Lucy Popescu’s theater news: Northbound Boy; A Night with Janis Joplin; The unlikely secret agent; Wing Chun; Boy to the North; Wiesenthal

Christopher C Gibbs in Wiesenthal at the King’s Head

IN James Hogan’s quirky comedy Northbound Boy, Rory makes a play for Ken’s family jewels, only to find that Aunt Ivy has already taken them. This house is definitely not where his heart is. Until September 1. Tom Dugan’s one-man play, starring Christopher C Gibbs, is based on the true story of Simon Wiesenthal, who dedicated his life to bringing Nazi war criminals to justice. Wiesenthal honors this noble but flawed hero, his dedication and tenacity. September 3-15. kingsheadtheatre.com/

• Randy Johnson’s A Night with Janis Joplin celebrates the singer and her musical influences from Aretha Franklin to Nina Simone. Joplin burst onto the music scene in 1967 and became the queen of rock and roll overnight. The show includes songs such as Piece of My Heart, Mercedes Benz and Summertime. Mary Bridget Davies and Sharon Sexton share the role of Joplin. Until September 28 at the Peacock Theatre. sadlerswells.com/

• Paul du Toit’s unlikely secret agent is set in South Africa in 1963, a time of political turmoil. In Durban, Eleanor, an unassuming single mother, is taken in for questioning. The police are looking for her boyfriend, the famous “terrorist”, Red Ronnie Kasrils. August 28-September 1. marylebonetheatre.com/

• Wing Chun tells the true story of Grandmaster Yip Man, who trained Bruce Lee and is credited with bringing Wing Chun, a form of kung fu, to the wider world. Characterized by its rapid-fire style, Wing Chun was created by Ng Mui, a Shaolin nun, and the show, a fusion of contemporary dance and martial arts, features a large female cast. August 30-September 7. sadlerswells.com/

• James Lewis’ The Shatter Box is a dystopian cat-and-mouse tango of interrogation, confession, staying alive and lying through your teeth from Proforça Theatre. September 3-14. thelionandunicorntheatre.com/

• The Boys From Syracuse, Rodgers and Hart’s 1938 musical, is a madcap tale of mistaken identity in ancient Greece. Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant, Dromio, arrive in Ephesus to search for their identical twins from whom they were separated as children during a shipwreck. The score includes the hit songs This Can’t Be Love and Sing for Your Supper. September 5-29. susatthegatehouse.ticketsolve.com/

• In Dogs Don’t Do Ballet, Anna Kemp and Sara Ogilvie’s story of a small dog with a big personality and even bigger dreams is brought to life with puppetry, beloved ballet music and theatrical comedy. Biff is not like ordinary dogs. He likes moonlight, music and tiptoeing. Biff thinks he’s a ballerina… Ages 3-8. September 13-November 16. littleangeltheatre.com/

• Tête à Tête: Opera Festival 2024 is a hitchhiker’s guide to the human experience. Spanning timelines and realities, numerous artists present a multitude of stories for our times. September 17-29. thecockpit.org.uk/