London is famous around the world for being one of the best places to see plays, musicals, and West End shows. Whether you’re looking to have a family day out or a theatre-based date with a special amour, there’s plenty to catch on stage in 2024. So without further ado, here’s our rundown of the best London theatre shows you can catch this year:
1. Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
In a time when the world is changing forever, there is one place where everyone can be free. Welcome to the Kit Kat Club, home to an intimate and electrifying new production of Cabaret, which counts a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards. to its name. One of the most successful musicals of all time, Cabaret features music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and is based on the play by John Van Druten.
There’s always a star-studded cast too, so it’s worth keeping an eye on all the latest announcements. This is Berlin. Relax. Loosen up. Be yourself. Enjoy!
📍 Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club will be at the Playhouse Theatre indefinitely. Get your tickets here.
2. Titanique
If you’re a fan of Celine Dion, drag queen culture, the iconique Titanic film, or all of the above, you must check out the brand-new musical Titanique. This hilarious production retells the story of Jack and Rose through the eyes of everyone’s favourite Canadian chanteuse, Celine Dion.
Receiving rave reviews as an instant camp classic, expect pure absurdity, killer vocals, and even Strictly star Leighton Williams playing the ferociously fierce iceberg—and yes, you did read that correctly—a Strictly star is playing the iceberg.
📍 Titanique will be playing at the Criterion Theatre until June 2025. Get your tickets here.
3. Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Return to Hawkins with a whole new story from the Duffer Brothers that transports the beloved show to the West End stage. Written by Kate Trefry, the play gives viewers an insight into Hawkins in 1959 – “Before the world turned upside down”. Stranger Things: The First Shadow takes us right to the heart of the TV show, taking us all the way back to the beginning with a prequel story about Joyce, Hopper, and the origins of Henry Creel (aka Vecna). Plus it’s directed by none other than Stephen Daldry of The Hours and Billy Elliot fame!
Need even more convincing? The play recently won two Olivier Awards, one for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play and another for Best Set Design. It was also recognised with an award for Best New Play at the 24th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards earlier this year. Needless to say, everyone’s been raving about it just as much as the show!
📍 Stranger Things: The First Shadow will run at the Phoenix Theatre until August 25, 2024. Book your tickets here.
4. The Devil Wears Prada
Gird your loins for stilettos, some well-earned sarcasm, and high-stakes fashion drama–as The Devil Wears Prada Musical has officially hit the London stage! Adapted from the iconic Noughties film, this brand-new show is a glamorous, laugh-out-loud romp through the ruthless world of high fashion. Starring none other than Vanessa Williams and boasting a killer soundtrack by Elton John, it’s undeniably the must-see musical of the moment.
📍 Devil Wears Prada will play indefinitely at the Dominion Theatre. Book your tickets here.
5. Oliver! The Musical
Oliver! The Musical is back on the West End and it’s never looked better.Fifteen years after its last London revival, the beloved musical has made its triumphant return, and we already want some more.
The brand new production has been produced by Cameron Mackintosh, directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, and stars West End legends such as Simon Lipkin (Guys and Dolls) as Fagin, Shanay Holmes (Miss Saigon) as Nancy, Aaron Sidwell (Wicked) as Bill Sikes, and Billy Jenkins (Les Misérables) as the Artful Dodger. For more information on this brand-new production, click here to read our article.
📍Oliver! The Musical is playing at the Gielgud Theatre until September 28, 2025. Book your tickets, here.
6. Witness for the Prosecution
Fancy serving on the jury of a thrilling courtroom drama play? That’s exactly the opportunity that Witness for the Prosection hands you, as you’re taken into the electrifying murder trial of Leonard Vole. It even takes place inside an actual courtroom – London‘s iconic County Hall! If you nab a VIP jury seat you’ll even become part of the action, being sworn in and playing a pivotal role in the performance as you decide if Leonard Vole is guilty of murdering his wife. For more info, check out our article here.
📍 Witness for the Prosecution is playing at County Hall (no, really!). Tickets can be bought here.
7. Wicked
Discover the untold story of the Witches of Oz at the West End smash Wicked. With the anticipated movie release finally upon us, there’s never been a better time to dive into the wonderful world of Elphaba and Glinda.
