Yahoo News The best theatre shows to book tickets for in 2021, in London and the UK
Whether you're a fan of drama, comedy or music, theatres offer something for everyone. Shows and performances are as varied as ever this year and include classics such as Hamlet and Wicked as well as also newcomers like Michele Lee’s Rice.
Now back with full audiences many theatres up and down the UK, including new and returning West End productions, are selling out.
But, if you're quick, there's still time to bag a front row seat at your favourite show, so check out our list of top picks below and get booking.
Best theatre shows for 2021
The Mousetrap, St Martin’s Theatre
The longest-running show in the world is one of the first to return to the West End, and with a new starry cast to play out Agatha Christie’s fiendish murder mystery. They include Strictly Come Dancing finalist Danny Mac, Olivier Award winner Cassidy Janson, EastEnders' Anthony Trueman, and former children’s TV stalwart Derek Griffiths.
Minack Theatre, Cornwall
The plucky Cornish outdoor theatre is concerts of everything from Fishermen's Friends, play A Night In November, and family fare like Horrible Histories.
Shakespeare’s Globe: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, Romeo & Juliet
The Globe, which missed out on its summer season last year, is welcoming audiences back – amidst Covid-safe measures like having chairs in the Yard instead of milling crowds. Artistic director Michelle Terry will play Viola in Twelfth Night, directed by Sean Holmes, while Ola Ince directs Alfred Enoch and Rebekah Murrell in Romeo & Juliet.
Amélie, Criterion Theatre
Joining Les Mis in the West End is another popular French musical. Amélie, based on the quirky 2001 romcom, sees the titular character improvising small acts of kindness, and finding her own chance of happiness through love. It ran at The Other Palace in 2019, and stars the Olivier-nominated Audrey Brisson, leading an actor-musician cast.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Apollo Theatre
This heartfelt show is based on a real story about a teenager who wanted to wear a dress to his school dance, and features music by The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie Sells. There’s also a film adaptation coming soon, starring Richard E Grant as the drag queen mentor, and the show is back out on tour from September.
The Shark is Broken, Ambassadors Theatre
Critically acclaimed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019, hit comedy The Shark is Broken takes audiences behind-the-scenes of Steven Spielberg's deep-sea blockbuster Jaws, where calamities await. The play is co-written by Robert Shaw’s son Ian, who also plays his father, and will run in the West End from 9 October – 15 January.
Book tickets now
Kiln Theatre
The north-west London venue is offering a range of performances including Moira Buffini, Suhayla El-Bushra and Roy Williams' NW Trilogy as well as The Wife of Willesden.
Magic Mike Live, Hippodrome Casino
Fans of the Channing Tatum film franchise, and of male exotic dance, will be delighted to learn that this stage spin-off is back in action - albeit with social distancing, at least initially. This is enlightened striptease with acrobatics, knowing role play, and variety-style entertainment. For ages 18 and up.
Shaw Shorts and more, Orange Tree Theatre
The south-west London venue is home to the UK premiere of Michele Lee’s Rice, and a Paul Miller reviving his 2019 production of Terence Rattigan’s While the Sun Shines.
Re:Emerge Season, Harold Pinter Theatre
Sonia Friedman Productions brings us three new plays, curated by Ian Rickson. First up is Amy Berryman’s Walden, featuring Gemma Arterton, Fehinti Balogun and Lydia Wilson; then Yasmin Joseph’s J’Ouvert; and finally Joseph Charlton’s Anna X, starring The Crown's Emma Corrin.
The Death of a Black Man and more, Hampstead Theatre
The north London venue is currently home to Tennessee Williams’ psychological thriller The Two Character Play, and Tom Wells's paean to nature, Big Big Sky.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre
It's the 70th anniversary of this Scottish festival, whose summer season will take place in the newly built amphitheatre and riverside bandstand. Highlights include the stage premiere of David Greig’s Adventures with the Painted People, a new adaptation of The Wind in the Willows for family audiences, and promenade production Requiem to mark the lives lost during the pandemic.
The Girl Next Door, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
The indefatigable Alan Ayckbourn premieres his 85th play at the theatre where he was artistic director for almost 40 years. The Girl Next Door is described as a touching, tender and, of course, funny reflection on the ability of love to rise above adversity and reach across the years
Oleanna, Touring and Arts Theatre
David Mamet's provocative two-hander goes out on tour, beginning at Cambridge Arts Theatre on June 8 and visiting Bath, Southampton and Malvern before landing in the West End; it plays at the Arts Theatre July 21-October 23. Rosie Sheehy and Jonathan Slinger reprise their roles.
Tell Me On A Sunday, Touring
Jodie Prenger stars in the revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black's one-woman song cycle. The show follows the romantic misadventures of an English girl in New York in the 1980s, and spawned the chart-topping track Take That Look Off Your Face.
Caryl Churchill's What If If Only and more, Royal Court
The Royal Court is home to a new short play from Caryl Churchill, What If If Only, which arrives in September - and is a tantalising 14 minutes (precisely) in length.
The Tragedy of Macbeth and more, Almeida Theatre
The north London gem has a range of offerings but the most eye-catching entrant is Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth, starring James McArdle and Saoirse Ronan.
The Woman in Black, Touring and Fortune Theatre
Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s spooky ghost story - the second-longest-running play in the West End - is going on tour. It will return to its London home, the Fortune Theatre, on September 7, and those aged 18 and under will be able to see it free of charge, alongside a full-paying adult ticket.
The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre
Mischief Theatre's enduring farce is returning to the West End, ready to leave audiences helpless with laughter once more. The riotous comedy sees the am-dram Cornley Drama Society staging a 1920s murder mystery – but everything that can go wrong, does. Cue misplaced props, stuck doors, flubbed dialogue, injuries, and even the floor collapsing.
Constellations, Vaudeville Theatre
Appropriately enough for Nick Payne's quantum multiverse love story, this revival has, if not infinite versions, then at least several. Michael Longhurst directs four different pairs of actors: Sheila Atim and Ivanno Jeremiah, followed by Peter Capaldi and Zoë Wanamaker, Omari Douglas and Russell Tovey, and Anna Maxwell Martin and Chris O’Dowd.
Hamlet and The Cherry Orchard, Theatre Royal Windsor
Sir Ian McKellen plays Shakespeare's prince, 50 years after he first tackled the role, and then Firs in Chekhov's Cherry Orchard, as part of a company staging both productions back to back. Also joining him are Steven Berkoff, Jenny Seagrove and Francesca Annis, directed by Sean Mathias.
Hairspray, London Coliseum
You can’t stop the beat! Originally due to run in April 2020, this revival of the big-haired and big-hearted Sixties-set musical finally hits the stage this summer. Michael Ball is reprising his Olivier Award-winning turn as Edna Turnblad, and the cast also features Les Dennis, Lizzie Bea, Rita Simons and Marisha Wallace.
Heathers the Musical, Theatre Royal Haymarket and tour
How very! The black-comedy rock musical, based on the Winona Ryder and Christian Slater-starring film, is back in the West End for 12 weeks following a hit run in 2018. There will also be a new touring production running in parallel.
Bach & Sons, Bridge Theatre
Well, talk about perfect harmony. Simon Russell Beale will play JS Bach in Nina Raine’s new play, which looks at not just Bach the composer but the father - with one son paralysed by his father’s genius, the other less talented but more successful - and asks what music is really for. Directed by Bridge boss Nicholas Hytner.
Hairspray and Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Touring
Mark Goucher Productions has announced two musical tours beginning in the summer. Hairspray begins in Plymouth on June 24, while Priscilla - which paused mid-run in 2020, and is co-produced by Jason Donovan - picks up its run in Cheltenham on June 23, and is aiming for a West End return.
Book for Hairspray here and Priscilla here
Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre
Andrew Lloyd Webber has led the charge on getting theatres back in action, and he’s putting his money where his mouth is with this new musical take on the classic fairy tale, starring Carrie Hope Fletcher. It promises to be a spikier version, thanks to a book from Promising Young Woman’s Emerald Fennell, and the Lord has already teased audiences by releasing some of the songs.
Pippin, Charing Cross Theatre
Steven Dexter revives Stephen Schwartz (composer of Wicked and Godspell) and Roger O. Hirson’s musical about a young prince seeking passion and meaning in life, set in the ‘Summer of Love’ of 1967. Dexter is remounting his production from 2020, which ran at the Garden Theatre. Cast to be announced.
Be More Chill, Shaftesbury Theatre
Based on Ned Vizzini's contemporary sci-fi novel, Joe Tracz and Joe Iconis's musical had a popular run at The Other Palace pre-pandemic, and the London cast now reprise their roles for this West End transfer. The show follows the travails of a misfit teenager who discovers a supercomputer brain chip, and speaks particularly to the social media generation.
The Prince of Egypt, Dominion Theatre
The stage musical version of the DreamWorks animated movie features fresh songs from Stephen Schwartz, along with his enduring, Oscar-winning anthem When You Believe. This epic production charts Moses’ journey to free the Israelites in Ancient Egypt, while battling his adopted brother Ramses, the Pharaoh.
South Pacific and more, Chichester Festival Theatre
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s stirring musical opened the new Chichester season in July, starring Gina Beck and Julian Ovenden. There's also a revival of Martin McDonagh's The Beauty Queen of Leenane, an adaptation of Andrea Levy's novel The Long Song, a new play by Zoe Cooper about a church in crisis, and Pinocchio for Christmas.
My Night with Reg, Turbine Theatre
Kevin Elyot’s award-winning dark comedy (which had an acclaimed run at the Donmar Warehouse in 2014) returns in a revival directed by Matt Ryan. The play sees a close-knit group gather for a party in 1985, just as the AIDS crisis hits, and is a funny, heart-breaking portrait of gay lives and of friendship.
Pretty Woman, Savoy Theatre
The faithful stage musical version of the Julia Roberts/Richard Gere romcom is back in the West End, though transferring from the Piccadilly to the Savoy Theatre. The cast features Aimie Atkinson, Danny Mac and Rachel Wooding, with music from Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, London Palladium
This lively, family-favourite musical from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice was revived in 2019, and now gets its encore run. Alexandra Burke joins the cast as the narrator, along with Linzi Hateley on some performances, while Jac Yarrow and Jason Donovan reprise their performances as, respectively Joseph and the Elvis-styled Pharaoh.
Mischief Theatre tours: Magic Goes Wrong and more
Mischief are taking three of their hit slapstick comedy shows out on the road, including the first run of Magic Goes Wrong, their collaboration with Penn & Teller, outside of London. That one begins at Leicester Curve on July 16, while The Play That Goes Wrong opens at Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury on July 13, and Groan Ups at Theatre Royal Bath on August 12.
The Comedy of Errors, Stratford
The Royal Shakespeare Company begins its summer programme with an outdoor production, staged in the new Lydia & Manfred Gorvy Garden Theatre (in the grounds of the Swan Theatre). Philip Breen directs this opening show, which has the apposite tagline: "These are strange times. Confusion and uncertainty everywhere." Quite.
Come From Away, Phoenix Theatre
This Olivier Award-winning musical tells the remarkable true story of passengers whose planes were grounded on 9/11, and the residents of a small Newfoundland town who welcomed them into their hearts and homes. It’s the best of humanity in the worst of times: the perfect post-pandemic outing.
Anything Goes, Barbican
Sutton Foster reprises her Tony Award-winning role opposite Robert Lindsay in this classic Cole Porter/P. G. Wodehouse musical, which takes place on board a luxury ocean liner. Featuring romance, comic hijinks, dancing sailors and great standards like It’s De-Lovely, You’re the Top and I Get a Kick Out of You, it’s gold-plated escapism.
The Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre
The Phantom returns, along with a refurbished theatre and revamped production. Killian Donnelly plays the (aptly) masked man who dwells beneath the Paris Opera House and secretly mentors the beautiful soprano Christine – played by Lucy St Louis – seducing her with his “music of the night”.
Changing Destiny and more, Young Vic
This season sees powerhouse London venue hosting Cush Jumbo star as Hamlet, and new James Graham political play Best of Enemies.
Jersey Boys, Trafalgar Theatre
The popular jukebox musical, which follows the turbulent journey of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, is back in the West End. The musical will open the revamped Trafalgar Theatre, which has been returned to its original heritage design with just one, larger auditorium. Jersey Boys is also touring the UK and Ireland from November.
Tina - The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre
Aisha Jawanda stars as the musical icon in this powerful biographical drama, which charts Turner's journey to stardom and then reinvention following her separation from abusive husband Ike (played by Jammy Kasongo). The show features all of Turner's greatest hits, from River Deep - Mountain High to The Best.
The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre
Julie Taymor’s inspired, child-friendly stage version of the Disney animated film returns. This creative production uses epic puppetry and special effects to evoke the African Pridelands. Add in catchy Elton John and Tim Rice songs like Circle of Life, Hakuna Matata and Can You Feel the Love Tonight, and it’s one parents can enjoy too.
Singin’ in the Rain, Sadler’s Wells
This glorious theatrical adaptation of the MGM Golden Age movie is back, along with former Royal Ballet principal Adam Cooper in the Gene Kelly role. A loving spoof of 1920s Hollywood being rocked by the “talkies”, it’s packed with great numbers - including that title song, accompanied by 14,000 litres of water splashed on stage every night.
Leopoldstadt, Wyndham's Theatre
Tom Stoppard's Olivier Award-winning play – which draws on his own ancestral history in its portrait of a family in Vienna's Jewish quarter, and the horrendous impact of the Holocaust – returns to the West End. Patrick Marber directs, and the new cast is yet to be announced.
Mary Poppins, Prince Edward Theatre
Back in the time for jolly holiday viewing, the Disney musical will once again be led by the practically perfect Zizi Strallen as Poppins and Charlie Stemp as Bert. This production features a book by Downton Abbey's Julian Fellowes, and classic Sherman Brothers songs like Step in Time, Feed the Birds, and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
9 to 5 The Musical, Touring
Louise Redknapp reprises her role as Violet Newstead in the Dolly Parton musical, about three underappreciated female employees who join forces to get revenge on their vile boss. This UK tour begins in Woking on August 13, with Redknapp - who previously appeared in the West End production - joining when it reaches Glasgow King’s Theatre.
The Addams Family, Touring
The UK and Ireland tour of this deliciously dark musical comedy now has new dates, beginning at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford on 10 September. Samantha Womack and Cameron Blakely will reprise their roles as Morticia and Gomez Addams, with Kingsley Morton and Grant McIntyre joining them as Wednesday and Pugsley respectively.
Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre
Lin-Manuel Miranda's smash-hit musical - which tells the story of America's forgotten Founding Father via a hip-hop-driven score - is back in the room where it happens. The current cast features Karl Queensborough, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Jason Pennycooke, Simon-Anthony Rhoden, Allyson Ava-Brown and Gavin Spokes.
Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theatre
The stage version of the iconic sci-fi adventure movie – which sees cool 80s teenager Marty McFly transported back to 1955 via Doc Brown's time-travelling DeLorean, where he must ensure his parents fall in love – opened in Manchester in March 2020, and now gets its belated West End transfer. Expect futuristic special effects and rock 'n' roll.
Beauty and the Beast, Touring
Be our guest! Disney’s Olivier Award-winning musical returns, in a reimaged and redesigned production, for a UK and Ireland tour - beginning at Bristol Hippodrome this August. Courtney Stapleton and Emmanuel Kojo star, and the cast also features Gavin Lee, Tom Senior, Sam Bailey, and Nigel Richards.
Mamma Mia!, Novello Theatre
The ABBA musical is still going strong, having spawned two movies and a "party" spin-off at the O2 (returning in October) - plus a UK tour planned for January 2022. This sunny show doubles as a getaway, transporting you to a Greek island packed with family drama. But the story is really just an excuse for wall-to-wall pop hits that satisfy your inner dancing queen.
Frozen the Musical, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
The long-awaited UK premiere of the Disney stage extravaganza will finally arrive in August, so get ready to build a snowman and “Let It Go”. Samantha Barks and Stephanie McKeon star as Princesses Elsa and Anna respectively, and Michael Grandage directs. Tickets are now on general sale.
Waitress, Touring
The mouth-watering Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson musical, which ran in the West End, is now hitting the road for the first ever UK and Ireland tour - beginning at the New Wimbledon Theatre. Lucie Jones reprises the lead role of Jenna, and the cast also features Busted’s Matt Willis, Sandra Marvin, Evelyn Hoskins, George Crawford, Tamlyn Henderson, and Christopher D Hunt.
Booking here (from September 4)
By The Waters Of Liverpool, Touring
The stage adaptation of Helen Forrester’s autobiography, about moving to Liverpool in the 1930s after her father went bankrupt and having to fight for her independence, is out on tour. It will begin at the Lowther Pavilion in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, in September and go on to play at 18 theatres.
Booking here (from September 9)
Witness for the Prosecution, London County Hall
You can once again experience Agatha Christie's taut thriller in this atmospheric, site-specific production, where you really feel like you’re in the courtroom where the drama takes place. Will you find Leonard Vole innocent or guilty of murder – and can you figure out who’s telling the truth? Pit your wits against the Queen of Crime.
Booking here (from September 14)
Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre
The West End stalwart returns. Stephen Schwartz’s musical tells the ‘untold’ tale of the Witches of Oz, anchored by the opposites-attract friendship between Elphaba and Glinda. The Apollo Victoria Theatre production marks its 15th anniversary this year, with a celebratory performance on September 28.
Matilda the Musical, Cambridge Theatre
Beware the Trunchbull - one of the most terrifying villains in all of children’s literature. Thankfully, she has a hero to match in the form of the imaginative and magical Matilda. This RSC production captures Roald Dahl’s anarchic spirit, particularly via Tim Minchin’s mischievous songs.
Booking here (from September 16)
Blithe Spirit, Harold Pinter Theatre
Jennifer Saunders is back as the dotty clairvoyant Madame Arcati in Noël Coward’s much-loved supernatural farce. Richard Eyre directs this handsome production, which played at Theatre Royal Bath and then in the West End pre-lockdown. Also returning are Geoffrey Streatfeild, Lisa Dillon, Simon Coates, Lucy Robinson and Rose Wardlaw.
Booking here (from September 16)
The Last Five Years, Garrick Theatre
Jonathan O’Boyle’s acclaimed actor-musician version of James Robert Brown’s show gets a well-deserved West End transfer. It once again stars Molly Lynch and Oli Higginson as the two lovers - aspiring actress Cathy and writer Jamie - who begin to drift apart. It proved an extremely lockdown-resonant piece last year.
Booking here (from September 17)
Search Party, Force Majeure and more, Donmar Warehouse
The Donmar's exciting reopening season features Inau Ellams' poetry event Search Party; Cordelia Lynn's Love and Other Acts of Violence; Tim Price's stage adaptation of comedy film Force Majeure, led by Rory Kinnear; Game of Thrones star Kit Harington playing Henry V; and Jackie Sibblies Drury's Marys Seacole.
Booking here (from September 21)
The Mirror and the Light, Gielgud Theatre
The third novel in Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy is coming to the stage, adapted by Mantel herself and Ben Miles – who also reprises the role of Thomas Cromwell. Nathaniel Parker is back as Henry VIII, too, as is director Jeremy Herrin, helming the RSC production. This concluding drama sees Cromwell grow vulnerable, and his enemies poised to strike.
Booking here (from September 23)
& Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre
Shakespeare meets 90s pop hits in this irresistible show, which allows Juliet to escape her tragic fate and embark on a new adventure instead. The score takes its songs from the stupendous back catalogue of songwriter Max Martin, who created hits for the likes of Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande.
Booking here (from September 24)
Les Misérables, Sondheim Theatre
The French Revolutionary musical returns, initially with an encore of its 2020 concert version, and then the full production from September 25. The cast features Jon Robyns, Bradley Jaden, Lucie Jones, Shan Ako and Josefina Gabrielle, delivering heart-pounding numbers like I Dreamed A Dream, Do You Hear The People Sing? and Bring Him Home. The show is also out on tour from November.
Mum, Theatre Royal Plymouth and Soho Theatre
Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, the Olivier Award-winning writer of Emilia, is back with another rallying cry of a play - this time with an honest look at the challenges of early motherhood. The show opens in Plymouth, playing September 30-October 16, before transferring to London's Soho Theatre, October 20-November 20.
Book for Plymouth here and Soho here
Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre
This world premiere tells the story of the Jamaican superstar, honouring not just his enduring songs - like No Woman, No Cry, I Shot the Sheriff, and One Love - but also his social and political advocacy. Lee Hall has written the book, Clint Dyer directs, and Arinzé Kene plays Bob Marley.
Only Fools and Horses The Musical, Theatre Royal Haymarket
Lovely-jubbly news for fans of the Trotters: the stage musical version of the classic sitcom is returning to the West End. Travel back to 1980s Peckham and have a right royal knees-up with Paul Whithouse's Grandad, Tom Bennett's Del Boy and Ryan Hutton's Rodney, with music by Chas n Dave.
