Top London Musicals
The West End has always been the world's most exciting theatre scene and the musical is the cornerstone of its success. From long-running shows to contemporary productions, at every bend in Theatreland, hit musicals emblazon the streets. We've put together a list of our current must-sees. When the curtain goes up, make sure you've got the best seats in town - at cut prices - by booking online.
Hamilton
Victoria Palace Theatre,
Victoria Street London, SW1E 5EA
Theatre
Victoria Palace Theatre, Victoria Street, London, SW1E 5EA
Tube: Victoria Station
Dates: 06th December - 01st August 2020
Lin-Manuel Miranda's Pulitzer Prize winning hip hop musical, which won 11 Tony Awards in 2016, tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of America's founding fathers, who served as chief staff aide to General George Washington and was killed in a duel with Vice President Aaron Burr. "Hamilton has been a sensation in America," says the Daily Telegraph, and after receiving a record-breaking 13 Olivier nominations, that success has been repeated this side of the pond. The story of an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man, told to a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R & B and Broadway, "could not be more timely" (Guardian).
Aldwych Theatre, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4DF
Tube: Covent Garden Station
, Temple Station, Holborn Station
Dates: 21st March - 23rd January 2021
Phyllida Lloyd, director of Mamma Mia!, helms a life-affirming musical based on the life of legendary artist Tina Turner, written by Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins. Featuring the iconic songs that propelled Turner to fame, Tina, the stage spectacular charts her rise from humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to the top of the global music charts. Adrienne Warren makes her West End debut in the title role opposite Kobna Holdbrook-Smith - last seen on stage playing Laertes in Hamlet at the Barbican alongside Benedict Cumberbatch - as Ike Turner.
Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6AR
Tube: Piccadilly Circus Station
, Leicester Square Station
Dates: 10th August - 30th November 2019
While the Queen's Theatre closes for refurbishment Cameron Mackintosh presents Les Miserables - The Staged Concert, an intimate concert staging of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's revolutionary novel of tragedy and loss opens for a limited season at the Gielgud. Michael Ball sings Javert opposite Alfie Boe and John Owen-Jones as Jean Valjean, for three performances a week, with Carrie Hope Fletcher as Fantine and Matt Lucas as Thenardier.
Mamma Mia!
Novello Theatre,
Aldwych London, WC2B 4LD
Theatre
Novello Theatre, Aldwych, Covent Garden, London, WC2B 4LD
Tube: Covent Garden Station
, Temple Station
Dates: 06th September - 19th September 2020
Through the story-telling magic of the songs of ABBA, we meet Donna, a feisty forty-something single mum, who recalls the distant memories of carefree days and careless nights whilst her daughter Sophie dreams of tradition, romance and a big white wedding. Mamma Mia! is an infectious and funny musical featuring 22 of ABBA's best known songs, and after eight wonderful years at the Prince of Wales the production moves to the beautiful Novello Theatre. Without losing even a pinch of its singalong sparkle, Mamma Mia! remains a great night out with plenty of audience participation and some rousing moments.
Cambridge Theatre, Earlham Street, Seven Dials, Soho, London, WC2H 9HU
Tube: Covent Garden Station
, Leicester Square Station, Tottenham Court Road Station
Dates: 18th October - 24th May 2020
The Royal Shakespeare Company's musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's celebrated children's book Matilda transfers from Stratford to the Cambridge Theatre in London's West End this autumn. Directed by Matthew Warchus and adapted by seasoned playwright Dennis Kelly and the award-winning Australian musical comedian Tim Minchin, Matilda has been described by WhatsOnStage as "a piece which is by turns riotously funny and gut-wrenchingly poignant". The eagerly anticipated production - which tells the story of a special little girl with an extraordinary imagination - stars Lauren Ward as Miss Honey, Bertie Carvel as Miss Trunchball, Joise Walker as Mrs Wormwood and Paul Kaye as Mr Wormwood. Book tickets now to see Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre London. The show lives up to expectations and thrills and delights both adults and children alike, and is winning plaudits as this winter's must-see theatrical event. The Telegraph theatre critic Charles Spencer gave Matilda five stars, claiming it was "the best British musical since Billy Elliot that will surely be the toast of the West End. I predict that this show will be unstoppable."
Waitress
Adelphi Theatre,
18-20 Maiden Lane, The Strand London, WC2R 0NS
Theatre
Adelphi Theatre, 18-20 Maiden Lane, The Strand, London, WC2R 0NS
Tube: Covent Garden Station
, Charing Cross Station, Embankment Underground Station, Leicester Square Station
Dates: 08th February - 04th July 2020
Transferring from Broadway, the Waitress musical comes to the Adelphi Theatre for its UK premiere in February. The first musical to have an all-female creative team, the show is based on the film by Adrienne Shelley and tells the story of a waitress and pie maker trying to break free from an abusive relationship. When the opportunity of entering a baking contest arises, it brings the chance of a better life. The music has been written by seven-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles and direction come from Diane Paulus.
