If you think the West End is purely for tourists and day-trippers who haven’t seen The Lion King yet, think again. London is home to more than 240 theatres which, at any given moment, are offering productions as diverse as suspenseful dramas, romantic ballets, rousing musicals and thought-provoking plays – and 2025 looks set to be a stellar year on the London stage. From the chance to see Hollywood stars in action IRL to original productions from big-name writers and directors, and comebacks from some of the hottest shows of the past few years, here are the best new plays, musicals and stage shows in London in 2025.

Elektra at Duke of York’s Theatre

An ancient play with a brand-new face, Oscar-winning actress Brie Larson will make her West End debut in this fresh production of Sophokles’ Elektra. Directed by the Olivier-winning Daniel Fish to a new translation by award-winning poet Anne Carson, this classic tale of a girl consumed by grief and a need for vengeance following her father’s assassination promises to be given new relevance in the hands of this acclaimed team. Produced by Empire Street Productions, the team behind the sell-out Prima Facie starring Jodie Comer, this will undoubtedly be one of the theatre highlights of the year.

When: 24 January – 12 April 2025
Tickets: From £25
Book: elektraplay.com

Second Best at Riverside Studios

Based on David Foenkinos’ best-selling novel about a boy who came in second to play Harry Potter, this one-man play will see Sex Education’s Asa Butterfield make his stage debut. Written by Barney Norris and directed by Michael Longhurst, this poignant comedy meets Martin Hill as he is about to become a father – a journey which drags him back to that pivotal moment of missing out and forces him to grapple with the life that could have been. Colour us intrigued.

When: 24 January – 22 February 2025
Tickets: From £40
Book: secondbestplay.com

Cirque du Soleil: Corteo at The Royal Albert Hall

Cirque du Soleil returns to London this January with Corteo, a show that’s equal parts dreamlike and daring. Set somewhere between heaven and earth, it tells the story of Mauro, a clown imagining his own funeral as a joyous carnival, watched over by angels. Featuring jaw-dropping stunts like aerialists swinging on chandeliers and performers floating above the audience, this mesmerising blend of acrobatics and storytelling promises an unforgettable evening at the Royal Albert Hall.

When: 15 January – 9 March 2025
Tickets: From £50
Book: royalalberthall.com

Richard II at Bridge Theatre

Bridgerton and Wicked star Jonathan Bailey will tread the boards as the lead in this new production of the Shakespeare classic Richard II this spring. Joined by a cast of stage and screen veterans including Royce Pierreson (The Witcher, Line of Duty), Olivia Popica (Fantastic Beasts) and Clive Wood (London’s Burning, The Tempest), the play follows Bailey’s charismatic but utterly incompetent king as he goes head-to-head with the pragmatic and politically astute Henry Bullingbrook. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, this new take on one of the bard’s most subtle and powerful plays is a must-see for Shakespeare fans.

When: 10 February – 10 May 2025
Tickets: From £15
Book: bridgetheatre.co.uk

Much Ado About Nothing at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Another one for Shakespeare lovers, Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell will take to the stage as Benedick and Beatrice in the Jamie Lloyd Company’s new production of Much Ado About Nothing. Following hot on the heels of the Company’s production of The Tempest (in which you can catch Sigourney Weaver until 1 February 2025), this revival of one of Shakespeare’s most famous and best-loved plays promises to be a true crowd-pleaser and a rare opportunity to see actors of this calibre in the flesh.

When: 10 February – 5 April 2025
Tickets: From £35
Book: lwtheatres.co.uk

The Great Gatsby at The London Coliseum

Fresh from a record-breaking debut in the US, the Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of The Great Gatsby will debut in the UK this spring. Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic Jazz Age novel, this flamboyant, extravagant production features music and lyrics by Jason Howland (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Little Women) and Nathan Tysen (Paradise Square), choreography by Dominique Kelley (So You Think You Can Dance) and direction by Marc Bruni (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical). While casting for the UK production has yet to be announced, we can guarantee this will be a show you won’t forget in a hurry.

When: 11 April – 7 September 2025
Tickets: From £20
Book: londongatsby.com

Here We Are at the National Theatre

Transferring after a sell-out debut run in New York, Stephen Sondheim’s final musical will be performed in the UK for the first time this year. Here We Are, which debuted posthumously in 2023 following Sondheim’s death in 2021, is based on two of Spanish-Mexican director Luis Buñuel’s films, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and The Exterminating Angel, and follows a well-heeled group of friends as they attempt to partake in the perfect weekend brunch. Starring Rory Kinnear, Jane Krakowski and Richard Fleeshman, alongside Tracie Bennett and Denis O’Hare, who reprise their roles from the original New York run, this scathing comedic satire is a West End musical – but not as you know it.

When: 23 April – 28 June 2025
Tickets: From £25
Book: nationaltheatre.org.uk

The Midnight Bell at Sadler’s Well

As part of its extensive UK tour, Matthew Bourne’s award-winning original ballet, The Midnight Bell, will land at Sadler’s Wells for a strictly limited run this summer. Inspired by the work of English novelist Patrick Hamilton, The Midnight Bell is set in the run-down boarding houses, rowdy pubs and smoggy streets of 1930s Soho and in particular, The Midnight Bell: a tavern where a lonely-hearts club gathers in the hopes of finding love. Winner of Best Modern Choreography at the 2022 National Dance Awards, if you’re looking for something a little different to your annual outing to The Nutcracker, this may just be the ticket.

When: 20-21 June 2025
Tickets: From £15
Book: new-adventures.net

101 Dalmatians at Eventim Apollo

Looking for something to take the kids to this summer? Following a hugely successful UK tour, 101 Dalmatians The Musical will return to London at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith from 18 July 2025. Based on Dodie Smith’s timeless novel, this musical adaptation was originally performed at Regent’s Park Open Air theatre in 2022 and has enjoyed sell-out shows ever since. If you’ve yet to catch this joyful retelling of the tale of Pongo, Perdi and their puppies, now’s your chance.

When: 18 July – 30 August 2025
Tickets: From £24.50
Book: 101dalmatians.co.uk

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