London Shows 2021: Great theatre to look forward to this year

Here at Official London Theatre, we’re looking forward to a better, brighter year so we’ve put together this list of London shows 2021 to highlight all the exciting theatre that we’ve got to look forward to as soon as shows are able to get #BackOnStage.

Whether you’re looking for brand new productions or west end shows that are premiering or staging a comeback, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Booking advance tickets is a great way to support theatres at the moment, and you can get a date in the diary to get excited about!

Monday Night At The Apollo, Apollo Theatre

12 & 26 April, 10 May 

This brand new concert series will take place in front of a live socially distanced audience *and* will be livestreamed to audiences at home!

An intimate evening of conversation and song hosted by Greg Barnett, Monday Night at the Apollo will see West-End stars sing some of their favourite music and share their most cherished memories from their time on stage.

Guests include Rosalie Craig (Company, City of Angels), Arthur Darvill (Once, Sweet Charity), Hadley Fraser (Les Misérables, City of Angels), Lucie Jones (Waitress, Rent), Cedric Neal (Chess, Motown the Musical), Aimie Atkinson (Six, Pretty Woman), Kerry Ellis (Wicked, Les Misérables), Cassidy Janson (& Juliet, Beautiful), Renée Lamb (Six, Little Shop of Horrors), Jamie Muscato (Heathers, West Side Story), Julian Ovenden (Merrily We Roll Along, Showboat), and Layton Williams (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Billy Elliot the Musical).

With 10% of the proceeds going to acting for others, you can see some of your favourite stars and help the theatre industry all at once.

The Prince Of Egypt, Dominion Theatre

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Opens 3 May, booking until 4 September

With music and lyrics by the renowned Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), the show transports audiences to the shifting sands of Ancient Egypt, where two young men grown up together as brothers in a kingdom of privilege.

But when a secret path is unearthed, they are divided – one must rule as Pharaoh, and the other must rise up and free his true people. Both face a destiny that will change their worlds – and history – forever.

Songs For A New World, Vaudeville Theatre

16 February – 14 March

Séimí Campbell directs David Hunter, Rachel John, Cedric Neal, Rachel Tucker and Shem Omari James in this beautiful performance.

Written by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown and sitting between musical and song cycle, this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love, and the choices that we make as it transports audiences through time and space.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre

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Opens 21 July, booking until 26 September 2021

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

Come From Away, Phoenix Theatre

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Opens 19 June, booking until 18 December

Come From Away tells the incredible real-life tale of the 7,000 air passengers grounded in Canada after 9/11. On 11 September 2001 the world stopped in the wake of crisis. On 12 September, their stories moved us all.

Set in the small Newfoundland community of Gander, which invited these “come from aways” into their homes and lives, the musical shows how, despite initial nerves and tensions, uneasiness soon gave way to trust. And as music soared into the night, gratitude grew into friendship, and hope, humanity and unity prevailed.

After the year we’ve all had, this smash-hit musical is perfect for anyone needing a little escape, something inspiring or a healthy dose of heartwarming theatre! We promise there’ll be happy tears, lots of singing and foot-stomping so be sure to add this to your bucket list of London shows 2021!

The Woman In Black, Fortune Theatre

Opens 2 March, booking until 27 March

Alone in the eerie, isolated Eel Marsh House, young Arthur Kipps is unaware of the tragedy lurking in the house’s dark corners – he only feels an unnerving sense of unease. When he catches a glimpse of a wasted young woman dressed completely in black, Kipps tries to discover more about her, but the locals turn silent and he must unearth her secret on his own.

Years later, he recounts his experiences in a theatre, desperate to exorcise the ghosts of the past. Susan Hill’s acclaimed ghost story comes dramatically alive in Stephen Mallatratt’s ingenious stage adaptation.

Here Come The Boys, Garrick Theatre

3 March – 15 May

Following a sold-out UK national tour, Strictly Come Dancing superstars Aljaž Škorjanec, Pasha Kovalev, Robin Windsor and Graziano di Prima battle it out to be named ‘King of the Dance’ to a cutting-edge soundtrack.

Strictly’s celebrity finalist and CBBC favourite Karim Zeroual will host the show, as well as displaying his own incredible dance moves.
Alongside a spectacular cast of international dancers, a whole host of guest stars will be gracing the Garrick’s stage throughout this 16-week season, so it’s not just the dancers who’ll be kept on their toes!

& Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre

Opens 28 May, booking until 13 February 2022

Olivier Award-winning & Juliet picks up where Romeo And Juliet leaves off. Romeo lies poisoned, Juliet awakens from her slumber, picks up the dagger and… decides to live. Off she sets to Paris with Nurse and her friends, a hilarious, comical journey of romance and self-discovery, accompanied by some of the biggest pop anthems of the past three decades.

