I stayed away from the West End for years until my mother coaxed me in with Les Mis and of course I found myself weeping uncontrollably – and loving it. (Our pact was to coax her into Henry V but it was starring Jude Law and she’s never stopped talking about his tights – so we both won.) No need to book way in advance – your Uncle Ken likes to go to TKTS.com and buy the day of – and we love matinees. And finally, even if you’ve seen something on Broadway – London feels just a bit different, a bit special, a bit London-West-End-y.
Mean Girls
Get the Burn Book out, because we’re trying to make fetch happen with our next entry on this list of must-see musicals in London. Based on the cult film from 2004, this musical at the Savoy Theatre brings the Plastics and their high school drama centre stage, with hilarious lyrics, snappy dialogue, and choreography that’s almost as sharp as Regina’s one-liners.
Wicked
Now in its 17th year of gracing the stage of London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, the untold story of the Witches of Oz has delighted audiences for over a decade with powerful vocal performances, stunning set design and compelling characters. It doesn’t take a tornado to get swept up in the fateful journey of unlikely friends Glinda and Elphaba – but this is Oz so you can expect to encounter one or two. Some might even say that you’ll be ‘Defying Gravity’…
Six the Musical
Critically-acclaimed and with a soundtrack storming up the UK pop charts, the sell-out intoxicating Tudor take-off Six the Musical is back! From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales in this fantastic musical, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a 75-minute celebration of 21st-century girl power. Hear from all six queens and get prepared to ahem lose your head! Not really thank goodness…
Matilda the Musical
When we saw this in 2018?, we sat behind an entire classroom of young ladies from far north UK – all classmates of the original Matilda. Terribly exciting 🙂
The musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved book took the West End by storm when it opened all the way back in 2011, and is still hugely popular today. A young girl with extraordinary abilities, along with a rollicking score by Australian impresario Tim Minchin and a fantastic cast and crew make this a must-see.
Hamilton
We saw the very first Hamilton in London and for whatever reason, Ken’s 90 yr old mother loved it! We think that was her first experience with rap. I think your mother took you to the Broadway a million years ago?
Now into its sixth year in London, Hamilton has become one of the hottest theatre tickets in town, and it follows the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War.
Les Misérables
This is, like many, a purpose-built theatre, which makes the performance so perfect. Between the heart-wrenching performances, the unforgettable songs like ‘I Dreamed A Dream’, and stunning set design, get ready for an emotional rollercoaster that’s famed for leaving no dry eye in the theatre. It’s a timeless story of love, rebellion, and redemption, brought to life by a continuously rotating (yet always stellar) cast.
Mamma Mia!
Since premiering in London’s West End over 23 years ago, this feel-good show has thrilled over 65 million people around the world – so they must be doing something right! Set on a Greek island paradise, Mamma Mia is a story of love, friendship and identity, cleverly told through the timeless songs of ABBA. Expect to be up in your seats grooving along to ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Waterloo’, ‘Voulez-Vous’ and more.
The Lion King
“Oh I just can’t wait to be king…” You know the rest. There’s a reason that this musical has been on the stage in London for twenty-something years. The tale of Simba, Nala and pals is a timeless tale that perfectly evokes the beats and rhythms of Africa – and let’s be honest, you know most of the songs already, don’t you? Get your tickets here and you’ll soon be feeling the ‘Hakuna Matata’!
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
“Come and get me boys”! Enter a world of splendour and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory… phew! A world where bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Pop the champagne and prepare for a theatrical celebration of truth, freedom, beauty and love… Moulin Rouge! really is all it’s cracked up to be, and you’ll no doubt be singing along to all the famous songs like ‘Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend’, ‘Elephant Love Medley’ and more.
Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
In a time when the world is changing forever, there is one place where everyone can be free. Welcome to the Kit Kat Club, home to an intimate and electrifying new production of ‘Cabaret’ starring Fra Fee and Amy Lennox. One of the most successful musicals of all time, Cabaret features music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and is based on the play by John Van Druten. This is Berlin. Relax. Loosen up. Be yourself. Get your tickets now for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club in London!
Tina – The Tina Turner Musical
Our first addition to this roundup of the all-singing, all-dancing musicals in London you really can’t miss is a real humdinger. From humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her transformation into the global Queen of Rock‘n’Roll, Tina Turner didn’t just break the rules, she rewrote them. This fantastic stage musical, presented in association with Tina Turner herself, reveals the untold story of a woman who dared to defy the bounds of her age, gender and race.
The Phantom of the Opera
Personally can’t stand this nonsense of noise, but… A real classic amongst classics, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s celebrated musical has been nothing less than a smash-hit since its debut – no wonder then that it’s considered one of the most popular musicals in London ever. Tragic, tortured, yet breathtaking, the story of Christine, Raoul, and the Phantom has enchanted audiences since 1986, and shows no sign of stopping yet…
