What's On: Further afield

Ordinary Dreams
Trafalgar Studios

Opening today at Trafalgar Studios is a new comedy called Ordinary Dreams by Marcus Markou with the promising tagline - How To Survive A Meltdown With Flair.

This story of "middle class anxiety, electric wheelchairs and salvation" features James Lance, a familiar TV comedy talent, and Adrian Bower, of Teachers fame.

While recovering alcoholic and heavily pregnant Penny is the epitome of calm anticipation and deep breathing, her partner Miles is retreating into a quagmire of neurosis about the baby's future. Armed only with a candlestick and a bold imagination he spends his days saving the world by creating a utopian fantasy for his son and everyone else to live in.

Meanwhile, Penny's ex-alcoholic, ex-boyfriend, Dan, and his new-age karma-embracing girlfriend, Layla, are also on hand to offer their own unique blend of advice.

The comedy runs until June 6 with tickets £15 and £25.

Go to ordinarydreams.co.uk

The Observer
Cottesloe Theatre

Newly-opened in rep at the Cottesloe Theatre is a Richard Eyre production of Matt Charman's The Observer.

An international group of observers arrives in a West African country to rubber stamp its first election.

New voters queue in their thousands, but a senior member of the observation team finds herself both horrified by the President's tactics and, for once, in a position to do something about it.

Yet as violence on the streets escalates and the country enters free fall, an increasingly angry young translator forces this outsider to confront the impact of her intervention.
The cast includes Anna Chancellor, pictured, and James Fleet, who both appeared in Four Weddings And A Funeral. Chuk Iwuji's theatre work includes the title role in Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3 for the RSC.

Go to nationaltheatre.org.uk for ticket details.

When The Rain Stops Falling
Almeida Theatre

When The Rain Stops Falling, premiering today at the Almeida Theatre, is an epic play which spans four generations, moving from a '50s London flat to the coast of Australia. The play interweaves a series of stories as seven people confront their past to understand their futures.

Go to almeida.co.uk

Last Chance

Peer Gynt
Barbican

The critically-acclaimed Scottish production of Ibsen's Peer Gynt, pictured, comes to a close on Saturday. This radical interpretation of the classic sees a mix of trolls, madmen, dancing girls and live music. There may be some returns but this roller-coaster ride has been generally fully booked.

Go to barbican.org.uk