This Month in the West End (July 2026)
Shehrazade Zafar-Arif
30 July, 2026, 11:24
As we say goodbye to July and step into the second half of 2026, here's all the most exciting theatre news that's circulated in the last month. From star-studded new shows like August: Osage County to Tru, to thrilling cast announcements for RENT and Hadestown, there's plenty for us to look forward to in the next half of the year.
Summary
- There have been some exciting new show announcements, such as Tru starring Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Nero starring Andrew Barth Feldman.
- Principal casting was announced for RENT and Hadestown, with some thrilling names on the rosters.
- We have a lot of new shows to look forward to in August, like Electra/Persona and Abigail's Party.
- We reviewed some of the most anticipated new shows this month, such as Jesus Christ Superstar and The Oresteia.
Lesley Manville and Anna Maxwell Martin to star in revival of AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
Image provided by production
Tracy Letts' Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning family drama, widely considered one of the defining plays of the 21st century, will return to the West End in 2027 in its first major revival, starring Lesley Manville and Anna Maxwell Martin in the lead roles.
Andrew Barth Feldman to star in new musical NERO
Headshot provided by production
Stage and screen star Andrew Barth Feldman will make his London stage debut in a new musical, Nero, from the writers of Spring Awakening, which reimagines the story of the notorious Roman emperor Nero.
Principal casting announced and booking extended for RENT
Photo by Oliver Rosser
The full principal cast has been revealed for the new production of Jonathan Larson’s Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning musical, which has also extended booking due to popular demand. The previously announced Gaten Matarazzo will be joined by Travis Ross, Bella Brown, Billy Nevers, Lazy Violet, Danielle Fiamanya, Jeevan Braich, and Joaquin Pedro Valdes.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson to star in London premiere of TRU
Image provided by production
Jesse Tyler Ferguson will reprise his Broadway role as Truman Capote in the London premiere of Jay Presson Allen's funny and heartbreaking one man play about the great American novelist.
BURLESQUE THE MUSICAL postpones its London run
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Burlesque the Musical, which was due to begin performances at the Arts at Marble Arch on 12 September 2026, announced that the production has now been postponed until 2027, with a different venue and new dates to be confirmed.
Michelle Dockery and Laura Aikman to star in BLOODSPORT: AFTER HELEN OF TROY
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Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery will play Helen opposite Laura Aikman as Cee in Ava Pickett's highly anticipated new play, a modern retelling of the story of Helen the Troy, which opens at Stratford East in September.
Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy Tickets
Vanessa Williams and Matt Henry set final performance dates for THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Photo by Matt Crockett
Vanessa Williams and Matt Henry will be stepping down from their roles as Miranda Priestley and Nigel in this award-winning musical, with Williams' last performance set for Saturday 19 September and Henry's for Saturday 17 October.
HADESTOWN announces new principal cast members
Headshots provided by production
The musical, which recently celebrated its 1000th performance in the West End, announced a star-studded line-up of new cast members, including internationally acclaimed soprano Danielle de Niese as Persephone, film and television star Shaun Dooley as Hades, West End star Malinda Parris as Hermes, West End rising star Fayth Ifil as Eurydice, and The Wanted's Nathan Syke as Orpheus.
Is WEST SIDE STORY coming to the UK?
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And finally, an exciting rumour... Jerome Robbins' beloved Tony Award-winning Broadway musical West Side Story may be coming to the UK in 2027, which would be its first major London revival since 1998.
What London shows are opening in August 2026
There's a lot of shows opening in August that we're really excited about! See Cate Blanchett in thrilling new play Electra/Persona and EastEnders' Tamzin Outhwaite in the black comedy of manners Abigail's Party, relive a beloved comedy with the return of The Comedy About Spies, and fall in love with a classic Shakespearean comedy like As You Like It. Check out the full list of new shows opening this month.
What London shows are closing in August 2026
On the flip side, we're also saying goodbye to a lot of shows next month. The Misanthrope starring Sandra Oh closes on 1 August. Cult classic Heathers the Musical will finish its run on 22 August, as will dark comedy Ride the Cyclone. Ethereal and romantic new musical Dark of the Moon is also finishing on 8 August.
And finally, here are some of the biggest shows we reviewed in July.
THE ORESTEIA at Bridge Theatre
★★★★★
Mary-Louise Parker, David Morrissey, and John Macmillan in The Oresteia at The Bridge Theatre. Photo by Johan Persson
Critically acclaimed director Simon Stone directs a modernised retelling of Aeschylus's epic Greek tragedy, in which a contemporary family wakes up in a Greek myth. Read our review of The Oresteia.
ARCADIA at Duke of York's Theatre
★★★★★
Isis Hainsworth in Arcadia. Photo by Manuel Harlan
Carrie Cracknell's bold revival of Tom Stoppard's 1993 play about order and disorder told through a historical scandal returns to the West End after a sell-out run at the Old Vic. Read our review of Arcadia.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at London Palladium
★★★★
Sam Ryder in Jesus Christ Superstar. Photo by Johan Persson.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic rock opera about the last days of Jesus Christ is one of the biggest shows currently playing in the West End. Read our review of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Jesus Christ Superstar Tickets
HEATHERS THE MUSICAL at the Arts at Marble Arch
★★★★
The cast of Heathers the Musical. Photo by Pamela Raith
The musical adaptation of the cult classic 1989 film is back this summer, with a dark and funny story about how high school can be murder... literally. Read our review of Heathers the Musical.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at Wyndham’s Theatre
★★★★
Photo by Johan Persson
Aaron Sorkin's smash-hit stage adaptation of Harper Lee's beloved coming of age novel set in the American South stars Richard Coyle as Atticus Finch. Read our review of To Kill a Mockingbird.
Now you're all caught up! But there's more... Get up to speed on everything we're saying goodbye to in 2026. And if you enjoyed our review of Jesus Christ Superstar, here's everything you need to know about this iconic musical.
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