The world premiere of Olivier winner Conor McPherson's new play *The Brightening Air* will open at the Old Vic in London in April 2025. The play marks his return to the theatre following *Girl from the North Country* in 2017, which transferred to the West End and Broadway.

*The Brightening Air*, which McPherson also directs, is set in 1980s Ireland and follows brother and sister Stephen and Billie, whose lives are upended by an "ex-clergyman uncle with an unscrupulous plan, a sister-in-law...

Conor McPherson's 'The Brightening Air' to have world premiere at London's Old Vic

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*The Brightening Air* marks McPherson's return to the Old Vic following *Girl from the North Country* in 2017, which later transferred to the West End and Broadway.


All aboard! The full cast has been set for the West End transfer of *[Titanique](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/40903-titanique)*, which opens at the [Criterion Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/venues/criterion-theatre) on 9 December.

The cast includes Darren Bennett (*Singin’ in the Rain, Grease*) as Victor Garber / Luigi, Lauren Drew (*SIX UK Tour, Legally Blonde*) as Céline, Jordan Luke Gage (*Bonnie & Clyde, & Juliet*) as Cal, Stephen Guarino (*Eastsiders, Titanique* LA) as...

'Titanique' sets West End cast including Jordan Luke Gage, Layton Williams, and Lauren Drew

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*Titanique* combines Céline Dion's music with the Oscar-winning, blockbuster film *Titanic*, asking what really happened to Jack and Rose the night the Titanic sunk?

She’s brave, she’s clever, and sometimes she’s just a little bit naughty. Roald Dahl’s brainy heroine Matilda has been top of the class in the West End since 2011, starring in the beloved RSC stage musical version of the iconic children’s novel.

Winner of multiple Olivier and Tony Awards, this brilliant adaptation by Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly remains a family favourite – and for good reason. Its witty book and indelible score make this a fantastic watch for grown-ups as well as kids, so it’s...

Make a day out of ‘Matilda’ in London

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Add more exciting activities to your family's West End theatre trip, such as visits to a children's museum, the circus, and a Roald Dahl-themed afternoon tea.

Welcome to your complete guide to West End theatre! Whether you're at the beginning of planning your trip or you just want some more information on a booked show, our series of guides will help you to navigate your way through this exciting and vibrant city.

From advice on what to wear and where to sit, to restaurants, bars, pubs, and afternoon tea recommendations, look no further than LondonTheatre.co.uk.

So what are you waiting for? Dive in and learn more about what London's theatre scene...

Complete West End theatre guide: Shows, venues, and more

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Your hub for all things London theatre. Find recommendations, advice, and in-depth information about shows, restaurants, bars, and more in the West End.

Further casting has been announced for Duncan Macmillan and Thomas Ostermeier’s new version of Chekhov’s *The Seagull*, which opens at the Barbican Theatre in London from February 2025 for a six-week run.

Joining the previously announced Cate Blanchett as Arkadina and Tom Burke as Trigorin are Priyanga Burford (Polina), Emma Corrin (Nina), Zachary Hart (Medvedenko), Paul Higgins (Shamrayev), Tanya Reynolds (Masha), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Konstantin), and Jason Watkins (Sorin).

Directed by...

Emma Corrin, Tanya Reynolds, and more to join Cate Blanchett in 'The Seagull'

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Priyanga Burford (*An Enemy of the People*), Emma Corrin (*The Crown, Orlando*), and Olivier Award winner Tanya Reynolds (*A Mirror*) join the cast of Chekhov’s masterpiece.

Seeing a West End show during the Christmas period will add a festive flair to any trip to London. Throughout the Christmas season, many West End shows will add more performances, giving you even more opportunity to catch the shows you've missed out on all year. Or if you're looking to find an extra-special present for somebody this Christmas, why not take that special someone to a show on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. 

We've listed all the West End performances...

All the West End shows you can see at Christmas

West End

From *Guys & Dolls* to *Wicked* and *The Lion King*, this is your ultimate list of shows that will be playing in the West End during the Christmas period.

New lead casting has been announced for *[Hadestown](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/24465-hadestown-tickets)* in the West End, as the production extends its booking period through 28 September 2025.

Trevor Dion Nicholas, who recently starred in *Next to Normal* in the West End, will play Hades, while Rachel Tucker (*Sunset Boulevard, [Wicked](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/313-wicked-tickets), Come From Away*) will play Persephone. They will appear in the production until 9 February...

