Here’s a guide to some of the shows you might want to book a ticket for this month…
Legally Blonde, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre: hooray! Elle Woods is back in town in this new production of the musical based on the popular film. Re-discover the story of Elle who will do anything to win back her boyfriend Warner – including going to law school! Directed by Lucy Moss, the production stars Courtney Bowman as Elle and is set to begin performances from the 13th May for a limited season!
Grease the Musical, Dominion Theatre: Grease is most definitely the word in the return of this well loved musical to the West End! Featuring the memorable songs Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’, Hopelessly Devoted to You and You’re the One That I Want – why not pay a visit to Rydell High? This new production is directed by the Leicester Curve’s Artistic Director Nikolai Foster, and choreographed by the legendary Arlene Phillips. Check out our interview with leading man Dan Partridge who plays Danny here.
My Fair Lady, London Coliseum: twenty years has passed since Lerner & Loewe’s classic musical was last seen in the West End. This time directed by Bartlett Sher, this production was originally seen on Broadway and was critically acclaimed. The London production stars: Amara Okereke as Eliza Doolittle, Harry Hadden-Paton reprises his performance as Henry Higgins which he originated at the Lincoln Center in New York and for which he received Tony and Grammy award nominations, Dame Vanessa Redgrave as Mrs Higgins, Maureen Beattie as Mrs Pearce, Sharif Afifi as Freddie Eynesford-Hill, Stephen K Amos as Alfred P. Doolittle and Malcolm Sinclair who plays the role of Colonel Pickering.
La Clique, Underbelly Festival: this immensely popular cabaret show returns to London this Summer as part of the Underbelly festival at Cavendish Square. With a wide variety of acts taking part – expect plenty of thrills and laughs!
The Glass Menagerie, Duke of York’s Theatre: Amy Adams is set to make her West End debut in this new production of Tennessee Williams’s classic play, which begins performances at the Duke of York’s Theatre from the 23rd May.
Henry VIII, Shakespeare’s Globe: see the story of Henry VIII unfolding from a female perspective this Summer, as the Shakespeare’s Globe puts on this Shakespeare play co-written with John Fletcher and directed this time by Amy Hodge (Women Beware Women, Globe) directs this production which sees the Globe’s 2022 Resident Writer Hannah Khalil (A Museum in Baghdad) become Shakespeare and Fletcher’s third collaborator. It opens at the theatre from the 19th May.
The Gunpowder Plot,Tower Hill Vaults: this new immersive experience will bring to life this piece of history and allow audiences to experience London as it was in 1605. Using a combination of live theatre and the latest digital technology, the audience is thrown into the story in which they become the protagonist. Running for 88 performances only from the 20th May – make sure you don’t miss out on this unique experience!
The Father and the Assassin, National Theatre: this new play from Anupama Chandrasekhar explores the life of Nathuram Godse – the journalist and nationalist who went on to murder Mahatma Gandhi. It is set to begin performances at the Olivier Theatre from the 12th May.
Britannicus, Lyric Hammersmith: step into the world of Rome where Agrippina – desperate to cling onto power – has ensured her son, Nero, is the Roman Emperor, in place of his adopted brother and the rightful heir. Written by Jean Racine, translated and adapted by Timberlake Wertenbaker, this production is directed by Atri Banerjee and is set to begin performances on the 26th May.