Five best London shows ...and around the country

Harper Regan NT: Cottesloe

Lesley Sharp gives a superb performance as a working mum who risks her livelihood to visit her dying father in Simon Stephens's drama. To 9 Aug

The Chalk Garden Donmar Warehouse

Michael Grandage's revival of Enid Bagnold's play has meaty roles for three generations of women: Penelope Wilton, Margaret Tyzack and Felicity Jones. To 2 Aug

Relocated Jerwood Theatre at the Royal Court

Anthony Neilson's tense, scary and enigmatic piece deals with our worst anxieties about child abduction and abuse. Once seen, never forgotten. To 5 Jul

That Face Duke of York's

Polly Stenham's dissection of a dysfunctional upper-middle-class family achieves a rare balance of raw emotion and knowing black comedy. To 5 Jul

The Good Soul of Szechuan Young Vic

Richard Jones's wildly inventive staging of Brecht's "parable play", in which three gods descend to Earth in search of a good human being. To 28 Jun

The Taming of the Shrew Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon

Michelle Gomez lets loose her considerable comic talents on Shakespeare's spikiest female. To 25 Sept

The Revenger's Tragedy Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

Stephen Tompkinson plays Vindice with engaging verve in Jonathan Moore's production. To 28 Jun

London Assurance Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford; Connaught Theatre, Worthing

This 19th-century romp is given a galloping revival. Guildford, ends tonight; Worthing, Wed to 28 Jun

The Bacchae His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen; Eden Court, Inverness

Last year's Edinburgh smash hit unites David Greig, the director John Tiffany and Alan Cumming. Aberdeen, ends tonight; Inverness, Thur to 28 Jun

Romeo and Juliet Heaton Park, Manchester; Coventry Cathedral

Shakespeare's Globe continues to tour the star-crossed lovers tragedy in their camper van. Manchester, ends Sun; Coventry, Tue to Thur

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