The two hotheaded witches in training are thrusted into the wickedly seductive allure of the Emerald City, to not only defy gravity, but solidify their titles as the Wicked Witch of the West and the ever-so-popular Glinda the Good. However, everything is not what it seems in the merry old land of Oz, and it makes for a truly epic musical.
📍Wicked is playing indefinitely at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Get your tickets here.
8. My Neighbour Totoro
Following a fabulous first run at the Barbican last year, My Neighbour Totoro is back in London for some more theatrical magic inspired by the Studio Ghibli classic. From awe-inspiring puppetry to its beautiful score, this must-see production is undeniably one of the hottest tickets in town.
This coming-of-age tale takes a deep dive into the magical fantasy world of our childhood years, and explores the transformative power of imagination. It’s a feast for the eyes and an unforgettable evening of top-notch theatre.
📍My Neighbour Totoro is playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre until November 2025. Get your tickets here.
9. The Play That Goes Wrong
Have you seen an amateur drama production where everything seems to fall apart as soon as the actors step on stage? Well, what if it was a West End show succumbing to Murphy’s law? Everything that can go wrong will go wrong, and (as the title suggests) everything does go wrong. The Play That Goes Wrong is a riotous calamity of missed cues, breaking set pieces, and slapstick.
📍 Catch The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre. Grab your tickets here.
10. Disney’s The Lion King
A tale we all know and love and one of the best shows in London, this West End musical follows Simba and Nala’s adventures as they explore the ‘Circle of Life’ in Sub-Saharan Africa. Featuring incredible music from Elton John, stunning effects, spectacular colours, ingenious puppetry and all our favourite characters, this is guaranteed to be a pretty fantastic night at the theatre. Can you feel the love tonight? We’re pretty sure you will at Disney’s The Lion King!
📍 Disney’s The Lion King is playing at The Lyceum Theatre indefinitely. You can grab your tickets here.
11. Operation Mincemeat
A ripping yarn and hysterical musical comedy set during World War Two in 1943, Operation Mincemeat tells the unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II. The question is, how did a well-dressed corpse wrong-foot Hitler? With five-star reviews across the board and a whole host of ‘Best New Musical’ awards, this is one London theatre show you really can’t miss in 2024.
📍 Operation Mincemeat is playing at the Fortune Theatre until June 2025. Book your tickets here.
12. Six The Musical
Divorced, beheaded, live! Six The Musical is a sensational remix of Tudor history with a modern twist, where Henry VIII’s six wives take to the mic to tell their fascinating stories. This pop concert extravaganza is a treat fit for royalty, blending undeniable sass, female empowerment, and catchy tunes for a “her-story” lesson like no other. You might just lose your head over how good this show is.
📍 Six The Musical is playing at the Vaudeville Theatre London indefinitely. Grab your tickets here.
13. Moulin Rouge! The Musical
“Where’s all my soul sistas? Lemme hear ya’ll flow, sistas...” Enter a world of splendour and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory! It’s one of London’s most glamorous theatre shows, set in a world where bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Pop the champagne and prepare for a theatrical celebration of truth, freedom, beauty and love… Moulin Rouge! is more than a musical— it is a state of mind.
📍 Moulin Rouge! The Musical is playing indefinitely at the Piccadilly Theatre. Grab your tickets here.
14. Starlight Express
A fabulous revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express is taking over the Troubadour Theatre in Wembley Park. This beloved musical tells the story of a child’s train set that magically comes to life in an all-singing, all-skating spectacle (yep, the cast performs on skates and the theatre is even decked out with an epic skating track).
📍 Starlight Express is running indefinitely at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. Snag your tickets here.
15. Mrs Doubtfire
After a critically acclaimed run in Manchester, the hilariously funny new musical Mrs Doubtfire made its way to the West End in 2023. It’s a charming adaptation of the beloved Robin Williams film, following Daniel, a father and out-of-work actor who would do anything for his kids. But after losing custody, he resorts to desperate measures in an attempt to stay part of their lives – enter his alter-ego: Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire. We all know the story, right? And if you don’t – well grab a ticket and experience it first-hand! For more info, read our article here.
📍 Mrs Doubtfire is playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre through to 2025. Get your tickets here.