This timely yet timeless tale of a young independent woman will have you boogying along in your seat to all your favourite chart tunes including [Hit Me] Baby One More Time, Everybody [Backstreet’s Back], Love Me Like You Do and I Can’t Feel My Face. & Juliet is a vibrant new musical like no other.

Jersey Boys, Trafalgar Theatre

14 April – 31 October

Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony and Olivier Award-winning, true-life phenomenon, Jersey Boys. They were just four guys from New Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect onstage, off stage it was a very different story—a story that has made them an international sensation all over again.

From the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is the musical that’s too good to be true. The show is packed with their hits, including Beggin’, Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December, 1963 (Oh What a Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry, Bye Bye Baby, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Working My Way Back to You and Who Loves You.

Good, Harold Pinter Theatre

21 April – 17 July

John Halder is a good man. But John Halder must adapt to survive. How is it possible to be a good person when things are falling apart?

‘You make a deal with yourself one minute, you totally repudiate it the next.’

Written by Cecil Philip Taylor, the play tells the story John Halder, a decent, intelligent, music-loving German professor. As the world faces its Second World War, John finds himself swept along in a movement that crescendos towards an unthinkable finale. Good is a warning for our times.

Hairspray, London Coliseum

22 April – 28 August

Look who’s back! Don’t miss Michael Ball reprising his Olivier Award-winning role as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray the Musical. The huge-hearted, smash-hit musical arrives at the magnificent London Coliseum from April 2021 for a strictly limited 19-week season.

This all-singing all-dancing production also stars Paul Merton, making his West End musical debut as Wilbur Turnblad. Critically acclaimed Marisha Wallace will also join the cast as Motormouth and Lizzie Bea will play Tracy.

Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre

Opens 30 April, booking until 13 February 2022

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella is the exciting new musical comedy starring Carrie Hope Fletcher, set to completely reinvent the world’s best-loved fairytale when it opens at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in 2021.

Andrew Lloyd Webber has described this new iteration of Cinderella as a ‘misfit’. “It’s about beauty, but it’s about beauty being what you are rather than what you try and make yourself’”

Matilda The Musical, Cambridge Theatre

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Opens 4 May, booking until 22 January 2021

Matilda The Musical, Roald Dahl’s much-loved tale of an extraordinary child with hideous parents, is the globally renowned stage show from Tim Minchin and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

A firm West End favourite and a delight for anybody who has ever felt the rush of rebellion, Matilda The Musical is an anarchic, hilarious, heart-warming and ingenious adaptation of the classic Dahl tale.

Anything Goes, Barbican Theatre

8 May – 22 August

All aboard for this saucy and splendid major new production of Cole Porter and P. G. Wodehouse’s classic musical of pure escapism, Anything Goes. Featuring a joyful, gold-plated score of theatre’s most memorable standards, including ‘I Get A Kick Out of You’, ‘You’re the Top’, ‘It’s De- Lovely!’ and Anything Goes, it’s everything you want a big Broadway musical to be and more!

Making her West End debut is the award-winning and internationally renowned American actress, comedian and singer, Megan Mullally as the delectable Reno Sweeney. Mullally, won hearts, as well as three SAG awards, two Emmy awards and four Golden-Globe Nominations, for her iconic role as Karen Walker in the hit TV sitcom Will & Grace. Mullally will be joined by three-time Olivier Award and Tony-Award winner Robert Lindsay, as Moonface Martin.

Back To The Future The Musical, Adelphi Theatre

Opens 14 May, booking until 26 September

This new musical adventure based on the 1985 blockbuster and pop culture phenomenon is brought to the stage by the movie’s co-writers, Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis.

Marty McFly is a rock ‘n’ roll teenager who is accidentally transported back to 1955 in a time-travelling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr Emmett Brown. But before he can return to 1985, Marty must make sure his high school-aged parents fall in love in order to save his own existence.

To Kill A Mockingbird, Gielgud Theatre

Opens 27 May, booking until 6 November

Based on Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Aaron Sorkin’s Tony Award-nominated production, To Kill A Mockingbird, is set to land in the West End at the Gielguld Theatre.

The enduring story of racial injustice and childhood innocence has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide and has seen many adaptations over the years including an Academy Award-winning film and multiple adaptations for the stage.

Holding the benchmark of having become the most successful American play in Broadway history, Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s modern classic is sure to be a moving and thought-provoking production.

Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Story, Lyric Theatre

28 May – 19 December

Lively up yourself and celebrate the story of Jamaica’s global superstar, as the electrifying new production, Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, bursts into life from June 2021 at the Lyric Theatre, London.

