Momentous events in UK theatre in 2025

2025 has been one for the history books!

We here at WhatsOnStage celebrated 25 years of our annual WhatsOnStage Awards with a star-studded ceremony at The London Palladium, and that was just the icing on the cake of an incredible year of theatre.

Here are ten of our favourite moments from the past 365 days or so.

Rachel Zegler sang on The London Palladium balcony

There was no crying this Evita summer as Rachel Zegler addressed Argyll Street each evening during her star-making turn in Jamie Lloyd‘s revival.

Andrew Lloyd Webber himself then joined Zegler at her sold-out London concerts to perform “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again”, commenting that it is the first time ever he had accompanied somebody on stage to play piano. Seems he is as taken with her as we all are!

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The Japanese Queens of Six took reign in the West End

For the first time in herstory, a show was performed in Japanese in the West End! The original Japanese cast of Six: Sonim, Meimi Tamura, Maho Minamoto, Harumi, Eliana, Marie Sugaya, Airi Suzuki, Erika Toyohara, Sora Kazuki and Ruki Saito, took to the Vaudeville for a temporary residency.

The Six team didn’t stop there – the original Queens strutted into cinemas with their filmed reunion performance, breaking records in the process.

Musical theatre stars earned cheesy points at Eurovision

Remember Monday were this year’s representatives for the UK at Eurovision! The country-pop trio made up of three theatre devotees, Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull, and Charlotte Steele, performed “What the Hell Just Happened” and were awarded Italy’s twelve cheesy points!

The RSC and Shakespeare stars innovate teaching

Hoping to transform how students across the UK are taught Shakespeare, the RSC Shakespeare Curriculum is a new digital platform for teachers and students. Backed by some of the UK’s leading actors, including Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen, and Adjoa Andoh, the first-of-its-kind resource turns Shakespeare’s ten most studied plays into a 24-part creative learning adventure.

Paddington Bear arrived in London

He’s London’s most loved bear, and best kept secret! How Paddington himself was set to appear in the world premiere of Paddington The Musical was kept very tightly under wraps – rather like a marmalade sandwich under a hat – by the new West End show until the very first preview, where right after the curtain rose, first look photos and interviews with the remarkably impressive actors and teams were released. Cue instant virality!

The 13 Going On 30 kids went viral

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FIRST LOOK AT 13 GOING ON 30 THE MUSICAL! See inside rehearsals of the world premiere musical before it arrives in Manchester! #13GoingOn30 #Musicals #NewMusicals

♬ original sound – WhatsOnStage

They’re vicious and they’re hot. Wanna be them? You cannot! But we can certainly view the rehearsal room footage, learn the choreography and post a dance video! When the world premiere of 13 Going On 30 invited press in to see the cast in action, they probably didn’t expect 13 million views on WhatsOnStage alone.

UK talent soared in Wicked: For Good

We have all been changed For Good following the release of Jon M Chu’s second instalment of his Wicked blockbuster! Alongside Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey, a whole host of UK talented actors, dancers, and singers helped create Oz into the spellbinding place that we treasure. See who we spotted in the films, which were conveniently shot on these shores!

Les Misérables had a joyeux anniversaire!

We’ve heard the people sing, and long may we continue to! The West End’s longest-running musical celebrated forty years in 2025 and showed off its impressive alumni cast (more than 100 performers returned to the barricade), and once again, proved that audiences know best.

Citizens Theatre returned home!

In Glasgow, there was a homecoming in September. The much-loved Citizens Theatre reopened its doors after seven years of redevelopment. Local audiences still enjoyed the theatre’s offerings in other venues, and now a packed programme for its reopening celebrations is truly underway.

Fiddler on the Roof made Olivier Awards history

Jordan Fein’s revival of Fiddler on the Roof was rich with Olivier Award nominations, picking up thirteen, including in all of the performance categories, and subsequently tied with Hamilton for most nominations ever received for a production. First seen in the open air of Regent’s Park, this spellbinding success then played a London season indoors before heading out on tour to reach the masses.

First-ever WhatsOnStage Award for Best Wigs, Hair and Make-Up won

To mark 25 glorious years of the WhatsOnStage Awards, we introduced a new category! Recognising wigs, hair and make-up design, the first recipients were Jackie Saundercock and Campbell Young Associates for Starlight Express, as they skated home victorious.

Also, David Tennant became the most awarded performer in the WhatsOnStage Awards. He picked up his fifth trophy for his leading performance in the record-breaking Macbeth. AND we introduced a brand-new award Best Child Performance category, for the first time this year, created in association with Go Live Theatre. Find out more here.

Michael Sheen launched the new Welsh National Theatre company

Star of stage and screen, Michael Sheen, launched the Welsh National Theatre earlier this year. He started by self-financing the company while looking for public and private investment and has committed to appearing in the company’s first show, a revival of Our Town, which arrives in early next year.

Indhu Rubasingham kicked off first season as artistic director of the National Theatre

Indhu Rubasingham‘s first season at the National was the gift that kept on giving, and continues to! Paul Mescal, Aidan Turner, Letitia Wright and Nicola Coughlan feature in landmark productions, as well as the world premiere of a new Pride musical. Our chief critic, Sarah Crompton, wrote about her appointment when it was first announced in 2023: “[Rubasingham] is the first woman, the first person of colour, and the first person born in Sheffield (of Sri Lankan heritage) and educated at Hull University to run an institution that has had seven white male directors, six of them Cambridge-educated.”

Alan Cumming became the new artistic director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre

In what he calls a “homecoming”, Alan Cumming has revealed his inaugural season as artistic director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre! The starry lineup includes major revivals – including one he will star in himself. As he said in our exclusive interview, he hopes to see people gasp.