Rachel Tucker and Trevor Dion Nicholas join the cast of 'Hadestown' in London

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Trevor Dion Nicholas recently starred in *Next to Normal* in the West End, while Rachel Tucker is known for her performances in *Sunset Boulevard*, *Wicked*, and *Come From Away.* 

One for the road! [*The Choir of Man*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/23760-the-choir-of-man-tickets) has announced that its final performances at the Arts Theatre in the West End will be on 31 December, as the venue closes for planned redevelopment.

The show, which follows nine performers as they bring chart classics to life in a pub environment, opened in the West End in October 2021 and has welcomed over 280,000 audience members through its doors.

Future plans for the show in London...

'The Choir of Man' to close in West End as venue undergoes redevelopment

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*The Choir of Man* first opened at the Arts Theatre in the West End in October 2021 and has welcomed over 280,000 audience members through its doors.

The full cast has been revealed for Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan’s *The Producers*, which opens at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London on 9 December.

Directed by Tony Award winner Patrick Marber (*Leopoldstadt*), *The Producers* tells the story of two underperforming producers who scheme to get rich quick with a Broadway flop.

Joining the previously announced Andy Nyman (*Hello, Dolly!, Fiddler on the Roof, Ghost Stories*) as Max Bialystock, Marc Antolin (*I Wish You Well*) as Leo Bloom,...

Full casting announced for 'The Producers' revival at the Menier Chocolate Factory

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Trevor Ashley and Raj Ghatak join Andy Nyman, Marc Antolin, Harry Morrison, and Joanna Woodward in the musical comedy about two down on their luck producers.

The Royal Shakespeare Company and Good Chance's production of *Kyoto* will transfer to @sohoplace in the West End for a limited 16-week run next year. The show will open on 9 January, running until 3 May.

The political thriller, which was part of Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey’s inaugural programme as RSC Co-Artistic Directors, charts the negotiations leading up to the historic 1997 Kyoto climate summit, which brought about the world’s first legally binding emissions targets. [*Stranger Things:...

'Kyoto' to transfer to the West End's @sohoplace in 2025

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The political thriller charts the negotiations leading up to the historic 1997 Kyoto climate summit, which brought about the world’s first legally binding emissions targets. 

You can sit down, or stand, on the boat for even longer! *Guys & Dolls* will continue performances at the [Bridge Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/the-bridge-theatre) to 24 Feb. 2024. 

In a [five-star *Guys & Dolls* review](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/reviews/guys-and-dolls-review-bridge-theatre), our critic said: “Would luck be a lady for Nicholas Hytner? His much-hyped, immersive production of *Guys & Dolls* is set to run for six months at the Bridge Theatre — a significant gamble. Well, I’m delighted to report that he’s hit the jackpot with this jubilant revival, which somehow manages to be both the most exhilarating version of Frank Loesser’s musical, and also the most nuanced.” 

During the immersive adaptation, audiences can visit the streets of Manhattan and the Havana bars all in one evening. The *Guys & Dolls* musical tells of the bets made between Nathan Detroit and Sky Masterson, and what happens when they meet their “doll.” 

Daniel Mays plays Nathan Detroit, alongside Cedric Neal as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Andrew Richardson as Sky Masterson, Celinde Schoenmaker as Sarah Brown, [Marisha Wallace](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/marisha-wallace) as Miss Adelaide, Jordan Castle, Cornelius Clarke, Cameron Johnson, Anthony O’Donnell, Mark Oxtoby, Ryan Pidge, Katy Secombe, Simon Anthony, Lydia Bannister, Kathryn Barnes, Callum Bell, Cindy Belliot, Petrelle Dias, Ike Fallon, Leslie Garcia Bowman, George Ioannides, Robbie McMillan, Perry O’Dea, Charlotte Scott, Tinovimbanashe Sibanda, Isabel Snaas, Sasha Wareham, and Dale White.

Book *Guys & Dolls* seated tickets.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://ticket.londontheatre.co.uk/booking/calendar?product_id=25504&content_product_id=25504&venue_id=76)

Book *Guys & Dolls* standing tickets.

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://ticket.londontheatre.co.uk/booking/calendar?product_id=27637&content_product_id=27637&venue_id=76)

*Photo credit: Daniel Mays and Andrew Richardson (Photo by Manuel Harlan)*

‘Guys & Dolls’ tickets available through February 2024

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Ages 5+. Under 12s are not allowed in the standing area. Under 16s in the standing or seated areas must be accompanied by an adult. Children aged 5-11 must watch from a seat with an adult. Children under 5 will not be admitted.

