The best theatre shows to book tickets for in 2021, in London and the UK
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The show will go on… soon! According to the roadmap out of lockdown, theatres can reopen with socially distanced audiences from around May 17 (or Step 3), and with full audiences from June 21 (Step 4). Many shows, including new and returning West End productions, are already announcing their runs, and you can start booking now.
Just bear in mind that the exact reopening dates aren’t yet set in stone, so you might need to be flexible about swapping to another performance if government plans change. We will keep this guide updated, so do check back for the latest information.
Best theatre shows for 2021
Six, Lyric Theatre
Producer Nica Burns plans to reopen her West End theatres as soon as possible, once step 3 is underway. Today, it was announced that the Lyric - current home of the witty, "herstory" musical Six, in which the wives of Henry VIII each get their say, diva style - is definitely returning in May with 50 per cent audience capacity and social distancing. The show’s devoted fans, known as the "Queendom", will give them a right royal welcome back.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Apollo Theatre
Likewise, the reopening of Nimax venues means the imminent return of this homegrown hit. The show is based on a real story about a teenager who wanted to wear a dress to his school dance, and features music by The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie Sells. There’s also a film adaptation coming soon, starring Richard E Grant as the drag queen mentor.
The Mousetrap, St Martin’s Theatre
The longest-running show in the world is back, and with a new starry cast to play out Agatha Christie’s fiendish murder mystery. They include Strictly Come Dancing finalist Danny Mac, Olivier Award winner Cassidy Janson, EastEnders' Anthony Trueman, and former children’s TV stalwart Derek Griffiths.
Minack Theatre, Cornwall
The plucky Cornish outdoor theatre was quick off the mark in 2020, and looks to repeat the feat this year, with events programmed from May. They include concerts from Fishermen's Friends and Scott Matthews, play And Then Come the Nightjars, and family fare like The Further Adventures of Doctor Dolittle.
Footprints Festival, Jermyn Street Theatre
How can the tiny London venue reopen with social distancing? The solution is this three-month, hybrid live-digital festival: 43 small-scale productions playing to audiences of 25 people in the theatre, and also streamed for viewers at home. There will be matinee, evening and late-night shows, mixing drama, music, poetry and comedy.
The Mill at Sonning: Relatively Speaking and more
Having received a lifesaving £448,580 grant from the Culture Recovery Fund, the picturesque riverside dinner theatre reopens with Alan Ayckbourn's classic comedy, followed by Ray Cooney's Two into One, and Irving Berlin musical Top Hat for Christmas. There's also fundraiser An Afternoon with Dame Judi Dench on July 25.
A Russian Doll, Barn Theatre and Arcola Theatre
The Barn in Cirencester is teaming up with the east London venue (which introduces a new outdoor space) to produce the world premiere of Cat Goscovitch’s new play. Based on a true story, it dramatises a very real contemporary scandal: Russia's disinformation campaign during the EU referendum. Nicolas Kent directs.
Shakespeare’s Globe: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, Romeo & Juliet
The Globe, which missed out on its summer season last year, is welcoming audiences back – amidst Covid-safe measures like having chairs in the Yard instead of milling crowds. Artistic director Michelle Terry will play Viola in Twelfth Night, directed by Sean Holmes, while Ola Ince directs Alfred Enoch and Rebekah Murrell in Romeo & Juliet.
Les Misérables, Sondheim Theatre
The French Revolutionary musical returns, initially with an encore of its 2020 concert version, and then the full production from September 25. The cast features Jon Robyns, Bradley Jaden, Lucie Jones, Shan Ako and Josefina Gabrielle, delivering heart-pounding numbers like I Dreamed A Dream, Do You Hear The People Sing? and Bring Him Home. The show is also out on tour from November.
Amélie, Criterion Theatre
Joining Les Mis in the West End is another popular French musical. Amélie, based on the quirky 2001 romcom, sees the titular character improvising small acts of kindness, and finding her own chance of happiness through love. It ran at The Other Palace in 2019, and stars the Olivier-nominated Audrey Brisson, leading an actor-musician cast.
