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.

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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 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. 

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 music of the night will continue to play. One of the longest-running musicals to be produced on the West End and on Broadway, Andrew Lloyd Webber's [*The Phantom of the Opera*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/308-the-phantom-of-the-opera-tickets) extends its booking period to 27 September 2025 at [His Majesty's Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/venues/his-majestys-theatre). 

From the chandelier to the iconic music, with songs like "Masquerade" and "All I Ask of You", one of the...

'The Phantom of the Opera' extends booking period

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The immortal Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, an acclaimed West End staple since 1986, now has tickets available for purchase through September 2025. 

If you have been waiting for tickets for *Godot*, you're in luck. The critically acclaimed production of Samuel Beckett's essential absurdist masterpiece [*Waiting for Godot*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/42509-waiting-for-godot) at [Theatre Royal Haymarket](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/venues/theatre-royal-haymarket) will extend its run an additional week until 21 December. 

The production stars Lucian Msamati as Estragon and Ben Whishaw as Vladimir, two men who wait endlessly for a...

'Waiting for Godot' announces another week of performances

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Due to popular demand and critical acclaim, Samuel Beckett's dark comedy, starring Ben Whishaw and directed by James Macdonald, extends its booking period.

Neither Alexander Hamilton nor Aaron Burr, the protagonists of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical phenomenon, ever came to London. Thomas Jefferson, the Act II antagonist, visited for six weeks in spring 1786. He described the architecture as “in the most wretched stile I ever saw” and "both town and country fell short of my expectations." Ouch. However, Jefferson certainly made the most of the entertainments and shopping the city had to offer. 

On the other hand, Benjamin Franklin, who first visited...

Make a day out of 'Hamilton' in London

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Explore some fascinating Anglo-American ties, including the Benjamin Franklin House, Kew Palace, and two historical churches.

Make sure you hear the people sing at [*Les Misérables*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/300-les-miserables), as the musical extends in the West End. *Les Misérables* is now at the [Sondheim Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/sondheim-theatre) through 5 Mar. 2023. Book *Les Misérables* tickets on London Theatre.

The French Revolution musical follows Jean Valjean, a convict who breaks away and starts a new life while on the run from prison guard Javert. *Les Misérables* songs include “Stars,” “On My Own,” and “Bring Him Home.” [Find out more about *Les Misérables* in London.](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-les-miserables-in-london) 

The *Les Misérables* cast stars Jon Robyns as Jean Valjean, Bradley Jaden as Javert, Gerard Carey as Thénardier, Josefina Gabrielle as Madame Thénardier, Chanice Alexander-Burnett as Fantine, Harry Apps as Marius, Sha Dessi as Éponine, Jordan Shaw as Enjolras and Charlie Burn as Cosette.

*Les Miséerables* is at the Sondheim Theatre.

Book *Les Misérables* tickets on London Theatre.

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*Photo credit: Les Miserables (Photo courtesy of production)*

‘Les Misérables’ tickets available through March 2023

Photo credit: Les Miserables at the Sondheim Theatre (Photo by Johan Persson)

Ages 8+. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by and sat next to an adult ticketholder (18+). Children under the age of 3 will not be admitted.

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One Day More. Photo by Johan Persson

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Production shot of Les Misérables in London, showing determination to fight for justice.

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Production shot of Les Misérables in London, with Gerard Carey as Thénardier and Claire Machin as Madame Thénardier.

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Production shot of Les Misérables in London, with Stewart Clarke as Javert and Josh Pitterman as Jean Valjean.

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Production shot of Les Misérables in London, with Lulu-Mae Pears as Cosette, Nathania Ong as Eponine and Robert Tripolino as Marius.

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Don’t wait one day more. Head to the barricade. __*Les Misérables* tickets are available on London Theatre now.__

Victor Hugo’s epic French novel of the same name inspires the *Les Misérables* musical. The musical doesn’t focus on the French Revolution of 1789 though. Instead, *Les Misérables* tells an expansive story of one man’s journey to salvation from 1815 to 1832. 

After picking up audience buzz at the Barbican, *Les Misérables* opened at the Palace Theatre on 4 Dec. 1985. Its original cast boasts West End and Broadway talent, including Patti LuPone and Michael Ball. 

*Les Misérables* in London continues to attract audiences, with fans continuing to revisit this dazzling musical that includes [Boublil and Schönberg's hit songs](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/a-complete-guide-to-all-the-songs-in-les-miserables) such as “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Bring Him Home,” “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables,” and “Do You Hear the People Sing?" 

Audiences worldwide can’t get enough of Jean Valjean’s troubled life. Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, and Russell Crowe starred in the 2012 Academy Award-nominated *Les Misérables* film. Plus, it’s been produced across 42 countries and translated into 22 languages. But there's nothing quite like seeing *Les Misérables*, the West End's longest-running musical, in London.

