London Theatre Guide: best plays on now in London, 2020
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
Astonishing: Fairview, The Young Vic ★★★★★
After dazzling in New York, Jackie Sibblies Drury’s Pulitzer-winning play Fairview interrogates our preconceptions of race at the Young Vic.
read our review
Depression era Dylan: Girl from the North Country, Gielgud Theatre ★★★★★
After dazzling in London and New York, Conor McPherson’s poignant ‘play with music’ returns to the West End.
read our review
Magical mishaps: Magic Goes Wrong, Vaudeville Theatre ★★★★★
The masterful comics at Mischief Theatre deliver more raucous slapstick in this disastrous - and dangerous - magic show.
read our review
Have a nosy: Cyrano de Bergerac, Playhouse Theatre ★★★★★
French classic Cyrano de Bergerac is revived by the Jamie Lloyd Theatre Company, with Scottish star James McAvoy shining in the titular role.
read our review
Fantastical: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, National Theatre ★★★★★
A modern myth from the mind of Neil Gaiman comes to life on stage at the National Theatre in magical new show.
read our review
Elizabethan power play: Swive, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse ★★★★★
In Swive, playwright Ella Hickson explores the relationship between sex and power in Elizabeth I's reign.
read our review
Re-invention: Three Sisters, National Theatre ★★★★★
Playwright Inua Ellams re-imagines Chekhov's tragedy against a backdrop of the Biafran civil war, shifting the play to 60s Nigeria.
read our review
Bitter-sweet: A Taste of Honey, Trafalgar Studios ★★★★★
Bijan Sheibani's production of 50s play A Taste of Honey brings the spirit of working class Salford to the West End.
read our review
Tres charmant: Amelie, The Other Palace Theatre ★★★★★
The musical adaptation of everyone’s favourite French film, Amélie, returns to the London stage for Christmas and stars Audrey Brisson as the determined young woman.
read our review
Epic friendship: My Brilliant Friend, National Theatre ★★★★★
Elena Ferrante fever reignites as April De Angelis's stage adaptation of the Neapolitan novels come to life in a two-part play adaptation.
read our review
Greed is good: The Wolf of Wall Street - Immersive Experience ★★★★★
Gear up for greed, debauchery and Class A capitalism as The Wolf of Wall Street immersive experience arrives in the City.
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.
read our review
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
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
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
Astonishing: Fairview, The Young Vic ★★★★★
After dazzling in New York, Jackie Sibblies Drury’s Pulitzer-winning play Fairview interrogates our preconceptions of race at the Young Vic.
read our review
Depression era Dylan: Girl from the North Country, Gielgud Theatre ★★★★★
After dazzling in London and New York, Conor McPherson’s poignant ‘play with music’ returns to the West End.
read our review
Magical mishaps: Magic Goes Wrong, Vaudeville Theatre ★★★★★
The masterful comics at Mischief Theatre deliver more raucous slapstick in this disastrous - and dangerous - magic show.
read our review
Have a nosy: Cyrano de Bergerac, Playhouse Theatre ★★★★★
French classic Cyrano de Bergerac is revived by the Jamie Lloyd Theatre Company, with Scottish star James McAvoy shining in the titular role.
read our review
Fantastical: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, National Theatre ★★★★★
A modern myth from the mind of Neil Gaiman comes to life on stage at the National Theatre in magical new show.
read our review
Elizabethan power play: Swive, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse ★★★★★
In Swive, playwright Ella Hickson explores the relationship between sex and power in Elizabeth I's reign.
read our review
Re-invention: Three Sisters, National Theatre ★★★★★
Playwright Inua Ellams re-imagines Chekhov's tragedy against a backdrop of the Biafran civil war, shifting the play to 60s Nigeria.
read our review
Bitter-sweet: A Taste of Honey, Trafalgar Studios ★★★★★
Bijan Sheibani's production of 50s play A Taste of Honey brings the spirit of working class Salford to the West End.
read our review
Tres charmant: Amelie, The Other Palace Theatre ★★★★★
The musical adaptation of everyone’s favourite French film, Amélie, returns to the London stage for Christmas and stars Audrey Brisson as the determined young woman.
read our review
Epic friendship: My Brilliant Friend, National Theatre ★★★★★
Elena Ferrante fever reignites as April De Angelis's stage adaptation of the Neapolitan novels come to life in a two-part play adaptation.
read our review
Greed is good: The Wolf of Wall Street - Immersive Experience ★★★★★
Gear up for greed, debauchery and Class A capitalism as The Wolf of Wall Street immersive experience arrives in the City.
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.
read our review
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
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
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.
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.
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