Shaw Shorts and more, Orange Tree Theatre
The south-west London venue begins its Recovery Season with a double bill of Bernard Shaw: How He Lied to Her Husband and Overruled. That's followed by Bryony Lavery’s Last Easter, the UK premiere of Michele Lee’s Rice, and a Paul Miller reviving his 2019 production of Terence Rattigan’s While the Sun Shines.
Kiln Theatre
The north-west London venue reopens with the Women's Prize for Playwriting 2020 winner: Reasons You Should(n't) Love Me, written and performed by Amy Trigg. That's followed by a revival of Ayad Akhtar's The Invisible Hand, directed by Indhu Rubasingham; Moira Buffini, Suhayla El-Bushra and Roy Williams' NW Trilogy; and The Wife of Willesden, Zadie Smith's adaptation of Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath.
Magic Mike Live, Hippodrome Casino
Fans of the Channing Tatum film franchise, and of male exotic dance, will be delighted to learn that this stage spin-off is back in action - albeit with social distancing, at least initially. This is enlightened striptease with acrobatics, knowing role play, and variety-style entertainment. For ages 18 and up.
The Death of a Black Man and Raya, Hampstead Theatre
The north London venue has announced its first live productions for 2021. In the main house is Alfred Fagon's compelling and still resonant play, which tackles identity and sexual politics (from May 28). In the downstairs space is the premiere of Deborah Bruce's Raya (from June 11), set at a student reunion.
The Roman Theatre Open Air Festival, Maltings Theatre, St Albans
There are plenty of entertainment options in this al-fresco season, including Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors and The Winter's Tale, Gilbert and Sullivan, Peter Pan, musical acts, and family-friendly shows - all in the historic surrounds of the Roman Theatre of Verulanium, originally built in AD140.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre
It's the 70th anniversary of this Scottish festival, whose summer season will take place in the newly built amphitheatre and riverside bandstand. Highlights include the stage premiere of David Greig’s Adventures with the Painted People, a new adaptation of The Wind in the Willows for family audiences, and promenade production Requiem to mark the lives lost during the pandemic.
National Theatre: Under Milk Wood, After Life
The National reopens two of its spaces in June. First, on June 2, it's After Life in the Dorfman, based on the film by Hirokazu Kore-eda, written by Jack Thorne and directed by Jeremy Herrin. Then, on June 16, Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood begins in the Olivier, with Michael Sheen leading the company and Lyndsey Turner directing.
The Girl Next Door, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
The indefatigable Alan Ayckbourn premieres his 85th play at the theatre where he was artistic director for almost 40 years. The Girl Next Door is described as a touching, tender and, of course, funny reflection on the ability of love to rise above adversity and reach across the years
Mamma Mia!, Novello Theatre
The ABBA musical is still going strong, having spawned two movies and a "party" spin-off at the O2 - plus a UK tour planned for January 2022, and open-air run at Harewood House in August. This sunny show doubles as a getaway, transporting you to a Greek island packed with family drama. But the story is really just an excuse for wall-to-wall pop hits that satisfy your inner dancing queen.
The Comeback, Noel Coward Theatre
This aptly named, Sonia Friedman-produced comedy opened in December 2020, and now returns for a three-week run as the West End gears up once again. It stars The Pin’s Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen as warring double acts, plus celebrity cameos – which last time included Ian McKellen, Graham Norton, Joanna Lumley and Danny Dyer.
Oleanna, Touring and Arts Theatre
David Mamet's provocative two-hander goes on tour following its run at Theatre Royal Bath, beginning at Cambridge Arts Theatre on June 8 and visiting Bath, Southampton and Malvern before landing in the West End; it plays at the Arts Theatre July 21-October 23. Rosie Sheehy and Jonathan Slinger reprise their roles.
A Splinter of Ice, Touring
The Original Theatre Company brings us Ben Brown’s new political drama, which sees novelist Graham Greene (played by Oliver Ford Davies) travelling to the Soviet Union in 1987 to meet his old MI6 boss, Kim Philby (Stephen Boxer). The tour begins at Malvern Festival Theatre, and the production will also be available online from April 15.
Happy Days, Riverside Studios
Trevor Nunn directs Lisa Dwan in this 60th-anniversary production of Samuel Beckett’s play. Featuring a couple trapped together, struggling to combat the monotony of their days and understand the passing of time amidst surreal circumstances, it will likely take on new resonance post-lockdown.
