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London Fringe Theatre - Off West End Shows
Explore fascinating new plays and fresh new musicals in smaller Off-West End theatres across the city, the very best of London Fringe theatre. Here's where to find unforgettable musicals, dramas, operas, pantomimes, stand-up and more, in intimate settings seating anything for forty to four hundred. You might even discover a West End legend in the making.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
3.9 56 reviews 3.9 56 reviews Tickets from £18.00Sink into the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's magical summer season with Atri Banerjee's blissful, dreamy production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, brought to life with a beautiful folk-infused score that will immerse you into a dizzying world of fairies and enchantments. Four lovers find themselves lost in fairyland, where a poorly timed love potion by the trickster Puck causes their already tangled relationships to become even more confusing. Experience Shakespeare's most spellbinding comedy in London's most beautiful theatre.
- Booking until: Saturday, 18 July 2026
- Running time: 2hr 40min. Incl. 1 interval.
- Playing at: Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 18 July 2026
Witness for the Prosecution by Agatha Christie
London County Hall
4.8 360 reviews 4.8 360 reviews Tickets from £16.00Step into London’s historic County Hall for Witness for the Prosecution, where Agatha Christie’s gripping courtroom drama unfolds in an unforgettable, immersive setting. This acclaimed production brings you up close to the suspense as shocking twists keep you guessing right until the final verdict.
- Booking until: Sunday, 25 April 2027
- Running time: 2hr 20min. Incl. 1 interval.
- Playing at: London County Hall
- Booking until: Sunday, 25 April 2027
Relics
Lyric Hammersmith
4.8 10 reviews 4.8 10 reviews Tickets from £12.00Family, legacy, and growing pains collide in this painful but funny play by Ben Ockrent and directed by Michael Longhurst, where four siblings gather at the home of their late mother to divide up her possessions, and instead stumble on a shocking secret.this raw, powerful play interrogates legacies and complicated relationships in a masterful feat of storytelling that you won't want to miss.
- Booking until: Saturday, 18 July 2026
- Running time: 2hr 10min. Incl interval.
- Playing at: Lyric Hammersmith
- Booking until: Saturday, 18 July 2026
Cats
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
4.3 256 reviews 4.3 256 reviews Tickets from £18.00For seven weeks only, Andrew Lloyd Webber's timeless, iconic musical about the life and times of a very special group of cats will be coming to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre before heading on a UK-wide tour. Don't miss the revival of this magical, memorable musical filled with colourful characters and unforgettable songs, returning to London after a decade.
- Opens: Saturday, 25 July 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 19 September 2026 - Starring: Beverley Knight
- Playing at: Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 19 September 2026
The Oresteia
The Bridge Theatre
4.2 6 reviews 4.2 6 reviews Tickets from £25.00Critically acclaimed Australian director Simon Stone returns to the Bridge Theatre to bring to life Aeschylus's epic Greek tragedy, The Oresteia, which follows the young Orestes in the bloody fallout of the Trojan War. This bold new adaptation, which reunites Stone with the creative team behind The Lady from the Sea, offers a unique modern spin on the classic play, in which a contemporary family wakes up trapped in a Greek myth.
- Booking until: Saturday, 19 September 2026
- Running time: 3hr 40min. Including 2 intervals
- Playing at: The Bridge Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 19 September 2026
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Globe Theatre
Globe Theatre
4.8 12 reviews 4.8 12 reviews Tickets from £6.00Sink into the Globe Theatre’s highly anticipated 2026 summer season with this electrifying staging of Shakespeare’s playful, chaotic comedy about spells, transformations, and the fickle nature of love. Four young Athenian lovers, caught in a love quadrangle, flee into an enchanted forest, where they become the victim of a love spell by the mischievous fairies that dwell within it. Dream and reality blur into midsummer madness in the sun-soaked open air of the Globe Theatre, making for an unforgettable and immersive theatrical treat.
- Booking until: Saturday, 29 August 2026
- Running time: 2hr 30min. Incl. 1 interval.
- Playing at: Globe Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 29 August 2026
Heathers The Musical
The Arts at Marble Arch
4.8 130 reviews 4.8 130 reviews Tickets from £25.00- Booking until: Saturday, 22 August 2026
- Running time: 2hr 30min. Incl. 1 Interval.
- Playing at: The Arts at Marble Arch
- Booking until: Saturday, 22 August 2026
Faulty Towers The Dining Experience
President Hotel
4.7 450 reviews 4.7 450 reviews Tickets from £55.00Faulty Towers The Dining Experience debuted in Brisbane back in 1997 and is now a huge success across the world, including here in London. Enjoy the antics of Basil, Sybil and Manuel in a 2 hour interactive production whilst tucking into a 3-course lunch or dinner.
- Booking until: Sunday, 20 December 2026
- Running time: 2hr.
