Top theatre to see in London in June

Find out the best shows to see in London in June 2023.

Marianka Swain
Marianka Swain

June is bustin’ out all over! West End summer musicals are already lighting up the city: shows like Ain't Too Proud and open-air performances at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe. But there’s also a lot of new theatre to sink your teeth into this month and throughout the summer.

It's a tap-tastic month, with gorgeous classic musicals like 42nd Street and Crazy For You hitting the West End, plus returning favourites like The Wizard of Oz, We Will Rock You and Grease. You'll also find blistering play revivals like The Crucible. Here are our top 10 picks for what to see in London in June.

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42nd Street

Come and meet those dancing feet! The glorious backstage musical is back in town this summer - and there's truly nothing better than a classic musical fuelled by incredible tap dancing to give you that sunny feeling. The Depression-era story follows talented out-of-town ingenue Peggy Sawyer, looking to make her Broadway debut in a show starring diva Dorothy Brock. This new production of 42nd Street is led by Ruthie Henshall, Adam Garcia, Nicole-Lily Baisden and Les Dennis.

Sadler's Wells, from 7 June.

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The Wizard of Oz

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to the lavish revival of this magical musical. It features all the great songs from the MGM musical, including, “Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead,” “If I Only Had a Brain” and, of course, “Over the Rainbow”, plus new numbers by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The all-star cast includes Georgina Onuorah, Jason Manford, Ashley Banjo, Dianne Pilkington, Christina Bianco, Louis Gaunt and Gary Wilmot.

London Palladium, from 23 June.

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We Will Rock You

Pump that fist in the air - the mighty Queen jukebox musical is set to conquer the West End once again. Packed with the band's incredible hits, like “Somebody to Love”, “Killer Queen”, “Radio Ga Ga”, “I Want to Break Free”, “Don’t Stop Me Now”, “Another One Bites the Dust”, “We Are the Champions” and “Bohemian Rhapsody”, this revival also features the triumphant return of Brenda Edwards as Killer Queen - plus the show's co-creator Ben Elton making his West End debut as the Rebel Leader.

The London Coliseum, from 2 June.

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The Crucible

The National Theatre's powerful, critically acclaimed (read our five-star review here) revival of Arthur Miller's legendary play is now hitting the West End. House of the Dragon star Milly Alcock leads this summer's run as Abigail Williams, starring alongside Brian Gleeson (Bad Sisters, The Mandalorian) and Caitlin FitzGerald (Succession, Station Eleven), as Miller's terrifying witch hunt drama is remade for our era of fake news, Brexit, Putin and the culture wars.

Gielgud Theatre, from 7 June.

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A Strange Loop

Michael R Jackson's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical makes the jump from Broadway. Even better, this highly anticipated UK debut features Kyle Ramar Freeman reprising the lead role of Usher, a Black queer writer working on his musical, also called A Strange Loop - except that he's having to contend with his very vocal Thoughts. Still with us? Find out why this gender-bending show won all those plaudits.

Barbican Centre, from 17 June.

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Grease

There's no better show if you're looking for some summer lovin'! Revisit the iconic romance between Sandy and Danny at Rydell High, plus the friendships of the Burger Palace Boys and the Pink Ladies, and all your fave songs like “Beauty School Dropout,” “Summer Nights” and “Greased Lightnin’”. Nikolai Foster and Arlene Phillips direct and choreograph, and this 2023 West End run features Louise Redknapp, Jason Donovan and Peter Andre sharing the role of Teen Angel. They go together like rama lama lama...

Dominion Theatre, from 2 June.

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Crazy For You

You can't help but go crazy for this delightful George Gershwin romantic comedy, which is just teeming with fabulous song-and-dance numbers: “I Got Rhythm”, “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Slap That Bass”, “Nice Work If You Can Get It." This tap-happy musical transfer from Chichester Festival Theatre, directed and choreographed by Broadway legend Susan Stroman, stars Charlie Stemp, Carly Anderson, Tom Edden and Natalie Kassanga. Who could ask for anything more?

Gillian Lynne Theatre, from 24 June.

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Accidental Death of An Anarchist

This razor-sharp adaptation of Dario Fo's satirical farce centres on a man known only as the Maniac, who impersonates a judge after an anarchist falls (or was pushed) from a window while in police custody - and, with its eagle eye on corruption and cover-ups, it feels resolutely like an urgent play for today. Led by an explosive performance from Daniel Rigby, the Sheffield Crucible and Lyric Hammersmith production gets a much-deserved West End run.

Theatre Royal Haymarket, from 12 June.

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Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-written.

Think you know everything about the great Robin Hood? Carl Grose (creator of musical The Grinning Man) hopes to hit the target with his exciting new re-telling of the myth - and Regent's Park should be the perfect setting for this fresh immersion into Sherwood Forest. Expect songs, humour, thrilling action and heart as the folk tale comes to life this summer, and this should also be a great option for family audiences (age recommendation is 8 and over).

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, from 17 June.

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School Girls; or, The African Mean Girl Play

It's 1986, and the pupils at the Aburi Girls Boarding School are excitedly waiting to hear which of them will be recruited for the upcoming Miss Ghana pageant. But the arrival of a new, light-skinned student upends the existing dynamics among their friendship group and raises still-pertinent issues around race, beauty and colourism. Mixing witty Mean Girls-esque humour with provocative questions, it's sure to get audiences talking this summer.

Lyric Hammersmith, from 8 June.

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