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Photo: Marc Brenner | Rachel Zegler (Eva Perón) and James Olivas (Juan Perón)
Photo: Marc Brenner

London musicals

Discover the best London musicals in the West End and beyond and book tickets

Andrzej Lukowski
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There are a hell of a lot of musicals running in London at any given time, from decades-long classics like Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera to short-run fringe obscurities, plus all manner of new shows launched every year hoping for long-running glory.

Here we round up every West End musical currently running or coming soon, plus fringe and off-West End shows that we’ve reviewed – all presented in fabulous alphabetical order.

SEE ALSO: How to get cheap and last-minute theatre tickets in London.

A-Z list of London and West End musicals

  • Musicals
  • Victoria

What is it? Yes, it’s a musical adaptation of the 2004 Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore romcom. Its aggressively goofy plot about a louche marine biologist – with a posse of eccentric humans and animals – who falls for a woman who can’t remember the events of the previous day would seem to lend itself to the intrinsic silliness of the genre. And it has an impressive US creative team, headed by director Casey Nicholaw, best known for The Book of Mormon, and suggesting this run is a tryout for Broadway.

Where is it? The Other Palace.

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  • Musicals
  • Strand
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

What is it? This long-gestating musical version of ‘Back to the Future’ is so desperate to please that the producers would doubtless offer a free trip back in time with every ticket purchase if the laws of physics allowed…

Where is it? Adelphi Theatre

  • West End
  • Leicester Square
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

What is it? South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s Broadway-munching musical is a somewhat improbably big-hearted affair that sails close to the wind at times but nonetheless pays note-perfect homage to the sounds and spirit of Broadway’s golden age.

Where is it? Prince of Wales Theatre.

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  • Musicals
  • Regent’s Park

What is it? This 1947 musical from My Fair Lady writers Lerner & Loewe has faded out of fashion in recent years, presumably largely because its premise of a couple of American tourists stumbling across a magical Scottish village that only appears every couple of hundred years is actually pretty patronising to the Scottish. That’s presumably why top Scottish playwright Rona Munro has been brought in to update the book of the first major UK revival since 1988, which will see Drew McOnie direct his in augural production as Open Air Theatre artistic director. 

Where is it? Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.

  • Musicals
  • Charing Cross
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

What is it? Years after its original superstar leads Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley moved on, Rebecca Frecknall’s stylish take on the Kander & Ebb classic keeps going, thanks to Tom Scutt’s virtuosic delight and a steady stream of talking point leads. 

Where is it? Playhouse Theatre.

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  • Musicals
  • Whitehall

What is it? Amy Heckerling’s musical adaptation of her cult 1995 screen comedy Clueless makes a strong case for the enduring appeal of her slyly clever valley-girl revamp of Jane Austen’s Emma.  

Where is it? Trafalgar Theatre.

  • Musicals
  • Seven Dials
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

What is it? A labour of love that has worked its way slowly to the West End over the five years since it debuted at Southwark Playhouse, at its best Jethro Compton’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is an extraordinary thing, a soaring folk opera that overwhelms you with a cascade of song and feeling.

Where is it? Ambassadors Theatre.

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  • Musicals
  • Bloomsbury

What is it? The Devil Wears Prada is an all-singing adaptation of the 2006 millennial classic about a mousy young journalism graduate who blunders into the job of PA to a tyrannical, Anna Wintour-alike fashion editor. The songs are by none other than Elton John. The director-choreographer is Broadway veteran Jerry Mitchell. There’s some serious talent involved. And yet being turned into a musical does… almost nothing for it.

Where is it? Dominion Theatre.

  • Outdoor theatres
  • Soho
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

What is it? Rachel Zegler is phenomenal casting in the lead role of Jamie Lloyd’s chaotic but thrilling new take on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s greatest musical.

Where is it? London Palladium.

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