Tell Me On A Sunday, Touring
Jodie Prenger stars in the revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black's one-woman song cycle, which begins its tour at Malvern Festival Theatre. The show follows the romantic misadventures of an English girl in New York in the 1980s, and spawned the chart-topping track Take That Look Off Your Face.
The Woman in Black, Touring and Fortune Theatre
Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s spooky ghost story - the second-longest-running play in the West End - is going on tour, opening at Cambridge Arts Theatre on June 17. It will also return to its London home, the Fortune Theatre, on September 7, and those aged 18 and under will be able to see it free of charge, alongside a full-paying adult ticket.
Booking from 17 in multiple locations
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre: Romeo & Juliet, Carousel, Dragons and Mythical Beasts
The verdant north London venue, which managed a socially distanced concert version of Jesus Christ Superstar last summer, is back with a full season. First up, Kimberley Sykes directs Shakespeare’s tragedy of star-crossed lovers (June 17-July 24), and then Timothy Sheader helms Rodgers and Hammerstein’s iconic musical, with choreography from Drew McOnie (July 30-September 25). There’s also Derek Bond’s interactive Dragons and Mythical Beasts for youngsters (August 13-September 5).
The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre
Mischief Theatre's enduring farce is returning to the West End, ready to leave audiences helpless with laughter once more. The riotous comedy sees the am-dram Cornley Drama Society staging a 1920s murder mystery – but everything that can go wrong, does. Cue misplaced props, stuck doors, flubbed dialogue, injuries, and even the floor collapsing.
Constellations, Vaudeville Theatre
Appropriately enough for Nick Payne's quantum multiverse love story, this revival has, if not infinite versions, then at least several. Michael Longhurst directs four different pairs of actors: Sheila Atim and Ivanno Jeremiah, followed by Peter Capaldi and Zoë Wanamaker, Omari Douglas and Russell Tovey, and Anna Maxwell Martin and Chris O’Dowd.
Out West, Lyric Hammersmith
The west London theatre reopens its doors with a triple bill of new work by Simon Stephens, Tanika Gupta and Roy Williams, exploring themes of race, identity, place and purpose. The plays will be helmed by the Lyric’s artistic director, Rachel O’Riordan, and Diane Page.
Heathers the Musical, Theatre Royal Haymarket and tour
How very! The black-comedy rock musical, based on the Winona Ryder and Christian Slater-starring film, is back in the West End for 12 weeks following a hit run in 2018. There will also be a new touring production running in parallel, beginning on July 28 at Leeds Grand Theatre.
Hamlet and The Cherry Orchard, Theatre Royal Windsor
Sir Ian McKellen plays Shakespeare's prince, 50 years after he first tackled the role, and then Firs in Chekhov's Cherry Orchard, as part of a company staging both productions back to back. Also joining him are Steven Berkoff, Jenny Seagrove and Francesca Annis, directed by Sean Mathias.
Hairspray, London Coliseum
You can’t stop the beat! Originally due to run in April 2020, this revival of the big-haired and big-hearted Sixties-set musical finally hits the stage this summer. Michael Ball is reprising his Olivier Award-winning turn as Edna Turnblad, and Paul Merton makes his West End debut as husband Wilbur.
Matilda the Musical, Cambridge Theatre
Beware the Trunchbull - one of the most terrifying villains in all of children’s literature. Thankfully, she has a hero to match in the form of the imaginative and magical Matilda. This RSC production captures Roald Dahl’s anarchic spirit, particularly via Tim Minchin’s mischievous songs.
Bach & Sons, Bridge Theatre
Well, talk about perfect harmony. Simon Russell Beale will play JS Bach in Nina Raine’s new play, which looks at not just Bach the composer but the father - with one son paralysed by his father’s genius, the other less talented but more successful - and asks what music is really for. Directed by Bridge boss Nicholas Hytner.
Hairspray and Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Touring
Mark Goucher Productions has announced two musical tours beginning in the summer. Hairspray begins in Plymouth on June 24, while Priscilla - which paused mid-run in 2020, and is co-produced by Jason Donovan - picks up its run in Cheltenham on June 23, and is aiming for a West End return.