- Playing at: President Hotel
- Booking until: Sunday, 20 December 2026
Much Ado About Nothing
Globe Theatre
4.8 5 reviews 4.8 5 reviews Tickets from £7.00Step into the Globe's decadent, joyful summer season with Chelsea Walker's production of Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare's wittiest comedy, in which polar opposites Benedick and Beatrice clash in a battle of the sexes while their friends attempt to matchmake them. Full of mistaken identities, witty banter, and hilarious antics, Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies for its sharp-tongued hero and heroine, and tricksy, mischievous plot.
- Booking until: Tuesday, 24 November 2026
- Running time: 2hr 30min, Incl. 1 Interval
- Playing at: Globe Theatre
- Booking until: Tuesday, 24 November 2026
The Enormous Crocodile
Lyric Hammersmith
4.7 3 reviews 4.7 3 reviews Tickets from £10.00Perfect for children aged three and upwards, this family friendly stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved children's book takes you deep into the jungle, where the greedy and vicious Enormous Crocodile is on the hunt for children to eat. Only the clever, brave animals of the jungle can stop him through teamwork and courage. Filled with catchy songs and jaw-dropping puppetry, this is the perfect summer experience for the whole family to enjoy.
- Opens: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 22 August 2026 - Running time: 55min.
- Playing at: Lyric Hammersmith
- Booking until: Saturday, 22 August 2026
Cirque Alice
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets from £37.00Cirque Alice reimagines Lewis Caroll's beloved and eccentric story of Alice in Wonderland through extraordinary acts from some of the greatest performers around the globe. Featuring aerialists and acrobats, mind-bending contortionists, exquisite puppetry, and special guest musical acts, you'll get to experience your favourite characters like the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and the Queen of Hearts and see the mind-boggling world of Wonderland come to life as you've never seen it before.
- Opens: Saturday, 12 December 2026
Booking until: Sunday, 3 January 2027
- Playing at: Royal Festival Hall
- Booking until: Sunday, 3 January 2027
The Car Man
Sadlers Wells
5 2 reviews 5 2 reviews Tickets from £15.00British choreographer Matthew Bourne's dance production tells the story of a small-town Italian-American community whose lives are changed when a handsome, dangerous stranger walks into their diner. With a passionate, high-energy score by Terry Davies and inspired by Bizet's iconic opera, Carmen, The Car Man will sweep you off your feet and into a sizzling American epic.
- Opens: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 29 August 2026 - Running time: 1hr 55 min. Incl. 1 Interval.
- Playing at: Sadlers Wells
- Booking until: Saturday, 29 August 2026
Thelma & Louise
Young Vic
Tickets from £23.00One of the most iconic films of the nineties is coming to the stage, in a brand-new musical adaptation of Thelma & Louise, directed by Trip Cullman and starring Amy Lennox and Rachel Tucker as the unforgettable road tripping heroines who wind up on the run from the FBI after one of them kills a would-be rapist. Funny, clever, and thrilling, it offers a fresh take on a story of violence and female friendship that feels even more relevant to today's gender politics. Book now and get ready for a razor-sharp and heart-racing story that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout.
- Opens: Thursday, 3 September 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 24 October 2026
- Playing at: Young Vic
- Booking until: Saturday, 24 October 2026
Ride The Cyclone
Southwark Playhouse Elephant
Drag royalty Divina De Campo stars in the darkly comic and unexpectedly moving story of six teenagers who die in a freak rollercoaster accident and find themselves suspended in a limbo where they each need to make their case for why they deserve a second chance at life. After a breath-taking sold-out run in 2025, Ride the Cyclone returns to enchant and enthrall London audiences at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant. Don't miss this tongue-in-cheek tragicomedy spearheaded by a delightfully talented cast.
- Booking until: Saturday, 22 August 2026
- Running time: 1hr 30min. No interval.
- Playing at: Southwark Playhouse Elephant
- Booking until: Saturday, 22 August 2026
Archduke
Royal Court Theatre
Tickets from £25.00Rajiv Joseph (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Guards at the Taj) brings his signature wit and absurdist comedy to this darkly funny play about the events leading up to World War I. three unlikely assassins are charged with murdering Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and cementing their place in history, in this disarmingly comedic story about the unlikely heroes and villains in history.
- Booking until: Saturday, 25 July 2026
- Running time: 2hr. Incl. 1 intermission.
- Playing at: Royal Court Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 25 July 2026
Death Note The Musical
Barbican Theatre
4.7 3 reviews 4.7 3 reviews Tickets from £30.00- Opens: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 12 September 2026 - Running time: 2hr 20min. Incl. 1 interval.
