Again! Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch… Again! God, I hope I get it… Originally devised, directed, and choreographed by Michael Bennett with a score by Marvin Hamlisch, the 1975 musical *A Chorus Line* returns to London this summer in a fresh production directed by Nikolai Foster and starring Adam Cooper and Carly Mercedes Dyer.

Cooper plays Zach, the domineering director-choreographer casting the chorus for a new Broadway musical who puts the hopefuls through the wringer – physically and...

Learn all about the history of 'A Chorus Line' in London and New York

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The iconic musical plays at Sadler's Wells this summer in an exciting new production starring Adam Cooper and Carly Mercedes Dyer.

A musical version of a chick flick? With spectacular fashion shows, epic backstabbing and a diva who’ll chill your soul, it could well be groundbreaking. *The Devil Wears Prada* struts into the West End this autumn. With an original score by Elton John and a cast led by Vanessa Williams and Matt Henry, start planning your outfit for the most stylish show in town! 

Based on the bestselling novel by Lauren Weisberger and the film starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, protagonist Andrea “Andy”...

Everything you need to know about 'The Devil Wears Prada' in the West End

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Elton John's musical version of the hit novel and film arrives at London's Dominion Theatre this autumn, starring Vanessa Williams and Matt Henry.


We’re spoiled for choice when it comes to shows in London, and it can be hard to keep up with everything that’s opening – we all have busy lives and it isn’t possible to fit everything in. Fortunately, second chances do sometimes arise!

A whole host of plays and musicals are being reprised in the West End this spring and summer, from celebrated musicals to classic drama and exciting contemporary writing. If it’s a show you’ve loved before, different cast members and venues can provide a whole...

Catch these incredible theatre shows as they return to the stage in London

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From *Sister Act* and *Hadestown* to *Standing at the Sky's Edge*, there's a wealth of fantastic shows coming into town – so don't miss out!

Make a joyful noise! West End favourite [Lee Mead](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/lee-mead) will join the cast of [*Sister Act*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/28926-sister-act) at the [Dominion Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/dominion-theatre) this June.

Mead is best known for his West End performances in *Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Legally Blonde*, [*Wicked*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/313-wicked-tickets), and, most...

Lee Mead to join 'Sister Act' West End cast

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The London theatre veteran will join Ruth Jones, Alexandra Burke, and more in the musical based on the hit movie, which currently stars Beverley Knight.

The magic returns! [*My Neighbour Totoro*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/25389-my-neighbour-totoro-tickets), the stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki's beloved same-named Studio Ghibli movie, will transfer to the West End in 2025. The [Gillian Lynne Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/gillian-lynne-theatre) will host the 34-week run from 8 March to 2 November 2025. Opening night is 20 March.

*My Neighbour Totoro* follows two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, who move to the...

'My Neighbour Totoro' sets West End transfer

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Following two seasons at the Barbican Centre, the acclaimed play adapted from the classic Studio Ghibli film will play a 34-week run at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.

All hail Macbeth! *Macbeth*, starring [David Tennant](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/david-tennant) in the title role and Cush Jumbo as Lady Macbeth, will play in the West End this autumn, with performances running at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 1 October to 14 December.

The production comes to the West End from a critically acclaimed premiere at the Donmar Warehouse in fall 2023, with the entire original cast returning. Alongside Tennant (*Doctor Who*) and Jumbo (*The Good...

David Tennant and Cush Jumbo-led 'Macbeth' to transfer to the West End

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The critically acclaimed production played the Donmar Warehouse in 2023, also starring Tennant and Jumbo, and will now have a two-month run in the West End.

Truth is, no one can do what he does. Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in 1947, Elton John has been one of the world’s most successful pop stars and songwriters since he released “Your Song” in 1970. 

Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin, some of his greatest hits include “Tiny Dancer”, “Rocket Man”, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, “I’m Still Standing”, “Are You Ready for Love”, and, of course, “Candle in the Wind”, which was revised as a tribute to Princess Diana following her death and became a...

Explore the fantastic stage musicals of Elton John ahead of 'The Devil Wears Prada'

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Follow our guide to the shows composed by legendary pop star Elton John, including *The Lion King, Billy Elliot, Tammy Faye*, and the forthcoming West End musical *The Devil Wears Prada*.  

