Burlesque musical postpones London run

Burlesque the Musical has postponed its London run.

The show had been due to run at the new 550-seat Arts at Marble Arch, following two engagements in Manchester and a season in Glasgow, as well as a sold-out limited season at the Savoy Theatre in 2025.

The musical is based on the film starring Christina Aguilera and Cher and centres on Ali, who travels to New York in search of her mother and becomes immersed in an underground club scene. It is written and directed by Steven Antin.

Previews were due to begin on Saturday 12 September 2026, but it has now been confirmed the show will not open at the Arts at Marble Arch, with new venue and 2027 dates to be confirmed. At the same time, a second production that had been due to launch a UK tour this week, has delayed its opening to next month.

Burlesque the Musical features songs by Aguilera, Sia, Diane Warren, Jess Folley and Todrick Hall. Aguilera serves as executive producer alongside Adam Paulden, Jason Haigh-Ellery, Antin, Clint Culpepper and In Fine Company.

In a statement the producers said: “This is absolutely a postponement, not a cancellation. We are already exploring opportunities for a major London return in 2027 and look forward to announcing our future West End home in due course. This is a strategic decision designed to ensure the production returns to London exactly as we want it to… with all the fabulosity, concert-like experiential quality, sound design and razzle-dazzle that our audiences deserve!”

It’s another chapter in a turbulent history of the show, following rocky beginnings in the West End and changes to creative team members – including the exit of former director, choreographer and star Hall.

Last week, the touring branch of the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union (BECTU) published an Instagram story asking for any members involved in the production to “get in touch ASAP.”