Guys & Dolls - LON [25504]

Genre: Musical

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Guys & Dolls - Seated - LON  Product Media

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Production image of Guys & Dolls in London featuring Timmika Ramsay in the role of Adelaide.

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Production image of Guys & Dolls in London featuring ensemble cast and Jonathan Andrew Hume in the role of Nicely Nicely Johnson.

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Production image of Guys & Dolls in London featuring Owain Arthur in the role of Nathan Detriot and George Ioannides as Sky Masterson.

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Production image of Guys & Dolls in London featuring Celinde Schoenmaker in the role of Sarah Brown.

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Production image of Guys & Dolls in London featuring Owain Arthur as Nathan Detroit, Jonathan Andrew Hume as Nicely Nicely Johnson, and other cast member.

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Luck be a lady tonight! Be swept up with the thrills of Manhattan and Havana all in one night. *Guys and Dolls* tickets are available on London Theatre now.

__[This is for *Guys and Dolls* seated tickets. Book *Guys and Dolls* standing and stage tickets here.](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/27637-guys-and-dolls-standing-and-stage-area)__

Don’t expect a traditional *Guys & Dolls* at the Bridge Theatre. Expect to be thrown into all the action: join all the characters as they walk the New York streets, sip a cocktail at the Cuban bars, and take a trip to the Salvation Army. The Bridge Theatre comes alive with this sensational retelling, with London Theatre hailing it “the jackpot of musical revivals.”

When booking *Guys & Dolls* tickets, you can choose to watch the action unfold in seated sections or in the pit.

Did you know the *Guys & Dolls* is based on short stories? Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows adapted Damon Runyon’s gangster tale “Blood Pressure”, and triumphant love story “The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown”. Plus, there’s a jazzy score, with songs including: “Luck Be a Lady, “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat,” “A Bushel and a Peck,” and “Adelaide’s Lament.” 

### What is *Guys & Dolls* about?

The *Guys and Dolls* musical follows Nathan Detroit, a Manhattan gambler who needs to find a new location for his crap shooting games, pronto. He’s helped by Sky Masterson, who takes a chance on Nathan, settling their deal on a bet: Nathan bets Sky that he can’t take a woman of his choosing on a date. But as they meet their “doll,” Sarah Brown, the odds of falling in love go down until it’s almost inevitable.

Tickets to *Guys and Dolls* are available now. Book your *Guys and Dolls* tickets on London Theatre today.

Guys & Dolls [SEATED] - LON - London Theatre

Sit down, you're rocking the boat! Be taken to the streets of Manhattan and the Havana bars all in one night. Nicholas Hytner directs an immersive, all-encompassing Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre, a musical first for the venue. Get *Guys & Dolls* tickets on London Theatre today.

Broadway’s glossiest love story comes to life in spectacular fashion at *Guys & Dolls.* In this adaptation, the story will take place across the entire auditorium. Audiences can imagine they're walking the streets of Manhattan and sipping on a drink in the bars of Havana all in one night. 

London Theatre hailed that the revival "a jackpot... it manages to be both the most exhilarating version of Frank Loesser’s musical, and also the most nuanced." Hear all the classics like “A Bushel and a Peck,” “Luck be a Lady,” and Miss Adelaide’s song, “Adelaide’s Lament" with refreshing vigour.

## What to Watch For: 

- Did you know that *Guys & Dolls* is based on short stories? Damon Runyon’s works inspired the *Guys & Dolls* musical, notably two tales: “Blood Pressure” and “The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown.” Sarah Brown is a Save-A-Soul Sergeant who unexpectedly falls in love with Sky Masterson. 
- If you’re seeing *Guys & Dolls* in London, then get ready to step into the musical. *Guys & Dolls* at the Bridge Theatre will be an immersive production. Choose to sit in the tiered seating, or book a standing ticket in the pit. Don’t worry, you won’t be rocking the boat.
- *Guys & Dolls* won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. However, he didn't receive the prize: Abe Burrows's suspected Communist sympathies by the House of Un-American Activities Committee meant the decision was vetoed. Nobody won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama that year.

