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It was announced earlier this year that rather than just cease all activities during its current period of closure and refurbishment, the tiny, historic Arts Theatre in the West End was going to try something a little different: it was going to build a temporary theatre that at 594 seats would be almost 250 seats bigger than the parent one. It would be next to Marble Arch, in roughly the spot where beloved London folly the Mound once stood.
Well, that all seems to have gone very smoothly, and The Arts at Marble Arch (at one point it looked like it was going to be called Marble Arts) will open this summer.
And the order of the day? Big musicals, it seems! It was announced today (May 15) that the venue will open in July with a return to London for Heathers (Jul 9-Aug 22), the much loved cult musical adapted from the Winona Ryder/Christian Slater black comedy that has played several seasons in London, mostly at The Other Palace. It hasn’t been around for a couple of years though and now it’ll christen TAAMA with a limited, 52-performance only run that will predate a UK tour.
Following that will be the return of Burlesque (Sep 12-Jan 31 2027). The musical adaptation of the Christina Aguilera film has had a slightly peculiar journey to the West End that culminated in only a brief run last year (as it had to get out of the way for Paddington the Musical) but it’s booking a much longer stint here. I have to say I didn’t love last year’s incarnation, largely because it seemed to have been turned into a vehicle for the ego of American pop star Todrick Hall, but he doesn’t seem to be involved this time, and it has very credible first casting in the form of musical theatre heavyweight Cassidy Jansen.
Toss in a daytime summer run for beloved US kids’ star Blippi – or more accurately another actor playing the character, in the show Be Like Blippi (Aug 5-23) – and you’ve got yourself a very solid starting season for a theatre project intended to last at least two years (or ‘five Mounds’, as they say at Marble Arch).
Book for all three shows here.
The best new London theatre shows to book for in 2026.
Plus: Sir Ian McKellen will return to the stage in the Yard Theatre’s stunning new season.
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