16. Les Misérables
Come on. You know Les Misérables – it’s only one of the most famous London theatre shows. Perhaps even one of the most famous theatre shows of all time! In fact, it’s the longest-running musical the West End has ever seen. It’s been running at the Sondheim for over twenty years at this point – and is an iconic sight on the West End. Talk about a can’t-miss production!
📍 Les Misérables is running indefinitely at the Sondheim Theatre. Secure your tickets here.
17. The Phantom of the Opera
The West End’s most hauntingly beautiful musical is as mesmerising as ever, bringing chills, thrills, and timeless romance to London audiences for generations. The Pantom of the Opera is undeniably one of those bucket list shows, featuring Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary score, dramatic sets, and a tragic love story to boot. So, book your tickets to this institutional musical today, and prepare to be entranced by the Phantom’s cautionary tale of love and obsession.
📍 The Phantom of the Opera is playing at His Majesty’s Theatre idefinetly. Get a hold of your tickets here.
18. The Choir of Man
Welcome to The Choir of Man—the best night in your local you’ve ever had. It’s a party, it’s a concert, it’s a lock-in like no other. Featuring breathtaking reinventions of chart-topping hits from artists including Guns’N’Roses, Fun!, Adele, Avicii, Paul Simon, Sia and many more, this musical has something for everyone. Get ready to get your rock god on.
📍 The Choir of Man is playing indefinetly at the Arts Theatre London. Get a hold of your tickets here.
19. Hamilton
The multi-award-winning West End production of Hamilton brings the global musical hit to London’s Victoria Palace Theatre. The story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War, Hamilton helped shape the very foundations of the America that the world knows today. The score blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B and Broadway – the story of America then, told now.
📍 Hamilton is playing at the Victoria Palace Theatre indefinitely. Get your tickets here.
20. Mamma Mia!
See the world’s sunniest, most exhilarating smash-hit musical in 2024! Since premiering in London’s West End over 23 years ago, this feel-good show has thrilled over 65 million people around the world. Fall in love with the irresistibly funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads on a Greek island idyll, all unfolding to the magic of ABBA’s timeless songs. Whatever age you are, you can’t help but have the time of your life at Mamma Mia! Voulez-vous – aha!
📍 Mamma Mia! is playing at the Novello Theatre indefinitely. Get your tickets here.
21. Back To The Future: The Musical
Head off on a journey back to 1955 with Marty McFly and Doc Brown in this award-winning adaptation of the iconic movie. You’ll be tapping your feet along to new music alongside the iconic tracks from the film itself. It’s an 88mph thrill ride – but let’s hope you don’t get stuck in the past and manage to return Back To The Future.
📍 Back To The Future: The Musical is running at the Adelphi Theatre with tickets currently available through to July 2025. Get yourself a ticket here.
22. Matilda The Musical
Another one of the best London theatre shows you can watch this festive period here. Inspired by the beloved book by the incomparable Roald Dahl, Matilda The Musical is the multi-award-winning musical brought to the stage by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Featuring original songs by Tim Minchin, discover the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her destiny.
📍 Matilda The Musical is playing at the Cambridge Theatre indefinetly. Get your tickets here.
23. TINA – The Tina Turner Musical
Our penultimate addition to this London theatre shows roundup is a real humdinger. From humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her transformation into the global Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner didn’t just break the rules, she rewrote them. This fantastic stage musical, presented in association with Tina Turner herself, reveals the untold story of a woman who dared to defy the bounds of her age, gender and race. Featuring her much-loved songs, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is written by Olivier Award-winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by the internationally acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd. You’ll get to celebrate the late and great legend herself as you get to sing along to all the hits. After all – she’s Simply the Best!
📍 TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is playing at the Aldwych Theatre indefinitely. Get hold of your tickets here.
24. Fawlty Towers
And our final addition to this list of the best London theatre shows? Fawlty Towers, which takes the iconic TV comedy classic to the stage in an adaptation from creator John Cleese. The new show combines three iconic episodes from the series into one extended narrative, with all new material to tie them all together. Don’t miss the arrival of Torquay’s most chaotic hotel as Fawlty Towers opens its doors on the West End.
📍 See Fawlty Towers at the Apollo Theatre indefinetly. Get your tickets here.
So there you have it – the best London theatre shows to see in 2024. From musical classics to heartwarming tales – there’s something for everyone here!