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I unlocked £25 Standing Rush tickets for Guys & Dolls on @TodayTixUK! https://www.todaytix.com/london/shows/25504?share=unlock

Guys & Dolls - LON - TodayTix [SEATED]

Luck be a show tonight! Book your tickets to see this vibrant tale of gamblers, showgirls, and unlikely romances in 1950s New York City. Frank Loesser's sweeping score continues to delight audiences over seventy years later.

Guys & Dolls - LON - Box Office

Buy tickets for Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre in London. Find official theatre tickets to Musicals with Box Office.

Guys & Dolls Tickets | Box Office

Would luck be a lady for Nicholas Hytner? His much-hyped, immersive production of *[Guys & Dolls](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/25504-guys-and-dolls-tickets)* is set to run for six months at the [Bridge Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/the-bridge-theatre) — a significant gamble. Well, I’m delighted to report that he’s hit the jackpot with this jubilant revival, which somehow manages to be both the most exhilarating version of Frank Loesser’s musical I’ve seen, and also the most nuanced. 

That combination is thanks to an ingenious staging, building on the Bridge’s previous immersive Shakespeare productions. The audience is in the round, partly seated. The standing audience, gathered in the centre, gets thrillingly close to the action, with hydraulic platforms shooting out of the floor all over the place and neon signs descending from the ceiling.

Bunny Christie’s design basically dances more than the cast. It creates boundless staging opportunities for Hytner: whether it’s a central platform for a big Hot Box number, or a large zigzagging path across the auditorium, or several separate mini-stages acting as different locations. It matches the energy of this heightened, Damon Runyon-styled New York City, and allows for lightning-fast scene changes (occasionally the set-up for the next scene cuts into the current one, as ushers nudge the promenading audience around, but that can hopefully be ironed out over the run). 

It creates a dynamic audience experience, far removed from the previous rather tired West End outing for *Guys & Dolls*. There’s pre-show fun (you can get a rakish hat or a pretzel from a street seller), and immersive elements during the show itself: you might be handed a Save-a-Soul Mission leaflet, or a streamer to wave, or have your drink nicked by a cheeky gambler. It all climaxes with a euphoric dance party, with cast members sticking around to boogie and take selfies with fans. It’s an inspired way to make theatre feel relevant and accessible.

But, as with the similarly thoughtful revivals of *Cabaret* and *Oklahoma!*, this isn’t just audience pandering. Thanks to the intimacy and nimbleness of this set-up, Hytner can also mine the show for psychological detail. 

*Guys & Dolls* is that rare show in which the book is the equal of the score, and this production so joyfully lands all of Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling’s zingers and larger-than-life, deliciously named characters, while also giving them dimensionality.

Crucially, it addresses the inherent misogyny. [Marisha Wallace](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/marisha-wallace)’s Adelaide is no ditzy, marriage-obsessed dupe, who eventually guilts reluctant long-time fiancé Nathan into settling down with her. Instead, this is a couple desperately, carnally in love with each other, however, it’s Nathan who has the mental block. Daniel Mays (mostly known for his screen work, but making a phenomenal musical theatre debut) emphasises how Nathan relishes his status as the ultimate fixer, always staying one step ahead of the law. What happens if he stops running? 

The pair of them bring impressive comic chops but also an inherent sadness to their big rows, especially the wonderfully absurd sequence in which Adelaide admits she’s invented a brood of children for her concerned mother (Mays’s pique that Nathan is just an assistant manager in this fiction is priceless). 

Duet “Sue Me” — often a throwaway gag — is a masterclass in acting through song, supported by the blocking: they grow more physically distanced with each bitter exchange, while still achingly emotionally attached.

Wallace also avoids the easy humorous route with “Adelaide’s Lament,” dropping the exaggerated pronunciations in favour of framing the number as a gentle confession, aimed at the audience right beside her — one friend speaking to another. But she’s just as capable of amping up her performance in the steamy Hot Box stripteases (no coyness here), in which she owns her power and sexuality. 

In contrast to these warring veterans of love are the newly met, opposites-attract pair: Celinde Schoenmaker’s robustly dedicated missionary Sarah and Andrew Richardson’s charmingly insincere gambler Sky. Again, this is framed as an equal journey, not just as a woman who needs to lighten up. 

If anything, the exquisitely clarion-voiced Schoenmaker is the driving force: in “If I Were a Bell” she seems as drunk on life as on rum, tearing open Sky’s shirt and, following some Gene Kelly lamppost swinging, falling into his arms and swimming through the air. When they meet in song, their harmonies intertwine like a warm embrace. 