Prince of Wales Theatre, Coventry Street, London, W1D 6AS
Tube: Piccadilly Circus Station
, Leicester Square Station
Dates: 01st January - 04th April 2020
Creators of Southpark (Trey Parker and Matt Stone) have turned their satirical eyes to the cheery world of musicals. With a helping hand from the composer (Robert Lopez) of Avenue Q, this ballsy comedy has collected an obscene amount of Tony Awards and landed in London at the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2013. The plot follows two fresh faced young Mormon Missionaries who find themselves posted to Uganda, humour ensues as they follow their faith through some fairly trying situations. With quick witted references to the musical genre, and its own set of well crafted tunes, The Book of Mormon has brought a breathe of fresh air into the West End theatre scene. Tickets for The Book of Mormon are on sale now and selling out fast. The unique brand of ballsy humour was a big hit across the pond but some themes verge on the downright rude and this show is certainly not for the easily offended.
The Lion King
The Lyceum Theatre,
21 Wellington Street London, WC2E 7RQ
Theatre
The Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7RQ
Tube: Covent Garden Station
, Temple Station
Dates: 24th September - 30th May 2020
The Lion King tells the story of Simba - the epic adventure of his battles, his friendships, his dreams and his journey from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the African Pridelands. It's the costumes and puppetry at the Lyceum Theatre that have made this one of the most successful musicals of all time as a whole menagerie of wild beasts are created from masks, stilts and superb dancing. The ever-changing set and the addition of Zulu chants to Elton John and Tim Rice's catchy songs all add to an extraordinary atmosphere. A triumphant, genre-defying adaptation and one of the few family plays that is genuinely as much fun for adults as children.
Her Majesty's Theatre, Haymarket, St James's, London, SW1Y 4QL
Tube: Piccadilly Circus Station
, Leicester Square Station
Dates: 09th January - 04th April 2020
Andrew Lloyd Webber's most enduring hit has been running since 1984 and is still as popular with audiences and critics as it ever was. Phantom of the Opera tells the haunting tale of the tragic love between a beautiful singer and a scarred composer, who lives beneath the majestic Opera House in Paris. The fine Victorian auditorium of Her Majesty's Theatre sets the mood perfectly for a thoroughly sinister romance, with some great swashbuckling moments and some of the grandest musical set pieces of all time. One of the best from the master of musicals.
Wicked
Apollo Victoria Theatre,
17 Wilton Road London, SW1V 1LG
Theatre
Apollo Victoria Theatre, 17 Wilton Road, Victoria, London, SW1V 1LG
Tube: Victoria Station
Dates: 07th September - 28th November 2020
Prepare to see Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West in a whole new light after going to see Wicked, currently showing at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. 'The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz' has gripped the hearts of over 50 million people across the world, breaking box office records and winning more than 100 international awards. Introducing us to some very familiar characters years before they met Dorothy, the classic musical shows how Elphaba (The Wicked Witch) starts off as a clever, lively lady with green skin, while Glinda is superficial, beautiful and popular. Thrown together, the two become unlikely friends. The story cleverly weaves in the plot of The Wizard of Oz, filling in the backstories of The Scarecrow, The Tin Man, The Lion and the terrifying flying monkeys. Knowing jokes and big musical numbers all add up to make this a rewarding big-budget show that left us utterly spellbound. Offers are now available on tickets for Wicked, London.
School of Rock
Gillian Lynne Theatre,
166 Drury Lane London, WC2B 5PW
Theatre
Gillian Lynne Theatre, 166 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5PW
Tube: Holborn Station
, Covent Garden Station
Dates: 24th October - 01st March 2020
Students at a prestigious prep school "stick it to the man" with encouragement from their substitute teacher - wannabe rock star Dewey Finn - in the feel good musical based on the smash hit 2003 film. "The kids are genuinely talented" says Michael Billington in The Guardian in this Olivier Award winning musical adaptation of School of Rock - Andrew Lloyd Webber's "most exuberant show in years". With lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Julian Fellowes, the story unfolds as Finn manages to make a rocking band out of his class of straight-A students but the big question is: can he get them to the Battle of the Bands without their parents and the school's headmistress finding out?
Thriller Live
Lyric Shaftesbury Avenue,
Shaftesbury Avenue London, W1D 7ES
Theatre
Lyric Shaftesbury Avenue, Shaftesbury Avenue, Soho, London, W1D 7ES
Tube: Piccadilly Circus Station
, Leicester Square Station
Dates: 01st October - 23rd September 2012
Michael Jackson's untimely death may have propelled this musical into orbit; Thriller - Live became a tribute show overnight with the obvious decision that the show must go on "to the memory of the man and his incredible music". The lights of the Lyric were dimmed and a minute's silence was held in the auditorium on the night of the first performance after the star's death and we're willing to bet that the applause reached ear-splitting levels in honour of the King of Pop. And with the cancelling of Jacko's 50-date tour at The O2 a sad side effect of his death, Thriller - Live might just be the next best thing to relive the glory days of his extraordinary career. Jackson's awesome videos and dance moves changed the face of music and - although no one can moonwalk like the man himself did - a cast of 80 singers, musicians and dancers do Michael's legacy justice, largely due to the fact that "the hits just keep on coming" (The Telegraph). Special tickets offers for Thriller Live are now available. The Lyric is equipped with a huge stage and very decent sound system, making this a pop spectacular.