David Hare's Plenty is set to receive a 20th anniversary revival as part of a mini-season of Almeida productions at the Malvern Festival Theatre in summer 1998. It will be directed by the Almeida's joint artistic director Jonathan Kent whose production of Gogol's The Government Inspector has just opened to strong reviews.

The schedule for July and August is still being fleshed out, but the renowned off-West End venue intends to take at least three shows to Malvern. In addition to Plenty, these will include George Bernard Shaw's The Doctor's Dilemma, the final production in the current London season as well as the world premiere of Edward Albee's newest The Play About the Baby.

The Doctor's Dilemma stars Alec McCowen, currently playing the storyteller in the National's Peter Pan, and Almeida's other artistic director Ian McDiarmid. Following its London run (3-27 June), the production will embark on a six-week national tour before landing in Malvern. The Almeida is then planning for a West End transfer.

Plenty is also expected to be West End-bound while The Play About the Baby will transfer to the Almeida's London home in Islington following its Malvern premiere. Casting for these two has not yet been decided.

--By Terri Paddock
What's On Stage, London