Workers in and around Victoria wondering what to do during their lunch breaks next month need not look any further, as the St James theatre welcomes the return of lunchtime theatre.
The initiative, which treated busy theatregoers to a condensed version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream while enjoying their sandwiches in July, will bring two Anton Chekhov short comedies to the Victoria venue from 9 to 20 September.
Presented by Butterfly, a company specialising in making well-known texts funny and engaging, next month’s offerings include The Proposal, an exploration of the troubles that arise between men, women and money, and The Bear, the story of a vodka-swilling debt collector.
Directed by Edward Hulme, the productions, which take place at 12:00 and 13:00 on weekdays, feature casts including Nadia Hynes, Matthew McPherson and Jestyn Phillips (The Proposal) and Caroline Colomei, Gary Sefton and Jestyn Phillips (The Bear).
Described as “a real tonic for time-starved audiences”, lunchtime theatre allows audience members to eat while they watch, with packed lunches welcome and pre-made lunch bags available from the theatre at a cost of £5.