London Theatre Guide: best plays on now in London, 2018
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, 2018
BEST PLAYS ON NOW
Indie musical: Hadestown, National Theatre ★★★★★
Ancient Greek myth meets American blues and jazz in this riotous folk opera version of Orpheus and Eurydice.
read our review
A tale of bumbling chivalry: RSC's Don Quixote, Garrick Theatre ★★★★★
This lively update of Miguel Cervantes' classic tale the knight-errant and his squire Sancho Panza bubbles over with imagination.
read our review
A cornucopia of colour, dance and song: White Teeth, Kiln Theatre ★★★★★
Zadie Smith's seminal novel White Teeth comes to life where it all began, in Kilburn.
read our review
Bold and tragicomic: Lands, Bush Theatre ★★★★★
Award-winning theatre company Antler brings their bold and thoughtful exploration of relationships to the Bush Theatre
read our review
Potent and intensely thoughtful: ear for eye, Royal Court Theatre ★★★★★
Debbie Tucker Green writes and directs this searing portrayal of race relations in the UK and the US.
read our review
Bracingly fresh: The Wild Duck, Almeida Theatre ★★★★★
Visionary director Robert Icke interrogates notions of truth and redemption in a radically re-worked production of Ibsen's The Wild Duck.
read our review
Joyous: Wise Children, The Old Vic ★★★★★
Emma Rice shakes up The Old Vic with a bold, bright and brilliant stage adaptation of Angela Carter's Wise Children.
read our review
R'n'B Shakespeare musical: Twelfth Night, Young Vic Theatre ★★★★★
Shorn in half, stuffed with poptastic songs, and relocated to a vibey Notting Hill Carnival: Kwame Kwei-Armarh's Twelfth NIght is a bombastic take on Shakespeare
read our review
Conception comedy: Stories, National Theatre ★★★★★
After the success of Consent, Nina Raine returns to the National Theatre with a new play about the complexity of having a baby when you are 39 and single.
read our review
#metoo era Shakespeare: Measure for Measure, Donmar Warehouse ★★★★★
Hayley Atwell and Jack Lowden alternate roles in a gender swapping production of Measure for Measure, where you see the story play out with in two different eras, with two different gender/power dynamics.
read our review
Politics, romance and tragedy: Antony and Cleopatra, National Theatre ★★★★★
Director Simon Goodwin embraces the sensuous beauty of Shakespeare’s Roman romance with an elegant contemporary aesthetic and seriously impressive staging. While Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo bring immense talent, warmth and wit.
read our review
A new epic: The Inheritance, Noel Coward Theatre ★★★★★
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
Murderous teens: Heathers, Theatre Royal Haymarket ★★★★★
Cult teen movie Heathers gets a shrewd and sassy musical theatre makeover and some killer songs on the West End. Make sure you wear your plaid mini skirt and shoulder pads!
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
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
Indie musical: Hadestown, National Theatre ★★★★★
Ancient Greek myth meets American blues and jazz in this riotous folk opera version of Orpheus and Eurydice.
read our review
A tale of bumbling chivalry: RSC's Don Quixote, Garrick Theatre ★★★★★
This lively update of Miguel Cervantes' classic tale the knight-errant and his squire Sancho Panza bubbles over with imagination.
read our review
A cornucopia of colour, dance and song: White Teeth, Kiln Theatre ★★★★★
Zadie Smith's seminal novel White Teeth comes to life where it all began, in Kilburn.
read our review
Bold and tragicomic: Lands, Bush Theatre ★★★★★
Award-winning theatre company Antler brings their bold and thoughtful exploration of relationships to the Bush Theatre
read our review
Potent and intensely thoughtful: ear for eye, Royal Court Theatre ★★★★★
Debbie Tucker Green writes and directs this searing portrayal of race relations in the UK and the US.
read our review
Bracingly fresh: The Wild Duck, Almeida Theatre ★★★★★
Visionary director Robert Icke interrogates notions of truth and redemption in a radically re-worked production of Ibsen's The Wild Duck.
read our review
Joyous: Wise Children, The Old Vic ★★★★★
Emma Rice shakes up The Old Vic with a bold, bright and brilliant stage adaptation of Angela Carter's Wise Children.
read our review
R'n'B Shakespeare musical: Twelfth Night, Young Vic Theatre ★★★★★
Shorn in half, stuffed with poptastic songs, and relocated to a vibey Notting Hill Carnival: Kwame Kwei-Armarh's Twelfth NIght is a bombastic take on Shakespeare
read our review
Conception comedy: Stories, National Theatre ★★★★★
After the success of Consent, Nina Raine returns to the National Theatre with a new play about the complexity of having a baby when you are 39 and single.
read our review
#metoo era Shakespeare: Measure for Measure, Donmar Warehouse ★★★★★
Hayley Atwell and Jack Lowden alternate roles in a gender swapping production of Measure for Measure, where you see the story play out with in two different eras, with two different gender/power dynamics.
read our review
Politics, romance and tragedy: Antony and Cleopatra, National Theatre ★★★★★
Director Simon Goodwin embraces the sensuous beauty of Shakespeare’s Roman romance with an elegant contemporary aesthetic and seriously impressive staging. While Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo bring immense talent, warmth and wit.
read our review
A new epic: The Inheritance, Noel Coward Theatre ★★★★★
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
Murderous teens: Heathers, Theatre Royal Haymarket ★★★★★
Cult teen movie Heathers gets a shrewd and sassy musical theatre makeover and some killer songs on the West End. Make sure you wear your plaid mini skirt and shoulder pads!
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
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
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