The boyish Richardson, a smouldering, Clive Owen-esque presence, actually feels like the lost one of the pair. This mainly works nicely, although both performance and vocals need more projection. There’s also one bewildering misstep: the introduction of a stereotypical gay club in Havana. It gets around the tired trope of a feisty Latina starting a catfight, and a bisexual Sky is a fascinating idea, but it’s never actually developed.

I also would have liked more explosive choreography here (the Cuban sequence begins with dancers scattered in the crowd — less impactful at a distance), but Arlene Phillips and James Cousins’s grounded, organic movement is otherwise invigorating, and the visible band gives us a glorious version of Loesser’s peerless score. Plus there are numerous scene-stealing supporting turns: Cedric Neal’s Nicely-Nicely, lending gospel fervour to “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat”; Mark Oxtoby’s fast-talking Benny; the perfect sight gag of Cameron Johnson’s giant Big Jule.

Most joyfully, the happy ending feels earned. Wallace and Schoenmaker’s “Marry the Man Today” isn’t an expression of dubious making-do, but a dawning realisation — by two shrewd women knocking back shots together; fabulous — that there’s nothing certain about life or love: “You’ve simply gotta gamble”. And when it pays off, as Hytner proves, the rewards are boundless. 

*Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre through 2 September. Book Guys & Dolls tickets on London Theatre.*

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://ticket.londontheatre.co.uk/booking/calendar?product_id=25504&content_product_id=25504&venue_id=76)

*Photo credit: The cast of Guys & Dolls (Photo by Manuel Harlan)*

'Guys & Dolls' review – Nicholas Hytner hits the jackpot with this exhilarating immersive revival

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Read our five-star review of *Guys & Dolls* starring Marisha Wallace at the Bridge Theatre, currently playing through 2 September. Get *Guys & Dolls* tickets on London Theatre.

The Bridge Theatre is a state-of-the-art theatre venue located in London's vibrant Southwark district, near the iconic Tower Bridge. It was opened in 2017, and has quickly established itself as a hub for innovative and engaging productions, attracting high-profile directors, writers and actors from around the world. The venue boasts a contemporary design with sleek interiors and comfortable seating. It offers a rotating repertory program, featuring a variety of performances from new productions to classic plays and musicals. The Bridge Theatre is especially renowned for its immersive staging, which allows for a unique, close-up theatre experience. High-tech acoustics and lighting further contribute to the world-class performances that audiences have come to expect at this venue.\n\n**Getting to the Bridge Theatre**\nIt's easily accessible by public transport. The nearest tube station is London Bridge, which is just a short walk away. Numerous bus routes also stop nearby. For those driving, there's a Q-Park car park in Butlers Wharf, which offers discounted parking rates for theatre goers when booked in advance. The area is well served by cycle lanes, and Santander Cycles docking stations can be found nearby. The theatre encourages green travel and recommends walking or cycling where possible.

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Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr spearhead the Bridge Theatre. Having worked together at the [National Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/national-theatre) for over a decade as artistic and executive directors, Hytner and Starr formed the London Theatre Company as part of their efforts to open the largest Off-West End commercial theatre. The 900-seater auditorium is very adaptable and allows shows to be presented in end-on, thrust and promenade formats. 

Production aside, the theatre was praised for its abundance of ladies toilets and its on-site kitchen which, among other things, provides treats freshly baked on site during the interval. 

In 2017, the theatre's inaugural season included a new Richard Bean play *Young Marx*, starring [Rory Kinnear](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/actor-profile/rory-kinnear) and Oliver Chris, *Julius Caesar* starring Ben [Whishaw](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/actor-profile/ben-whishaw) and David Calder, and a new play by Nina Raine about the life of JS Bach starring [Simon Russell Beale](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/actor-profile/simon-russell-beale).

Notable plays at the Bridge Theatre include *The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,* as well as *My Name is Lucy Barton* and *Straight Line Crazy* — the latter two both transferring to New York.

Bridge Theatre - London Theatre

Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr founded the London Theatre Company, spearheading the adaptable 900-seater Bridge Theatre, known for its facilities and notable productions.

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The Bridge Theatre is a modern theatre venue in London, known for its immersive productions, and is accessible by numerous transport options.

Nicholas Hytner’s immersive Golden Age revival is the first musical to open at the Bridge Theatre. Daniel Mays, Marisha Wallace, and Celinde Schoenmaker star.

‘Guys & Dolls’ tickets available through February 2024

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