- Playing at: Barbican Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 12 September 2026
Burlesque the Musical
The Arts at Marble Arch
4.7 23 reviews 4.7 23 reviews Tickets from £26.00This bold, electrifying musical is based on the beloved 2010 film starring Christina Aguilera and Cher, adapted for the stage by Steven Antin in collaboration with Christina Aguilera. Step into a seductive underground world filled with sequins, shimmer, and feather boas, where newcomer Ali will discover her voice and an unexpected found family in the heart of a glamorous nightclub. Get ready for a story of glitz, grit, and heart, featuring music by pop icons like Christina Aguilera, Sia, Diane Warren, Todrick Hall and Jess Folley.
- Opens: Saturday, 12 September 2026
Booking until: Sunday, 31 January 2027 - Running time: 2hr 30min. Incl. 1 interval.
- Playing at: The Arts at Marble Arch
- Booking until: Sunday, 31 January 2027
Fences
Lyric Hammersmith
August Wilson's landmark 1985 play, set in the 1950s, is the sixth installment in his ten-part Pittsburgh Cycle, exploring the evolving African-American experience in the face of race relations. In this Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning drama, Troy, a working class 53-year-old man, struggles to provide for his family as head of the household. From one of America's most influential 20th century writers comes a powerful story about race, class, and ambition.
- Opens: Tuesday, 6 October 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 31 October 2026 - Running time: 2hr 30min. Incl. 15min intermission.
- Playing at: Lyric Hammersmith
- Booking until: Saturday, 31 October 2026
The Children
Lyric Hammersmith
Tickets from £12.00Lucy Kirkwood's fiercely clever and timely 2016 play follows two retired nuclear scientists at the end of the world, forced to grapple with the consequences of their actions. Directed by Rachel O'Riordan and starring Meera Syal, this poignant, harrowing story explores themes of inter-generational accountability, personal morality, and the environmental crisis, which feel just as relevant to our modern age as they did when they were written.
- Opens: Wednesday, 2 September 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 3 October 2026 - Starring: Meera Syal
- Playing at: Lyric Hammersmith
- Booking until: Saturday, 3 October 2026
Eurotrash
Young Vic
Tickets from £26.00Ben Whishaw and Kathryn Hunter star in Colin Teevan's stage adaptation of Christian Kracht's internationally best-selling novel about a mother and son on a chaotic road trip through the Swiss Alps as they attempt to give away their family fortune and escape their dark history. Witness a darkly comedic story of redemption, connection, and family unfold as part of the Young Vic's exciting 2026/27 season.
- Opens: Friday, 13 November 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 9 January 2027
- Playing at: Young Vic
- Booking until: Saturday, 9 January 2027
Dog Man: The Musical
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets from £32.00Dav Pilkey's beloved children's book series comes to the stage in the musical adaptation of Dog Man, the story of a half-man half-dog police officer conjured up from the minds of budding comic book artists George and Harold. Follow Dog Man as he solves crimes, fights villains, and does his best not to chew on the furniture, in this joyful, funny, and heartwarming musical by Kevin Del Aguila and Brad Alexander.
- Opens: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Booking until: Sunday, 16 August 2026 - Running time: 1hr 15min. No Interval.
- Playing at: Queen Elizabeth Hall
- Booking until: Sunday, 16 August 2026
Love's Labour's Lost
Globe Theatre
Tickets from £8.00Don't miss a rare opportunity to catch one of Shakespeare's least performed comedies, in which a group of men who have sworn off women are tempted by the arrival of a group of women in Navarre, leading to a battle of wits and desires, and a story filled with wordplay and poetry. Indiana Lown-Collins brings this rarely staged play to life through energetic flamenco dance, inviting you to join a celebration of fiery romantic tension and joyous revelry this summer.
- Opens: Friday, 17 July 2026
Booking until: Sunday, 13 September 2026
- Playing at: Globe Theatre
- Booking until: Sunday, 13 September 2026
Chicago
New Wimbledon Theatre
4.5 174 reviews 4.5 174 reviewsStep into the dazzling, decadent world of 1920s Chicago and experience the longest running American musical in Broadway and West End history, in which two divas, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, try to dodge their murder convictions by sparking a media frenzy. Get ready for two feisty heroines you can't help but cheer for, dazzling choreography, and an iconic score featuring songs like 'All That Jazz' and 'Cell Block Tango', when this beloved, long-running musical returns to the stage.
- Opens: Friday, 5 February 2027
Booking until: Monday, 15 February 2027 - Starring: Alexandra Burke, Denise Van Outen, Duncan James
- Playing at: New Wimbledon Theatre
- Booking until: Monday, 15 February 2027
Man to Man
Royal Court Theatre
Tickets from £30.00Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin) returns to a career-defining role after over 30 years, in German dramatist Manfred Karge's powerful story of resilience and survival during wartime. Directed by Stephen Unwin (The Conquest of the South Pole), Man to Man tells the story of Ella Gericke, who adopts her late husband's identity in order to get by in 1930s Germany.
