Theatre News

See who’s appearing this autumn Abraham Popoola, Janice Connolly and Christopher Walley in Archduke, © Helen Murray Phantom of the Opera has released details of its cast for its upcoming 40th anniversary celebrations. Having first opened in 1986, it remains one of the longest-running and most widely seen musicals in the world, with an estimated 160 million audience members across 217 cities in 52 territories and 23 languages. Based on the novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra by Gaston

The play is inspired by the assassination of Franz Ferdinand Abraham Popoola, Janice Connolly and Christopher Walley in Archduke, © Helen Murray LThe Royal Court Theatre has released photos for the European premiere of Archduke by Rajiv Joseph, directed by Lyndsey Turner and designed by Es Devlin. The production will run in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs from 20 June to 25 July 2026, with a press night set for 26 June. The cast includes Chris Walley (The Young Offenders), Abr

It will go head to head with Paddington! The Warriors, © Jimmy Fontaine Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis’s musical Warriors will open on Broadway in spring 2027. The show begins previews at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in March, with an opening night set for April. Tickets go on sale in October 2026, with advance sign-up available via the production’s website. Directed by Jenny Koons, with Andy Blankenbuehler as co-director and choreographer, the piece follows a New York City g

It was last seen in concerts in 2024 Wild About You artwork, provided uncredited Wild About You will return to London. The musical previously enjoyed a series of concerts at Theatre Royal Drury Lane and will now have its first full run at Charing Cross Theatre. With a book by Dani Stoller and music and lyrics by Chilina Kennedy, it follows Billy on the day of his high school graduation party, when he finds a trunk of letters written to him by his late mother. A recording is a

Moliére’s classic is rejigged in this new version Sandra Oh (Alice) in The Misanthrope, photo by Marc Brenner The National Theatre has released photos for The Misanthrope, starring Sandra Oh. The piece is adapted by Martin Crimp, whose recent work includes Cyrano de Bergerac, and directed by Indhu Rubasingham. Written in contemporary verse, the adaptation reworks Molière’s play to examine private relationships and public debate in a modern context, with the central figure of

The show will reach a whole nation! Sam Ryder in Jesus Christ Superstar rehearsals, photos by Johan Persson A new UK tour of Jesus Christ Superstar will open in Manchester in 2027, with Sam Ryder set to play the role of Jesus. The production, featuring music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, will begin performances at the Palace Theatre, Manchester from 11 February 2027 before visiting venues across the UK and Ireland. We’ve listed the announced dates on a dedica

The five-star RSC production is playing in London Adrian Lester (Cyrano) in Cyrano de Bergerac, © Marc Brenner Production photos have been revealed for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Cyrano de Bergerac, which has transferred to the West End. The production is directed by Simon Evans, who has co-adapted Edmond Rostand’s play with Debris Stevenson, creating a new version of the text. It was heralded as “utterly exquisite” by critic Sarah Crompton during its initi

Party straight on til’ morning! Club NVRLND artwork Exclusive: An immersive nightclub musical, Club NVRLND, will transfer to London. After a sold-out run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe last year, the show, which has a book by Olivier Award winner Jack Holden and is conceived and directed by Steven Kunis, will play at The Vaults in Waterloo. Featuring 2000s anthems from the likes of Britney Spears, Rihanna, P!nk, Outkast, Coldplay and more, it follows runaway bride Wendy Darling

They’re in for the ride! The four lead cast members in Thelma & Louise Full cast has been revealed for a new musical adaptation of Thelma & Louise. It will run at the Young Vic Theatre from 3 September to 24 October 2026, as part of the venue’s recently announced season. The story follows two friends who embark on a spontaneous trip that escalates after an encounter at a roadside bar, altering the course of their lives and their relationship. The production is a co-production

See who is joining Alexandra Burke Alexandra Burke as Chaka Khan, photo by Danny Kaan I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical will return to London this summer – and complete casting has been revealed. The jukebox musical will transfer to the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre for a limited London run from 22 July to 27 September 2026, with a press night scheduled for 4 August. The production will star Alexandra Burke in the title role, portraying Chaka Khan. Burke is joined by

Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-marvellous news! Paddington The Musical, photo by Johan Persson Paddington The Musical will transfer to Broadway in spring 2027. The musical will begin performances at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (currently home to Moulin Rouge! the Musical) on 30 March 2027, ahead of an opening night on 18 April. Based on Michael Bond’s A Bear Called Paddington books and the Paddington films, the production features music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher, a book by Jessica Sw

Keynes, ballet and the concept of funding the arts collide in Graham’s new play Rory Kinnear and Natalia Osipova, Kinnear’s photo by Chris McAndrew, supplied to news desks by the production James Graham’s new play The Standard of Living will receive its world premiere in the West End this autumn. The play explores the life of John Maynard Keynes, the influential economist, member of the Bloomsbury Group and advocate for public arts funding whose ideas helped shape the post-wa

The show will end its runs at the Phoenix Theatre and Marquis Theatre at the end of the year The artwork for Stranger Things: The First Shadow, supplied by the production Stranger Things: The First Shadow will close at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End and at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway, producers Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions have confirmed. The play opened at the Phoenix Theatre on 14 December 2023, while the Broadway production began previews at the Mar

The show was filmed in the West End – and will be seen on these shores before its tour! Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney in Hadestown, still from the film The West End live capture of Hadestown, starring the Broadway musical’s original cast members, will be released on UK shores. The genre-defying musical tells two mythic love stories – that of Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone – with both on a journey to the underworld and back. With music, l

Nassim Soleimanpour’s unrehearsed solo show returns, with Lucian Msamati taking to the stage on press night! Lucian Msamati in White Rabbit Red Rabbit, © Sarah Larby There’s something wonderfully apropos about White Rabbit Red Rabbit, in its 15th anniversary season, playing once a week on the stage that’s usually home to The Play That Goes Wrong. Nassim Soleimanpour’s almost-solo theatrical tightrope walk, where a different performer enacts a script they’ve never rehearsed, n

The Olivier Award-winning production begins performances at the Noël Coward Theatre this autumn Jo Foster as Jack, photo supplied by the production Additional casting has been confirmed for the West End transfer of the Bridge Theatre’s award-winning revival of Into the Woods. Director Jordan Fein’s production of the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical was the most nominated musical revival of the year at the Olivier Awards, with 11 nods. It won two – Best Musical Reviva

A new performer takes on the role of Andrew Lloyd Webber Edward Easton, headshot supplied by Avalon One Man Musical will return to Soho Theatre this summer before heading back to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Created by musical comedy duo Flo and Joan, the show will run at Soho Theatre from 17 June to 3 July, with performances at 9pm, before transferring to Pleasance Beyond at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 5 to 30 August. The latest run will star Edward Easton in the ti

The Tony Award-winning Hamilton star will light up The London Palladium! Leslie Odom, Jr., photo supplied by the production Leslie Odom, Jr. will perform a solo concert at The London Palladium. The Tony and Grammy Award-winning performer will bring a concert programme featuring songs from the American Songbook, pop music and musical theatre, including selections from Hamilton, the Broadway musical in which he originated the role of Aaron Burr. The concert will take place on S

The show celebrates Pride Month at Shaftesbury Theatre! A still from the Avenue Q video The new production of Avenue Q has released a video to mark Pride Month. The show has returned to the West End to mark its 20th anniversary, with a revival playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre until the newly extended date of 3 January 2027. Written by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, with a book by Jeff Whitty, Avenue Q follows Princeton, a recent college graduate who moves into a rundown New Yo

The production first ran last summer in central London Giórgios Micheldes and Stephanie Costi, photos supplied by the production Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical will return this summer – and initial casting has been revealed. Based on the 1978 film Grease, the production runs for two and a half hours and features a cast of 30 performers and a live band. Songs from the film including “Summer Nights”, “Greased Lightnin’” and “We Go Together” are performed alongside multipl