London Theatre Guide: best plays on now in London, 2019
Wondering what theatre to book and what plays to see? From fringe to the West End: London's best theatre
London Theatre Guide: best plays on now in London, 2019 (Photograph: Peter Lewicki)
BEST PLAYS ON NOW
Star quality: Evita, Open Air Theatre ★★★★★
Jamie Lloyd directs a rousing, rough and ready production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's 1978 hit musical Evita. The Open Air Theatre is transformed into Buenos Aires.
read our review
Horseplay: Equus, Trafalgar Studios ★★★★★
Ned Bennett's triumphant production of Equus brings ecstatic acting and illicit horseplay to Trafalgar Studios.
read our review
Spirit and soul: Tree, Young Vic Theatre ★★★★★
After controversy over authorship, Kwame Kwei-Armah and Idris Elba’s in new multimedia musical brings spirit, soul and a big dance party to the Young Vic.
read our review
Family fun:Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear, National Theatre ★★★★★
Adored kids' book Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear is now a wildly entertaining musical at the National's Dorfman Theatre this summer.
read our review
Teenage dreams: Adrian Mole the Musical, Ambassadors Theatre ★★★★★
Everyone's favourite 13-and-three-quarters-year-old sings out his innermost thoughts in this charming musical adaptation of Sue Townsend's novel.
read our review
Tropical torrents: The Night of the Iguana, Noel Coward Theatre ★★★★★
Clive Owen returns to the stage after 19 years to star in a strange and lesser-known Tennessee Williams play, the tropically-tinged The Night of the Iguana.
read our review
Peer Revamped: Peter Gynt, National Theatre ★★★★★
With Peter Gynt, David Hare returns for the National Theatre 2019 season, tweaking a classic Ibsen tale for the modern day.
read our review
Religion, but make it Rock: Jesus Christ Superstar, Barbican 2018 ★★★★★
A landmark production of musical theatre wizards Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar comes to the Barbican after two sellout runs at the Open Air Theatre.
read our review
Wartime Romance:Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Harold Pinter Theatre ★★★★★
Louis de Bernières’ best-selling novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin comes to the West End stage following a UK tour.
read our review
High-Octane Magic Tricks: The Illusionists, Shaftesbury Theatre ★★★★★
The Illusionists magic show brings sensational acts and dazzling feats to the West End.
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
Tradition!...: Fiddler on the Roof, Playhouse Theatre ★★★★★
Trevor Nunn brings life, laughter and authenticity to a Fiddler on the Roof revival, and it's just as delightful in the West End transfer.
read our review
Easy as pie: Waitress the Musical, Adelphi Theatre ★★★★★
London gets a slice of the action as hit musical Waitress brings sweet story of pie-baking and self-discovery to the West End. The songs are fresh, but the story feels a little stale.
read our review
Masculinity in the spotlight: Barber Shop Chronicles, The Roundhouse ★★★★★
Inua Ellams' exhilarating play about black masculinity observes the conversations that happen between men at their barbershop, based on real life visits to similar institutions across the country. It has transferred to the Roundhouse for a limited time following two sell out runs at the National Theatre in 2017.
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
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.
read our review
Party with Gatsby: The Great Gatsby immersive theatre ★★★★★
The roaring twenties 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 ★★★★★
find out how to get tickets
Delightful disaster: The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre ★★★★★
Slapstick silliness reigns supreme in this behind-the-scene play about an ill-fated production. Even those who are fearful of farce will find themselves won over by the infectious comic talents of Mischief Theatre Company.
