There is a lot of exciting theatre productions coming to Birmingham this June, and five of the top shows are gathered here. There is something for everybody, from the RSC’s new feminist imagining of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew to the Forman Brothers’ innovative wild west spectacle Deadtown making its UK debut at The REP.

RSC Live: The Taming of the Shrew

Who run the world? Girls! In the RSC’s new production of The Taming of the Shrew, director Justin Audibert flips Shakespeare’s comedy of gender and power on its head. In the matriarchal world of Audibert’s production, the male roles have been turned into female characters, putting the women in charge. This fresh re-imagining is provocative, entertaining and hilarious in equal measure. The MAC is screening the play live from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, so you have no reason to miss out!

Wed 5 Jun, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH, 7pm, £15.25 – £17.25, www.macbirmingham.co.uk

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire: Dangerous Corner

The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire presents J.B. Priestley’s Dangerous Corner at The Old Rep this June. The story is filled with twists and turns at every corner, as a world of dark secrets and lies unravels in a series of surprising and devastating revelations. The play caused controversy when it was first performed in 1932 due to references of drug use and homosexuality and though less shocking to a modern audience, the content is still just as exciting and captivating. Tickets are available now for the three-day run!

Wed 5 Jun – Sat 8 Jun, The Old Rep Theatre, Station Street, Birmingham, B5 4DY, times and prices vary, www.oldreptheatre.co.uk

WNO: Don Pasquale

Welsh National Opera brings Daisy Evans’ brand new production Don Pasquale to the MAC this June as part of a tour across Wales and England. A new version of Donizetti’s classic comic opera, the production brings the story of an old bachelor’s romantic delusions into the modern world, set in and around the title character’s doner kebab van. Performed by a small cast and an on-stage ensemble joining in the action, this is a fresh and exciting new take on a timeless opera.

Sat 8 Jun, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH, 7:30pm, £17 – £19, www.macbirmingham.co.uk

Sirens

Sirens is a fantastic feminist tale of what it means to be a woman. Presented by Zoo Co, the story follows three Greek sirens washed up on a beach in 2019 and their subsequent mission to rewrite history. Described as a ‘Riot Grrrl rebellion against social norms,’ this production features incredible visual storytelling accompanied by an electro-folk soundtrack and is creatively captioned and BSL inclusive.

Wed 15 Jun, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH, 7:30pm, £11.50 – £13, www.macbirmingham.co.uk

Deadtown

The Forman Brothers are one of the most innovative and exciting theatre companies in Europe and this June, they bring their production Deadtown to the UK for the first time at The REP. Presented by Birmingham Repertory Theatre & BE FESTIVAL, the Forman Brothers’ wild west tale blends live action and film, illusion and reality, to create a fantastic and fascinating performance that aims to present the Old West in an entirely new way. Made up of a cast of 20 acrobats, dancers, singers and musicians, this is a show like no other and is a rare opportunity that should not be missed!

Thu 27 Jun – Sat 29 Jun, The REP (Birmingham Repertory Theatre), Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EP, times and prices vary, www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Image: Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (BCU) www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire