London theatre: the best plays and shows on now
From School of Rock to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, this is our regularly updated guide to the best plays and shows in the West End and beyond
Beckett Triple Bill ★★★☆☆
Where: Jermyn Street Theatre
Address: 16B Jermyn St, St. James's, London SW1Y 6ST
Until: February 8
In a nutshell: "Trevor Nunn directs a triple pack of Beckett playlets, parcels of bleakness unwrapped with due care and almost delighted attention: Krapp’s Last Tape (1958), Eh Joe (1965) and The Old Tune (1960), a free adaptation of avant-gardist Robert Pinget’s La Manivelle. James Hayes, David Threlfall and (in voiceover) Lisa Dwan star." Read the full review
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Three Sisters ★★★★☆
Where: National's Lyttelton Theatre
Address: South Bank, London SE1 9PX
Until: February 19
In a nutshell: "Poet and playwright Inua Ellams's superb adaptation of Three Sisters is set amid Nigeria’s civil war. It brilliantly fuses the personal and political while demonstrating that Chekhov can thrive far beyond the bounds of Europe." Read the full review
Scenes with Girls ★★★★☆
Where: Royal Court
Address: Sloane Square, Belgravia, London SW1W 8AS
Until: February 22
In a nutshell: "Miriam Battye’s superbly acted debut play begins as a conventional flat-share drama, but one laced with sexual tension. Lou and Tosh, both twenty-something friends from school, live together in the sort of easy, affectionate companionship that suggests they can tell each other everything – except that, on listening closer, you realise that they only ever talk about sex and men. The cut-and-thrust dialogue is served with a scathingly funny light touch." Read the full review
Faustus: That Damned Woman ★★★★☆
Where: Lyric Hammersmith
Address: Lyric Square, King St, Hammersmith, London W6 0QL
Until: Feb 22
In a nutshell:"In a gender-flipped, ideas-rich version of Marlowe's classic, playwright Chris Bush casts her own spell with her almost satirical script. Directed by Caroline Byrne, Jodie McNee gives an incandescent performance as the heroine who signs a satanic pact with Danny Lee Wynter's Mephistopheles." Read the full review
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My Brilliant Friend ★★★★☆
Where: National's Olivier Theatre
Address: South Bank, London SE1 9PX
Until: February 22
In a nutshell: "Playwright April De Angelis and director Melly Still have condensed Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels, detailing the post-war Italian lives of two childhood friends, into a two-part theatrical feast. Catherine McCormack and Niamh Cusack star." Read the full review
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Persona ★★★☆☆
Where: Riverside Studios
Address: 101 Queen Caroline St, Hammersmith, London W6 9BN
Until: February 23
In a nutshell:"A chamber staging of Ingmar Bergman’s 1966 febrile classic Persona in the newly renovated legendary mixed-arts venue by Hammersmith Bridge. An actress manifests an existential malady of muteness while performing Electra and forms a strange, symbiotic attachment to her quietly troubled nurse. A theatrical footnote to a cinematic masterpiece." Read the full review
The Sunset Limited ★★★★☆
Where: Boulevard Theatre
Address: 6 Walker's Court, Soho, London W1F 0BT
Until: February 29
In a nutshell: "The UK premiere of The Sunset Limited, a 2006 play by Cormac McCarthy – held by some to be America’s greatest living author – is as bleak and midwintery as anything by Samuel Beckett. A white college-professor type has been rescued from jumping on to the New York subway track by a black Good Samaritan and brought to the latter’s tenement room. Jasper Britton and Gary Beadle star." Read the full review
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Cyrano de Bergerac ★★★★★
Where: Playhouse Theatre
Address: Northumberland Ave, Charing Cross, London WC2N 5DE
Until: February 29
In a nutshell:"It's a coup to have James McAvoy treading the boards in the West End, and a coup de théâtre to lop off the most famous proboscis in the canon – McAvoy lends his own conk to Cyrano. At a stroke, this gives Edmond Rostand's 1897 comedy a new dimension about negative self-image. A wit-crammed new verse translation by Martin Crimp makes it a knockout night." Read the full review
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Touching the Void ★★★★★
Where: Duke of York's Theatre
Address: St Martin's Ln, Charing Cross, London WC2N 4BG
Until: February 29
