The best theatre shows in the UK

Theatre shows have seriously grown in popularity these past few years. And with something for everyone, it’s obvious why. Whether you’re a hopeless romantic, love a good giggle, like to get lost in deep thought, or just want a jolly singalong, there are plenty of UK theatre shows to suit you. 

We’re sure you’re as eager as we are to check out the best of the best, so let’s get straight to it. Here are some of the best theatre shows across the UK this year, broken down by region. 

(As the UK’s theatre hub, we’ll start with London before heading up to the top of the UK. If you’re looking for shows in the North of England, Scotland, or Wales, head right to the bottom of this page.)

 

London 

Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel

Photo: Austentatious! An Improvised Novel / Facebook.com 

When: Monday 20th February - Monday 19th June 

Where: Arts Theatre in London

Award-winning smash comedy Austentatious is now showing every Monday at the Arts Theatre in London. The show is entirely improvised by a title given by the audience in period costumes and live music to accompany it all. Since it’s improvised and the cast revolves, you could go more than once as no two shows will be the same. The only similarity is that you’ll be wishing you brought a spare pair of pants each time as you’ll be dying of laughter. 

 

Tickets for Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel

 

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Oklahoma!

Photo: www.wyndhamstheatre.co.uk

When: Tuesday 21st February - Saturday 17th June 2023

Where: Wyndham's Theatre in London

A legendary show that first hit that stage back in 1943, Oklahoma! was not only a smash hit back then, but it has maintained its legacy as one of the greatest musicals up until this very day. The multi-award-winning show has returned for a strictly limited West End season following sold-out runs on Broadway.

For those unfamiliar with the story, Oklahoma! is the story of a community that bands together against an outsider, only this version has been reimagined for the 21st century. With plenty of awards and countless fans behind it, you’ll have to see it for yourself to appreciate how genius it really is. 

 

Tickets for Oklahoma!

 

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Wicked 

Photo: Wicked UK / Facebook.com

When: Tuesday 22nd February - Saturday 17th June 2023

Where: Apollo Victoria Theatre in London

Another truly legendary show, Wicked has gobsmackingly secured over 100 major international awards over the years, including three Tonys, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy, and eleven WhatsOnStage Awards. You genuinely don’t get any more iconic than this. 

The twelfth longest-running show in West End history is based on a novel by Gregory Maguire. Wicked imagines the backstory and futures of the lives of the famous characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, revealing the story of how two university friends grew to become Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. 

Easily one of the best theatre shows of all time, if you fancy a bit of this, you’d better act quickly!

 

Tickets for Wicked 

 

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Six the Musical Tour

Photo: SIX / Facebook.com 

When: Tuesday 22nd February - Thursday 29th June 2023

Where: Vaudeville Theatre in London

Winner of two Tonys, four Drama Desk Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, and nominated for the 2023 Grammy's Best Musical Theatre Album, you can trust Six The Musical to be unreal. 

Six follows the six wives of the infamous Henry VIII as they take to the stage to tell their stories. A modern retelling of the divorces, beheadings, and deaths of the Tudor queens with an all-female band and plenty of bangers, you can’t go wrong with this mix of history, song, and women empowerment. 

 

Tickets for Six the Musical Tour

 

Curious to see what other incredible shows the city has to offer? Click or tap here to discover more of the best theatre shows in London

 

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South East England

The King and I

Photo: The King and I UK / Facebook.com 

When: Dartford: Tuesday 4th April - Saturday 8th April / Southend: Tuesday 18th - Saturday 22nd April

Where: The Orchard Theatre in Dartford and Cliffs Pavilion in Southend  

Heading out on tour following a critically-acclaimed sold-out season in London, this incredible musical is directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, securing the show four Tony Awards in 2015, including Best Revival of a Musical. 

An iconic production, The King and I is set in 1860s Bangkok, telling the story of the unusual relationship between the King of Siam and British schoolteacher Anna, who the King brings over to teach his wives and children. 

 

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Heathers The Musical UK Tour

Photo: Heathers - The Musical / Facebook.com 

When: Eastbourne: Tuesday 18th - Saturday 22nd April / Dartford: Tuesday 23rd - Saturday 27th May

Where: Congress Theatre in Eastbourne and The Orchard Theatre in Dartford

Based on the 1988 cult hit with Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Heathers The Musical got off to a cracking start, bagging the WhatsOnStage award for Best New Musical following two smash seasons in London. Coming to various cities in the UK this year, Heathers follows Veronica Sawyer who’s taken under the wings of three beautiful but horrible sisters. Her dreams of popularity seem within reach until a rebel shows up and teaches her that to be a somebody is murder. 