- Opens: Saturday, 5 September 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 24 October 2026
- Playing at: Royal Court Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 24 October 2026
Ivanov
The Bridge Theatre
Tickets from £35.00Anton Chekhov's thrilling, keenly observant, and clever comic drama has enchanted audiences and thrilled critics for generations. In this bold new adaptation by Simon Stone (The Lady From the Sea), the story of Nikolai Ivanov, an unhappy government official searching for an escape from the humdrum of a midlife crisis is retold in a modern setting. Chris Pine makes his London stage debut as one of Chekhov's most complicated heroes.
- Opens: Tuesday, 27 July 2027
Booking until: Saturday, 16 October 2027 - Starring: Chris Pine
- Playing at: The Bridge Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 16 October 2027
Hot Mess: A New Musical
The Other Palace
Tickets from £15.00From the creative duo behind 42 Balloons, Jack Godfrey and Ellie Coote, comes a charming new musical about the messy love story between Earth and Humanity. Packed with original pop songs, whimsical comedy, and a powerful message about climate change, Hot Mess is coming to The Other Palace this summer.
- Booking until: Sunday, 6 September 2026
- Running time: 1hr 15min
- Playing at: The Other Palace
- Booking until: Sunday, 6 September 2026
Sunday in the Park with George
Barbican Theatre
- Opens: Tuesday, 15 June 2027
Booking until: Monday, 16 August 2027 - Starring: Jonathan Bailey, Ariana Grande
- Playing at: Barbican Theatre
- Booking until: Monday, 16 August 2027
Darkling
Bush Theatre
Ferocious, brutal and damning, this is an epic story of a life ravaged by ecological disaster. Written by the multi-award-winning Titas Halder, it explores the fallout of the 1984 Bhopal disaster, in which a pesticide plant released toxic gas that killed thousands in the Indian city, from the perspective of a young girl and her family. Relive the horror of a dark period in Indian history from the perspective of one family in this raw, deeply human story based on shocking true events.
- Opens: Saturday, 5 September 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 24 October 2026
- Playing at: Bush Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 24 October 2026
As You Like It
Globe Theatre
3.4 5 reviews 3.4 5 reviews Tickets from £7.00Step into the Globe's highly anticipated 2026 summer season with a classic Shakespearean comedy, in which young lovers Rosalind and Orlando navigate romance while hiding out in the Forest of Arden. Featuring mistaken identity, disguises, and live music, Sean Holmes and Charlie Josephine team up to bring this light-hearted and euphoric story of love, lust, and revelry to life in the gorgeous open-air Globe Theatre.
- Opens: Friday, 14 August 2026
Booking until: Wednesday, 25 November 2026
- Playing at: Globe Theatre
- Booking until: Wednesday, 25 November 2026
Cinderella (Lyric Hammersmith)
Lyric Hammersmith
Tickets from £15.00A panto classic returns - witness the story of Cinderella as you've never seen it before. Filled with show-stopping songs, hilarious comedy, and some delightful twists on this beloved fairy tale, this is the perfect festive treat for the whole family. Children and adults alike will delight in the humour, whimsy, and magic as a talented cast of performers bring to life this cheeky, chaotic version of Cinderella.
- Opens: Thursday, 19 November 2026
Booking until: Sunday, 3 January 2027 - Running time: 2hr. Incl. 1 interval.
- Playing at: Lyric Hammersmith
- Booking until: Sunday, 3 January 2027
Hairspray
New Wimbledon Theatre
4.9 35 reviews 4.9 35 reviewsThe iconic, award-winning musical returns with the uplifting and upbeat story of Tracy Turnblad, who dreams of being a dancer, featuring beloved hit songs like Welcome to the 60s and Good Morning Baltimore. Neil Hurst returns to the role of the formidable Edna Turnblad in this delightful touring production of Hairspray, a story that's been charming audiences since the original film first released in 1988.
- Opens: Tuesday, 31 August 2027
Booking until: Saturday, 4 September 2027 - Running time: 2h 30m
- Playing at: New Wimbledon Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 4 September 2027
Pretty Woman The Musical
New Wimbledon Theatre
4.7 402 reviews 4.7 402 reviews- Opens: Wednesday, 10 March 2027
Booking until: Saturday, 20 March 2027 - Starring: Aimie Atkinson, Danny Mac
- Playing at: New Wimbledon Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 20 March 2027
Mean Girls
New Wimbledon Theatre
4.5 57 reviews 4.5 57 reviews Tickets from £71.00Tina Fey's iconic 2004 film was hugely popular with Broadway audiences and now its here in London! Mean Girls is a fun, high-energy experience that hilarious explores high school drama, friendship and self-identity.
- Opens: Tuesday, 24 November 2026
Booking until: Thursday, 26 November 2026 - Running time: 2hr 30min. Incl. 1 interval.