In a nutshell: "Joe Simpson's best-selling 1988 account of the terrifying battle for survival that ensued during an ill-fated mountaineering expedition up the Peruvian Andes has been turned into a gripping, stirring stage piece by playwright David Greig. Tom Morris directs his finest production since War Horse." Read the full review
Cirque du Soleil: Luzia ★★★☆☆
Where: Royal Albert Hall
Address: Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP
Until: March 1
In a nutshell: "The Canadian circus stars' latest show is a well-pitched and ambitious tribute to Mexico. It blends a litany of circus staples and contemporary techniques in a stylish, visually satisfying journey through the mythology and culture of Cirque du Soleil director Dienele Finzi Pasca’s adopted home." Read the full review
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The Boy Friend ★★★★☆
Where: Menier Chocolate Factory
Address: 53 Southwark St, London SE1 1RU
Until: March 7
In a nutshell: "There's a quality of indestructible optimism in this Twenties musical's carefree portrait of finishing school gals falling head over heels with delectable pals on the Cote d’Azur. Having pretended to have a boyfriend, wealthy heiress Polly affects to be a humble secretary after she’s instantly smitten with errant rich-kid Tony, who’s slumming it as an errand-boy." Read the full review
Kunene and the King ★★★☆☆
Where: Ambassadors Theatre
Address: West St, London WC2H 9ND
Until: March 28
In a nutshell: "Written and performed by the legendary South African actor John Kani – starring opposite Antony Sher – this play is a compelling if cursory exploration of the legacy of Apartheid as expressed through the fast-flowering yet prickly rapport between a dying white South African actor and the elderly black male nurse who comes to tend to him." Read the full review
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Waitress ★★★★☆
Where: Adelphi Theatre
Address: Strand, London WC2R 0NS
Booking until: March 28
In a nutshell: "The unlikely hit musical about a diner waitress stuck in an abusive relationship who dreams of winning a pie contest. This is the first West End musical with an all-female lead creative team. The ballads are meltingly lovely, and the comic songs very funny indeed. It's altogether very moreish." Read the full review
School of Rock ★★★★★
Where: Gillian Lynne Theatre (formerly New London Theatre)
Address: 166 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5PW
Booking until: April 5
In a nutshell: "Andrew Lloyd Webber and Julian Fellowes have made the grade in turning this much-loved 2003 Hollywood comedy into a musical. The stage version cleaves closely to the celluloid storyline, following the misadventures of Dewey Finn, a rock-loving slob who wangles an illicit gig as a supply teacher (faking his best friend’s identity) at a posh prep school. Once there, he courts the risk of exposure while giving his over-regimented charges a liberating education in rock... It's the most enjoyable few hours money can buy." Read the full review
Only Fools and Horses ★★★☆☆
Where: Theatre Royal Haymarket
Address: 18 Suffolk St, London SW1Y 4HT
Booking until: April 25
In a nutshell: "Only generous-hearted fools and die-hard fans need apply within for this endearing but theatrically under-achieved stage-musical version of the much-loved BBC sitcom, which features Paul Whitehouse as Grandad." Read the full review
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Uncle Vanya ★★★★☆
Where: Harold Pinter Theatre
Address: Panton St, London SW1Y 4DN
Until: May 2
In a nutshell: "The impeccably rumpled and rueful Toby Jones gives a bravura performance in Conor McPherson's foul-mouthed but nuanced new version of Chekhov's great masterpiece of midlife regret. Ian Rickson directs an ensemble cast that also includes Richard Armitage and Aimee Lou Wood." Read the full review
The Book of Mormon ★★★★★
Where: Prince of Wales Theatre
Address: Coventry St, London, W1D 6AS
Booking until: May 2
In a nutshell: "The songs may not be memorable, but it is exuberant, and, like the colourful extravaganza that the Africans put on at the end (stringing together all of the lies the naughty Mormon has told them) it works in a way that is rather mystifying... Trey Parker and Matt Stone (the fellows behind South Park) and Robert Lopez (the chap behind Avenue Q), have created something that, God have mercy upon my soul, I found very funny." Read the full review
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The Welkin ★★★☆☆
