Looking for something to do over the next three months? I’ve picked out ninety shows across London and beyond which might take your fancy.
Truly something for everyone at whatever budget, whether you like the flashy or the familiar, the sensational or the sensitive, the international or the intimate.
What’s on your list?
West End / SOLT / touring
Plays
Accolade (touring, Richmond Theatre) 9-13 Jul
Accolade follows the life of a celebrated writer on the verge of receiving a much-coveted accolade for his work. However, behind the prestigious façade lies a web of deception and dark desires, ready to unravel his carefully constructed life.
Bluets (Royal Court) to 29 Jun
Bluets is a story about depression and desire, pleasure and pain, and a person possessed by a lifelong obsession with the colour blue. Communing with artists like Joni Mitchell, Derek Jarman, Andy Warhol and Billie Holiday, blue is their constant companion as they navigate the devastating pain of a life-altering heartbreak.
Boys from the Blackstuff (Garrick) 13 Jun-8 Aug
As the 1980s TV series of plays gains a welcome repeat, James Graham’s powerful new adaptation moves from the National Theatre to the West End.
The Constituent (Old Vic) 13 Jun-10 Aug
A timely and volatile new play in an election summer, This volatile new play stars Anna Maxwell as a hard-working opposition backbencher whose ideals of public office are tested by the demands of a man in crisis, played by James Corden.
Death of England – The Plays (sohoplace) 15 Jul-28 Sep
Following acclaimed seasons at the National Theatre, Clint Dyer and Roy Williams’ extraordinary series of three interconnected state of the nation plays, Death of Emgland, will be performed together for the very first time.
The Marilyn Conspiracy (Park 200) 19 Jun-27 Jul
A powerful, meticulously researched new thriller, wherein lies are untangled, myths debunked, and disturbing new evidence is disclosed. Seven of Marilyn Monroe’s nearest and dearest gather to write the closing chapter of her remarkable story…
Miss Julie (Park 90) 7 Jun-6 Jul
It’s hot, the sun isn’t going to set, and the flowers are in full bloom. While The Count is away, the servants dance through the night. Amidst the festivities is Miss Julie… wilder than the rest.
Peanut Butter and Blueberries (Kiln) 8-31 Aug
Hafsah and Bilal are not looking for love. She has her faith, her books, her dreams. Bilal…well he’s just trying to get through uni. Studying in London, far from their hometowns of Bradford and Birmingham, they find common ground over a peanut butter and blueberry sandwich. Just as their connection is growing, the past and social realities become harder to ignore. Between opportunities, obligations and injustices, will they be able to choose each other?
Red Speedo (Orange Tree) 13 Jul-10 Aug
A thriller played at the breakneck pace of an Olympic sprint, Red Speedo tackles the unforgiving weight of success in a world where the only crime is getting …
Slave Play (Noel Coward Theatre) 29 Jun-21 Sep
Jeremy O.Harris’s extraordinary play about race, identity and sexuality in twenty-first century America directed by Robert O’Hara. At the MacGregor Plantation the Old South is alive and well. The heat in the air, the cotton fields and the power of the whip. Yet nothing is quite as it appears… or maybe it is.
A View From The Bridge (Theatre Royal Haymarket) to 3 Aug
Eddie Carbone, a Brooklyn longshoreman, has brought up his niece, Catherine, as his own daughter. When she succumbs to the attractions of the charismatic Rodolpho, Eddie’s explosive sexual jealousy has terrifying and tragic consequences for New York’s close-knit Italian-American neighbourhood.
Visit from an Unknown Woman (Hampstead Main House) 21 Jun-27 Jul
There’s this monstrous idiot – this monstrous elected idiot – who keeps telling his fellow-idiots to throw my books on a bonfire and beat me up in the street…
The Years (Almeida) 27 Jul-31 Aug
Five different actors bring one woman’s personal and political story to life, set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing post-war Europe.
Musicals
101 Dalmatians (touring, New Wimbledon Theatre) 22-29 Jun
Dodie Smith’s classic canine caper is brought to life on stage with spectacular puppetry, show-stopping choreography, witty songs and irresistible puppies!