- Playing at: New Wimbledon Theatre
- Booking until: Thursday, 26 November 2026
The Pianist
Park Theatre
Based on Wladyslaw Szpilman's internationally acclaimed memoir, which was the inspiration for Roman Polanski's Academy Award-winning 2002 film, The Pianist is a new musical that recounts Szpilman's harrowing experiences as a renowned pianist in 1930s Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. It features Szpilman's own music with new lyrics and is freshly orchestrated by Simon Lee, bringing his music and story together on the stage for the first time, in a love letter to the extraordinary power of creativity.
- Opens: Thursday, 15 October 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 28 November 2026
- Playing at: Park Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 28 November 2026
Holy Fool
Park Theatre
Holy Fool is a tense, darkly witty exploration of the absurdity of tyranny, the bravery of resistance and the triumph of the human spirit. Witness the story of Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist Dmitri Shostakovich, one of the greatest musical figures of the 20th century, as he quietly resists the tyrannical rule of Stalin's regime through the power of his music.
- Opens: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 10 October 2026
- Playing at: Park Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 10 October 2026
Alice in Wonderland
Riverside Studios
Tickets from £18.00Step into the dizzying, topsy-turvy world of Wonderland and follow Alice on a maddening adventure down the rabbit hole as she attempts to return home while dodging the terrifying Queen of Hearts. Adapted by Penny Farrow and directed by Nate Bertone, this immersive retelling brings Lewis Caroll's delightfully absurd novel to life with breath-taking costumes, jaw-dropping puppetry, colourful sets, and a thrilling original score, making it the perfect theatrical treat for the whole family.
- Opens: Thursday, 16 July 2026
Booking until: Sunday, 2 August 2026 - Running time: 1hr.
- Playing at: Riverside Studios
- Booking until: Sunday, 2 August 2026
Singin' In The Rain
Sadlers Wells
4.8 36 reviews 4.8 36 reviews Tickets from £36.00Based on the classic 1952 MGM musical comedy starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, the joyful, witty musical adaptation of Singin' in the Rain returns to the stage, packed with romance, high-energy choreography, and dazzling set design that will immerse you right into the glamorous world of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Set during the transition from silent film to talkies and featuring a silent film actor forced to adapt, a leading lady with a terrible voice, and a chorus girl who dreams of being a serious actress, Singin' in the Rain will have you bobbing your head along to its irresistible soundtrack.
- Opens: Wednesday, 2 June 2027
Booking until: Saturday, 3 July 2027
- Playing at: Sadlers Wells
- Booking until: Saturday, 3 July 2027
Tango After Dark
Sadlers Wells
3.3 3 reviews 3.3 3 reviews Tickets from £18.00King of Tango German Cornejo and his spectacular dance company return to present a night of authentic Argentine tango and a score that celebrates the legacy of the great tango composer Astor Piazzolla. Ten world class dancers and a live orchestra of musicians and singers come together to spin a story of passion, desire, and drama, told through one of the most irresistible dance forms.
- Opens: Thursday, 5 November 2026
Booking until: Monday, 9 November 2026 - Running time: 2hrs. Incl. 1 interval.
- Playing at: Sadlers Wells
- Booking until: Monday, 9 November 2026
Jane Eyre
Southwark Playhouse Elephant
5 1 review 5 1 review Tickets from £30.00John Caird and Paul Gordon's musical adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's classic gothic novel returns to the stage thirty years after it first premiered, bringing the beloved story to a new generation of audiences. In this moody, atmospheric story, the orphaned Jane takes a job at the beautiful, desolate Thornwood Hall, and finds herself tangled in the web of secrets surrounding the mysterious Edward Rochester. Get ready for a fresh, bold, and dazzling take on a timeless story of passion, love, and mystery.
- Opens: Friday, 28 August 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 24 October 2026 - Running time: 2hr 5min. Incl. 1 interval.
- Playing at: Southwark Playhouse Elephant
- Booking until: Saturday, 24 October 2026
Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Days of Christmas
Alexandra Palace
It's Christmas in Victorian London, and performers are suddenly dropping dead in the West End. Scotland Yard rules out foul play, but Sherlock Holmes uncovers a sinister connection between the murders and a famous Christmas jingle. This festive season, get ready for a delightfully charming festive whodunnit that spoofs classic detective stories with an original story starring legendary detective Sherlock Holmes - with a Christmas twist. It's the perfect piece of festive theatre for the whole family.
- Opens: Tuesday, 24 November 2026
Booking until: Sunday, 17 January 2027 - Running time: 2h 30m
- Playing at: Alexandra Palace
- Booking until: Sunday, 17 January 2027
Hamlet Hail to the Thief
Barbican Theatre
Created by Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, Hamlet Hail to the Thief is a dynamic new version of Hamlet where Shakespeare's words are illuminated by Radiohead's music. Experience Shakespeare's greatest tragedy retold through Radiohead's celebrated album Hail to the Thief, in a unique theatrical experience performed live by a cast of musicians and actors, which combines theatre, music and movement.