And Mischief Theatre's follow up show, A Comedy About A Bank Robbery which is now running at the Criterion Theatre, is more of the same irresistible silliness. It would be a crime to miss it.
read our review
Side-splitting satire: The Book of Mormon, Prince of Wales 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.
book now
Star quality: Evita, Open Air Theatre ★★★★★
Jamie Lloyd directs a rousing, rough and ready production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's 1978 hit musical Evita. The Open Air Theatre is transformed into Buenos Aires.
read our review
Horseplay: Equus, Trafalgar Studios ★★★★★
Ned Bennett's triumphant production of Equus brings ecstatic acting and illicit horseplay to Trafalgar Studios.
read our review
Spirit and soul: Tree, Young Vic Theatre ★★★★★
After controversy over authorship, Kwame Kwei-Armah and Idris Elba’s in new multimedia musical brings spirit, soul and a big dance party to the Young Vic.
read our review
Family fun:Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear, National Theatre ★★★★★
Adored kids' book Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear is now a wildly entertaining musical at the National's Dorfman Theatre this summer.
read our review
Teenage dreams: Adrian Mole the Musical, Ambassadors Theatre ★★★★★
Everyone's favourite 13-and-three-quarters-year-old sings out his innermost thoughts in this charming musical adaptation of Sue Townsend's novel.
read our review
Tropical torrents: The Night of the Iguana, Noel Coward Theatre ★★★★★
Clive Owen returns to the stage after 19 years to star in a strange and lesser-known Tennessee Williams play, the tropically-tinged The Night of the Iguana.
read our review
Peer Revamped: Peter Gynt, National Theatre ★★★★★
With Peter Gynt, David Hare returns for the National Theatre 2019 season, tweaking a classic Ibsen tale for the modern day.
read our review
Religion, but make it Rock: Jesus Christ Superstar, Barbican 2018 ★★★★★
A landmark production of musical theatre wizards Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar comes to the Barbican after two sellout runs at the Open Air Theatre.
read our review
Wartime Romance:Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Harold Pinter Theatre ★★★★★
Louis de Bernières’ best-selling novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin comes to the West End stage following a UK tour.
read our review
High-Octane Magic Tricks: The Illusionists, Shaftesbury Theatre ★★★★★
The Illusionists magic show brings sensational acts and dazzling feats to the West End.
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
Tradition!...: Fiddler on the Roof, Playhouse Theatre ★★★★★
Trevor Nunn brings life, laughter and authenticity to a Fiddler on the Roof revival, and it's just as delightful in the West End transfer.
read our review
Easy as pie: Waitress the Musical, Adelphi Theatre ★★★★★
London gets a slice of the action as hit musical Waitress brings sweet story of pie-baking and self-discovery to the West End. The songs are fresh, but the story feels a little stale.
read our review
Masculinity in the spotlight: Barber Shop Chronicles, The Roundhouse ★★★★★
Inua Ellams' exhilarating play about black masculinity observes the conversations that happen between men at their barbershop, based on real life visits to similar institutions across the country. It has transferred to the Roundhouse for a limited time following two sell out runs at the National Theatre in 2017.
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
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.
read our review
Party with Gatsby: The Great Gatsby immersive theatre ★★★★★
The roaring twenties 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 ★★★★★
Whether or not you approve of the script (no spoilers here) Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is every bit as magical as we'd hoped on stage. The sheer theatrical spectacle is enough to make you wonder if maybe, just maybe, there might be some wizards involved.
Performances and staging are of the superlative quality you'd expect and the atmosphere as the story unfolds is electric. Unfortunately, tickets are about as elusive as a Hogwarts letter.
find out how to get tickets
Delightful disaster: The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre ★★★★★
Slapstick silliness reigns supreme in this behind-the-scene play about an ill-fated production. Even those who are fearful of farce will find themselves won over by the infectious comic talents of Mischief Theatre Company.
And Mischief Theatre's follow up show, A Comedy About A Bank Robbery which is now running at the Criterion Theatre, is more of the same irresistible silliness. It would be a crime to miss it.
read our review
Drag queen teen: Everybody's Talking about Jamie, Apollo Theatre ★★★★★
Teen drag queen musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie is a young, fun and fresh celebration of being a little bit different.
Arabian nights: Aladdin, Prince Edward Theatre ★★★★★
Sparkle, spectacle and sheer showmanship makes this new Disney musical just as megawatt and magical as expected. Children will be enchanted by the love story and beloved songs; even the grumpiest of grown ups will forgive the cheesy Americanisation when the hilarious Genie emerges from the lamp.
read our review
read our review
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.
book now
