Theatre listings

Top Girls. Caryl Churchill's play about strong women and their lives. Opens December 5, 7.45pm, £5.

Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill,Battersea, 020 7223 2223.

Nothing To Declare. Fragments of a Red Cross lorry are scattered across a deserted highway. A would-be interior designer agonises over the perfect colour scheme to transform the wreckage into her ideal mobile home. A work in progress which promises something out of the ordinary. 8pm, £3.50-£4.75, closes December 13.

Progress In Flying Machines. From tales of amateur birdmen who jumped of off high buildings with only a pair of false wings to the wearisome reality of jet lag, Progress In Flying Machines voyages through the world of aerial ships to the heart of a dream. From November 20-December 9, 8pm, Sun 6pm, £5.50-£8.75.

The Gathering. Hip-hop culture and contemporary theatre fuse into an uncompromising, hilarious show which is a rich depiction of Afro-American life. November 27-December 9, 8.30pm, Sun 6.30pm, £5.50-£8.75.

Epsom Playhouse, Ashley Avenue, Epsom, 01372 742555/227.

Sweet Charity. Famous American musical by Neil Simon gets an airing courtesy of the Mid Surrey Theatre Company. Closes tomorrowh, 7.45pm, mats 3pm, £8.

In Our Lifetimes. Revue show with music from Cole Porter, Flanders and Swann and many others. Monday, 7.45pm, £10-£12.50.

The Fairfield Croydon Barclay Road Croydon 020 8688 9291

Oklahoma. The Croydon Stagers present this stunning production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic. This timeless tale of the hopes of ordinary people contains great songs including I Can't Say No, Oh What A Beautiful Morning, and of course, the rousing title track. Closes tomorrow, 7.30pm, mat Sat 3pm, £8-£13.

The Circus Of Horrors. Adults-only shocking circus show that is full of cyber-vamps, voodoo acrobats and much more. Contains nudity and strong language. Opens Monday, 7.45pm, £12-£15.

Hook Parish Hall, Hook Road, Chessington, 020 8397 3932

Pinocchio. Christmas pantomime proceeds to the Kingston Cancer Unit Appeal. Fri Nov 30 & Sat Dec 1, Fri Dec 7 and Sat Dec 8, 8pm mat 2.30pm, £6-£5.

New Victoria Theatre, The Peacock Centre, Woking 01483 761144.

A Christmas Carol. National Ballet Theatre return to Woking with this pre-Christmas treat. The show sticks closely Dickens novel about the transformation of Ebeneezer Scrooge, while showcasing their versatility. Closes tomorrow, 7.30pm, mat Sat 2.30pm, £10-£25.

Rock and Roll Heaven. The sights and sounds of the golden era of rock and roll are recreated in this musical spectacular. Opens Monday, 8pm, mats Fri Sat 5.30pm, £9-£21.

Orange Tree Theatre, Clarence Street, Richmond, 020 8940 3633

The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Brecht's masterpiece about Grusha and her flight with a child she has rescued from a war zone. But when the war ends who does the child belong to Grusha, who saved and nurtured him, or the woman who gave birth to him? Making the decision is the judge Asdak, for whom the word eccentric was coined. 7.45pm, mats Sat 4pm, Thu 2.30pm, £5-£15.50.

Oval House Theatre, 52 54 Kennington Oval, 020 7582 7680.

Viva Maria. An ageing soap star in Rio begins to take on disturbing aspects of her on-screen character, while a young Mancunian holed up in an apartment in Sao Paulo becomes embroiled in a bizarre kidnapping. Taking black comedy to the extreme, this looks at what happens when new world meets old. 7.45pm, £5-£8.

Full Frontal. Gabriel Nkoke, a Nigerian raised in Britain, decides to become a member of the British National Party. When he arrives at the office to collect his membership card neither his charm nor racism will get him accepted, but why is he there? 8pm, £5-£8.

Polka Theatre For Children, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, 020 8543 4888.

The Night Before Christmas. For Jimmy Tibbs it doesn't feel like Christmas Eve. His grandparents are acting strangely, there is frost on the inside of the house and who is the strange woman in the garden? The Night Before Christmas is the perfect alternative to pantomimes and is suitable for children aged six and over. Until February 2002, £5.50-£12.50.

Richmond Theatre, The Green, Richmond 020 8940 0088

The Woman In Black. Chilling tale of a solicitor who employs an actor to help him confess a dark secret, but the lines between reality and fiction become extremely blurred. 7.45pm, mats Wed, Sat 2.30pm, £8-£20.

Murder By Misadventure. Robert Powell and Liza Goddard star in this thriller which promises to keep you on the edge of your seat. Opens Monday, 7.45pm, mats Wed Sat 2.30pm£8-£21.

The Rose and Crown Theatre, 59 61 High Street, Hampton Wick, 020 8296 9100.

Illusion. A fantastic magical illusion show which is great for the whole family and is great alternative Christmas entertainment. See feature on page 21. Opens Monday, 8pm mats Sat Sun 2.30pm, £6-£8.

Warehouse Theatre, Dingwall Road, Croydon 020 8680 4060.

Cinderella. Not a pantomime but a perfect pre-Christmas treat for children aged 3-8 years old. Today and tomorrow only, 10.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm £5-£6

Wimbledon Theatre, Wimbledon Broadway 020 8540 0362.

West Side Story. The moving story of two star-crossed lovers on the streets of New York is based on Romeo and Juliet with great music and songs from Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Berstein and Arthur Laurents. 7.30pm, Thurs/Sat 2.30pm, £10-£27, closes December 1.

The Georgian State Dance Ensemble. A fantastic dance troupe from the former Soviet Union bring their spectacular show to Wimbledon. Sunday only, 7.30pm, £8-£17.

Wimbledon Studio Theatre

Sherlock Holmes The Last Act. The mind of the real Sherlock Holmes, illustrating his friendship with Dr Watson and glimpses of his private life. Closes tomorrow.

Notes From A Small Island. Travel writer Bill Bryson made a whistlestop tour of Britain and analysed what he loved about a nation which produces Marmite and people who say "mustn't grumble". Sunday-Monday, 7.30pm, £7-£9.

Sorry, I Love You. A sparkling new comedy which traces the life and love of 30-something Helen. Closes tomorrow. 7.30pm, mats Thu, Sat 3pm, 5.50 9pm

November 30, 2001 14:00