London Theatre Guide: best plays on now in London, 2018
Wondering what theatre to book and what plays to see? From fringe to West End: London's best theatre
London Theatre Guide: best plays on now in London, 2018
BEST PLAYS ON NOW
Gaelic history: Translations, National Theatre ★★★★★
What’s in a name? Well in Brian Friel’s 1980 play Translations, the story of English cartographers anglicising Irish landmarks reveals the weight of history, nationhood and myth mingled into each and every place name. Ian Rickson directs a rousing revival at the National Theatre.
read our review
Art and aesthetics: Red, Wyndham's Theatre ★★★★★
Michael Grandage revives the play about Mark Rothko that galvanized audiences at the Donmar in 2009. The smart, snappy study of art, philosophy and life is well worth the wait.
read our review
Thriller with a Hollywood star: Killer Joe, Trafalgar Studios ★★★★★
Violence unravels in this sordid drama which sees Orlando Bloom return to the London stage.
read our review
A tense watch: Machinal, Almeida Theatre ★★★★★
A disturbing, nightmarish tale of self-destruction based on the true story of an American housewife who was executed for the murder of her husband.
read our review
Wild house party: Julie, National Theatre ★★★★★
Vanessa Kirby plays wild party girl in this highly anticipated contemporary re-imagining of Miss Julie.
read our review
Powerful one-woman-show: Notes from the Field, Royal Court ★★★★★
Anna Deavere Smith's solo performance is an emotional and shocking exposé of racial and class injustices across the US today.
read our review
Witticisms galore: An Ideal Husband, Vaudeville Theatre ★★★★★
Real-life father and son Edward and Freddie Fox star and spar off each other in a charming revival of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband.
read our review
Provocative production: An Octoroon, National Theatre ★★★★★
An extraordinary and audacious revival of a Victorian melodrama about American slavery.
read our review
D-Day Drama: Pressure, Ambassadors Theatre ★★★★★
David Haig's tribute to the meteorologists of WWII has transferred to the West End. A nostalgic play which examines an important part of history.
read our review
Strange suburbia: Blueberry Toast, Soho Theatre ★★★★★
Like the odd love child of Harold Pinter and Taylor Swift, this short, startling play combines absurdism with a performative appetite for revenge.
read our review
A new epic: The Inheritance, Young Vic ★★★★★
A generation after the AIDS crisis, Matthew Lopez’s The Inheritance provides a panoramic view of gay life in New York City.
read our review
A love letter to opera: The Moderate Soprano, Duke of York's Theatre ★★★★★
David Hare's story of the beginning of Glyndebourne Opera House is a warm, witty tale of determination and British tradition, with plenty of in-jokes for opera buffs.
read our review
Screen meets stage: Brief Encounter, Empire Cinema ★★★★★
A cinematic throwback repackaged: Kneehigh Theatre's celebrated stage version of Brief Encounter comes to life at the Empire Cinema.
read our review
Sweet dreams: Somnai, Clerkenwell ★★★★★
Control your dreams and delve into your psyche at a futuristic immersive experience that combines technology and theatre.
read our review
Exceeds expectation: Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre ★★★★★
The London transfer 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
Courtroom drama: Witness for the Prosecution, London County Hall ★★★★★
You are invited into an actual courtroom, to witness the dramas of a trial murder trial as they unfold, in a new site-specific production of Agatha Christie's classic crime story.
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
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
Best foot forward: Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre ★★★★★
Sequins, stilettos and a sexy songbook: Kinky Boots the musical brings all the sass and spirit of the hit film to the stage. We defy even the dourest of audience members to leave without wanting to don his dancing shoes.
read our review
Mini miracle: Matilda, Cambridge Theatre ★★★★★
Roald Dahl’s story of a child genius with magic powers who brings anarchy then justice upon her little world is, it turns out, perfectly adapted for the stage. This production, underpinned by the likes of Tim Minchin and playwright Dennis Kelly, has raked in the awards, from a few Tonys in its New York run to a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the most Olivier Award wins (seven in 2012).
