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The cast of Top Girls by Caryl Churchill, playing at the Trafalgar Studios in London. Photograph: John Haynes

A new term and a new adventure awaits those intrepid enough to brave the stalls with children in tow. The autumn seasons at the majority of UK theatres offer a fairly traditional diet of Shakespeare, novel adaptations and family Christmas shows. However, there are still a few bold options for the brave theatregoer: a new production of The Tempest that restores the original music to Shakespeare’s text and a site-specific staging of some of Pinter’s political plays. If it’s a production of a set text you’re after, here are our top picks.

Animal Farm

Theatre Clywd, Mold, Flintshire

CH7 1YA. Tel 0845 330 3565

Beasts and Beauties

Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, London, NW3 3EU. Tel 020 7722 9301

Last year’s hit Christmas show is back at the Hampstead Theatre for another outing: sensitively and wittily staged, Beasts and Beauties puts a contemporary spin on much-loved children’s stories.

Beautiful Thing

Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, M2 7DH. Tel 0161 833 9833

Good

Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, M2 7DH. Tel 0161 833 9833

CP Taylor’s rarely-revived play about an academic struggling to remain “good” in Nazi Germany is staged at the Royal Exchange. Ideal for students of history and theatre studies.

Great Expectations

The Watermill Theatre, Newbury.

Tel 01635 46044.

Hamlet

Young Vic, 66 The Cut, London, SE1 8LZ

Tel 020 7922 2922

The Homecoming

Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6BB. Tel 0870 609 1110.

A top-drawer production of Pinter’s play about chickens coming home to roost.In the intimate setting of The Swan Theatre, David Farr’s production brings one of modern drama’s most fascinating families to vivid life.

I, Malvolio

Swan Room, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6BB. Tel 0870 609 1110.

Tim Crouch’s Shakespeare shows for young people are always a thoughtful treat: his new piece I, Malvolio examines the workings of Twelfth Night from the perspective of one of its most intriguing characters. I, Peasebottom runs at the same venue over the same dates.

The Importance Of Being Earnest

Old Rep Theatre, Station Street, Birmingham, B5 4DY. Tel 0121 236 4455

King Lear

West Yorkshire Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UP

Tel 0113 213 7700.

Tim Pigott-Smith takes to the stage in Leeds to play one of Shakespeare’s most demanding roles.

Macbeth

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6BB. Tel 0870 609 1110

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6BB. Tel 0870 609 1110

The New World Order

Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, London, EC1V 9LT. Tel 020 7638 8891

Brighton-based company Hydrocracker bring their pioneering site-specific work based around a selection of Pinter’s short political works to the stunning surroundings of Shoreditch Town Hall. Ideal for students of English and theatre studies.

Othello

Crucible Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1DA. Tel 0114 249 6000

Daniel Evans’s new production of Othello reunites The Wire’s Clarke Peters and Dominic West in what promises to be a fascinating examination of jealousy, insecurity and naked ambition.

Persuasion

Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA. Tel 01722 320 333

The Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui

Playhouse Theatre, Williamson Square, Liverpool, L1 1EL. Tel  0151 709 4776

Saved

Lyric Theatre, King Street, London, W6 0LQ. Tel 0871 22 117 29.

A rare revival for Bond’s seminal and shocking play. Saved isn’t suitable for younger audiences, but more mature groups are sure to be engaged by the boldness and ambition of this modern classic.

The Tempest

St Giles Cripplegate, Fore Street, London, EC2Y 8DA. Tel 020 7638 8891

This production of The Tempest aims to restore much of the original music that Shakespeare’s audience would have enjoyed to the theatre experience. For those who prefer their productions a little more traditional, Ralph Fiennes plays Prospero at The Haymarket.

Top Girls

Trafalgar Studios, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2DY. Tel 0870 060 6644

The Wind In The Willows

Library Theatre, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 5PD. Tel 0161 236 7110

Yerma

Gate Theatre, 11 Pembridge Road, London W11 3HQ. Tel 020 7229 0706

A new version of Lorca’s play about longing and loneliness promises to fill London’s tiny Gate Theatre with colour and life.

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