This Month in the West End (September 2026)
Shehrazade Zafar-Arif
29 September, 2026, 16:27
September was an exciting month for the world of theatre. We had new show announcements, like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and casting announcements, like Teri Hatcher taking over for Vanessa Williams in The Devil Wears Prada, and thrilling London transfers, like Game of Thrones: The Mad King. Read on to find out everything that set the theatre world abuzz this month!
Summary
- There's some brilliant new shows to look forward to next year, like a new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and a West Side Story revival.
- Some less happy news includes an early closure for Beetlejuice the Musical and the cancellation of Sunday in the Park with George.
- There are also some exciting new theatre openings in October, including The Lives of Others and The Cherry Orchard.
- We reviewed some of the greatest shows that opened in September, from Million Dollar Quartet to Kimberly Akimbo.
LEGALLY BLONDE to transfer to the West End
Amber Davies in Legally Blonde. Image provided by production
Legally Blonde the Musical will transfer to the West End, playing a limited season at the London Coliseum, with Amber Davies reprising her role as Elle Woods.
WEST SIDE STORY revival coming to the National Theatre
West Side Story logo
A revival of West Side Story is opening at the National Theatre's Olivier Theatre in autumn 2027, co-directed by Marianne Elliott and Miranda Cromwell, with Jerome Robbins’ choreography reproduced and adapted by performer and choreographer Julio Monge
GAME OF THRONES: THE MAD KING to transfer to London in 2027
George R R Martin. Photo provided by production
The critically acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company production of George R R Martin's prequel play will transfer to London in 2027, with casting, venue, and dates to be announced.
Michael Ball to star in new production of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
Artwork provided by production
A brand new musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is coming to the London Coliseum in 2027, with Michael Ball set to star as Willy Wonka. It will feature much-loved songs from the 1971 film adaptation.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tickets
Teri Hatcher to play Miranda Priestley in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Teri Hatcher in The Devil Wears Prada. Photo provided by production
Bond Girl, Desperate Housewife, and Golden Globe winner Teri Hatcher will be replacing her former co-star Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestley from Tuesday 20 October 2026.
BEETLEJUICE THE MUSICAL to close early in the West End
Photo provided by production
Beetlejuice the Musical will be ending its run at the Prince Edward Theatre earlier than planned, having changed its final performance date from 17 April 2027 to 2 January 2027.
Revival of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE cancels its 2027 run
Artwork provided by production
The planned revival of Sunday in the Park with George will no longer go ahead as scheduled following the departures of both leading actors, Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey. Empire Street Productions has retained the rights to the production, with a view to present it in 2028.
Nick Mohammed to host THE TRAITORS - ACTS OF BETRAYAL
Nick Mohammed and Claudia Winkleman - photo by Euan Cherry
Claudia Winkleman has sworn Nick Mohammed in as the new host of the stage production of the global television sensation, The Traitors, which will open at the Gillian Lynne Theatre next year.
DEATH NOTE THE MUSICAL to return to the Barbican in 2027
The cast of Death Note the Musical. Photo provided by production
Death Note the Musical, which recently completed its 2026 London run and broke the Barbican record for the highest grossing single week of a musical, will be returning to the Barbican in March next year.
Megan Hilty and Rachel Tucker to star in concert production of GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES
Artwork provided by production
Broadway and West End legends Megan Hilty and Rachel Tucker will star in a new concert production of Broadway classic Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which will run at the London Palladium for three performances in March next year.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes tickets Tickets
What London shows are opening in October 2026
There are plenty of exciting new shows opening next month. Kristin Scott Thomas stars in the highly anticipated revival of Chekhov's final play, The Cherry Orchard. Keira Knightley, Stephen Dillane, and Luke Thompson lead the first-ever stage adaptation of spy thriller The Lives of Others. Shakespeare meets Radiohead in the dynamic new Hamlet retelling, Hamlet Hail to the Thief. And you can relive your Disney Channel nostalgia with the ever-popular High School Musical! Check out the full list of new shows opening this month.
What London shows are closing in October 2026
We're also seeing the curtains close on a number of shows next month. The musical adaptations of the iconic road trip film Thelma & Louise and Charlotte Bronte's timeless gothic novel Jane Eyre will both close on 24 October. Tilda Swinton's harrowing one-woman-show Man to Man also finishes its run on 24 October, and Ava Pickett's powerful new play Bloodsport - After Helen of Troy will go away on 10 October.
And finally, here are some of the biggest shows we reviewed in September.
ELECTRA/PERSONA at National Theatre, Lyttelton
★★★★
Photo provided by production
Cate Blanchett stars in this thrilling production that blends ancient myth and modern psychology in this fusion of Sophocles's Electra with Ingmar Bergman's Persona. Read our review of Electra/Persona.
KIMBERLY AKIMBO at Hampstead Theatre
★★★★★
Maria Friedman as Kimberly Levaco and Gilli Jones as Seth Weetis in Kimberly Akimbo at Hampstead Theatre. Photo by Marc Brenner
This Tony Award-winning Broadway transfer follows a young woman who ages at four times the normal rate, which means she starts high school looking like a woman in her seventies. Read our review of Kimberly Akimbo.
BLOODSPORT: AFTER HELEN OF TROY at Theatre Royal Stratford East
★★★★
Michelle Dockery in Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy. Photo by Tristram Kenton
This latest masterpiece by the award-winning Ava Pickett is a contemporary retelling of the story of Helen of Troy set in modern-day Essex and starring Michelle Dockery as Helen. Read our review of Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy.
Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy Tickets
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET at The Arts at Marble Arch
★★★★★
Connor Payne and Joey Bradick in Million Dollar Quartet. Photo by Alex Tabrizi
This Broadway sensation retells the extraordinary true story of an impromptu jam session between musical legends Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley. Read our review of Million Dollar Quartet.
Million Dollar Quartet Tickets
THELMA & LOUISE at Young Vic
★★★★
Photo provided by production
This is the first ever musical adaptation of Callie Khouri 's classic road trip about two best friends whose weekend getaway takes a nightmarish turn and sends them both on the run. It features music and lyrics by Neko Case and stars Amy Lennox and Rachel Tucker. Read our review of Thelma & Louise.
THE LAST SHIP at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
★★★★
Photo provided by production
Grammy Award winning artist Sting's musical is inspired by his childhood in the British shipbuilding town of Wallsend and follows a community of shipbuilders whose shipyard is threatened with closure. Read our review of The Last Ship.
If you're keen to take your young ones to experience some theatre before the year is over, here's our recommendations of the family shows to watch in London. You can also read our thoughts on the West End's love affair with adaptations and whether this means theatre is losing its originality.
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