Revivals of musicals are often every bit as revelatory as new takes on classic plays. In recent years, Daniel Fish’s *Oklahoma!* imbued the 1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein classic with a chillingly contemporary significance without changing a word, and Jamie Lloyd’s stripped back *Sunset Boulevard* recently swept the Olivier Awards.

This summer, *Starlight Express* makes a spectacular return in a specially designed auditorium. There’s star casting aplenty as Imelda Staunton leads *Hello, Dolly!*...

Experience London shows in a new light with tickets to West End musical revivals

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Relive all the joy of classic West End musicals as they return to London in 2024, including *Hello, Dolly!*, *Starlight Express*, and *Kiss Me, Kate*.

The [London Palladium](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/london-palladium) will show a *Robin Hood* pantomime in December, continuing its annual tradition of presenting a panto each Christmas season. Performances will run from 7 December 2024 to 12 January 2025.

The star-studded cast includes [Julian Clary](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/julian-clary) as Robin Hood, Jane McDonald as Maid Marion, Paul Zerdin as Will Scarlet, [Nigel...

Jane McDonald, Julian Clary to lead 'Robin Hood' panto in December

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Numerous award-winning West End actors will join the ninth annual panto at the historic venue, with performances running from December 2024 to January 2025.

*2:22 — A Ghost Story* is set to return to London’s West End for a strictly limited 10-week. The play will open at the Gielgud Theatre on 25 May.

The play premiered at the Noël Coward Theatre in 2020, and featured Lily Allen, Julia Chan, Hadley Fraser, and Jake Wood. A number of famous faces have gone on to star in the production, including Giovanna Fletcher, Tom Felton, Laura Whitmore, Cheryl, and Sophia Bush, among others. This run at the Gielgud marks the play's seventh West End season. ...

'2:22 — A Ghost Story' to return to the West End

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A number of famous faces have starred in *2:22 — A Ghost Story*, including Giovanna Fletcher, Tom Felton, Laura Whitmore, Cheryl, and Sophia Bush. 

Maggie Smith will return to the stage for the first time in 12 years to star in a new play by&nbsp;Christopher Hampton directed by Jonathan Kent at the <a href="https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/the-bridge-theatre">Bridge Theatre</a>, it has been announced.<a href="/show/a-german-life">A German Life</a> will tell the story of Brunhilde Pomsel, the personal secretary to Joseph Goebbels, the Reich Minister of Propaganda of Nazi Germany. The play is drawn from testimonies given by Pomsel after she spoke to Austrian filmmakers in the 2016 documentary of the same name.Maggie Smith will be the sole performer in <a href="/show/a-german-life">A German Life</a> as she plays&nbsp;Pomsel. Smith's theatrical career extends for over 65 years, receiving a damehood in 2014 for services to drama and a lifetime award at the 2011 Olivier Awards. Making her professional debut in 1956, her notable performing credits include a Tony Award-winning performance in Lettice and Lovage (1990), Academy Award-winning performances in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) and California Suite (1978).More recently, Smith has played Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series (2001-2011) and Lady Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey (2010-2015).<a href="/show/a-german-life">A German Life</a> is the latest play to be written by Christopher Hampton, whose works include Sunset Boulevard, Stephen Ward the Musical and The Philanthropist.Design for <a href="/show/a-german-life">A German Life</a> is by Anna Fleischle, with lighting by Jon Clark and sound by Paul Groothuis.<a href="/show/a-german-life">A German Life</a> will play at the <a href="https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/the-bridge-theatre">Bridge Theatre</a> from 6th April for five weeks, with an official opening on 12th April.&nbsp;<a href="/show/a-german-life">A German Life</a> is at the <a href="https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/the-bridge-theatre">Bridge Theatre</a> from 6th April.

Maggie Smith to return to stage for first time in 12 years at the Bridge Theatre

Maggie Smith Bridge Theatre

West End

A German Life [15125]

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A German Life

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Over the course of the 100-minute play, Brunhilde Pomsel reveals her experience working as the secretary to Joseph Goebbles, head of propaganda during the Nazi regime in the 1940s, and she endures complicated emotions while looking back on these fraught days. Was she really complicit in the events during this time? Was, or is, she in denial? Should she be held accountable for her part? “A German Life” shines a spotlight on a time in history often too painful to bring to the stage and asks how the few remaining survivors of this period should be judged today.
 