Babies (The Other Palace, Main House) 4 Jun-14 Jul
With a blistering pop-rock score, this brand new British musical follows nine students as they discover that becoming a parent requires changing more than just nappies. Friendships are tested, dreams are questioned, and the true meaning of responsibility rears its terrifying head.
The Baker’s Wife (Menier Chocolate Factory) 6 Jul-14 Sep
The arrival of a new Baker and his younger wife turns a provincial French village upside down in this cult classic musical from the legendary Stephen Schwartz (composer of Godspell, Wicked, Pippin) and Joseph Stein (writer of Fiddler On The Roof).
A Chorus Line (Sadler’s Wells) 31 Jul-25 Aug
A Chorus Line is a musical masterpiece that revolutionised Broadway, with creator Michael Bennett using real-life testimonies from late-night recording sessions with dancers. Celebrate the lives of theatre’s unsung heroes, as they tell searing stories of ambition, shattered hopes, and what it really costs to follow your dreams. A Curve Leicester production.
Fiddler on the Roof (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) 27 Jul-21 Sep
It’s 1905 in the tiny village of Anatevka where Tevye, a Jewish milkman, lives his life by their proud traditions. For his five daughters, that means a visit from the matchmaker… But as each daughter challenges his beliefs, against the backdrop of a changing world, can Tevye hold on to his roots, or must he bend to the will of his children and learn to embrace the unfamiliar?
Hello Dolly (London Palladium) from 6 Jul
Meddlesome socialite turned matchmaker Dolly Levi travels to Yonkers, New York to find a match for the miserly, unmarried ‘half-a-millionaire’ Horace Vandergelder, but everything changes when she decides that the next match she needs to make is for herself.
Kiss Me Kate (Barbican Theatre) 4 Jun-14 Sep
Based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, with a company of over 50, including a full-scale orchestra and featuring a slew of Cole Porter classics, Kiss Me, Kate is the perfect Summer musical for 2024.
London Tide (National Theatre, Lyttelton) to 22 Jun
This romantic and propulsive thriller is a hymn to the city and the river that runs through it. Directed by Ian Rickson (Translations) and adapted by Ben Power (The Lehman Trilogy), with original songs throughout, the genius of Dickens’ Our Mutual Friend meets the fierce musical imagination of acclaimed singer-songwriter, PJ Harvey.
Mean Girls (Savoy Theatre) from 2 Jul
Meet The Plastics – Regina, Gretchen and Karen. They rule North Shore High and will burn anyone who gets in their way. Home-schooled Cady Heron may think she knows a thing or two about survival of the fittest thanks to her zoologist parents, but high school is a whole new level of savage. When Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a queen bee without getting stung.
Next to Normal (Wyndham’s Theatre) 18 Jun-20.Sep
Next to Normal is an intimate exploration of family and illness, loss and grief. At its heart is Diana Goodman (Caissie Levy in an Olivier Award-nominated performance), a suburban wife and mother living with bipolar disorder and haunted by her past. In the West End following a sold out Donmar Warehouse run.
Passing Strange (Young Vic) to 6 Jul
A young musician sets out on an electrifying musical odyssey to find himself and his place in the world, swapping his middle-class L.A. upbringing for punk rock and protest in 1980s Amsterdam and Berlin.
Your Lie in April (Harold Pinter Theatre) 28 Jun-21 Sep
This musical adaption of a manga favourite story, Your Lie in April, brings to life the poignant story of Kōsei Arima, a young piano prodigy, and his inability to play following his mother’s death. He strikes a friendship with violinist Kaori Miyazono and she slowly encourages him to perform again.
Read my 5* review of the Drury Lane concert version
Off-West End / Fringe / Pub
Plays
Antigona (Barons Court Theatre) 9-13 Jul
Originally presented in 2000 by the Yuyachkani theatre, this radical remaking of Sophocles’ ancient Greek parable, brought to life by one woman, reflects the struggle for humanity to transcend oppression which leads to deafening silence, but does not bring peace.
At Least I’m Not Bald (Lion & Unicorn Theatre) 14 Jul
Valery Reva’s second piece (following the 4-star show “in|Secure”) and will revolve around the ‘big C’, this terrifying letter we all dread to hear. Valery, a survivor of cancer herself, will be pulling from her own lived experiences and other testimonials as a balm to soothe, titillate, and maybe even giggle with those struggling to live with cancer’s consequences.