Where: National's Lyttelton Theatre
Address: South Bank, London SE1 9PX
Until: May 23
In a nutshell: "Lucy Kirkwood's new play, set in Suffolk in 1759, captures the inescapable lot of its rural women: to toil and to suffer, unheard, unseen. Maxine Peake stars as the local proto-feminist midwife called on to deliberate on whether a young woman, Sally Poppy, convicted of killing an 11 year old girl, is pregnant, potentially saving her from the hangman’s noose." Read the full review
9 to 5 ★★★☆☆
Where: Savoy Theatre
Address: Savoy Ct, London WC2R 0ET
Until: May 23
In a nutshell: "Based on Dolly Parton’s revenge comedy about three harassed female office-workers who hold their loathsome male boss hostage, humiliating him and transforming their work-place, this is a colourful, feelgood musical – but also flimsy and slight.” Read the full review
Come From Away ★★★☆☆
Where: Phoenix Theatre
Address: Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0JP
Until: May 23
In a nutshell:"The denizens of Gander, Newfoundland, a remote spot off the Atlantic, laid on a warm welcome for thousands of disorientated and distressed air-passengers stranded there after the closure of American airspace on September 11, 2001. Fair play to Canadian married duo Irene Sankoff and David Hein for revisiting (after on-the-ground research) this remarkable week of friendships formed and faith in humanity restored, using life-affirming song and dance." Read the full review
Dear Evan Hansen ★★★★☆
Where: Noël Coward Theatre
Address: 85-88 St Martin's Ln, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4AP
Booking until: May 30
In a nutshell:"This Tony-winning satirical musical romcom sees the titular gauche teen hero milk the suicide of a fellow student for empathy. There's something slightly chilly about it all; it's easier to admire than to love. But the show has a real star in 21-year-old star Sam Tutty, fresh out of drama school and making his West End debut. His ever-shifting mixture of twitches and pained smiles, combined with his ability to hold song after song, is a treat to behold." Read the full review
Magic Goes Wrong ★★★★☆
Where: Vaudeville Theatre
Address: 404 Strand, Covent Garden, London WC2R 0NH
Booking until: May 31
In a nutshell:"The latest wheeze from those incorrigible scamps Mischief (the team behind The Play That Goes Wrong) – fringe whizz-kids turned theatrical world-leaders in the art of comic incompetence, who have joined forces for this show with ace magicians Penn & Teller. " Read the full review
Mamma Mia! The Party ★★★☆☆
Where: 02 Arena
Address: Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0DX
Booking until: May 31
In a nutshell: "Mamma Mia was a song that became a musical, and then two films. Now, it is a package: Mamma Mia! The Party – a dinner, an immersive theatre show and a disco. With tickets starting at £135, you could fly to Skopelos, the idyllic Greek village that inspired the whole venture, for less. It may be pricey, but the silliness is irresistible – only the churlish would claim this wasn’t fun." Read the full review
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Hamilton ★★★★★
Where: Victoria Palace Theatre
Address: 126 Victoria Street, SW1E 5EA
Booking until: June 20
In a nutshell: "Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical phenomenon – the most talked-about musical of the century – retells the life and times of Alexander Hamilton (c1755 – 1804), first Secretary of the US Treasury, using a predominantly non-white cast and a welter of rap music." Read the full review
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Tina – The Tina Turner Musical ★★★★★
Where: Aldwych Theatre
Address: 49 Aldwych London WC2B 4DF
Booking Until: June 27
In a nutshell: "An Anglo-American triumph. This musical retelling of the life of Tina Turner combines the aesthetic finesse of British director Phyllida Lloyd with the political instincts of Memphis-born, Olivier nominated playwright Katori Hall." Read the full review
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& Juliet ★★★☆☆
Where: Shaftsbury Theatre
Address: 210 Shaftesbury Ave, London WC2H 8DP
Booking until: July 4
In a nutshell:"Using the music of Max Martin (the writer behind hits for Katy Perry and Britney Spears), this loud, proud show re-imagines Shakespeare's heroine's 'ending' as a new start. While this show isn’t in the same league as Mamma Mia! by fellow Swedes Abba, those with a willing ear for his brand of shiny pop will enjoyh it." Read the full review