A high-energy black comedy musical that opens conversations on dark themes including suicide, bullying, and sexual assault, it’s definitely one to keep an eye on. 

 

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South West England 

Heathers: The Musical

Photo: Heathers - The Musical / Facebook.com 

When: Bath: Tuesday 21st - Saturday 25th March / Plymouth: Tuesday 4th - Saturday 8th April

Where: Theatre Royal in Bath and Theatre Royal in Plymouth

Based on the 1988 cult hit with Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Heathers The Musical got off to a cracking start, bagging the WhatsOnStage award for Best New Musical following two smash seasons in London. Coming to various cities in the UK this year, Heathers follows Veronica Sawyer who’s taken under the wings of three beautiful but horrible sisters. Her dreams of popularity seem within reach until a rebel shows up and teaches her that to be a somebody is murder. 

A high-energy black comedy musical that opens conversations on dark themes including suicide, bullying, and sexual assault, it’s definitely one to keep an eye on. 

 

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Pretty Woman The Musical

Photo: Pretty Woman The Musical UK / Facebook.com 

When: Tuesday 31st October - Saturday 11th November

Where: Bristol Hippodrome in Bristol 

Three-time winner of Broadway.com Audience Awards, Pretty Woman The Musical has touched down all across Europe, the UK, and the US. And the beloved story is back to get us all singing, laughing, and swooning with the famous story we’re sure everyone is already familiar with. 

But if you aren’t familiar with the 1990 film of the same name, starring stars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, the story follows sex worker Vivian Ward and rich businessman Edward Lewis and the development of their relationship. As many people's favourite movie, it’ll no doubt be incredible for fans to see the stage adaptation. 

 

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Midlands 

Everybody's Talking About Jamie

Photo: JamieMusical / Facebook.com 

When: Nottingham: Monday 25th - Saturday 30th September / Birmingham: 

Monday 9th - Saturday 14th October

Where: Theatre Royal in Nottingham and Hippodrome Theatre in Birmingham 

Winner of Best New Musical at the WhatsOnStage Awards, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has returned following a record-breaking three-year residency on the West End. the smash hit sets off on tour in September this year and will continue into summer 2024 (so if there isn’t a performance in this blog near you, you might still have the chance to see it next year!)

Living on a Sheffield council estate, Jamie New doesn’t exactly fit in. destined for big things, Jamie beats prejudice and bullies with the help of his supportive mum and friends. Full of pop bangers and a heartwarming message, this is the kind of story we’ll be talking about for years and years. 

 

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Pretty Woman The Musical

Photo: Pretty Woman The Musical UK / Facebook.com 

When: Tuesday 17th - Saturday 28th October

Where: The Alexandra in Birmingham

Three-time winner of Broadway.com Audience Awards, Pretty Woman The Musical has touched down all across Europe, the UK, and the US. And the beloved story is back to get us all singing, laughing, and swooning with the famous story we’re sure everyone is already familiar with. 

But if you aren’t familiar with the 1990 film of the same name, starring stars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, the story follows sex worker Vivian Ward and rich businessman Edward Lewis and the development of their relationship. As many people's favourite movie, it’ll be incredible to see the stage adaptation. 

 

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Titanic The Musical

Photo: Titanic The Musical / Facebook.com 

When: Birmingham: Tuesday 18th - Saturday 22nd April / Nottingham: Monday 15th - Saturday 20th May 

Where: Birmingham Hippodrome in Birmingham and Theatre Royal in Nottingham

Ah, such a legendary story! Winner of an incredible five Tony Awards, Titanic The Musical brings the tragic story across the UK this year. Travelling from Southampton to New York, the huge ship collided with an iceberg, sinking the “unsinkable ship”, and resulting in the deaths of a disastrous 1,517 people. 

The musical is based on real people aboard the ship, detailing the hopes and dreams of the passengers leading up to their early demise. With Third Class immigrants who dream of a better life, the Second Class imagining joining the rich and famous in America, and the millionaires of the First Class expecting their legacies to live on forever, the story reveals the stark differences of those aboard who, in the end, all suffered the same terrible fate. 