read our review
Gaelic history: Translations, National Theatre ★★★★★
What’s in a name? Well in Brian Friel’s 1980 play Translations, the story of English cartographers anglicising Irish landmarks reveals the weight of history, nationhood and myth mingled into each and every place name. Ian Rickson directs a rousing revival at the National Theatre.
read our review
Art and aesthetics: Red, Wyndham's Theatre ★★★★★
Michael Grandage revives the play about Mark Rothko that galvanized audiences at the Donmar in 2009. The smart, snappy study of art, philosophy and life is well worth the wait.
read our review
Thriller with a Hollywood star: Killer Joe, Trafalgar Studios ★★★★★
Violence unravels in this sordid drama which sees Orlando Bloom return to the London stage.
read our review
A tense watch: Machinal, Almeida Theatre ★★★★★
A disturbing, nightmarish tale of self-destruction based on the true story of an American housewife who was executed for the murder of her husband.
read our review
Wild house party: Julie, National Theatre ★★★★★
Vanessa Kirby plays wild party girl in this highly anticipated contemporary re-imagining of Miss Julie.
read our review
Powerful one-woman-show: Notes from the Field, Royal Court ★★★★★
Anna Deavere Smith's solo performance is an emotional and shocking exposé of racial and class injustices across the US today.
read our review
Witticisms galore: An Ideal Husband, Vaudeville Theatre ★★★★★
Real-life father and son Edward and Freddie Fox star and spar off each other in a charming revival of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband.
read our review
Provocative production: An Octoroon, National Theatre ★★★★★
An extraordinary and audacious revival of a Victorian melodrama about American slavery.
read our review
D-Day Drama: Pressure, Ambassadors Theatre ★★★★★
David Haig's tribute to the meteorologists of WWII has transferred to the West End. A nostalgic play which examines an important part of history.
read our review
Strange suburbia: Blueberry Toast, Soho Theatre ★★★★★
Like the odd love child of Harold Pinter and Taylor Swift, this short, startling play combines absurdism with a performative appetite for revenge.
read our review
A new epic: The Inheritance, Young Vic ★★★★★
A generation after the AIDS crisis, Matthew Lopez’s The Inheritance provides a panoramic view of gay life in New York City.
read our review
A love letter to opera: The Moderate Soprano, Duke of York's Theatre ★★★★★
David Hare's story of the beginning of Glyndebourne Opera House is a warm, witty tale of determination and British tradition, with plenty of in-jokes for opera buffs.
read our review
Screen meets stage: Brief Encounter, Empire Cinema ★★★★★
A cinematic throwback repackaged: Kneehigh Theatre's celebrated stage version of Brief Encounter comes to life at the Empire Cinema.
read our review
Sweet dreams: Somnai, Clerkenwell ★★★★★
Control your dreams and delve into your psyche at a futuristic immersive experience that combines technology and theatre.
read our review
Exceeds expectation: Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre ★★★★★
The London transfer 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
Courtroom drama: Witness for the Prosecution, London County Hall ★★★★★
You are invited into an actual courtroom, to witness the dramas of a trial murder trial as they unfold, in a new site-specific production of Agatha Christie's classic crime story.
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
Transylvania Mania: Young Frankenstein, Garrick Theatre ★★★★★
Veteran film-maker and comedian Mel Brooks brings monster musical Young Frankenstein to London with an all-star cast.
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
Best foot forward: Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre ★★★★★
Sequins, stilettos and a sexy songbook: Kinky Boots the musical brings all the sass and spirit of the hit film to the stage. We defy even the dourest of audience members to leave without wanting to don his dancing shoes.
read our review
Mini miracle: Matilda, Cambridge Theatre ★★★★★
Roald Dahl’s story of a child genius with magic powers who brings anarchy then justice upon her little world is, it turns out, perfectly adapted for the stage. This production, underpinned by the likes of Tim Minchin and playwright Dennis Kelly, has raked in the awards, from a few Tonys in its New York run to a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the most Olivier Award wins (seven in 2012).
read our review
