Musical Theatre

1. Titanique.

I actually caught Titanique in previews in December but it’s official opening night is early January so I have allowed it on my list. The show is on at the Criterion Theatre and it tells the story of what would have happened if Celine Dion was on board the Titanic! The show is packed full of Celine Dion songs and is utterly camp and hilarious. To book tickets for Titanique click here.

2.The Great Gatsby.

After the show being a roaring success on Broadway and spurring a Tik Tok dance trend the show is finally headed to London, the Coliseum to be precise. It is on from the 11th April – 7th September. To book tickets to the Great Gatsby click here.

3.Evita.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita is on at the London Palladium for 12 weeks from the 14th June and is directed by Jamie Lloyd. If you were a fan of the Sunset Boulevard Lloyd Webber an Jamie Lloyd combo then you will want to see this. Tickets are not yet for sale but believe me I will be jumping on them when they are!

4. Clueless

Last year I had a sneak peek of some of the Clueless music written by KT Tunstall and they were a proper bop! Based on the classic 90’s film featuring the wardrobe of my childhood dreams! The show opens on the 15th February at Trafalgar Theatre. You can buy tickets for Clueless here.

5.The Frogs

The Frogs is on at Southwark Playhouse Borough from 23rd May to 28th June and is on my list for the Sondheim meets Glee aspect. The show by Sondheim is an ancient tale retold as a comedy and it just so happens to star Kevin McHale who was Artie in Glee. You can buy tickets direct through Southwark Playhouse here.

6. 13 Going On 30

13 Going on 30 is another musical based on an tweenage film with a huge following, combine that with the fact that Lucie Jones has already been announced in the lead role and Andy Fickman, the Heathers director is at the helm, this makes it a must see. It is on at Manchester Opera House from the 21st September and you can book tickets here.

7. Here We Are

It would be remiss of me not to include Stephen Sondheim’s final musical premier in London at the National Theatre from the 23rd April. Leo and Marianne Brink have found the ideal spot to take their friends for brunch but when a series of strange events interrupts their meal they soon find out that they have bitten off more than they can chew. Book tickets here.

8.Disney’s Hercules

The musical inspired by the Disney hit film is the latest show to reach London. With music by the incredible Alan Menken and rave reviews from the production at Paper Mill Playhouse, Disney musicals are always a spectacular. You can get tickets for Hercules at Theatre Royal Drury Lane here which includes ‘Lightning Performances’ which are Tuesday evening performances with best seats in the house at £56.

Plays

9. The Years

The Years is based on Nobel Prize winning Annie Ernaux’s novel, the play follows one unamed woman’s journey as portrayed by 5 actresses. It is on Harold Pinter Theatre from 24th January and has transferred from the Almeida theatre where is was on in the summer of 2024 and received glowing reviews. You can buy tickets for The Years here.

10. Giant

Giant tells of Roald Dahl and looks at the line between considered opinion and dangerous rhetoric. It transfers from the Royal Court last year to the Harold Pinter Theatre from 26th April for a 14 week limited run and stars John Lithgow. You can buy tickets for Giant here.

11. Inter Alia

Inter Alia is part of Rufus Norris’ final season at the National Theatre and it is brought to you by the team that brought us Prima Facie. Both plays firmly rooted in the law or the courtroom, Inter Alia tells of a High Court Judge who is forced to reckon her role with her role as a mother, wife and feminist. The final dates have not be confirmed so make sure to check back on the National Theatre’s website.

12. Richard II

With Guys and Dolls finishing the Bridge Theatre’s latest production is Richard II which is on from 10th February – 10th May. Even prior to Guys & Dolls the Bridge had a wonderful reputation of putting on shows with an impressive use of space. This production had the added draw of staring Jonathan Bailey. You can buy tickets for Richard II here.

13. The Comedy About Spies

This is on at the Noel Coward Theatre from 14th April – 3rd August – This play is brought to you by the team behind the Play That Goes Wrong where the audience step into 60’s London where a rouge British agent steals plans for a top secret new weapon and leads to a spy caper full of misunderstanding, miscommunication and mistaken identity. You can buy tickets for The Comedy About Spies here.

14. My Master Builder

My Master Builder is on at Wyndham’s Theatre from the 17th April until 12th July. This show starring Ewan McGregor stars in this Ibsen inspired production which tells of Elena Solness who is preparing to throw a party in the Hamptons to celebrate her architect husband Henry Solness but their union is shattered by the arrival of a former student of Henry’s. You can buy tickets here.

Concerts

15. Marisha Wallace

Marisha Wallace can currently do no wrong, stepping into the role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret having previously played roles such as Adelaide in Guys & Dolls and Becki in Waitress she is being claimed as one of the UK’s great musical theatre stars, despite coming from the US. Her one woman concert is on 11th March 2025 at the Adelphi Theatre and promises to be a performance not to be missed. You can buy tickets here.

16. Hugh Jackman

The icon that is Hugh Jackman is taking the stage at BST Hyde Park on Sunday 6th July. Tickets are not cheap with standing tickets starting from £112 but if you can afford it then it’s sure to be an iconic night with him promising special guests and performance from The Greatest Showman, Les Misérables and Music Man. You can find out more here.

Amateur Theatre

17. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

I may be biased as I am directing this production but I had to include Bromley Players production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in the list. The show is very recently out to amateur groups and Bromley Players have a reputation for high quality productions. It is on at the Bob Hope Theatre from the 9th – 12th April including a relaxed performance on the 12th, at the Bob Hope Theatre. You can buy tickets here.

18. Violet

Violet is a hugely unrated show which I have been banging on about since I saw back in 2019 at Charing Cross Theatre. It tells of Violet, a disfigured girl who travels from Spruce Pine, North Carolina to Tulsa Oklahoma in order to meet a faith healer. Along the way she meets 2 soldiers and an unlikely friendship is developed between them. The show is a tender one that switches between the present day and flashbacks to young Violet. The audience learn that she wasn’t born with the scar and you see young Violet struggling to come to terms with her appearance. The show is being produced by Sedos who have an incredible reputation and is on from 25-29th March at the Bridewell Theatre. You can find out more here.

19. The Proms Remixed

This a show being produced by Centre Stage and is on from the 15-19th July at the Bridewell Theatre. Songs originally crafted for solos or intimate ensembles are being reimagined on a bigger scale. Sometimes amateur theatre can lack the money needed to put on shows requiring big orchestras, so that combined with the creativity at work here is an exciting concept. You can find out more here.

20. Mosquitos

This is another production on at the Bob Hope Theatre and the play is by award winning Lucy Kirkwood who tells of sisters pulling in different directions. This is a play absorbed with the connection between the insignificant and the cosmic. It is directed by Sarah Howard and as someone who has seen many of her previous productions I would highly recommend getting along to it. It is on from the 7th – 10th May at the Bob Hope Theatre. You can find out more about the show here.

I hope you liked this round up of 20 shows to see in 2025. Do let me know what you have booked already and if you are planning on seeing any of these shows.

If you like this article about 20 shows to see in 2025, you might also like my stagey look back at 2024.