 

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North West England

Six the Musical Tour

Photo: SIX / Facebook.com 

When: dates across the North West from Tuesday 11th July - Saturday 16th September

Where: Opera House Winter Gardens in Blackpool, Opera House in Manchester, The Grand Theatre in Leeds, and Storyhouse Theatre in Chester 

Winner of two Tonys, four Drama Desk Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, and nominated for the 2023 Grammy's Best Musical Theatre Album, you can trust Six The Musical to be unreal. 

Six follows the six wives of the infamous Henry VIII as they take to the stage to tell their stories. A modern retelling of the divorces, beheadings, and deaths of the Tudor queens with an all-female band and plenty of bangers, you can’t go wrong with this mix of history, song, and women empowerment. 

 

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Titanic The Musical

Photo: Titanic The Musical / Facebook.com 

When: dates across the North West from Tuesday 21st March - Saturday 29th July

Where: Grand Theatre in Blackpool, The Lowry in Salford, Lyceum in Sheffield, and Empire in Liverpool

Ah, such a legendary story! Winner of an incredible five Tony Awards, Titanic The Musical brings the tragic story across the UK this year. Travelling from Southampton to New York, the huge ship collided with an iceberg, sinking the “unsinkable ship”, and resulting in the deaths of a disastrous 1,517 people. 

The musical is based on real people aboard the ship, detailing the hopes and dreams of the passengers leading up to their early demise. With Third Class immigrants who dream of a better life, the Second Class imagining joining the rich and famous in America, and the millionaires of the First Class expecting their legacies to live on forever, the story reveals the stark differences of those aboard who, in the end, all suffered the same terrible fate. 

 

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Heathers The Musical UK Tour

Photo: Heathers - The Musical / Facebook.com 

When: dates across the North West from Tuesday 4th July - Saturday 16th September

Where: Liverpool Empire in Liverpool, Palace Theatre in Manchester, and Blackpool Opera House in Blackpool

Based on the 1988 cult hit with Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Heathers The Musical got off to a cracking start, bagging the WhatsOnStage award for Best New Musical following two smash seasons in London. Coming to various cities in the UK this year, Heathers follows Veronica Sawyer who’s taken under the wings of three beautiful but horrible sisters. Her dreams of popularity seem within reach until a rebel shows up and teaches her that to be a somebody is murder. 

A high-energy black comedy musical that opens conversations on dark themes including suicide, bullying, and sexual assault, it’s definitely one to keep an eye on. 

 

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North East England

Titanic The Musical

Photo: Titanic The Musical / Facebook.com 

When: Newcastle: Monday 27th March – Saturday 1st April / Hull: Monday 29th May – Saturday 3rd June

Where: Theatre Royal in Newcastle and  New Theatre in Hull

Ah, such a legendary story! Winner of an incredible five Tony Awards, Titanic The Musical brings the tragic story across the UK this year. Travelling from Southampton to New York, the huge ship collided with an iceberg, sinking the “unsinkable ship”, and resulting in the deaths of a disastrous 1,517 people. 

The musical is based on real people aboard the ship, detailing the hopes and dreams of the passengers leading up to their early demise. With Third Class immigrants who dream of a better life, the Second Class imagining joining the rich and famous in America, and the millionaires of the First Class expecting their legacies to live on forever, the story reveals the stark differences of those aboard who, in the end, all suffered the same terrible fate. 

 

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Six the Musical Tour

Photo: SIX / Facebook.com 

When: Hull: Tuesday  23rd May - Sun 28 May 2023 / York: Tuesday 27th Jun - Sunday 2nd July / Newcastle: Tuesday 4th July - Saturday 8th July 

Where: New Theatre in Hull, Grand Opera House in York, and Theatre Royal in Newcastle

Winner of two Tonys, four Drama Desk Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, and nominated for the 2023 Grammy's Best Musical Theatre Album, you can trust Six The Musical to be unreal. 

Six follows the six wives of the infamous Henry VIII as they take to the stage to tell their stories. A modern retelling of the divorces, beheadings, and deaths of the Tudor queens with an all-female band and plenty of bangers, you can’t go wrong with this mix of history, song, and women empowerment. 

 

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Everybody's Talking About Jamie

Photo: JamieMusical / Facebook.com 

When: Tuesday 19th - Saturday 23rd September 

Where: Empire Theatre in Sunderland 

Winner of Best New Musical at the WhatsOnStage Awards, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has returned following a record-breaking three-year residency on the West End. the smash hit sets off on tour in September this year and will continue into summer 2024 (so if there isn’t a performance in this blog near you, you might still have the chance to see it next year!)