From the hills of rural Jamaica, armed only with his overwhelming talent and righteous beliefs, Bob Marley applied himself with resolute determination to achieve international acclaim for his prophetic musical message – a gospel of love and unity.

Mamma Mia!, Novello Theatre

Opens 7 June, booking until 2 October

The hit ABBA musical that still has West End audiences taking a chance on it more than two decades after it first premiered, Mamma Mia! continues to deliver the feel-good factor to London in spades.

Still drawing in the crowds 20 years after its London premiere, having began its London theatre journey at the Prince of Wales Theatre in 1999, Mamma Mia! now plays at the Novello Theatre, where it delights and entertains audiences over and over again; it celebrated entering its 21st West End year on 6 April 2019.

Leopoldstadt, Wyndham’s Theatre

12 June – 4 September

Regarded as Britain’s greatest living playwright, Tom Stoppard’s most humane and heart-breaking play Leopoldstadt is an intimate drama with an epic sweep.

Winner of the 2020 American Airlines Best New Play Olivier Award, the show is returning to the stage, directed by Patrick Marber, to tell the heart-rending story of a family who made good against all the odds.

Following the hardships of a Jewish family in 20th century Vienna, if you missed Leopoldstadt this year, you can catch the incredible production until September.

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, London Palladium

1 July – 5 September

50 years on from its release as a concept album, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will have us all dreaming again at the London Palladium next year.

Having been delayed by exactly a year, the production starring Jason Donovan and Jac Yarrow will be back to bring some multicoloured magic into your lives in Summer 2021.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea, Theatre Royal Haymarket

12 July – 5 September

When Sophie and her Mummy answer the door to a huge stripy tiger and invite him in for tea, they don’t bargain on quite how hungry he is. As he raids the cupboards and guzzles snacks, chaos unfolds. What will Daddy say when he gets home??

Delighting children and nostalgic adults alike, the Olivier Award-nominated production is based on the beloved classic picture book written by Judith Kerr OBE. The Tiger Who Came To Tea is one of Britain’s most fondly revered children’s books and has been enjoyed by generations of children and parents for over 50 years. If your little one’s haven’t experienced this classic yet, we’re certain this highlight of our London shows 2021 list will not disappoint!

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – Part Five, Apollo Theatre

29 July – 28 August

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain is back with a brand-new show full of crazy new characters and rude new rulers from Britain’s barmy past!

Will you conquered by King William? Will you sink or swim with King Henry I? Will Thomas Becket get the chop? Go house hunting with King Henry VIII! Are you scared to scale the Tudor scaffold? Join the gorgeous Georgians as they take over England! Break into Buckingham Palace and hide from the Queen! Watch out for the witch of WWII!

It’s history with the nasty bits left in!

Life Of Pi, Wyndham’s Theatre

26 September 2021 – 9 January 2022

Lolita Chakrabarti’s adaptation of Yann Martel’s book Life of Pi will run at Wyndham’s Theatre from 26 September 2021, directed by Max Webster. Wyndham’s Theatre will be transformed to fully accommodate the production.

After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, there are five survivors stranded on a lifeboat – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, sixteen-year-old boy named Pi and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Time is against them, nature is harsh, who will survive?

As far as London shows 2021 go, this West End premiere is pretty up there! Be sure to snap up your tickets for this much anticipated show.

Magic Goes Wrong, Vaudeville Theatre

21 October 2021 – 27 February 2022

Magic Goes Wrong, the Olivier Award-nominated box office hit created by Mischief Theatre with Las Vegas legends Penn & Teller will return for a magical run at the Vaudeville Theatre next Autumn.

In the latest ‘Goes Wrong’ comedy to hit the West End, the original Mischief company play a hapless gang of magicians presenting a charity event. As the accidents spiral out of control, so does their fundraising target!

The Drifters Girl, Garrick Theatre

Opens 4 November 2021, booking until 26 March 2022

The Drifters Girl is a brand new musical starring the fantastic Beverley Knight. The new musical tells the tale of the world-famous vocal group The Drifters and the woman behind the scenes who made them.

Beverly Knight will play Faye Treadwell, The Drifters’ manager who spent three decades getting The Drifters to the top. The story of The Drifters is an emotional rollercoaster, from world tours and hit records to personal tragedy and intense legal battles.

Aladdin, Lyric Hammersmith

19 November 2021 – 2 January 2022

If your panto plans were scuppered this year, what better way to get over it than by planning your 2021 panto?!

The popular off-West End panto had audiences at the Lyric Hammersmith in stitches in 2016, and promises to rub your lamp the right way in 2021, bringing this classic pantomime back to London.

If you’d like to see more London shows 2021, pop over to our Theatre Tickets page by clicking here. And for all the latest stagey performances, interviews and more, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel here.