Alfie Allen takes reigns for Equus

JUST because the long dark evenings have arrived isn't an excuse for taking the easy option of a night in with the latest action- packed adventure on DVD.

From now through to March, Edinburgh's big three theatres – The King's, Festival and Playhouse – have just as much drama, comedy and music to entertain as any branch of Blockbusters.

Kicking off the Capital's winter drama season, the ever-popular Lisa Goddard stars in Oliver Goldsmith's classic comedy of manners, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER (King's Theatre, February 12-16).

The play, which has entertained audiences for more than two centuries, was first performed in 1773 and tells the story of two young men, Charles Marlow and George Hasting and their attempts to court Kate Hardcastle and her friend Constance Neville.

Expect an evening of 'delightful deceits, clever schemes, comic ruses' and 'an abundance of merry mix-ups, bawdy dialogue, sly satire of the times and one of the great characters of the stage in Tony Lumpkin.'

With a sell-out run of Joseph currently winding down at the Playhouse, it appears that there is no escaping Andrew Lloyd Webber in 2008 as 70s superstar David Essex takes to the stage in Lloyd Webber's most romantic musical ASPECTS OF LOVE (Festival Theatre, February 5-9).

A heart-breaking story spanning two decades, the musical opens in France, the year is 1947. Alex Dillingham has fallen for actress Rose Vibert. When Rose joins Alex at his uncle's villa they embark upon a passionate affair, but then Uncle George returns and everything changes.

Possibly the highlight of the forthcoming season, however, is the national tour of the record-breaking London West End production of Peter Shaffer's award-winning play EQUUS (King's Theatre, February 18-23).

Replacing veteran actor Richard Griffiths and Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe in the central roles are Four Weddings and a Funeral star Simon Callow and Alfie Allen, son of Keith and brother of pop star Lily.

They will be joined on stage by cult TV star Linda Thorson, who in TV circles has reached iconic status for creating the character of Tara King in the adventure series, The Avengers – a role for which she was awarded an honorary BAFTA in 2000.

First produced by the National Theatre in 1973, Equus is a disturbing piece of theatre addressing a 17-year-old's pathological fascination with horses.

When psychiatrist Martin Dysart (Callow) is brought the most challenging case of his career by magistrate Hester Saloman (Thorson), Alan Strang (Allen) seems like a normal teenager.

However, his passion for horses and his first experience with a girl, stablehand Jill (played by Laura O'Toole), has led him to behave in the most devastating way.

Ask anyone between the ages of five and 15 what the must-see show in Edinburgh is over the next three months and you are guaranteed one answer: DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL (Edinburgh Playhouse, February 18-26).

Having burst onto the cultural landscape first as a smash hit Disney Channel movie, High School Musical is now every bit established in the hearts and minds of the younger generation – much in the way Grease and Fame were in their parents day.

The story of two teenagers – Troy, super-popular captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella, super-smart transfer student and a genius in science class – as they try to navigate the tricky currents of peer pressure to follow their dream and score the leads in the big school show.

This professional production (not to be confused with last year's amateur stage experience show) features a cast of 34 performers and a live orchestra.

For younger kids, LAZY TOWN LIVE (Festival Theatre, February 22-23) promises equally high-energy exploits and catchy tunes as TV favourites Stephanie, Robbie Rotten and Sportacus are brought to life on stage for the first time in the Capital.

When the pink-haired, bubbly eight-year-old, Stephanie, comes to live in Lazy Town she meets a zany mix of characters including the world's laziest super-villain – all she has to do now is defeat him.

One-time Old Vic landlady Anita Dobson teams up with Daniel Day in a very different musical, HELLO DOLLY (Festival Theatre, February 26-March 1). The winner of ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical, it is 20 years since a professional tour of this hit musical comedy has visited the Capital.