- Opens: Saturday, 31 October 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 23 January 2027
- Playing at: Barbican Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 23 January 2027
The Bridge
Bush Theatre
Palestinian actor and comedian Alaa Shehada returns following his heartfelt and hilarious debut, The Horse of Jenin, with a new play that blends storytelling, stand-up and physical comedy in a very human tale of family and connection, hope and joy. Follow Alaa as he journeys from Jenin to Amman across the Jordan Valley, carrying a dripping container of olive oil, on a moving and funny road trip that explores the realities of the Palestinian struggle and the impacts of colonialism.
- Opens: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Booking until: Wednesday, 11 November 2026
- Playing at: Bush Theatre
- Booking until: Wednesday, 11 November 2026
Insane Asylum Seekers
Bush Theatre
Thirty years ago, Laith's parents fled Iraq to escape Saddam Hussein's dictatorship and claimed asylum in the UK. Now his family is falling apart while Laith struggles to hide his darkest secret. Funny and moving, Insane Asylum Seekers is an autobiographical play from British-Iraqi award-winning playwright Laith Elzubaidi which explores British-Iraqi identity, generational trauma, family expectations, and the realities of the refugee experience.
- Opens: Friday, 12 February 2027
Booking until: Saturday, 20 March 2027
- Playing at: Bush Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 20 March 2027
Global Majority
Bush Theatre
Described as Black Mirror meets Succession, this new play by Tony Craze award-winning writer Chris Fung blends dark comedy, horror, and social commentary in a twisted tale of family loyalty, cabalistic elites, and what we're prepared to sacrifice for proximity to power. Brian Tran sits down for an interview for the role of the world's most powerful leader, but the interview questions become increasingly brutal, turning into a masterclass in psychological warfare. Get ready for a darkly dystopian and thrilling exploration of the realities of power.
- Opens: Wednesday, 25 November 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 16 January 2027
- Playing at: Bush Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 16 January 2027
Tartuffe (Remixed)
Marylebone Theatre
Olivier, Tony and BAFTA-winning Mark Rylance leads this bold new production of Moliere's classic comedy, Tartuffe, in which the fraudulent holy man Tartuffe takes advantage of a wealthy man's devotion to steal his property, marry his daughter, and seduce his wife. Directed by Darren Raymond, Tartuffe (Remixed) relocates this hilarious comedy to a modern-day African-Caribbean household. It will star the graduates of award-winning drama charity Intermission Youth.
- Opens: To be announced
Booking until: To be announced - Starring: Mark Rylance
- Playing at: Marylebone Theatre
- Booking until: To be announced
TRU
Menier Chocolate Factory
Jay Presson Allen's 1989 play about the great American novelist, screenwriter, and playwright Truman Capote is coming to London, with Jesse Tyler Ferguson at the helm of this funny and heartbreaking one-man play. Get ready for an unflinching portrait of the brilliant mind behind In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany's as Capote reckons with his career in the aftermath of his scandalous unfinished memoir, with an intimate, powerful, and utterly unique theatrical experience.
- Opens: Saturday, 19 September 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 14 November 2026 - Starring: Jesse Tyler Ferguson
- Playing at: Menier Chocolate Factory
- Booking until: Saturday, 14 November 2026
The Full Monty
New Wimbledon Theatre
The Full Monty is coming to the New Wimbledon Theatre as part of a UK wide tour celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the iconic, riotously funny British comedy film. In this feel-good musical, six unemployed men in Sheffield decide to become male strippers to make a bit of cash, and discover surprising truths about themselves along the way. Re-experience this uplifting story full of heart and humour, every bit as joyful today as it was thirty years ago.
- Opens: Monday, 31 May 2027
Booking until: Saturday, 5 June 2027
- Playing at: New Wimbledon Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 5 June 2027
Friends! The Musical Parody
New Wimbledon Theatre
After winning hearts in New York and Las Vegas, the laugh-out loud musical celebrating the popular sitcom, Friends, will come to the UK in an unmissable tour. The show is packed with all your favourite moments, unforgettable quotes, and a new original soundtrack, as it follows Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chander, Joey, and Phoebe through 1990s New York.
- Booking until: Thursday, 10 September 2026
- Playing at: New Wimbledon Theatre
- Booking until: Thursday, 10 September 2026
The Importance of Being Oscar
Park Theatre
- Opens: Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 22 August 2026 - Running time: 1hr 50min.