Considered one of the greatest actors of all time, Maggie Smith makes a return to the London stage to play the aging Pomsel in a performance that The Times called a “quiet tour-de-force… simply unforgettable.” Adapted by Tony Award winner Christopher Hampton, “A German Life” has Pomsel alone on stage while she addresses themes of denial, aging, and culpability. This is a rare chance to catch acting legend Maggie Smith onstage in a new play that will leave you questioning whether the central character is all she seems to be.
## What to watch for
The play is based on a documentary, which captured 30 hours of conversation with Brunhilde Pomsel, who was 102 at the time, and was shown at the 2016 Munich Film Festival.

Often regarded as one of the last surviving eyewitnesses to the Nazi regime, Brunhilde Pomsel wrote a memoir entitled “The Work I Did,” which was posthumously released in February 2018.

“A German Life” marks Maggie Smith’s return to the stage for the first time in 12 years. She was last seen in “The Lady from Dubuque” at the Haymarket theatre in 2007.

Maggie Smith is one of just 24 actors who have won the Triple Crown of Acting by achieving an Oscar, Emmy, and a Tony Award for performances in film, television, and onstage.

A German Life [15125] - TodayTix

An elderly woman sitting in a chair, sharing her memories for 1 hour and 40 minutes without an interval, doesn't sound very theatrical. But since that woman is played by Maggie Smith, returning to the stage for the first time since the short-lived The Lady from Dubuque at the Haymarket in 2007, it has inevitably become a major event, selling out its entire run before it even opened.The bad news is that it's therefore impossible to get a ticket. But for those that have already got them, this is more than just an event and a landmark, but a skilfully and understated evening of thrilling acting by a veteran performer still at the very height of her powers.With Eileen Atkins (84) and Vanessa Redgrave (82), recently back on London stage in The Height of the Storm and The Inheritance respectively, and Glenda Jackson (82) currently playing King Lear on Broadway, Maggie Smith's return to her theatrical roots at 84 is more proof of the brilliance and longevity of British actors - and their irresistible attraction to and devotion to the stage.The quietly domestic staging by Jonathan Kent is mostly static; Smith doesn't leave the chair in the tidy apartment she is sitting in. But the actor is one of the most animated on the London stage. She plays Brunhilde Pomsel, a secretary who narrated her own life story in the 2016 documentary film of the same title.It's a story about denial and survival, complicity and complexity. Just how culpable are people like her who found themselves working deep within the Nazi regime? Was it just a job? Didn't they see what was happening? And what could they do about it anyway?Pomsel found herself working in the office of Joseph Goebbels, head of the Nazi's propaganda machine. She claims obliviousness to what was happening - and also reveals a deep humanity and humility, too.&nbsp; Earlier in the 1930s, she worked for a Jew in the morning and a Nazi in the afternoon. After the war and her own imprisonment, she searches for a Jewish friend, only to find she perished in the camps.Smith narrates this all with quiet gravity and grace (her speech is electronically amplified, but not intrusively so). Smith's own vocal inflections and mannerisms - her way of repeating certain words in a sentence, her natural pauses and conversational stumbles - perfectly match the character she is playing.Back in 1996, Maggie Smith gave another solo stage performance in Alan Bennett's Bed Among the Lentils (that she'd previously filmed) at the West End's Comedy Theatre (now the Pinter), that to this day remains one of the very greatest stage acting performances I've ever seen. As my colleague Matt Wolf put it at the time in a review for Variety, "In a season of putative bravura performances, Smith's is the real thing: an investigation of character so wounding and yet so hilarious that audiences may be unsure where a wicked comedienne's capacity for laughter leaves off and the lacerating empathy of a true theatre artist begins."There's not much laughter this time around, but the lacerating empathy is still there - and quietly and vividly on display. She is, again, unmissable. I hope that for those who haven't got tickets, it is at least filmed.<a href="/show/a-german-life">A German Life</a> is at the <a href="/theatres/the-bridge-theatre">Bridge Theatre</a> until 11th May.Photo credit: Helen Maybanks

Review - Maggie Smith returns to the stage in A German Life at the Bridge Theatre

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Ages 5+. Under 12's are not allowed in the standing area. Under 16's 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]

Guys & Dolls

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.

Maggie Smith to return to stage for first time in 12 years at the Bridge Theatre

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