pick of the week

THE OPERA

Tristan and Isolde

The first production of Wagner's glorious love story at ENO since 1984 is directed by David Alden and designed by Ian MacNeil, the team responsible for the passion-drenched Ariodante. Mark Elder (right) conducts the American Heldentenor George Gray in his British stage debut and Elizabeth Connell.

Sat, The Coliseum, London WC2 (0171-632 8300)

THE PLAY

The Changing Room

David Storey's powerful picture of team spirit is rarely performed thanks to a cast of 22 who all have to look like genuine rugby players. James Macdonald is the director of this, the last in the season of Royal Court Classics. Opens Wed, Duke of York's, London (0171-836 5122)

THE EXHIBITION

Cezanne

Sickert described him as immensely overrated. Rilke referred to him as the "master of reality". Whatever view you incline to, the man who spent almost his entire creative life rooted in a tiny patch of Provencal countryside is now regarded as the pioneer of 20th-century art.

From Thurs, The Tate, London SW1 (0171-887 8778)

and what's more...

When not reviewing for the Independent's theatre pages, Clare Bayley has a burgeoning career as a playwright. Following the success of her debut Northern Lights, she has just been commissioned by Nicholas Kent to write a new work for London's Tricycle Theatre...