The Ugly One is at the Hope Theatre

FOUNDED in 1958, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was one of the first companies to welcome dancers of all races and backgrounds. Ailey’s career began at a time when opportunities for African American dancers were limited, but he created a space for black artists to express their experiences and heritage. Ailey drew upon his “blood memories” of the South, blues, spirituality, and gospel as inspiration. The company brings its unique mix of contemporary and classic movement to Sadler’s Wells from Sept 5-16. sadlerswells.com/

• In The Ugly One at the Hope Theatre, Lette is an inventor on the cusp of delivering a major presentation that will change his career, but at the last minute he’s told there is something terribly “wrong” with his face. In desperation, Lette turns to a surgeon who offers him a drastic yet miraculous transformation. The result of Lette’s operation pivots him into new spheres of fame and glory. But is it possible to become too beautiful? Sept 12-23. thehopetheatre.com/

• At Park90, Sorry We Didn’t Die at Sea by Italian playwright Emanuele Aldrovandi, asks what lengths would we go to survive. It’s the near future and Europe has failed. Nationalist policies have left the continent’s economies on the brink of collapse, and citizens of the countries who closed their borders to immigrants are forced to flee. In a claustrophobic shipping container, three unnamed travellers place their lives at the mercy of a mysterious people smuggler. They pray that they will reach their destination, but there are forces at work beyond their control. This darkly comic and political piece offers a refracted story of European migration. Sept 13-30. parktheatre.co.uk/

• In #BlackIs… Islington-based Company Three elevate the voices of 10 black teenagers growing up in north London to explore what it is to be black today. Through the lens of friendship, family, music, culture and celebration, members aged 11-19 share the joy of black relatedness, their experience of racism, and the reality behind the preconceptions. The show at New Diorama for five performances is co-created with the young company members and based on their own life experiences. Sept 13-16. newdiorama.com/

• Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Alces Productions transports Chekhov’s classic short story The Lady With A Dog to Jazz Age Britain. Damian Granville is a banker and devoted family man with an unconventional way of taking his summer holidays: he travels alone and looks for a woman to seduce. This particular year he spots a beautiful lady walking a white Pomeranian dog. How can he resist? He’s sure of success. Except Anne Dennis isn’t quite what he bargains for. Sept 13-Oct 8. upstairsatthegatehouse.ticketsolve.com/