First Call, Last Call

First Call

LONDON'S 21ST International Mime Festival may have ended, but it will still be possible to enjoy Derevo's Once for a little longer as it returns to the capital for a short West End run. This romantic tale of lost love sees the Russian troupe creating characters as diverse as Cupid and a nightclub bouncer in order to illustrate the humour within human tragedy. Following its sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival, tickets for this mimed marvel will be like gold dust, so act fast for a night of enchantment.

Hackney Empire, London E8 (0181-985 8844) 27 Apr to 8 May

Last Call

Partly influenced by the experiences of William Golding (right) in the Royal Navy during the Second World War (and also by his time as a teacher), Lord of the Flies, the Nobel-winning tale of schoolboys reverting to savagery when marooned on a tropical island, remains horribly shocking. Pilot Theatre's current production updates the 1950s play, using a stark and modern set, and putting a slightly different spin on matters than appears in GCSE text books. Adapted by Nigel Williams, directed by Marcus Romer, and designed by Ali Allen and Marise Rose.

Lyric Hammersmith, King Street, London W6 (0181-741 2311) to 6 Feb