Beckett Trilogy – Molloy, Malone Dies & The Unnamable (Coronet Theatre) 20-22 Jun
Gare St Lazare Ireland return to The Coronet Theatre with their acclaimed Beckett Trilogy. The company’s precise and elegant work makes Beckett accessible to all, highlighting the humour and humanity in his writing. The three novels, Molloy, Malone Dies & The Unnamable, written at the same time as Waiting for Godot, made up what the writer considered his “Important work”.
Being Mr Wickham (Jermyn Street Theatre) 5-22 Jun
Mr Wickham is ready to set the record straight. Join Pride and Prejudice’s most roguish gentleman, George Wickham, on the eve of his sixtieth birthday, to lift the sheets on what exactly happened thirty years on from where we left him… And discover his own version of some very famous literary events. What really happened with Darcy? What did he feel about Lizzie? What happened at Waterloo? Not to mention Byron…
Read my review of the 2021 streamed version
Dressing Gown (Theatre at the Tabard) 10-27 Jul
Dressing Gown is a riotous comedy that demonstrates how even the most innocent conversation can land you in deep trouble. And how hard it is, some days, just to get dressed…
Eddie Izzard’s Hamlet (Riverside Studios) to 30 Jun
In the comedian’s 2nd solo theatre show, she takes on 23 characters in a very unique performance of the iconic play.
My opinion? Uneven but worth a look.
Everything I Own (Brixton House) 20 Jun-6 Jul
A thought-provoking journey of loss, history, and uprising in this intimate yet provocative intergenerational conversation between father and son written by Daniel Ward.
Hole (Old Red Lion Theatre) 11-22 Jun
Hole is a funny, moving, and often frightening exploration of the mental health battles and inner demons we all face while under the constant scrutiny of an expectant world. Performed solely by Matsume Kai, who multi-roles all characters, this production is directed by queer artistic partnership David Fairs & Conor O’Kane.
Hyde Park / Contractions (Golden Goose Theatre) 11-15 Jun
This dark new comedy pairs with a revival of Mike Bartlett’s ink-black satire. It’s an unofficial double-bill, but you can catch both in the same night.
I Am Yours Sincerely (New Wimbledon Studio, Etcetera Theatre) 25 Jun, 28-29 Jun
This one man show tells the untold, unbelievable true story of John Cox from university student to war hero; parachuting in behind enemy lines, evading capture, and at the end of it all finding love.
Kafka (Finborough Theatre) 11 Jun-6 Jul
Jack Klaff brings his one-man show back after 30 years to mark the centenary of Kafka’s death. In 75 minutes within an empty space, this bracing, off-kilter, always-surprising show recreates the life, work, and times of a unique human being with a unique mind.
Read my interview with the “singular and unusual” Jack Klaff here.
Lady Dealer (Bush, Studio) 3-15 Jun
For Charly, every day is the same: neck some coffee, answer the phone, sell some drugs. The flat she once shared with her ex, Clo, is now the base of her growing business. And she’s fine with that. She’s fine! Charly is fine. But when a power cut hits her estate and the burner phone stops buzzing, she is forced to question exactly how fine she is.
The Last Time I Saw Caileigh (Barons Court Theatre) 11-22 Jun
The Last Time I Saw Caileigh is a dark, funny, and heartfelt one-act play that explores queer erasure through the lens of an unsolved mystery.
Nana / Lulu (Drama Studio London at Playground Theatre) 21-28 Jun, free (but need to be booked)
Drama Studio London is proud to announce their 2024 Graduates Showcase. The demi-monde of Paris is brought thrillingly to life by an ensemble of thirteen actors reviving this seminal play first produced by Shared Experience (Nana); Lulu is story of a woman who lives with passion and kills to survive.
Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Leicester Square Theatre) 10 Jul-7 Sep
This year, Sh!t-faced Shakespeare are pouring their legendary cock-eyed chaos into the Bard-shaped vessel that is A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Think drunken donkeys, fandangled fairies and mullered mechanicals… it’s hard to imagine anything more magical, right?