Book for Hairspray here and Priscilla here
The Prince of Egypt, Dominion Theatre
The stage musical version of the DreamWorks animated movie features fresh songs from Oscar winner Stephen Schwartz, along with his enduring anthem When You Believe. This epic production charts Moses’ journey to free the Israelites in Ancient Egypt, while battling his adopted brother Ramses, the Pharaoh.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, London Palladium
This family-favourite musical from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice was revived in 2019, and - delayed a year - Laurence Connor’s lively, contemporary production now gets its encore run. Alexandra Burke joins the cast as the narrator, while Jac Yarrow and Jason Donovan reprise their performances as, respectively Joseph and the Elvis-styled Pharaoh.
Piaf, Nottingham Playhouse
Previously due to run in 2020, this Nottingham Playhouse/Leeds Playhouse co-production of Pam Gems’ drama tells the extraordinary story of the world-renowned chanteuse, who went from singing on the streets to hits like La Vie en Rose and Je Ne Regrette Rien. Jenna Russell stars as Piaf, and the theatre will be transformed into a Parisian bar with cabaret-style seating.
South Pacific, Chichester Festival Theatre
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s stirring musical is set on an archipelago in 1943, and features romance, espionage and racial prejudice - plus great songs like I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair, Some Enchanted Evening and There Is Nothing Like a Dame. Daniel Evans directs, and tickets are on general sale soon.
Pretty Woman, Savoy Theatre
The faithful stage musical version of the Julia Roberts/Richard Gere romcom is back in the West End, though transferring from the Piccadilly to the Savoy Theatre. The cast features Aimie Atkinson, Danny Mac and Rachel Wooding, with music from Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance.
The Book of Mormon, Prince of Wales Theatre
The raucous religious satire from South Park’s Matt Stone and Trey Parker, and Frozen’s Robert Lopez, is still one of the most provocative shows in the West End. It follows two mismatched Mormon missionaries who travel to Uganda in hopes of preaching to the inhabitants of a remote village, only to come up against a local warlord.
Mischief Theatre tours: Magic Goes Wrong and more
Mischief are taking three of their hit slapstick comedy shows out on the road, including the first run of Magic Goes Wrong, their collaboration with Penn & Teller, outside of London. That one begins at Leicester Curve on July 16, while The Play That Goes Wrong opens at Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury on July 13, and Groan Ups at Theatre Royal Bath on August 12.
The Comedy of Errors, Stratford
The Royal Shakespeare Company begins its summer programme with an outdoor production, staged in the new Lydia & Manfred Gorvy Garden Theatre (in the grounds of the Swan Theatre). Philip Breen directs this opening show, which has the apposite tagline: "These are strange times. Confusion and uncertainty everywhere." Quite.
Dirty Dancing, Secret Cinema
The Secret Cinema organisation has come under fire recently, first for its sizable chunk of the Culture Recovery Fund, and then again for commandeering a local park. Will its riff on the beloved Patrick Swayze/Jennifer Grey film be enough to silence detractors? You can carry your watermelon to the event this summer and find out.
Charlie and Stan, Theatre Royal Bath
Paul Hunter tells the story of one of the greatest comedy duos that nearly was in this biographical play. Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel bonded on the voyage with a musical hall troupe from Liverpool to New York, but then drifted apart - and became stars in their own right. The show plays in Bath and Cornwall before a planned West End run.
Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre
Andrew Lloyd Webber has led the charge on getting theatres back in action, and he’s putting his money where his mouth is with this new musical take on the classic fairy tale, starring Carrie Hope Fletcher. It promises to be a spikier version, thanks to a book from Promising Young Woman’s Emerald Fennell, and the Lord has already teased audiences by releasing some of the songs.
Billionaire Boy, Garrick Theatre
The stage adaptation of David Walliams' hit children's book should prove a family favourite this summer. It tells the story of Joe Spud, the richest boy in the country, who has everything money can buy, except a friend. The Birmingham Stage Company production comes to the West End following a UK tour.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre
The continuation of JK Rowling’s book series is a theatrical triumph, using astonishing illusions, movement, lighting and props to conjure up her magical world. But this two-part production, directed by John Tiffany and scripted by Jack Thorne, pays just as much attention to characters and their relationships, giving audiences an engrossing - and moving - story.
