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, 2018
BEST PLAYS ON NOW
Family frictions: The Bay at Nice, Menier Chocolate Factory ★★★★★
David Hare’s The Bay at Nice elegantly illustrates mother-daughter feuds, the bitter aftertaste of self-sacrifice, and the appreciation of art.
read our review
Reversed romance: Betrayal, Harold Pinter Theatre ★★★★★
Harold Pinter's reversed romance reverberates with relevance in this immaculate revival starring Tom Hiddleston at his caustic best.
read our review
New Views: Richard III, Alexandra Palace Theatre ★★★★★
Headlong theatre company bring an enlightening and engrossing take on Shakespeare's Richard III to the newly-restored Alexandra Palace Theatre.
read our review
Literary thriller: Alys, Always, Bridge Theatre ★★★★★
Nicholas Hytner directs the stage adaptation of this best-selling novel about a dowdy subeditor who wheedles her way into the literati.
read our review
Domestic bliss: Home, I'm Darling, Duke of York's Theatre ★★★★★
Meet Judy: a woman arming herself against the modern world with a duster, a cocktail mixer and a pair of teetering heels. Judy has chosen to go back in time and live life as authentically as she can as a 1950s housewife. But as she roots herself firmly in the past, the modern world keeps banging at her perfectly painted door.
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
Decaying glory: Follies, Olivier Theatre ★★★★★
The grand old theatre is in ruins, all faded velvet, dust and rubble, about to be turned into an office block. Glossy young chorus girls stalk the stage, each a glittering ghostly counterpart of the returning women. Follies captures a moment in theatre history – when the mainstay Broadway revue shows that dominated entertainment in the interwar years reached the end of their reign.
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
All about Ivo: All About Eve, Noel Coward Theatre ★★★★★
Europe’s director of the moment Ivo van Hove translates a Hollywood classic for the stage with sly, stylish production and starry leading ladies Gillian Anderson and Lily James.
read our review
Arresting drama: Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train, Young Vic Theatre ★★★★★
Set mainly in Rikers prison in New York City, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train is a profound examination of redemption, accountability, justice and faith.
read our review
Sinister satire: Shipwreck, Almeida Theatre ★★★★★
Playwright Anne Washburn and director Rupert Goold tackle the monolith of Donald Trump’s presidency and the dark side of liberalism head-on in this three-hour theatrical fantasia.
read our review
Aural horror: Breberian Sound Studio, Donmar Warehouse ★★★★★
Peter Strickland's 2012 horror film becomes an eerie and immersive thriller on stage at the Donmar Warehouse, taking us behind the scenes of an Italian giallo movie.
read our review
Tick tock: The American Clock, The Old Vic ★★★★★
The frailties of capitalism play out as director Rachel Chavkin directs a timely, music-infused revival of Arthur Miller's Great Depression drama The American Clock at The Old Vic.
read our review
Money drama: The Price, Wyndham's Theatre ★★★★★
David Suchet and Brendan Coyle shine in Arthur Miller’s lesser-known family drama, making the best of a piece that lacks a punch.
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
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
Family frictions: The Bay at Nice, Menier Chocolate Factory ★★★★★
David Hare’s The Bay at Nice elegantly illustrates mother-daughter feuds, the bitter aftertaste of self-sacrifice, and the appreciation of art.
read our review
Reversed romance: Betrayal, Harold Pinter Theatre ★★★★★
Harold Pinter's reversed romance reverberates with relevance in this immaculate revival starring Tom Hiddleston at his caustic best.
read our review
New Views: Richard III, Alexandra Palace Theatre ★★★★★
Headlong theatre company bring an enlightening and engrossing take on Shakespeare's Richard III to the newly-restored Alexandra Palace Theatre.
read our review
Literary thriller: Alys, Always, Bridge Theatre ★★★★★
Nicholas Hytner directs the stage adaptation of this best-selling novel about a dowdy subeditor who wheedles her way into the literati.
read our review
Domestic bliss: Home, I'm Darling, Duke of York's Theatre ★★★★★
Meet Judy: a woman arming herself against the modern world with a duster, a cocktail mixer and a pair of teetering heels. Judy has chosen to go back in time and live life as authentically as she can as a 1950s housewife. But as she roots herself firmly in the past, the modern world keeps banging at her perfectly painted door.
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
Decaying glory: Follies, Olivier Theatre ★★★★★
The grand old theatre is in ruins, all faded velvet, dust and rubble, about to be turned into an office block. Glossy young chorus girls stalk the stage, each a glittering ghostly counterpart of the returning women. Follies captures a moment in theatre history – when the mainstay Broadway revue shows that dominated entertainment in the interwar years reached the end of their reign.
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
All about Ivo: All About Eve, Noel Coward Theatre ★★★★★
Europe’s director of the moment Ivo van Hove translates a Hollywood classic for the stage with sly, stylish production and starry leading ladies Gillian Anderson and Lily James.
read our review
Arresting drama: Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train, Young Vic Theatre ★★★★★
Set mainly in Rikers prison in New York City, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train is a profound examination of redemption, accountability, justice and faith.
read our review
Sinister satire: Shipwreck, Almeida Theatre ★★★★★
Playwright Anne Washburn and director Rupert Goold tackle the monolith of Donald Trump’s presidency and the dark side of liberalism head-on in this three-hour theatrical fantasia.
read our review
Aural horror: Breberian Sound Studio, Donmar Warehouse ★★★★★
Peter Strickland's 2012 horror film becomes an eerie and immersive thriller on stage at the Donmar Warehouse, taking us behind the scenes of an Italian giallo movie.
read our review
Tick tock: The American Clock, The Old Vic ★★★★★
The frailties of capitalism play out as director Rachel Chavkin directs a timely, music-infused revival of Arthur Miller's Great Depression drama The American Clock at The Old Vic.
read our review
Money drama: The Price, Wyndham's Theatre ★★★★★
David Suchet and Brendan Coyle shine in Arthur Miller’s lesser-known family drama, making the best of a piece that lacks a punch.
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
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
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