So Help Me Dog (Hen & Chickens) 4-8 Jun, 11-15 Jun
The audience will be immersed in a revealing, tough, humorous courtroom drama and witness the consequences when Danny Franks starts to lose the stacked game he is playing against the establishment. A sometimes-surreal trip with plenty of authentic bite.
A Terrible Show for Terrible People (Drayton Arms Theatre) 23-24 Jun
A Terrible Show for Terrible People is a silent, physical clown show with 1 performer and only 2 spoken words. It is suitable for perverts, feminists and your mom (not mutually exclusive).
The Voice of the Turtle (Jermyn Street Theatre) 27 Jun-20 Jul
This witty, wise and romantic play returns to the West End for the first time since it played at the Piccadilly Theatre in 1947. Directed by Philip Wilson who returns to Jermyn Street Theatre after the success of The Oyster Problem, it follows on from JST’s acclaimed revival of Van Druten’s Flowers of the Forest in 2014.
Wet Feet (Union Theatre) 18-29 Jun
Wet Feet tells the story of an encounter between two men in a gay sauna that lasts longer than your typical steamy dalliance. Nathan is an out and proud gay man, while Franko lives his life in the long shadow of Section 28. Throughout this poignant comedy, the towel-clad pair get to know each other a little better, and a heart-warming connection is formed.
Musicals
Beauty and the Beast (Greenwich Theatre) 2-25 Aug
For over 250 years, the tale of Beauty and the Beast has been told and retold, in print, on screen and in the theatre, but now the ‘tale as old as time’ gets a fresh makeover with an astonishing cast of actor-musicians in a magical, musical, laugh-out-loud new adaptation.
Broadway Diva (Stage Door Theatre) 27 Aug-1 Sep
Join opera and musical theatre singer Olivia Ruggiero for 90 minutes of Broadway belts, West End wonders, opera classics, and those earworms that you know and love.
Carousel in Concert (Royal Festival Hall) 13 Jul
Climb aboard and let yourself be whisked away for a night of magic and breathtaking music from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s timeless classic.
Closer to Heaven (Turbine Theatre) to 30 Jun
Let us take you back to the Millennium for the night of your life. Suddenly, what was wrong seems right… a new production of this adored club musical.
Diva – Live From Hell (King’s Head) to 29 Jun
Luke Bayer gives a tour-de-force performance in this blood-stained love letter to Broadway; a solo musical about rivalry, vengeance, and killer ambition.
Read my review of the Turbine run here.
Dorian the Musical (Southwark Playhouse, Borough) 4 Jul-10 Aug
Previously streamed in 2021, this new version follows the journey of Dorian Gray, a young musician who experiences overnight success only to confront the dark side of his desires.
Read my review of the stream here.
The Emu War – a New Musical (Seven Dials Playhouse) 8 Jul
Inspired by true events, this new comedy musical follows the Australian government’s futile attempts to fight mischievous emus. Get your tail feathers ready for catchy tunes and dancing birds.
Fangirls (Lyric Hammersmith) 15 Jul-24 Aug
Get ready for an unmissable show that pulses with the soaring adrenaline of a first crush and feels like the best pop concert you’ve never been to…
Frankie Goes To Bollywood (touring, Queen Elizabeth Hall) 31 Jul-18 Aug
Rifco’s most ambitious musical yet, Frankie Goes to Bollywood is a breathtakingly colourful journey of romance, epic songs, and spectacular dance – inspired by real stories of British women caught in the spotlight of the biggest film industry in the world.
I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire (Southwark Playhouse Borough) 28 Jun-12 Aug
Direct from its critically acclaimed sold-out New York premiere, this sharp new comedy reminds us that with great obsession comes great heartache.
Julie the Musical (The Other Palace, Studio) 12-30 Jun
Julie: The Musical celebrates this extraordinary life, Queerness and carving a place for yourself in a world not built for you.
Marie Curie (Charing Cross Theatre) to 28 Jul
A story of life and death, Marie Curie has already captivated audiences in Korea and Japan with its sweeping score and story and is now brought to London audiences for the first time in a stirring original production directed by Sarah Meadows.
A Night With Janis Joplin (Peacock Theatre) 21 Aug-28 Sep
Starring Mary Bridget Davies and Sharon Sexton as Janis, this multi award-winning show is an extraordinary musical journey paying homage to Janis Joplin.