Come From Away, Phoenix Theatre
This Olivier Award-winning musical tells the remarkable true story of passengers whose planes were grounded on 9/11, and the residents of a small Newfoundland town who welcomed them into their hearts and homes. It’s the best of humanity in the worst of times: the perfect post-pandemic outing.
Anything Goes, Barbican
Will & Grace star Megan Mullally makes her West End debut opposite Robert Lindsay in this classic Cole Porter/P. G. Wodehouse musical, which takes place on board a luxury ocean liner. Featuring romance, comic hijinks, dancing sailors and great standards like It’s De-Lovely, You’re the Top and I Get a Kick Out of You, it’s gold-plated escapism.
The Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre
The Phantom returns, along with a refurbished theatre and revamped production. Killian Donnelly plays the (aptly) masked man who dwells beneath the Paris Opera House and secretly mentors the beautiful soprano Christine – played by Lucy St Louis – seducing her with his “music of the night”.
Jersey Boys, Trafalgar Theatre
The popular jukebox musical, which follows the turbulent journey of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons - from hit songs to band infighting and troubles with the mob - is back in the West End. The musical will open the revamped Trafalgar Theatre, which has been returned to its original heritage design with just one, larger auditorium.
The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre
Julie Taymor’s inspired, child-friendly stage version of the Disney animated film returns. This creative production uses epic puppetry and special effects to evoke the African Pridelands. Add in catchy Elton John and Tim Rice songs like Circle of Life, Hakuna Matata and Can You Feel the Love Tonight, and it’s one parents can enjoy too.
Singin’ in the Rain, Sadler’s Wells
This glorious theatrical adaptation of the MGM Golden Age movie is back, along with former Royal Ballet principal Adam Cooper in the Gene Kelly role. A loving spoof of 1920s Hollywood being rocked by the “talkies”, it’s packed with great numbers - including that title song, accompanied by 14,000 litres of water splashed on stage every night.
Witness for the Prosecution, London County Hall
You can once again experience Agatha Christie's taut thriller in this atmospheric, site-specific production, where you really feel like you’re in the courtroom where the drama takes place. Will you find Leonard Vole innocent or guilty of murder – and can you figure out who’s telling the truth? Pit your wits against the Queen of Crime.
Rent, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
The Hope Mill was only able to stage five performances of Rent last autumn before lockdown struck, although the production was shown online. But a full theatrical run is very welcome, giving disappointed audiences another chance to see Jonathan Larson's beloved musical live and in person. Luke Shepperd directs.
Leopoldstadt, Wyndham's Theatre
Tom Stoppard's Olivier Award-winning play – which draws on his own ancestral history in its portrait of a family in Vienna's Jewish quarter, and the horrendous impact of the Holocaust – returns to the West End. Patrick Marber directs, and the new cast is yet to be announced.
Mary Poppins, Prince Edward Theatre
Back in the time for jolly holiday viewing, the Disney musical will once again be led by the practically perfect Zizi Strallen as Poppins and Charlie Stemp as Bert. This production features a book by Downton Abbey's Julian Fellowes, and classic Sherman Brothers songs like Step in Time, Feed the Birds, and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre
Lin-Manuel Miranda's smash-hit musical - which tells the story of America's forgotten Founding Father via a hip-hop-driven score - is back in the room where it happens. The current cast features Karl Queensborough, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Jason Pennycooke, Simon-Anthony Rhoden, Allyson Ava-Brown and Gavin Spokes.
Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theatre
The stage version of the iconic sci-fi adventure movie – which sees cool 80s teenager Marty McFly transported back to 1955 via Doc Brown's time-travelling DeLorean, where he must ensure his parents fall in love – opened in Manchester in March 2020, and now gets its belated West End transfer. Expect futuristic special effects and rock 'n' roll.
Frozen the Musical, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
The long-awaited UK premiere of the Disney stage extravaganza will finally arrive in August, so get ready to build a snowman and “Let It Go”. Samantha Barks and Stephanie McKeon star as Princesses Elsa and Anna respectively, and Michael Grandage directs. Tickets are now on general sale.
Life of Pi, Wyndham’s Theatre
It might seem like an impossible tale to adapt for stage, but the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield used ingenious theatrical tricks and state-of-the-art visuals to conjure a boy trapped in a lifeboat with a Royal Bengal tiger. Now, this dramatisation of Yann Martel’s Man Booker Prize-winning novel comes to the West End.