### What is *Les Misérables* about?

The *Les Misérables* musical is set against the backdrop of 19th-century France and tells a moving story of unrequited love, sacrifice, passion, redemption, and revolutionary spirit. The newly-free prisoner Jean Valjean builds a new, respectable life for himself but is hunted by the prison guard Javert, all while revolutionaries fight for freedom in France. Throughout the musical, audiences meet Fantine, Eponine, and Cosette, as well as the Thenardiers, and freedom fighters like Marius and Enjolras. 

Tickets to *Les Misérables* are available now. Book tickets to *Les Misérables* on London Theatre today.

Les Miserables - LON - London Theatre

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Les Misérables Tickets | London Theatre

Do you hear the people sing? The iconic West End classic returns with a fresh staging and design. Even if you’ve seen *Les Mis* before, you haven’t seen it like this. 
This global hit tells a timeless story of redemption and revolution, complete with famous songs like “I Dreamed A Dream.” 
Get your tickets to *Les Miserables* at the Sondheim Theatre today.

As *Les Misérables* progresses, you’ll be whisked away throughout France. Join Fantine and the factory girls as they struggle to earn a living, then head to the Thenardiers inn as they beg, borrow, and steal off their guests. After this, it’s time to head to the barricade as the revolutionaries fight for freedom. 

With beautiful love songs, heartbreaking loss, and rousing battle cries, it’s easy to see why audiences go back time and time again. *Les Misérables* is definitely a French history lesson to remember. You won’t want to wait one day more to see one of the world’s most popular musicals. 

## What to Watch For:

- Although the show tells of a French revolution, it’s not about the French Revolution we learn about at school. The French revolution took place between 1789 to 1799, and *Les Misérables* takes place from 1815 to 1832. It’s likely that characters in the musical would have served during the French revolution though!
- Every performance includes 392 costumes and 31 wigs.
- To date, there’s the musical has been translated into 21 languages, including six Spanish versions, two German versions, Korean, and Czech.
- The original *Les Misérables* London cast starred Patti LuPone as Eponine and Michael Ball as Marius. Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Samantha Barks, Eddie Redmayne, and more appeared in the musical film.

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Les Misérables Tickets | London | TodayTix

Do you hear the people sing? Join the revolutionary spirit in the West End's longest-running musical. *Les Misérables* follows Jean Valjean's quest for redemption, unfolding against the backdrop of 19th-century France. Hear all your favourite songs from this timeless score, including "I Dreamed a Dream" and "Bring Him Home."

Les Mis - LON - Box Office

Buy tickets for Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre in London. Find official theatre tickets to Musicals with Box Office.

Les Misérables Tickets | Box Office

Another fantastic chapter in West End history has been gloriously (re)written, with not one but two spectacular reinventions -&nbsp;first of a theatre itself, in which the Queen's on Shaftesbury Avenue has been reincarnated as the <a href="/theatres/sondheim-theatre">Sondheim Theatre</a> and completely refurbished by its owner Cameron Mackintosh to restore it from a threadbare functionality to which it had previously been brought back 61 years ago from wartime bomb damage to a glowing and welcoming new warmth. Meanwhile, its current tenant -&nbsp;already the West End's longest-running musical -&nbsp;has itself been entirely overhauled, with Mackintosh taking the opportunity of its temporary 20-week closure for the theatre's refurbishment to replace the original landmark RSC production with a touring version that was first created for a UK tour as part of the show's 25th-anniversary celebrations in 2010. It was briefly seen in London that year at the Barbican - the show's original London home - running contemporaneously with the West End edition, and is even now on a new European and UK tour, currently playing in Zurich before it returns to continue across the regions in March. The first thing to say about it is that it still owes a lot to the original Trevor Nunn and John Caird production -&nbsp;the famous revolve of John Napier's original design may have gone, for instance, but now the actors merely mime the identical movement (originally the work of Kate Flatt, with musical staging now credited to Geoffrey Garratt, long an associate on the original production) as they advance across the stage in the ever-rousing Act One finale of "One Day More" as the iconic red flag is waved above them. Fans of the original will check off numerous such instances, including the indelible image of a dead Enjolras lying across the back of a cart. Crucially, too, the original costume designs of Andreane Neofitou are also retained, so visually there are plenty of references to the original production. There are also several cast veterans of the previous incarnation, including principals Bradley Jaden who was Javert in the final cast of the original and reprises that role now; Jon Robyns, previously Marius and Enjolras, who now graduates to the role of Jean Valjean; and <a href="/actor-profile/carrie-hope-fletcher">Carrie Hope Fletcher</a>, previously Eponine and now playing Fantine (and all three in spectacular voice); amongst others in the ensemble who also include fellow West End returnees Ciaran Bowling, Sarah Lark and Luke McCall. The show remains an ensemble effort, as it was when it was first created by Nunn and Caird. That establishes a welcome sense of continuity from past to present versions, but it is also given a fresh 21st-century inventiveness with Matt Kinley's sets being complemented by stunning painterly projections, inspired by Victor Hugo's own paintings, that have been niftily realised by Fifty-Nine Productions and Finn Ross, all of which are lavishly lit by Paule Constable. Mick Potter's sound is also thrilling, wrapping the theatre is swathes of sumptuous melody, richly played by the pit orchestra under the direction of Steve Moss. As both a producer and theatre owner, Cameron Mackintosh has always been about attention to detail; the reopening of this theatre and show gives him an opportunity to prove his meticulous care in both. But I also love fresh new details, whether it be the reintroduction of rear dress circle boxes that are newly named in honour of Maggie Smith and Judi Dench, or new cast members like West End regular Josefina Gabrielle, who - cast entirely against her usual sophisticated type as Madame Thenardier -&nbsp;is virtually unrecognisable and truly hilarious. The show remains a thrilling triumph. Here's to the next 35 years, as it looks set to become <a href="/show/the-mousetrap">The Mousetrap</a> of musical theatre; but unlike that murder mystery, there's hardly any mystery to why it's such an enduring success.<a href="/show/les-miserables">Les Miserables</a>&nbsp;is at the <a href="/theatres/sondheim-theatre">Sondheim Theatre</a>.<a href="/show/les-miserables">Les Miserables&nbsp;tickets</a> are available now.