Starlight Express (Troubadour Wembley) from 8 Jun
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express opens summer 2024 in the specially designed Starlight Auditorium at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.
The Wild Party (EartH) 12 Aug-7 Sep
LaChiusa and Wolfe’s The Wild Party is a bold explosion of a musical that transports us into the intoxicating dark side of the Jazz Age.
Cancelled by the producers 9 Jul 2024
Children’s Theatre
The 13th Storey Treehouse (Wimbledon Children’s Festival) 31 Jul-4 Aug
Today’s the day Andy and Terry are going to bring their stories to life in their first EVER play – except they forgot to write it! Where will they find flying cats, a mermaid, a sea monster, an invasion of monkeys, and a giant gorilla?
Errol’s Garden (Theatre Peckham) 13-14 Jul
Filled with catchy songs, imagination, and a passion for plants, Errol’s Garden is a fun interactive musical for children aged 3–8 and their grownups.
The Gruffalo, The Witch and The Warthog (Rose Theatre, Kingston) 27-29 Jul
Following a sell-out season at the Edinburgh Fringe, Britain’s most popular children’s author presents a show full of magic, music and excitement. Along with four actors, including her guitar-playing husband Malcolm, Julia brings six of her stories to life with songs, puppetry, and of course an appearance by the Gruffalo himself.
Horrible Histories – Terrible Tudors (Garrick, West End) 27 Jul-2 Sep
From the horrible Henries to the end of evil Elizabeth, hear the legends (and the lies!) about the torturing Tudors. Find out the fate of Henry’s headless wives and his punch up with the Pope. Meet Bloody Mary and see Ed fall dead in his bed. Survive the Spanish Armada as they launch their attack!
The Lion Inside (Unicorn Theatre, Weston) 23 Jul-4 Aug
A bestselling story about confidence, self-esteem, and a shy little mouse who sets out on a journey to find his roar. In a dry dusty place where the sand sparkled gold stood a mighty flat rock, all craggy and old. And under that rock in a tinyful house, lived the littlest, quietest, meekest brown mouse.
Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of Ghosts (Polka) 22 Jun-18 Aug
Adapted for stage from Katie and Kevin Tsang’s best-selling book, join Sam and his deadly pet snake sidekick as he faces his fears and tries to defeat the Ghost King once and for all at the premiere of this brand-new adventure.
Ten in the Bed (Half Moon Theatre) to 10 Jun
Is it a bed? Or a boat? Or a giant slice of toast? For Naz and Iggy and their eight friends, their bed is a place where imagination can fill their tummies with tasty treats and take them to familiar warm places. Well, sometimes.
There’s a Monster in Your Show (Riverside Studios) 14 Aug-1 Sep
Tom Fletcher’s interactive adventures for big imaginations are leaping from page to stage, as the beloved ‘Who’s in Your Book?’ series makes its debut as a brand-new musical show.
Follow show website for tour details.
Festivals / Circus / Dance / Outdoor
Fuerza Bruta – AVEN (Roundhouse) 13 Jul-31 Aug
After 10 long years, Fuerza Bruta is finally returning to its London home – Roundhouse, with their incredible new show AVEN, a rollercoaster ride of euphoria, optimism and passion beyond your imagination and will fill your heart with joy this summer.
Grills (Camden Roar, Camden People’s Theatre) 4-22 Jun
Four self-proclaimed queer nerds on a mission to unearth a forgotten gem in Camden’s LGBTQIA+ history. A textured show, weaving the past & the present, the analogue & the digital, and the joys & frustrations of queer community.
Gifford’s Circus – Avalon (Chiswick House & Gardens) 6-23 Jun
This year’s show is set in the colourful medieval world of pageantry and Arthurian legend and features dazzling circus acts from across the globe in the roles of King Arthur, his Queen and his court.
ECHO (LIFT 2024, Royal Court) 13-27 Jul
Fusing technology with the oldest tricks in the book, ECHO is an experiment in concept touring for the age of climate crisis: an ambitious, magical and uncompromising production where no one travels yet everybody can be present.
