London Theatre News

‘A-Typical Rainbow’ to open at Turbine Theatre

A new play which explores the lives of young autistic people in 2000s Britain will open at the Turbine Theatre this summer. A-Typical Rainbow begins previews at the Turbine Theatre on 30 June, with an opening night on 7 July and performances to 7 August. A-Typical Rainbow is by playwright JJ Green. “This play was written by an autistic writer, has been read and approved by many autistic artists and marks the first time a piece of theatre has been written about us, by us, for you” said Green. “It...

‘Mamma Mia! The Party’ announces new London cast

Knowing me, knowing the new Mamma Mia! The Party cast! A new Mamma Mia! The Party cast will take over the London production from 7 April. Mamma Mia! The Party is at the O2. Mamma Mia! The Party tickets are on sale now. Ellis Dackcombe, Tamara Perks and Tasha Sheridan will join the Mamma! Mia The Party company. Many of the current cast will also take on new roles: Kimberley Powell will play Kate, Jonathon Bentley will play Adam, Molly Cleere will take over as Konstantina, and Jessica Spallis will...

Everything you need to know about 'Cinderella' in the West End

With so many Cinderella stories out there, it’s almost as if there’s a Cinderella multiverse expanding before our very eyes. There’s even three musicals which centre on the princess: Rodger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Cinderella in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods are in the traditional canon. But now there’s a new Cinderella in town, and she’s here to rock your world. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella breathes a 21st-century essence into the archaic fairytale and it’s pretty spectacular....

Everything you need to know about ‘Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical’ in the West End

Think of reggae music and one artist will probably spring to mind — Bob Marley. The pioneering ska musician spread the messages of Pan-Africanism, Rastafarianism and togetherness through songs such as "Is This Love" and "Exodus." Even though Marley passed away in 1981 at the age of 36, his musical contributions know no bound. Countless artists sample Bob Marley songs in their tracks today, and Marley is still considered to be a Jamaican icon. Bob Marley’s life is immortalised in musical form in...

Commemorate Stephen Sondheim's birthday in the West End

March 22 would have seen the late, great Stephen Sondheim celebrate his 92nd birthday. Instead, the theatre world is still reeling from Sondheim’s passing last November. But while we won’t be celebrating the composer and lyricist’s birthday with him, we can still celebrate it in the best way possible: going to see a show. Sondheim had a very special relationship with the British theatre world. His particular sensibilities found a home here: his wry irony, cynicism and sophistication, and his...

See West End shows based on true stories

Sometimes, truth really is stranger than fiction – and it makes for fantastic drama. Just look at Hollywood’s fondness for a biopic, or the plethora of TV series on at the moment about real-life figures such as Anna Delvey, Pamela Anderson, Joe Exotic and Elizabeth Holmes. Even if we’ve seen numerous news reports or documentaries, we can’t resist viewing them again through the lens of fiction. Of course, there’s a long tradition of translating true stories into theatre too. Shakespeare’s canon...

West End shows to see for Mother's Day

It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday, March 27: a time to celebrate all those amazing mums and everything they’ve done for us. The UK’s version of this annual holiday grew out of the Mediaeval Mothering Sunday tradition – the day on which Christians visited their ‘mother church’, or the church where they were baptised – which is why it’s always held on the fourth Sunday of Lent. After Anna Jarvis campaigned for a national Mother’s Day in America in the early 20th century, the tradition was revived in the...

‘A Doll’s House - Part 2’ and 'The Band's Visit' in Donmar Warehouse 2022 season

Four new productions will open at the Donmar Warehouse throughout 2022. Currently, the Donmar Warehouse is home to Henry V starring Kit Harington, and will then open with the UK premiere of Marys Seacole next month. Following Marys Seacole, Noma Dumezweni will then star in the European premiere of A Doll’s House - Part 2. Lucas Hnath’s 2017 play follows Nora, the central character in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, 15 years after the play. In a 2017 review of A Doll’s House - Part 2 on New York...

Beverley Knight and Keala Settle to star in ‘Sister Act’

Beverley Knight will play Deloris Van Cartier in the highly-anticipated revival of Sister Act in London. Sister Act is at the Eventim Apollo from 19 July to 28 August, and Sister Act tickets are available now. Knight is currently leading The Drifters Girl company as Faye Treadwell, and will depart from the production in July. She’s nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actress for The Drifters Girl too, in a category alongside Sutton Foster, Jessie Buckley, and Stephanie McKeon — find out more...

‘Anything Goes’ extends London run at Barbican

Before the show opens this summer, Anything Goes has extended its West End booking period. Anything Goes brings forward its first performance date from 15 July to 25 June. Anything Goes is at the Barbican from 25 June to 3 September, and Anything Goes tickets are on sale now. Anything Goes is currently nominated for nine Olivier Awards, including Best Musical Revival. Olivier-nominated actor Carly Mercedes Dyer will reprise the role of Erma. Find out more about Anything Goes at the Olivier...