With May wrapping up and the summer well on its way, we’re rounding the best of the news, reviews, and audience favourites from this month.
May delivered a wave of exciting theatre news for theatregoers to get excited over, from a fresh cast announcement for the Olivier Award-winning Titanique to the bittersweet reveal that TINA – The Tina Turner Musical will close this September. The month also brought word of new arrivals to the West End, with Every Brilliant Thing and a new production of Shakespeare’s Othello set to take the stage soon.
Let’s dive into our May 2025 Monthly round up, we will see you in June for another!
The most talked about theatre news in May 2025
New cast announced for Titanique at the Criterion Theatre
The new cast of Titanique at Criterion Theatre. Headshots provided by production.
Hailed by Smooth Radio as “the West End’s funniest new musical”, a new set of passengers will embark on the ship of dreams in June. Joining the hit musical parody of Titanic includes Luke Bayer (Everybody's Talking about Jamie), Richard Carson (Les Misérables), Hiba Elchikhe (The Time Travellers Wife), Carl Mullaney (La Cage Aux Folles), Tosh Wanogho-Maud (Robin Hood - Palladium Pantomime) and Caitlin Tipping (SIX). If you haven’t made plans to see this show yet, make sure to!
West End transfer of Every Brilliant Thing announced
Jonny Donahoe, Ambika Mod, Sue Perkins and Lenny Henry. Headshots provided by production.
The beloved production, which was wildly popular at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2014 and went on to be hugely successful in over 80 countries worldwide, is now setting its sights on the West End in August. Told through the perspective of a child, Every Brilliant Thing is an uplifting play about depression and will unearth the lengths we go for those we love. It heads to the @sohoplace from 1 August.
Cynthia Erivo to star in new production of Dracula
With the Wicked: For Good on the horizon, theatregoers are overwhelmed by the news that Cynthia Erivo will be returning to the stage and this time in the heart of London’s West End. Erivo is set to star in a new production of Dracula, taking the reins playing not only the vampire but 22 other roles in this one-woman production. It opens at the Noel Coward Theatre early next year and we can’t wait!
Tina The Tina Turner Musical set to close in the West End
One of our favourite jukebox musicals in London, Tina - The Tina Turner Musical revealed it would be leaving the West End this Autumn after seven box-office breaking years. The show, which charts the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s journey from her humble beginnings to Nutbush, Tennessee, to stardom, will close at the Aldwych Theatre on 13 September, so now is the time to snap up a ticket to see the show!
New production of Shakespeare’s Othello announced
Othello at Theatre Royal Haymarket press image.
Shakespeare fans, this is one for you! David Harewood OBE, Toby Jones OBE and Caitlin FitzGerald are heading to the West End’s Theatre Royal Haymarket this October where they will star in a new production of Othello. Brought to the stage by Tom Morris for Chris Harper Productions, this is the first in a series of contemporary productions set to be staged in London over the next five years. It opens on 23 October 2025!
What London shows are closing in June 2025
Looking to catch some last-minute theatre before June comes to an end? Don’t miss out on Ryan Calais Cameron’s gripping exploration of race, power and identity in Retrograde, Tamsin Greig’s unforgettable performance in The Deep Blue Sea and the brilliantly fetched West End production of Mean Girls The Musical.
What London shows are opening in June 2025
June is bursting with joyful productions that promise to kick off the summer in style! Disney’s Hercules makes its much-anticipated debut, bringing the beloved film to life in a new production at the London Palladium. Evita returns to the iconic London Palladium for a strictly limited run starring Rachel Zegler, while Girl from the North Country brings Bob Dylan’s hauntingly beautiful songs back to its home at The Old Vic. For something a little different, Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet, fuses dance and rock music in a bold new interpretation of The Who’s classic album. June promises theatregoers a month of variety, energy and unforgettable theatrical magic, so grab your tickets quickly!
What we reviewed in May
Elephant, Menier Chocolate Factory
Anoushka Lucas sat at piano in Elephant at Menier Chocolate Factory. Credit Manuel Harlan
Anoushka Lucas’ straight-through piece Elephant plays at the Menier Chocolate Factory Theatre, having previously impressed audiences and critics alike at the Bush in West London. Elephant is a socially aware theatre that is delivered with gentle observational humour, tinged with the unmistakable bitterness of harsh personal experience.
Shucked, Regents Park Open Air Theatre
Matthew Seadon-Young as Gordy and Georgina Onuorah as Lulu in Shucked at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. © Pamela Raith.
It’s sweet, it’s corny, it’s sweetcorn-y. Shucked is just about everything you could want from a rustic, playful musical, nestled amidst the enveloping environs of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
The Deep Blue Sea, Theatre Royal Haymarket
Tamsin Greig in THE DEEP BLUE SEA at Theatre Royal Haymarket
Lindsey Posner’s revival of Terence Rattigan’s 1911 classic, The Deep Blue Sea, is a bleak exploration of obsession and despair in the aftermath of an affair. The story drags on ever so slightly, but a talented cast and clever direction make it a compelling, thought-provoking watch.
Read our review of The Deep Blue Sea
The Comedy about Spies, Noel Coward Theatre
Henry Shields and Adele James in The Comedy About Spies at Noël Coward Theatre.
Mischief continues the successful farce formula with The Comedy about Spies, which has opened at the Noël Coward Theatre. It does exactly what it says on the tin and you’ll know exactly what to expect if you have been to a performance of The Play That Goes Wrong (which recently celebrated 10 years in the West End), or indeed, any of the other titles involving Peter Pan, Magic and a Robbery.
Read our review of The Comedy about Spies
The Best-Selling Theatre Shows in May 2025
We are thrilled to announce our 5 best-selling shows in May. This month, our customers have been snapping up tickets to see some great theatre, including Fiddler on the Roof, Just For One Day, Choir of Man, Les Misérables and My Neighbour Totoro.
Need some inspiration for your summer plans? Our guide to 10 Shakespeare Plays to See in London This Year is packed with ideas to spark your next theatre outing!