George (96 Festival, Omnibus Theatre) 25 Jub-14 Jul
George is the story of French writer George Sand defying all rules through what she wrote, what she wore and who she f*cked.
Live Drafts (The Yard) 4 Jul-2 Aug
A series of four new and challenging pieces of theatre.
Summer Season at LAMDA 5-13 Jun
These five productions take place across our theatre spaces and feature the work of talented students both on and off-stage.
YAMATO – the Drummers of Japan (Peacock Theatre) 4-22 Jun
Taiko drumming is a centuries-old tradition in Japanese culture, and the drummers of YAMATO continue to challenge the boundaries of what it can be. They push themselves to their absolute limits and leave audiences breathless in the process
Outside London
Plays
The Caretaker (Chichester Festival, Minerva) 8 Jun-13 Jul
Premiered in 1960, The Caretaker was Harold Pinter’s first major success and is now regarded as a landmark of 20th century drama, laced with astringent wit and unsentimental compassion.
Chariots of Fire (Sheffield Crucible) 6-27 Jul
Mike Bartlett adapts the screenplay of the Oscar-winning 1981 film for the stage.
Dracula: the Bloody Truth (Octagon, Bolton) 11-29 Jun
A hilarious and madcap comedy retelling of the iconic gothic classic.
Three Men in a Boat (The Mill at Sonning) 6 Jun-13 Jul
This warm and witty play invites you on an uproarious journey down the meandering waters of the Thames with the delightful trio of friends as they set sail on an unforgettable adventure through the English countryside.
The Trials (Nottingham Playhouse,in partnership with Donmar Warehouse) 14-16 Aug
This thrilling story of responsibility and climate crisis gives a voice to the young people who have no choice but to live with its consequences. Our community co-production with Mansfield Palace goes one step further, empowering young people from Nottingham and Mansfield who will play the part of The Jury, alongside three professional actors.
Twelfth Night (Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot) 7-29 Jun
Headlining the Cockpit Stage this summer, the brilliantly bold Not Too Tame return with an electrifying production of Twelfth Night, starring Les Dennis as Malvolio.
Musicals
Barnum (The Watermill Theatre, Newbury) 2 Jul-8 Sep
Delight at every sight, wonder and miracle as the creator of spectacle comes to town with a sensational show featuring a whole host of characters.
The Devil Wears Prada (Theatre Royal, Plymouth) 6-27 Jul
Before it heads into London’s West End, catch this “hilariously fun and fabulously stylish” show – telling an inspiring story about discovering what kind of person you truly want to be.
Midsummer – A Play With Songs (Barn Theatre, Cirencester) to 22 Jun
Hilariously funny, heartwarming, feel-good romantic musical comedy of a great lost weekend in Edinburgh will steal your heart and have you rolling in the aisles with laughter.
My Fair Lady (Leeds Playhouse/Opera North) 31 May-29 Jun
Director James Brining and designer Madeleine Boyd follow the five-star success of Sondheim’s A Little Night Music with this major new co-production by Leeds Playhouse and Opera North.
My Son’s A Queer … (HOME Manchester) 19-25 Aug
Rob Madge continues to showcase their inspiring and sensational story. It’s a 5* smash.
Children’s Shows / Circus
Around the World in 80 Days-ish! (York Theatre Royal) 18 Jul-3 Aug
Join a raggle-taggle band of circus performers as they embark on their most daring feat yet – to perform the story of Phileas Fogg and his thrilling race across the globe. But wait? Who is this Nellie Bly biting at his heels? Will an actual, real-life woman win this race?
Story Seekers (Tent Tour by Oxford Playhouse) 15 Jun-14 Jul – tickets not required, just turn up!
Following an around the world research trip, two Story Seekers,Tamako and Mamy-Tiana, return to Oxford, both hoping to secure the same job at the local university with hopes to show off their best storytelling skills to win the role.
Festivals
Love + Rebellion Festival (Birmingham Rep) 5-21 Jul.
With over 15 performances showcasing the best of Birmingham’s young talent, Love + Rebellion will take audiences through an empowering season of plays about the power of unity in the face of adversity.
Wildcard
High Steaks (Bristol Old Vic, Studio) 18-22 Jun.
Eloina is retiring this show after the current run. It is a 5* gem, which is important, empowering, and moving.