Must-see theatre this spring

Spring into action and plan out your next theatre trip!

There are so many wonderful productions opening across the UK over the next couple of months, as the days get longer and the sun shines brighter – or so we hope.

With that in mind, we’ve narrowed it down to 16 highlights from across the country.

The Greatest Showman

This truly is the moment we’ve been waiting for! The stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman will receive its world premiere in Bristol, featuring all of the hits by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (we’re talking “This Is Me”, “A Million Dreams”, “Come Alive”) plus some new additions. They’ll be sung by a cast led by Oliver Tompsett and Samantha Barks, as PT Barnum and Charity Barnum respectively. Tickets sold like hot cakes, but keep an eye on returns.

Plays at Bristol Hippodrome from 15 March to 10 May

Kinky Boots

Everybody say yeah! The much-loved musical will be strutting back into the capital following wild success on tour last year. Strictly‘s Johannes Radebe reprises his role as Lola alongside a cast of WhatsOnStage favourites. They’ll be raising up the largest stage in London – the Coliseum!

Plays at the London Coliseum from 17 March to 11 July

Romeo and Juliet

Sadie Sink and Noah Jupe have both had quite the year – she with the final of Stranger Things, and he with the release of Hamnet, but their stardom shows no sign of slowing down. The two will lead a new revival of Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy, directed by Robert Icke. It marks the pair’s West End debuts.

Plays at Harold Pinter Theatre from 18 March to 20 June

Avenue Q

Fantasies do come true! Avenue Q is back on the block, causing mischief at the Shaftesbury Theatre in a new revival. Fear not – many of the creative team and the original Broadway puppets have been dusted off and will be in their full, fuzzy glory.

Plays at Shaftesbury Theatre from 20 March to 29 August

John Proctor is the Villain

Kimberly Belflower’s Broadway hit reimagines the legacy of The Crucible within a modern American high school. It will now receive its UK premiere at the Royal Court – the very venue where Arthur Miller’s play had its London premiere in 1956! When a controversy erupts over whether John Proctor should be seen as a tragic hero or a predator who abused his position, tensions between students, teachers, and the community spiral… Keep an eye out for any returns and grab them with both hands.

Plays at the Royal Court from 20 March to 25 April

Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Marianne Elliott makes her long-awaited return to the National Theatre at the helm of Christopher Hampton’s adaptation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ novel. The piece stars Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner with Monica Barbaro and Gabrielle Drake. Can’t make it to London? The production will also be broadcast in cinemas worldwide via National Theatre Live from 25 June 2026.

Plays in the Lyttelton theatre from 21 March to 6 June

Victoria: A Queen Unbound

Fans of the hit TV show won’t want to miss this stage adaptation from the writer of the Victoria novel and creator of the show, Daisy Goodwin. The play features both the older monarch and her younger self as she reflects on her life through her diaries.

Plays at Watermill Theatre from 27 March to 9 May

Pride

We’ve waited patiently for the world premiere stage adaptation of Pride, and we have a feeling it’ll all be worth it. After directing the original film, Matthew Warchus and writer Stephen Beresford return to the true story, following Mark, who joins a group of lesbian and gay activists who lend their support to the striking mining communities during the strike of 1984.

Plays at Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre from 31 March to 18 April 2026 before transferring to the National’s Dorfman Theatre from 11 June to 12 September

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui

Mark Gatiss leads the Royal Shakespeare Company’s revival of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui by Bertolt Brecht. The new version by Stephen Sharkey and directed by Seán Linnen promises to be “cinematic in its scope, mischievous at its heart and with a chilling political bite,” according to press materials.

Plays at Swan Theatre from 11 April to 30 May

Magic

Ever wondered about the relationship between Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle? You ought to check out David Haig’s new play, set to receive its world premiere at Chichester Festival Theatre. With David Haig as Conan Doyle and Hadley Fraser as Houdini, don’t let this one escape you!

Plays at Chichester Festival Theatre from 24 April to 16 May

Bank of Dave

He’s had a documentary, a book and a film, and now WhatsOnStage Award winner Rob Madge and Pippa Cleary are bringing the story of self-made Burnley businessman Dave Fishwick to the stage! This new British musical will be directed by Nikolai Foster, and while we’re yet to know who will play the man himself, the cast includes Hayley Tamaddon, Lucca Chadwick-Patel, Claire Moore and Lauryn Redding.

Plays at the Lowry from 2 to 16 May before moving to Curve from 20 to 30 May

Krapp’s Last Tape / Godot’s To-Do List

We’ve cheated slightly with a double bill! Gary Oldman will transfer his hit turn in Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape to London. The piece, which follows an elderly man who listens to recordings of his younger self, will be accompanied by a Beckett-inspired short, Godot’s To-Do List, penned by Leo Simpe-Asante and directed by Aneesha Srinivasan.

Plays at the Royal Court from 8 to 30 May

Little Shop of Horrors

Derby Theatre and Northern Stage will present an actor-musician production of Little Shop of Horrors. Excitingly, artist Ben Glover will design captions inspired by B-movie aesthetics, aiming to make the show more accessible for Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences while enhancing the production for all. Set to star as Seymour is Kristian Cunningham, while Audrey will be played by Amena El-Kindy.

Plays at Northern Stage from 8 to 23 May before transferring to Derby Theatre from 30 May to 20 June

End of the Rainbow

The incomparable Jinkx Monsoon will take on the legend of Judy Garland in a revival of Peter Quilter’s End of the Rainbow. The play, now directed by Rupert Hands, follows Garland as she prepares for a series of concerts at the Talk of the Town and depicts the final chapter of her life, accompanied by some of her most iconic songs.

Plays at Soho Theatre Walthamstow from 15 May to 21 June 

High Society

Cole Porter’s much-loved musical about a society wedding will spend a season in London before embarking on a tour, and casting has been announced. The production will be directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, with choreography by Anthony Van Laast and musical supervision by Stephen Ridley, who will lead a full orchestra playing such standards such as “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”, “I Love Paris”, “Well, Did You Evah?”, “Just One of Those Things”, “Let’s Misbehave”, “You’re Sensational” and “True Love”. Don’t forget to RSVP!

Plays at Barbican Theatre from 19 May to 11 July before touring

Beetlejuice

We said his name more than three times, and he has finally appeared! Beetlejuice – after three stints on Broadway plus a national tour – will be hilariously haunting the West End this spring, and we’re sure it’ll be dead fun. Who would you like to see as the ghost with the most?

Plays at the Prince Edward Theatre from 20 May