ajhlovestheatre

(In alphabetical but not necessarily preferential order)

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1. ALTERATIONS – National/Lyttelton Theatre, London – 20 February to 25 April

https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/alterations/

1970s London seen through the eyes of the Windrush generation in Michael Abbensett’s poignant comedy, directed by Lynette Linton whose characteristic attention to detail and ability to coalesce comic and tragic should perfectly match this kind of material. Cast includes Arinzé Kene.

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2. BOOP! – Broadhurst Theatre, New York City – open-ended run from 11 March

https://boopthemusical.com

This went down a storm during its Chicago premiere and now David Foster, Bob Martin and Susan Birkenhead’s big band, big budget, big hearted distillation of the beloved cartoon icon heads for New York, staged by Jerry Mitchell. Newcomer Jasmine Amy Rogers looks like a total star as Betty and Tony winner Faith Prince is in the cast. 

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3. CLUELESS – Trafalgar Theatre, London – open-ended run from 15 February

https://cluelessonstage.com

The delightful movie transplanted Jane Austen’s Emma to the gossipy, image-obsessed world of American High School, and comes to the stage in an eagerly awaited new tuner with a score by KT Tunstall. Move over Elle and Regina, here comes Cher. This should be a lot of fun. 

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4. CRY-BABY – Arcola Theatre, London – 3 March to 12 April

https://www.arcolatheatre.com/whats-on/cry-baby-the-musical/

Hairspray proved that John Waters movies are an inspired basis for stage musicals, and although this one flopped on Broadway, the score is a jazzy, boppy gem. Plus any musical at the intimate Arcola is a special experience. 

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5. EVITA – London Palladium, London – 14 June to 6 September

https://www.evitathemusical.com

Arguably Andrew Lloyd Webber’s greatest score, with Tim Rice’s dazzling lyrics, this thrilling rock opera returns. Jamie Lloyd’s earlier version for Regents Park was an astonishing deconstruction and it will be fascinating to see how his vision translates to the Palladium stage. 

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6. FOLLIES – Grand Opera House, Belfast – 13 to 20 September

https://niopera.com/performances/follies/

Northern Ireland Opera and their AD Cameron Menzies gave us an intelligent, enjoyable Into The Woods a couple of years ago. Now they move on to this most epic of Sondheims, a masterpiece of yearning, nostalgia and exquisitely elegant bitterness, all filtered through the maestro’s take on the Great American Songbook. 

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7. HAMLET – Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon – 8 February to 29 March

https://www.rsc.org.uk/hamlet/

Rising star Luke Thallon is the latest Prince of Denmark in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s new production, helmed by the endlessly inventive Rupert Goold. Nancy Carroll, one of my favourite actresses, takes on Gertrude. 

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8. HERE WE ARE – National/Lyttelton Theatre, London – 23 April to 28 June

https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/here-we-are/

The final Sondheim: already seen in New York and inspired by two Buñuel films, this powerful, unsettling but playful piece is directed by Joe (Wicked) Mantello and has a magnificent cast including Tracie Bennett, Jane Krakowski, Martha Plimpton, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Denis O’Hare. 

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9. INTIMATE APPAREL – Donmar Warehouse, London – 20 June to 9 August

https://www.donmarwarehouse.com/whats-on/34/by-lynn-nottage/intimate-apparel

Pulitzer Prize winning Lynn Nottage is one of the greatest living American playwrights so this lyrical 2003 piece, last seen here over a decade ago, will be a must-see, especially as Nottage’s inspired long term collaborator Lynette Linton directs. The production also marks the London stage return of acclaimed American actress Samira Wiley. 

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10. KYOTO – @sohoplace, London – 9 January to 3 May

https://sohoplace.org/shows/kyoto

Eagerly awaited West End transfer for Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson’s much lauded climate change drama. A triumphant popular and critical hit for the RSC, this is a major theatrical event.

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11. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES – Theatre du Châtelet, Paris – 5 December to 10 January 2026

https://www.chatelet.com/programmation/25-26/la-cage-aux-folles/

Acclaimed French screen and stage star Laurent Lafitte leads as Alvin/Zaza in a brand new production of Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein’s joyful, heartfelt Broadway extravaganza at this most opulent and atmospheric of Parisian venues. 

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12. MURIEL’S WEDDING – Curve Theatre, Leicester – 10 April to 10 May

https://www.curveonline.co.uk/whats-on/shows/muriels-wedding/

Already a smash hit in Sydney, this stage musical version of the beloved cult movie arrives in the UK with Simon Phillips and Andrew Hallsworth (director and choreographer of Priscilla on stage) reprising their original work. The score is a mix of original songs and ABBA classics. 

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13. PUNCH – Young Vic, London – 1 March to 26 April

https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/punch

Any new James Graham play is an event, and this was hugely well received in its Nottingham premiere. Exploring the seismic consequences on a youngster’s life of an ill-considered one off punch, Adam Penford’s production features the glorious Julie Hesmondhalgh.

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14. PURPOSE – Hayes Theatre, NYC – 25 February to 6 July

https://purposeonbroadway.com

Phylicia Rashad directs the new play from one of America’s most exciting writers Branden (Appropriate, An Octoroon, The Comeuppance) Jacob-Jenkins. This family drama originated at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre, and the Broadway company includes LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Tony winner Kara Young. 

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15. REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES – James Earl Jones Theatre, NYC – open/ended run from 1 April

https://realwomenhavecurvesbroadway.com

With its themes of strong fabulous women, immigration and pursuing your dreams, this musicalisation of the landmark indie film could hardly be more timely. The Boston ART premiere last year was raved about, and Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez’s Latin-flavoured score is entrancing.

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16. SCISSORHANDZ – Southwark Playhouse/Elephant, London – 23 January to 29 March

https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/scissorhandz/

With a starry team of producers including Michelle Visage and Lance Bass, this celebration of the adored Tim Burton movie about the macabre but gentle misfit is packed with pop hits, and looks set to become a real fan favourite.

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17. SING STREET – Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, London – 8 July to 23 August

https://lyric.co.uk/shows/sing-street/

This 1980s Dublin-set tale of the thrill of young love and the transformative power of music, based on the film and with a score full of bangers, had its planned Broadway debut scuppered by the pandemic, but here it is in London. This sounds like a real winner (and good luck with getting ‘Drive It Like You Stole It’ out of your head once you’ve heard it).

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18. SMASH – Imperial Theatre, NYC – open-ended run from 11 March

https://smashbroadway.com

The TV series was every Broadway lover’s dream and now here comes the ACTUAL Broadway musical about the show-within-a-show. The pedigree is fabulous: score by the Hairspray creators, staging by Tony winner Susan Stroman and a cast featuring some of the main stem’s finest including Robyn Hurder, Brooks Ashmanksas, Krysta Rodriguez and Kristen Nielsen.

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19. THE FROGS – Southwark Playhouse/Borough – 23 May to 28 June

https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/the-frogs/

Another Sondheim and I make no apology for that! This seldom seen early gem, inspired by an Aristophanes comedy, is a musical satire cum fantasy cum road trip story that asks “can art save civilisation?” Glee’s Kevin McHale makes his UK stage debut.

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20. UNICORN – Garrick Theatre, London – 4 February to 26 April

https://www.unicorntheplay.co.uk

New plays premiering in the West End are an increasingly rare thing, but then Mike (Cock, King Charles III) Bartlett is a pretty uncommon playwright. James Macdonald directs a dream team of Nicola Walker, Erin Doherty and Stephen Mangan in this provocative look at polyamory.