Time to reacquaint yourself with America's best known matchmaker, Dolly Levi, as Dobson leads the company in a host of memorable numbers including Put On Your Sunday Clothes, Ribbons Down My Back, Before the Parade Passes By, Hello, Dolly!, It Only Takes a Moment and So Long, Dearie.

If it's a comic thriller you fancy then the return of the John Buchan classic, The 39 Steps (King's Theatre, March 18-22), could be just the ticket.

Handsome hero Richard Hannay, complete with stiff upper lip and more than his share of daring do, must defeat dastardly double agents while contending with devastatingly beautiful women as Alfred Hitchcock's classic spy thriller is brought to life.

Another audience favourite set to return to the Leven Street stage is the ever-debonair Nigel Havers, who will star in SINGLE SPIES (King's Theatre, March 24-29).

Single Spies, which actually comprises two plays by Alan Bennett – An Englishman Abroad and A Question of Attribution – garnered ecstatic reviews when it first opened at the National Theatre 20 years ago.

The first play finds eminent art historian (and spy) Anthony Blunt in Buckingham Palace, where Her Majesty happens upon him replacing one of her favourite Titians. The painting is a fake, but is The Queen also aware that her enigmatic servant is actually the traitorous 'fourth man'?

In the second installment, the year is 1958. Set in a seedy Moscow apartment, bad false teeth, too much liquor, and a Soviet-issue lover are daily life for double-agent Guy Burgess, an old Etonian in exile. Until that is, actress Coral Browne accepts an invitation to lunch and finds a man longing for society gossip and a new suit from his London tailor.

Tickets for all shows are on sale now, book early to avoid disappointment.

• Edinburgh Playhouse, Greenside Place, 0870-060 1730
• King's Theatre, Leven Street, 0131-529 6000
• Festival Theatre, Nicolson Street, 0131-529 6000


Edinburgh's Local Heroes

Edinburgh's amateur companies will also be busy over the winter months. The Bohemians look back to the silent movie era for their challenge with a production of Jerry Herman's MACK AND MABEL (King's Theatre, February 26-March 1).

Expect bathing beauties and Keystone Cops in this tale of love between Mack 'the king of comedy' Sennett and his star comedienne, Mabel Normand.

It's time to whistle a happy tune and watch as the King of Siam asks his English Governess, 'Shall we dance?' the following week when Southern Light Opera Company show off their skills in Rogers and Hammerstein's classic clash of cultures in THE KING AND I (King's Theatre, March 4-8).

The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Edinburgh have chosen one of the pair's brightest of light operas for their 2008 production, THE GONDOLIERS (King's Theatre, March 11-15), and promise to bring a ray of Venetian spring into even the dullest of winter nights.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh Grand Opera will be immersing themselves in a world of lust, lies and damnation in Charles Gounod's classic version of Goethe's FAUST (Festival Theatre, March 12-15).



ALSO PLAYING

Goldilocks and the Three Bears *****

CHRISTMAS might seem like a life-time ago, but Paul Elliott's sixth festive spec-tacular for Edinburgh continues at the King's Theatre, which has been transformed into Gertie's Big Top for the first ever circus panto-mime.

Meet Goldilocks, baby bear, mummy bear and daddy bear, and prepare to boo the baddies. Starring Scotland's best-known panto dame, Allan Stewart and Raven star James Mackenzie, who are probably both glad that the panto season no longer runs until Easter, as it once did.

• King's Theatre, Leven Street, until January 20, various times, £8.50-£20.50, 0131-529 6000


Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat ***

The dream continues in more ways than one at the Edinburgh Playhouse, where local boy Craig Chalmers leads a cast liberally sprinkled with reality TV stars in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's retelling of the Old Testament tale at The Playhouse.

With Dalkeith's Keith Jack as the Narrator and featuring all the old favourites such as Close Every Door To Me and Any Dream Will Do it is no surprise that the run has now been extended twice due to popular demand.

• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Edinburgh Playhouse, Greenside Place, until January 19, various times, £9.50-£27.50, 08448-471 660