The Lion King ★★★★☆
Where: Lyceum Theatre
Address: 21 Wellington St, London WC2E 7RQ
Booking until: July 5
In a nutshell: "In theory it should all feel contrived – you've got Elton John and Tim Rice's anthemic pop efforts sharing the same terrain as earthy, soul-stirring African arrangements. The human presence creating the animal magic is openly signalled in the costumes and puppetry. And yet, for all that calculation, the over-riding impression is one of freshness – of potentially incongruous elements flowing together quite naturally." Read the full review
Mary Poppins ★★★★★
Where: Prince Edward Theatre
Address: Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 4HS
Booking until: July 26
In a nutshell: "With a script by Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes and songs from the 1964 film (as well as newer numbers), this glorious musical stars Zizi Strallen as the magical nanny." Read the full review
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie ★★★★☆
Where: Apollo Theatre
Address: 31 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7ES
Booking until: August 29
In a nutshell:"Is Everybody’s Talking About Jamie the new Billy Elliot for our times? It tells the story of Jamie New (sharp, sassy, and delightfully out there and vulnerable), a gay teenager at a northern comprehensive, who, platinum-blond cropped hair shining like a beacon, decides to make his name as a cross-dresser." Read the full review
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Witness for the Prosecution ★★★★☆
Where: London County Hall
Address: Belvedere Road, London, SE1 7PB
Booking until: September 13
In a nutshell: "Lucy Bailey directs this entertaining adaptation of Agatha Christie's Twenties courtroom murder mystery, in which a man is accused of killing a widow in order to inherit her wealth. Staged in chambers at London's magnificent County Hall, this production puts the audience right at the heart of the action." Read the full review
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Mamma Mia! ★★★☆☆
Where: Novello Theatre
Address: Aldwych, London, WC2B 4LD
Booking until: September 19
In a nutshell: "Catherine Johnson's witty and ingenious script weaves Abba's famous songs around characters you care about, in an involving story about a strong-willed single mum and her 20-year-old daughter who wants to find out who her father is before she gets married." Read the full review
Les Misérables ★★★★★
Where: Sondheim Theatre
Address: 51 Shaftesbury Ave, Soho, London W1D 6BA
Booking until: October 17
In a nutshell: "The revolutionary musical based on the 1862 novel is back in the West End, reworked with a fresh Victor Hugo-inspired design that matches the ambient splendour of the Sondheim Theatre (formerly the Queen's, renamed after a £13 million renovation)." Read the full review
Wicked ★★★☆☆
Where: Apollo Victoria Theatre
Address: 17 Wilton Rd, Pimlico, London SW1V 1LG
Booking until: November 28
In a nutshell: "No one could accuse Wicked of being a great musical – indeed at times it's a bit of a mess – but it proves far more enjoyable than I had dared to hope, and deserves a wider audience than adolescent schoolgirls." Read the full review
Matilda: The Musical ★★★★★
Where: Cambridge Theatre
Address: 32-34 Earlham Street, London, WC2H 9HU
Booking until: December 20
In a nutshell: "The RSC’s hilarious, moving and magical production of Matilda has now arrived in the West End, where I suspect it will delight audiences for years to come... It is the best new British musical since Billy Elliot. Dennis Kelly has adapted Roald Dahl's famous story for the stage, while Aussie comedian Tim Minchin has come up with a smashing score that combines take-home melodies with delicious lyrical wit."
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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ★★★★★
Where: Palace Theatre
Address: Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 5AY
Booking until: Jan 24, 2021
In a nutshell: "Tremors of excitement at the premiere of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – the first Potter play, and the eighth story in the publishing phenomenon that made J K Rowling’s name and fortune – are being felt across the world... The big news is that this is just what was needed, will raise the benchmark for family entertainment for years to come and may even usher in a whole cycle of Potter-world stories." Read the full review
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