel Hicks and guard Jim |
| one of Almodóvar's works has been | | | | Fenner's efforts to rid himself of any |
| adapted into English and has been given | | | | implications of his own involvement. |
| his seal of approval. The story | | | | The play also includes the subplot of a |
| concerns Manuela, played by Lesley | | | | romance between Wing Governor Helen |
| Manville; a single mother living in | | | | Stewart and lifer inmate Nikki Wade. |
| Madrid, who, following the tragic death | | | | After a successful run at the West |
| of her teenage son, decides to travel to | | | | Yorkshire Playhouse last year, the West |
| Barcelona to meet the father her son | | | | End production features some of the |
| never knew. Along the way, she gets | | | | actresses reprising their roles from the |
| caught up in the lives of three | | | | TV show, including Helen Fraser as |
| different women, including a long-lost | | | | Sylvia Hollamby and Maria Charles as |
| transvestite friend, a young nun in | | | | Noreen Biggs. |
| search of love and a famous actress, who | | | | Buying tickets for West End productions |
| her son greatly admired. The play deals | | | | can be booked online in advance, or if |
| with complex issues such as sexual | | | | you are willing to take the chance you |
| identity, AIDS, existentialism and | | | | can find last-minute discounted tickets |
| faith, but always with an edge of dark | | | | to shows at the TKTS ticket booths on |
| humour. | | | | Leicester Square. Formerly known as the |
| Elling is based on a trilogy of | | | | Half Price Ticket Booth, and operated by |
| Norwegian novels about a socially inept | | | | The Society of London Theatre, it is the |
| man - the eponymous title-character - | | | | only official discount theatre operation |
| who has spent his entire life living | | | | in London and offers a better range and |
| with his mother, and his subsequent | | | | price of tickets than touts. |
| difficulty in dealing with the outside | | | | Booking travel and accommodation for a |
| world for the first time after her | | | | trip to London can also be done with few |
| passing. After spending time in a mental | | | | clicks online. London is currently |
| health institution, he and his roommate, | | | | serviced by six airports and is also |
| the equally socially inept, overweight | | | | easily accessible by train and bus, |
| and sex-obsessed Kjell-Magne, are given | | | | giving visitors plenty of choice of |
| a flat in the centre of Oslo by social | | | | travel. Most hotels in London will have |
| services, and told to either | | | | a website with information about their |
| re-assimilate into society or move back. | | | | facilities and about the local area to |
| The story combines some of the darkest | | | | help making these decisions easier. |
| and satirical humour with uplifting | | | | So make the trip now and experience the |
| stories about camaraderie, and starring | | | | best modern theatre has to offer. |
| TV's John Simms (Life on Mars) as Elling | | | | Whether you're looking for humour, |
| and Adrian Bower (Teachers) as | | | | pathos or to simply be whisked away by |
| Kjell-Magne; it is well worth seeing. | | | | the music, London's West End has it all. |
| It might seem unlikely for ITV's Bad | | | | |