Review - Les Miserables at the Sondheim Theatre

Les Miserables

‘A THRILLING INSPIRATION’ The Guardian

Read our review of Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre on London Theatre.

Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre Review | London Theatre

The Sondheim Theatre, formerly known as Queen's Theatre, is a historic venue in London's bustling West End. Opened in 1907 and designed by famed architect W.G.R Sprague, the theatre is a testament to Edwardian Baroque architecture. Its luxurious red and gold interior hosts nearly 1100 attendees, offering a top-notch viewing experience regardless of seating location. The theatre is renowned for its legendary performance of 'Les Misérables', which ran for a record-breaking 35 years. In 2019, the theatre underwent substantial refurbishment and was reborn as the Sondheim Theatre, with advanced technologies enhancing its historic charm. Visitors can anticipate a memorable performance complemented by the theatre's state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. **Getting to the Sondheim Theatre:** Situated at 51 Shaftesbury Ave, the theatre is easily accessible by various modes of transport. Piccadilly Circus station on the London Underground is a mere 3 minute walk, while Leicester Square station is an 8 minute walk. Numerous bus services stop nearby, such as numbers 14, 19, and 38. For those who prefer driving, the nearest Q-Park is in Wardour Street, with a concession rate available for theatre-goers.

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The Sondheim Theatre opened on 8 Oct. 1907. TThe Sondheim was built as a pair with the Hicks Theatre, now called the [Gielgud Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/gielgud-theatre). 

The theatre was badly damaged in September 1940 when a World War II German bomb dropped directly on the building. The façade and front of house areas were destroyed. It took 20 years before the damage was repaired and the theatre reopened. Whilst the auditorium remained untouched, the exterior and foyer were rebuilt with a modern look.

The theatre has seen performances from several notable stars, including Fred Astaire, Noel Coward, and [Kenneth Branagh](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/actor-profile/kenneth-branagh). 

The Sondheim Theatre is currently home to [*Les Misérables*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/les-miserables), where it's played since 2004.

## Sondheim Theatre Seating Information

The auditorium has three levels - Stalls, Dress Circle and Upper Circle.

The Stalls offers good views of the stage, helped by a noticable rake in the seating from Row H onwards. 

The Dress Circle offers good legroom, but the curving of the area means that the sightlines from the outermost seats to suffer. 

The Upper Circle has a very good rake in the seating allowing for good views.

## Where is *Les Miserables* in London?

*Les Miserables* is at the Sondheim Theatre in London. The Sondheim Theatre is located on Shaftesbury Theatre. It's close to West End theatres including the Lyric Theatre and the Gielgud Theatre.

Sondheim Theatre - London Theatre

Experience the historic Sondheim Theatre, home to Les Misérables since 2004. Secure your tickets today for an iconic West End experience.

Sondheim Theatre - TodayTix

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The Sondheim Theatre in London’s West End is an Edwardian Baroque building known for a record-breaking 'Les Misérables' run. Accessible by tube, bus, or car.

‘Les Misérables’ tickets available through March 2023

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