Living on a Sheffield council estate, Jamie New doesn’t exactly fit in. destined for big things, Jamie beats prejudice and bullies with the help of his supportive mum and friends. Full of pop bangers and a heartwarming message, this is the kind of story we’ll be talking about for years and years. 

 

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Heathers The Musical UK Tour

Photo: Heathers - The Musical / Facebook.com 

When: Hull: Tuesday 26th - Saturday 30th September / Darlington: Tuesday 3rd - Saturday 7th October

Where: New Theatre in Hull and Darlington Hippodrome in Darlington

Based on the 1988 cult hit with Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Heathers The Musical got off to a cracking start, bagging the WhatsOnStage award for Best New Musical following two smash seasons in London. Coming to various cities in the UK this year, Heathers follows Veronica Sawyer who’s taken under the wings of three beautiful but horrible sisters. Her dreams of popularity seem within reach until a rebel shows up and teaches her that to be a somebody is murder. 

A high-energy black comedy musical that opens conversations on dark themes including suicide, bullying, and sexual assault, it’s definitely one to keep an eye on. 

 

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Scotland and Wales 

Six the Musical Tour

Photo: SIX / Facebook.com 

When: dates in Scotland from Tuesday 2nd May - 3rd September / Cardiff: Tuesday 8th - Saturday 12th August 

Where: Edinburgh Playhouse in Edinburgh, His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen, Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, and Theatre Royal in Glasgow

Winner of two Tonys, four Drama Desk Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, and nominated for the 2023 Grammy's Best Musical Theatre Album, you can trust Six The Musical to be unreal. 

Six follows the six wives of the infamous Henry VIII as they take to the stage to tell their stories. A modern retelling of the divorces, beheadings, and deaths of the Tudor queens with an all-female band and plenty of bangers, you can’t go wrong with this mix of history, song, and women empowerment. 

 

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Heathers The Musical UK Tour

Photo: Heathers - The Musical / Facebook.com 

When: Mold: Tuesday 28th March - Saturday 1st April / Glasgow: Tuesday 27th June - Saturday 1st July / Cardiff: Tuesday 22nd - Saturday 26th August

Where: Theatr Clwyd in Mold, King's Theatre in Glasgow and Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff

Based on the 1988 cult hit with Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Heathers The Musical got off to a cracking start, bagging the WhatsOnStage award for Best New Musical following two smash seasons in London. Coming to various cities in the UK this year, Heathers follows Veronica Sawyer who’s taken under the wings of three beautiful but horrible sisters. Her dreams of popularity seem within reach until a rebel shows up and teaches her that to be a somebody is murder. 

A high-energy black comedy musical that opens conversations on dark themes including suicide, bullying, and sexual assault, it’s definitely one to keep an eye on. 

 

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The King and I

Photo: The King and I UK / Facebook.com 

When: Cardiff: Tuesday 25th - Saturday 29th April / Edinburgh: Tuesday 12th - Saturday 16th September / Glasgow: Tuesday 16th - Saturday 20th May 

Where: New Theatre in Cardiff, Edinburgh Playhouse in Edinburgh and Kings Theatre in Glasgow 

Heading out on tour following a critically-acclaimed sold-out season in London, this incredible musical is directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, securing the show four Tony Awards in 2015, including Best Revival of a Musical. 

An iconic production, The King and I is set in 1860s Bangkok, telling the story of the unusual relationship between the King of Siam and British schoolteacher Anna, who the King brings over to teach his wives and children. 

 

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Pretty Woman The Musical

Photo: Pretty Woman The Musical UK / Facebook.com 

When: Tuesday 14th - Saturday 25th Nov 

Where: Theatre Royal Glasgow in Glasgow 

Three-time winner of Broadway.com Audience Awards, Pretty Woman The Musical has touched down all across Europe, the UK, and the US. And the beloved story is back to get us all singing, laughing, and swooning with the famous story we’re sure everyone is already familiar with. 

But if you aren’t familiar with the 1990 film of the same name, starring stars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, the story follows sex worker Vivian Ward and rich businessman Edward Lewis and the development of their relationship. As many people's favourite movie, it’ll be incredible to see the stage adaptation. 

 

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It goes without saying there are plenty more amazing, award-winning theatre shows out there for you to keep an eye on. But if we wrote about them all, we’d be here all day, so we kept it to the best of the best. Whether you find yourselves laughing or crying, singing or deep in thought, these UK theatre shows are sure to provide a show you won’t soon forget. 

Click or tap here to find more theatre shows across the UK

 

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Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.

 

 

  

 

 

Header: Wicked UK / Facebook.com