%20Crazy%20For%20You%20at%20the%20Gillian%20Lynne%20Theatre.%20London%20cast.%20Photo%20credit%20Johan%20Persson.jpg?width=1200&width=1200&auto=webp&quality=75 "London Theatre Week 2023: our pick of the top 10 shows to book")
t’s London Theatre Week and the West End is rolling out the red carpet to audiences in the capital.
The scheme runs from today to September 3, and offers cut-price tickets to more than 50 shows. From long runners such as Les Mis and The Lion King to new arrivals such as A Strange Loop, tickets will be on offer from as low as £15, as well as for £25 and £35.
This marks the fifth year of London Theatre Week. A total of 140 shows have participated over that time, selling more than 1 million tickets.
So for anyone thinking of taking advantage of the deal but not sure what to pick, here are our top recommendations. So much to see, so little time…
A Strange Loop, Barbican Theatre
Kyle Ramar Freeman as Usher, left, with Nathan Armarkwei-Laryea as Thought 2 in A Strange Loop
/ Marc BrennerMore than a decade in the making, the show hit Broadway in 2022 and has now crossed the pond to rave reviews. The play, which won a Tony for Best New Musical, is about a black gay man named Usher who is trying to write a musical, also called A Strange Loop, about a black gay man trying to write a musical!
Usher is riddled with self-doubt and self-loathing that keep urging him to sell out and write a play for actual real life film producer Tyler Perry, who is known for his very commercial comedy dramas.
Filled with laughs and catchy songs, The Evening Standard described A Strange Loop as, “probably the filthiest, most explicit show in London at the moment… It’s messy and exhausting as much as it is spectacular.”
Until September 9
Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Theatre Royal Haymarket
Cast of Accidental DEath of An Anarchist by Dario Fo and Franca Rame
/ Helen MurrayLegendary Italian writer Dario Fo wrote Accidental Death of an Anarchist in 1970 based on the real incident of a man who “fell” out of a fourth floor window during a police interrogation in Milan.
Daniel Rigby plays the Maniac, a hyperactive man who believes he’s in a play and has taken on the role of a judge so that he can investigate the unexplained death of the defenestrated anarchist. Three witless police officers fall for the disguise and incriminate themselves.
It’s a must see “invective against the failures of the Met Police”. And it is very, very funny.
Until September 9
Crazy For You, Gillian Lynne Theatre
Charlie Stemp and Tom Edden in Crazy For You
/ Johan PerssonThis romantic comedy musical with score by the legendary American composer George Gershwin is largely based on 1930 musical Girl Crazy. Charlie Stemp plays theatre-obsessed Bobby Child, who is running the family bank when he reluctantly goes to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a theatre’s mortgage.
He ends up falling for the theatre owner’s daughter, Polly, who he tries to win over by putting on a big show to save the theatre and bring morale to the despondent town.
A classic boy-meets-girl story and a wink to old-school American showbiz. It’s all razzle dazzle and jazz hands!
Until January 20, 2024
Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre
Nathan Detroit in Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre
/ Manuel HarlanA stone cold classic musical, Frank Loesser’s 1950 tale of New York’s hucksters, gamblers and general lowlives, and the women who love them is revived in this production by Nicholas Hytner.
Described by our critic as “exhilarating and outstanding”, the casting of the four leads is also praised as spot-on, with Marisha Wallace standing out for her powerhouse vocals and perfect comic timing as Miss Adelaide, the scantily clad club singer who just wants to be married.
With choreography by Arlene Phillips and classic tunes like Luck Be a Lady to Sit Down and You’re Rockin’ the Boat – it’s a must see! Also you can get right up close in the pit with the action unfolding around you – a joyous experience.
Until September 2
Hamnet, Garrick Theatre
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s bestseller arrives in London after an acclaimed run in Stratford. The show, about William Shakespeare, Agnes Hathaway and their son Hamnet who falls ill with plague, has been adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti. This much-anticipated show is sure to prove popular with the punters.
Until September 2
Oklahoma! Wyndham’s Theatre
Greg Hicks (Andrew Carnes), Philip Olagoke (Cord Elam) and Georgina Onuorah (Ado Annie) in Oklahoma!
/ Marc BrennerDaniel Fish’s staging of this 1943 musical is radical. His version swaps the folksy, hokey styling with a darker and more powerful feel.
Forget everything you thought you knew about Oklahoma!. This stripped down, darker, “sexy” version proved a hit when it made the journey across the Atlantic to the Young Vic. But it’s not on for long, so hurry.
Until September 2
The Crucible, Gielgud Theatre
Milly Alcock as Abigail Williams & Caitlin FitzGerald as Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible
/ Brinkhoff-MoegenburgThis revival of Arthur Miller’s look into witch hunts in 17th century Salem stars House of the Dragon actress Milly Alcock. The Evening Standard’s chief theatre critic called the production “magnificent” in his five-star review and added that it was brilliant when it made its debut at the National, but following the transfer to the West End “now it seems nigh on perfect”. It runs for three hours, but is totally worth every second.
Until September 2
The Effect, National Theatre
The Effect has become a west End hit
/ National Theatre/Marc BrennerThe National Theatre has revived 2012 play The Effect by British playwright Lucy Prebble with star director Jamie Lloyd at the helm. It’s about volunteers in a clinical drug trial, who start to fall in love, which throws the trial off-course and stars Paapa Essiedu and Taylor Russell.
“A play of ideas about the way our brains work is welded to a ruthless 100-minute emotional arc, laced with wit and given a bittersweet ending, the Standard said.
Until October 7
The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre
The Lion King is participating in London Theatre Week
/ Brinkhoff and MogenburgThe Lion King still reigns supreme with its intricate mobile masks, puppets, exotic costumes and actors on stilts. It’s one of the few stage productions that is even more magical than its Disney film counterpart.
With a famous score by Elton John, including The Circle Of Life, and lyrics by Tim Rice, it’s a feel-good show that is here to stay and perfect to take the kids.
It’s worth downloading this week’s Evening Standard Theatre Podcast in which we interview the performers playing Mufasa and Scar, who have been in the show for 15 years!
The Mousetrap, St Martins Theatre
A scene from The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie
/ ©Tristram KentonThe world’s longest-running show still has theatre’s best kept secret. Agatha Christie’s 1952 mystery is still under wraps as the cast implores audiences to keep the identity of the killer to themselves once they leave the theatre.
This classic English country house murder mystery is just the thing for an evening of traditional, captivating storytelling. The Mousetrap is also the proud owner of the West End’s oldest prop. Fun fact: The clock on the set’s mantelpiece has been there since the show began in 1952 – when Winston Churchill was still the Prime Minister. If you haven’t seen this West End staple yet, surely now is the time
For more information visit londontheatreweek.com