The Boys in the Band, Vaudeville Theatre

After impressing at North London's Park Theatre, The Boys in the Band breaks on to the West End. But, quick: it's a limited two-week run.

Oscar-winner and Sherlock writer/actor Mark Gatiss leads the cast in this story about nine gay men gathered for a party in a New York Apartment. Celebrations heat up with the arrival of first a surprise gift then a blast from the past. Carried by a tide of booze and dope, the joviality swings towards a more ponderous, poignant atmosphere.

Since premiering in 1968, The Boys in the Band has played extensively in America. Though some of the themes and constructions surrounding homosexuality can feel a little dated since the likes of My Night with Reg and Angels in America, the star power of Mark Gatiss in the central role makes this revival worth seeing.