The best theatre shows in the UK
Here are the best theatre shows in the UK in 2023, from Scotland to Wales, Manchester to London, and more.
Last updated: 24th Mar 2023
Originally published: 23rd Mar 2023
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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Header: Wicked UK / Facebook.com