- Playing at: Park Theatre
- Booking until: Saturday, 22 August 2026
Anansi the Spider
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
Following sold-out runs at the Unicorn Theatre, Unicorn Associate Director Robin Belfield brings the enchanting Anansi the Spider to the beautiful Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Step into a world where animals can talk and walk on two legs, and follow the mischievous trickster Anansi, as he outwits stronger foes with his tricks and scheming. With jaw-dropping puppetry and family-friendly thrills, this is the perfect summertime theatrical treat for the whole family, with a powerful celebration of West African and Caribbean mythology and folklore.
- Opens: Saturday, 15 August 2026
Booking until: Sunday, 6 September 2026
- Playing at: Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
- Booking until: Sunday, 6 September 2026
Affluenza
Riverside Studios
Inspired by true events surrounding a shocking legal defence, Affluenza explores the ripple effects of power and privilege in the fallout from a drunk driving accident in the Hamptons. Written and directed by Andy Sandberg, this biting and darkly funny new play unpacks moral accountability, family legacy, and the justice system, in a way that's deeply timely and urgent to modern-day America.
- Opens: Saturday, 26 September 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 21 November 2026
- Playing at: Riverside Studios
- Booking until: Saturday, 21 November 2026
Sacrilegious
Riverside Studios
A smart, funny, and provocative comedy about what money can or can't buy, Sacrilegious is directed by Andy Sandberg and written by Tom Schulman, the Academy Award-winning author of Dead Poets Society. On the holiest day of the year, an idealistic young rabbi dares to challenge the billionaire president of his congregation, questions a multi-million-dollar donation, and ignites a battle for the hearts and minds of the entire community. Don't miss this razor-sharp play about the clash between principle and power.
- Opens: Saturday, 5 December 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 23 January 2027
- Playing at: Riverside Studios
- Booking until: Saturday, 23 January 2027
Expecting
Riverside Studios
Amidst falling birthrates and the chaos of adulthood, two couples find themselves asking what they truly want out of life, daunted by career ambitions and brunch plans, not to mention the realities of legacy and parenthood. Raw, authentic, and movingly funny, this new play by Scott Elmegreen and Drew Fornarola explores why couples are waiting longer to have kids, or debating whether to have them at all.
- Opens: Saturday, 30 January 2027
Booking until: Saturday, 27 March 2027
- Playing at: Riverside Studios
- Booking until: Saturday, 27 March 2027
Sylvia
Royal Albert Hall
Tickets from £34.50Kate Prince's electrifying, powerful musical about the life and career of feminist activist Sylvia Pankhurst returns to London. Set to a sizzling soundtrack that fuses hip hop, funk, and soul, it chronicles Sylvia's childhood, her complicated relationship with her mother and sister, fellow activists Emmeline and Christrabel, and her struggle to reconcile her pacifism with her activism. Fans of Hamilton will love this bold new musical about revolution and loyalty.
- Opens: Friday, 13 November 2026
Booking until: Sunday, 15 November 2026 - Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Starring: Beverley Knight, Sharon Rose
- Playing at: Royal Albert Hall
- Booking until: Sunday, 15 November 2026
Private Jones
Southwark Playhouse Elephant
In this coming-of-age story told with grit, heart, and a touch of irreverence, witness the incredible true story of deaf Welsh sniper Private Gomer Jones, who was the best marksman in his company. This brand new musical weaves together sign language, live captioning, a Foley soundscape, and a sweeping original score, and features a cast of hearing, hard-of-hearing, and deaf performers.
- Opens: Monday, 14 December 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 30 January 2027
- Playing at: Southwark Playhouse Elephant
- Booking until: Saturday, 30 January 2027
Bloodsport - After Helen of Troy
Theatre Royal Stratford East
From award-winning writer Ava Pickett comes a brand-new original play that takes you back to the bloody end of the Trojan War. Helen of Troy returns home to Sparta after the end of the war fought in her name, and through the reality of her homecoming comes a fierce, heartbreaking story of friendship, motherhood, and rage. Lisa Spirling makes her directorial debut at Stratford East with clever, raw, and brutal play about the woman at the heart of one of the most famous wars in history.
- Opens: Thursday, 3 September 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 3 October 2026
- Playing at: Theatre Royal Stratford East
- Booking until: Saturday, 3 October 2026
Girls
Young Vic
Tickets from £26.00Ewa Dina makes her Young Vic debut directing Theresa Ikoko's award-winning play Girls, a poignant and devastating portrait of Nigeria in 2014, when hundreds of girls were kidnapped from their homes by extremist group Boko Haram. Follow best friends Tisana, Haleema, and Ruha as they struggle to survive while navigating their changing friendship in the wake of fear and religious differences. Don't miss this powerful, harrowing story of friendship, survival, and the impossible choices we're faced with.