Waitress, Touring
The mouth-watering Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson musical, which ran in the West End, is now hitting the road for the first ever UK and Ireland tour - beginning at the New Wimbledon Theatre. Lucie Jones reprises the lead role of Jenna, and the cast also features Busted’s Matt Willis, Sandra Marvin, Evelyn Hoskins, George Crawford, Tamlyn Henderson, and Christopher D Hunt.
By The Waters Of Liverpool, Touring
One of the first major tours announced for 2021 is this adaptation of Helen Forrester’s autobiography, about moving to Liverpool in the 1930s after her father went bankrupt and having to fight for her independence. It will begin at the Lowther Pavilion in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, in September and go on to play at 18 theatres.
Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre
The West End stalwart returns. Stephen Schwartz’s musical tells the ‘untold’ tale of the Witches of Oz, anchored by the opposites-attract friendship between Elphaba and Glinda. The Apollo Victoria Theatre production marks its 15th anniversary this year, with a celebratory performance on September 28.
The Last Five Years, Vaudeville Theatre
Jonathan O’Boyle’s acclaimed actor-musician version of James Robert Brown’s show gets a well-deserved West End transfer. It once again stars Molly Lynch and Oli Higginson as the two lovers - aspiring actress Cathy and writer Jamie - who begin to drift apart. It proved an extremely lockdown-resonant piece last year.
& Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre
Shakespeare meets 90s pop hits in this irresistible show, which allows Juliet to escape her tragic fate and embark on a new adventure instead. The score takes its songs from the stupendous back catalogue of songwriter Max Martin, who created hits for the likes of Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande.
Hamlet, Young Vic
One of the great losses of the 2020 theatre programme was the thrilling prospect of Cush Jumbo playing Hamlet. Happily, the London venue has announced that the show is back on for this autumn, with the busy actress – who played Mark Anthony in the Donmar's all-female Julius Caesar – directed by her long-time collaborator Greg Hersov.
Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre
This world premiere tells the story of the Jamaican superstar, honouring not just his enduring songs - like No Woman, No Cry, I Shot the Sheriff, and One Love - but also his social and political advocacy. Lee Hall has written the book, Clint Dyer directs, and Arinzé Kene plays Bob Marley.
Only Fools and Horses The Musical, Theatre Royal Haymarket
Lovely-jubbly news for fans of the Trotters: the stage musical version of the classic sitcom is returning to the West End. Travel back to 1980s Peckham and have a right royal knees-up with Paul Whithouse's Grandad, Tom Bennett's Del Boy and Ryan Hutton's Rodney, with music by Chas n Dave.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Duke of York’s Theatre
The National Theatre’s sold-out stage adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel gets a West End encore. This spellbinding tale features a man returning to his home town for a funeral, which sparks memories of an invasive supernatural being and the magical family who helped him to battle it. The imaginative production features skilful puppetry and illusions.
The Drifters Girl, Garrick Theatre
Beverley Knight stars as pioneering music manager Faye Treadwell, who led The Drifters to global fame - while battling prejudice within the industry. This new musical will feature numerous hits, such as Kissin’ in the Back Row of the Movies, and also give long-overdue attention to a legendary figure.
The Wiz, Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
The Christmas show at the Hope Mill is the first new UK production of The Wiz in 10 years. This funky retelling of the classic novel is refracted through American-American culture, featuring songs like Ease on Down the Road, and the film version starred Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. Matthew Xia will direct.
Bring It On: The Musical, New Theatre, Peterborough, and Southbank Centre
This genial stage version of the competitive cheerleaders movie has an impressive creative team: Oscar-nominated Jeff Whitty, Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) and Tom Kitt (Next to Normal). Amber Davies and former Olympian Louis Smith star, and the show plays in Peterborough November 26-December 4, then the Southbank Centre December 8-January 22.
Dreamgirls, Touring
It's the first ever UK tour for the iconic musical, which tells the story of three talented African-American singers who become a hit group in the 1960s, but break apart when one is groomed for individual stardom. In other words: Diana Ross and the Supremes. Nicole Raquel Dennis will star as Effie, tackling the mighty And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going.