Fisherman's Friends: The Musical, Hall for Cornwall
This world premiere is based on the true story of Cornish fishermen who hoped to raise money for charity by singing traditional working songs together, and wound up playing the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury. The show features the sea shanties that became famous, and it reopens Truro's Hall for Cornwall following a multi-million-pound transformation.
Booking here (from October 13)
The Shark is Broken, Ambassadors Theatre
Cape Cod, 1974: shooting on ‘Jaws’ has stalled. The film’s lead actors – Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss – are stuck on a boat, at the mercy of foul weather and a faulty mechanical co-star. Awash with alcohol and ambition, three hammered sharks start to bare their teeth… Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon’s brilliantly funny play comes to the West End after a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre
The continuation of JK Rowling’s book series is a theatrical triumph, using astonishing illusions, movement, lighting and props to conjure up her magical world. But this two-part production, directed by John Tiffany and scripted by Jack Thorne, pays just as much attention to characters and their relationships, giving audiences an engrossing - and moving - story.
Booking here (from October 14)
The Lemon Table, Touring
Ian McDiarmid will star his own adaptation of two wryly comic Julian Barnes short stories about ageing, taken from the collection The Lemon Table; Michael Grandage directs. This premiere begins at Salisbury Playhouse and travels to Sheffield Theatres, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, HOME Manchester, and Malvern Theatres.
Booking here (from October 14)
The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Duke of York’s Theatre
The National Theatre’s sold-out stage adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel gets a West End encore. This spellbinding tale features a man returning to his home town for a funeral, which sparks memories of an invasive supernatural being and the magical family who helped him to battle it. The imaginative production features skilful puppetry and illusions.
Booking here (from October 23)
The Drifters Girl, Garrick Theatre
Beverley Knight stars as pioneering music manager Faye Treadwell, who led The Drifters to global fame - while battling prejudice within the industry. This new musical will feature numerous hits, such as Kissin’ in the Back Row of the Movies, and also give long-overdue attention to a legendary figure.
Booking here (from November 4)
Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Piccadilly Theatre
Baz Luhrmann's spectacular film lives again on stage, with the much-anticipated arrival of this new Broadway musical. Directed by Alex Timbers, with a book by John Logan, costumes by Catherine Zuber, and featuring an impressive 75 songs, it tells the sweepingly romantic tale of aspiring writer Christian and dancer Satine in Belle Epoque Paris.
Booking here (from November 12)
The Book of Mormon, Prince of Wales Theatre
The raucous religious satire from South Park’s Matt Stone and Trey Parker, and Frozen’s Robert Lopez, is still one of the most provocative shows in the West End. It follows two mismatched Mormon missionaries who travel to Uganda in hopes of preaching to the inhabitants of a remote village, only to come up against a local warlord.
Booking here (from November 15)
Life of Pi, Wyndham’s Theatre
It might seem like an impossible tale to adapt for stage, but the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield used ingenious theatrical tricks and state-of-the-art visuals to conjure a boy trapped in a lifeboat with a Royal Bengal tiger. Now, this dramatisation of Yann Martel’s Man Booker Prize-winning novel comes to the West End.
Booking here (from November 15)
The Wiz, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
The Christmas show at the Hope Mill is the first new UK production of The Wiz in 10 years. This funky retelling of the classic novel is refracted through American-American culture, featuring songs like Ease on Down the Road, and the film version starred Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. Matthew Xia will direct.
Booking here (from November 24)
Bring It On: The Musical, New Theatre, Peterborough, Southbank Centre and Touring
This genial stage version of the competitive cheerleaders movie has an impressive creative team: Oscar-nominated Jeff Whitty, Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) and Tom Kitt (Next to Normal). Amber Davies and former Olympian Louis Smith star, and the show plays in Peterborough November 26-December 4, then the Southbank Centre December 8-January 22, before touring.
Booking here (from November 26)
Dreamgirls, Touring
It's the first ever UK tour for the iconic musical, which tells the story of three talented African-American singers who become a hit group in the 1960s, but break apart when one is groomed for individual stardom. In other words: Diana Ross and the Supremes. Nicole Raquel Dennis will star as Effie, tackling the mighty And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going.