- Opens: Thursday, 22 October 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 21 November 2026
- Playing at: Young Vic
- Booking until: Saturday, 21 November 2026
La Distance
Young Vic
Tickets from £14.00La Distance is an intimate, inventive play by Portuguese playwright and director Tiago Rodrigues that explores separation, hope, and the bond between parent and child, set within a collapsing world. Set in a dystopian future where the earth is dying and half of humanity relocates to Mars, a father desperately tries to salvage his relationship with his daughter across the vast expanse of space.
- Opens: Friday, 22 January 2027
Booking until: Saturday, 13 February 2027
- Playing at: Young Vic
- Booking until: Saturday, 13 February 2027
Shedinburgh
Young Vic
From Fringe legends and cult hits to rising stars and world premieres, experience all the magic of Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Shedinburgh, landing in London for the first time in an immersive venue built in the Young Vic. This month-long residency will celebrate the creativity and diversity of the Fringe, showcasing over 40 shows from artists including Inua Ellams, Sara Pascoe, Bryony Kimmings and Rosie Jones. If you've never been to Fringe, here's your chance to experience it right here in London.
- Opens: Saturday, 19 September 2026
Booking until: Saturday, 10 October 2026
- Playing at: Young Vic
- Booking until: Saturday, 10 October 2026
Gem of the Ocean
Young Vic
From Young Vic Artistic Director and CEO Nadia Fall (Entertaining Mr Sloane) comes the first UK staging in 20 years of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean, a riveting instalment in a decade-by-decade, ten-play chronicle of the African-American experience in the twentieth century. Set in Pittsburgh in 1903, it’s a powerful look at the rich history and spirituality of the African-American people, and a searing exploration of resistance, redemption, and the enduring search for freedom.
- Opens: Friday, 14 May 2027
Booking until: Saturday, 10 July 2027
- Playing at: Young Vic
- Booking until: Saturday, 10 July 2027
dissent
Young Vic
From Olivier and BAFTA award-winner debbie tucker green, a unique voice in modern British theatre, comes a powerful dystopian play about a futuristic world where the state sponsors air conditioning and gives the people free cigarettes in exchange for unquestioning compliance. The Young Vic presents the world premiere of dissent, an explosive new play about humanity's capacity for monstrous behaviour, a powerful piece of drama that explores the darkest sides of human instincts.
- Opens: Friday, 5 March 2027
Booking until: Saturday, 24 April 2027
- Playing at: Young Vic
- Booking until: Saturday, 24 April 2027
See something special with Off West End Theatre
This is London's version of 'Off Broadway', the London Fringe, where the finest new productions and revivals live. Some of them are Offies winners, proud owners of well-deserved Off West End Theatre Awards and nominations. If an exciting, constantly changing list of entertainment for audiences of all ages is your thing, you'll enjoy discovering these great venues scattered in and around the West End itself and beyond.
You might find yourself a member of a small audience in a theatre on the top floor of a London pub, or one of a few hundred people loving the intimacy of a small purpose-built theatre space. The home of top quality, small scale productions packed with new and established talent, it's always worth checking back regularly to see what's new off the West End. From Hoxton Hall to Brixton House, the Arts Depot to Stockwell Playhouse, there are around fifty varied venues in London's Fringe scene, all waiting to welcome you.
As well as discovering a load of fantastic new shows you'll unearth areas of the capital you've never been to before, enriching your adventures. So what kind of thing would you most like to see gathering momentum in the West End Fringe?
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New Shows London Fringe Theatre - Off West End Shows Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between fringe theatre and West End?
West End venues are generally large, commercial theatres located in London’s theatre district, and typically host popular, blockbuster shows. Off-West End theatres, also known as fringe theatres, are smaller, independent venues located outside the West End, and often host a wider range of experimental, up-and-coming, and typically more affordable shows.
Are fringe theatre shows as good as West End shows?
While most fringe theatre may not have the same big budget or spectacle as West End production, they can be just as memorable and innovative. In fact, because they’re less driven by commercial demand, they can sometimes be more creative, diverse, and experimental. Fringe theatre venues are also often smaller and offer a more intimate experience to audiences. It’s also an excellent way to support up and coming theatre makers. Many award-winning actors, writers, and directors began in fringe venues, and some shows even transfer to the West End after gaining popularity.
Are fringe theatre tickets cheaper than West End tickets?
Because production and venue costs tend to be cheaper for off-West End shows, their tickets are often significantly cheaper in comparison. While West End tickets can range from £30 to £150+, most fringe venues charge between £10 and £25, making them a great option for affordable theatre.
How long do fringe theatre shows typically run for?
Fringe theatre shows often have a shorter lifespan than West End shows. Instead of open-ended runs, most fringe shows play for a few nights to a few weeks, often as part of festivals or seasonal programming. Individual performances are often shorter too—around 60 to 90 minutes without an interval, compared to the 2 to 3 hours you’d expect in the West End.
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