Plays at the Garrick, Garrick Theatre, London

Theatre is the great arena of make-believe, and over recent decades we have become accustomed to colour-blind and, more recently, gender-blind casting. But what about age? Kenneth Branagh's new West End season will feature Derek Jacobi, now 76, as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet.

Interesting: as Jacobi has pointed out, there is no mention of Mercutio's age in the play. Judi Dench will also join Branagh on stage in The Winter's Tale. The season, which starts in October, includes a new staging of John Osborne's The Entertainer, and Rob Brydon in an adaptation of Francis Veber's The Painkiller.

branaghtheatre.com, 0844 482 9673, booking now open

Photograph: Johan Persson

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