London Theatre Guide: best plays on now in London, 2022
Wondering what theatre to book and what plays to see? From fringe to the West End: London's best theatre
BOOK AHEAD...
Starring David Tennant: Good, Harold Pinter Theatre
David Tennant returns to the stage to explore Nazism in a revival of CP Taylor's production of Good, directed by Dominic Cooke. Read more.
From anime to stage: My Neighbour Totoro, Barbican Theatre
Japanese composer and musician Joe Hisaishi teams up with the RSC to bring Studio Ghibli’s 1988 movie My Neighbour Totoro to the Barbican stage. Read more.
Five-star revival: The Doctor, Duke of York's Theatre
Robert Icke's The Doctor, starring Juliet Stevenson, finally gets its West End after a stunning premiere at the Almeida. Read more.
Immersive musical: Guys and Dolls, Bridge Theatre
The Bridge announces its first musical: an immersive production of Guys and Dolls, directed by Nicholas Hytner. Read more.
Park-side tragedy: Antigone, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
Barber Shop Chronicles writer Inua Ellams adapts the Ancient Greek tragedy of Antigone for Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, with direction from Max Webster. Read more.
Puppies galore: 101 Dalmatians, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
Dodie Smith's beloved story of 101 Dalmatians kidnapped by Cruella de Vil comes to life as a new musical at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Read more.
Starry Chekhov: The Seagull, Harold PinterTheatre
Emilia Clarke swaps her dragons for a Seagull in a fresh version of Chekhov's classic play, as part of Jamie Lloyd's theatre season. Read more.
Raffish dark comedy: The Southbury Child, Bridge Theatre
Alex Jennings plays a raffish vicar in this dark new comedy about family, faith and community. Read more.
Cruising back on stage: Anything Goes, BarbicanTheatre
Kathleen Marshall’s show-stopping revival of Anything Goes glides back onto the Barbican Theatre stage, following a sell-out run in 2021. Read our review.
Pacific problems: South Pacific, Sadler's Wells
Chichester Festival Theatre’s acclaimed production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific docks at Sadler’s Wells. Read more.
SHOWING NOW....
Starring Kathryn Hunter: King Lear, Shakespeare's Globe ★★★★★
Kathryn Hunter and Michelle Terry deliver star performances in Helena Kaut-Howson's revival of her 1997 production of King Lear at Shakespeare's Globe. Read more.
Double deception: That Is Not Who I Am, Royal Court ★★★★★
Seminal playwright Lucy Kirkwood, under the pseudonym Dave Davidson, presents a deeply chilling and hyper real thriller at the Royal Court Theatre. Read more.
Timely revival: Jitney, Old Vic Theatre ★★★★★
Director Tinuke Craig gives August Wilson's 1979 play Jitney its first London revival in 20 years. Her Old Vic production reminds us how relevant its themes remain. Read more.
Sicilian dreams: Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare's Globe ★★★★★
Director Lucy Bailey returns to the Globe with a playful, libido-fuelled take on Much Ado About Nothing that runs on Love Island-style drama and sexual tension. Read more.
Cowboys and cooing: Oklahoma!, Young Vic Theatre ★★★★★
Plen'y of heart and plen'y of hope? Director Daniel Fish's dark, Tony-winning revival of Oklahoma! Comes to the Young Vic Theatre. Read more.
Rags to riches: My Fair Lady, London Coliseum
Director Bartlett Sher’s Tony-winning take on My Fair Lady transfers from Broadway to London for a 16-week run at the Coliseum. Read more.
Pink power: Legally Blonde, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
'Omigod you guys!' Six director Lucy Moss revives Legally Blonde the Musical at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, with Courtney Bowman playing the lead. Read more.
Memory play: The Glass Menagerie, Duke of York's Theatre
Amy Adams makes her West End debut in Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie. Jeremy Herrin directs the production from new company Second Half Productions. Read more.
Courtroom classic: To Kill a Mockingbird, Gielgud Theatre ★★★★★
Aaron Sorkin's smash-hit stage adaptation of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird comes to the West End, with Rafe Spall starring as Atticus Finch. Read more.
Total immersion: Punchdrunk's The Burnt City, Woolwich Works ★★★★★
Immersive theatre pioneers Punchdrunk return to London with The Burnt City, an immersive extravaganza based on the fall of Troy. Read more.
Star-powered revival: Cabaret, The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre ★★★★★
Jessie Buckley and Eddie Redmayne star in director Rebecca Frecknall’s revival of Cabaret, staged inside an intimate reconstruction of the musical’s Kit Kat Club. Read more.
Spectacular, Spectacular: Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Piccadilly Theatre ★★★★★
After impressing on Broadway, the stage musical of Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge brings spectacular spectacular theatre to London in autumn 2021. Read more.
Lifeboat survival: Life of Pi, Wyndham's Theatre ★★★★★
Following a critically acclaimed run at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, Lolita Chakrabarti's adaptation of Life of Pi opens in the West End in a feat for puppetry and theatrics. Read our review.
Brilliant bass: Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, Lyric Theatre ★★★★★
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) reimagines Jane Austen’s 1813 novel with sparky storytelling, gutsy humour, feisty feminism and impassioned outbursts of karaoke. Read our review.
Feel-good true story: Come From Away, Phoenix Theatre ★★★★★
This utterly heart-warming musical about those stranded in a tiny Canadian town in the aftermath of 9/11 will restore your faith in humanity and leave you with a huge smile. Read our review.
Heart-melting: Frozen the Musical, Theatre Royal Drury Lane ★★★★★
Frozen glitters at the West End’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, where a cast led by Samantha Barks and Stephanie McKeon bring to life the sisterhood-championing story. Read our review.
Poptastic: & Juliet, Shatesbury Theatre ★★★★★
This jukebox musical gives Juliet a feminist alternative ending full of soaring pop hits, glitter and fun. Read our review.
Viral hit: Dear Evan Hansen, Noel Coward Theatre ★★★★★
Smash-hit musical Dear Evan Hansen brings a heartfelt story of teenage isolation and a soaring songbook to London.
Here we go again: Mamma Mia! The Party, O2 ★★★★★
Greek Island paradise and golden pop music come to life as Sweden's hit immersive Abba experience transports us to a taverna with feasting, singing and lots of dancing. Read our review.
Virtual reality: War of the Worlds, the immersive experience ★★★★★
Immersive theatre company dotdotdot return to London with a new experience based on The War of The Worlds. Don a VR headset and become a character in the story. Read our review.
Courtroom drama: Witness for the Prosecution, County Hall ★★★★★
Director Lucy Bailey takes over London Country Hall for an immersive, site-specific production of Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution.
read our review
Exceeds expectation: Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre ★★★★★
The London transfer of Lin-Manuel Miranda's magnificent hip-hop music is every bit as brilliant as we had hoped. Make it your mission to get tickets.
Party with Gatsby: The Great Gatsby immersive theatre ★★★★★
The roaring20s come to life with sparkle, drama and a large yet intimate party in this immersive production of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Read our review.
Pure magic: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre ★★★★★
read our review
Delightful disaster: The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre ★★★★★
Musicals don't come much funnier than this whipsmart satire by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The story of two Mormons travelling about as far from Salt Lake City as you can get still shocks and delights.
