Our pick of stage shows opening in March 2026

It’s yet another busy month in Theatreland…

March sees the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards, taking place at The London Palladium on 8 March, while up and down the country, there is plenty of theatre to enjoy and consider for next year’s awards! From the world premiere of The Greatest Showman to the London transfer of Broadway hit John Proctor is the Villain, there are plenty of great shows to choose from.

The Ballad of Johnny & June

Featuring tunes including “I Walk the Line”, “Ring of Fire”, “Hey Porter”, “Jackson” and “I’ve Been Everywhere,” learn everything you could have ever wanted about the two musicians from the perspective of their son, John Carter Cash. This new musical is directed by the King of jukebox musicals, Des McAnuff, whose previous credits include Jersey Boys, The Who’s Tommy and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, and will star Christopher Ryan Grant and Christina Bianco.

Tour opens at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre on 2 March

Summerfolk

A major new revival of Maxim Gorky’s 1904 satire is adapted by playwright siblings Nina Raine and Moses Raine. Set during the sweltering Russian summer of 1905, the play depicts the country’s privileged elite as they retreat to the countryside to indulge in champagne, romance, and leisure. It is directed by the National Theatre’s deputy artistic director, Robert Hastie.

Plays at Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre from 6 March to 29 April 

Small Island

A major new touring co-production of the hit adaptation of Andrea Levy’s prize-winning novel is presented by Helen Edmundson and directed by Matthew Xia (artistic director of Actors Touring Company). The play follows intricately connected stories: Hortense and Gilbert, who migrate from Jamaica to 1940s London in search of a better life, and Queenie and Bernard, an English couple struggling with the changing social landscape. This staging marks the first time the production has toured extensively outside London, bringing the epic Windrush story to regional stages.

Plays at Leeds Playhouse, Birmingham Rep and Nottingham Playhouse, from 11 March

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

The stage version of John le Carré’s Cold War novel will hit the road after a stint in the West End following its premiere in Chichester. The play follows British intelligence officer Alec Leamas, played on tour by Ralf Little, who is persuaded by George Smiley to take on one final mission in East Berlin. There he encounters Liz Gold, a librarian whose compassion forces him to confront questions of love, betrayal and moral compromise. Don’t miss it and be left out in the cold!

Tour opens at Curve, Leicester on 12 March

Teeth ‘n’ Smiles

Rebecca Lucy Taylor (the musician known as Self Esteem) leads the 50th-anniversary revival of David Hare’s play with music, set during the collapse of a 1960s rock band. She plays singer Maggie Frisby, once the roaring voice of 60s counterculture, and now broke and disillusioned with her band on the brink of breakup.

Plays at Duke of York’s Theatre, from 13 March to 6 June 

The Choir of Man

West End hit The Choir of Man will become your local for a stint in 2026 as part of its major tour. We’ll raise a glass to that.

Tour opens at the New Wimbledon Theatre on 14 March

Henry V

Directed by RSC co-artistic director Tamara Harvey, this production stars Alfred Enoch in the title role. It reunites Harvey (the first female director to have been at the helm of Henry V in the history of the company) and Enoch following their successful 2024 collaboration on Pericles.

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 14 March to 25 April

The Greatest Showman

An all-star cast has assembled for the highly anticipated world premiere stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman! Pasek and Paul’s award-winning songs, including “The Greatest Show”, “A Million Dreams”, “Come Alive”, “Rewrite the Stars”, “Never Enough” and “This Is Me”, will all feature alongside new material written for the stage. This major new musical has already sold out its run in Bristol, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for any returns or its future life. Could this be the greatest show?!

Plays at Bristol Hippodrome from 15 March to 10 May

Romeo and Juliet

Directed by the visionary Robert Icke (Oedipus, Player Kings), this production marks the highly anticipated West End debuts of Sadie Sink as Juliet and Noah Jupe as Romeo. Icke’s Shakespeare adaptations are always a theatrical “moment” (remember Andrew Scott’s Hamlet?), so we’re intrigued to see where he takes the two hours’ traffic of the Harold Pinter stage.

Plays at Harold Pinter Theatre from 16 March to 6 June

Kinky Boots

Everybody say Yeah! Kinky Boots is strutting back into London – with Johannes Radebe reprising his hit role of Lola from last year’s UK tour.

Plays at London Coliseum from 17 March

Jaja’s African Hair Braiding

You have an appointment with an award-winning play! Set in a Harlem hair braiding salon over the course of one summer’s day, Jocelyn Bioh’s piece follows a group of West African immigrant braiders and their customers as they navigate work, relationships and personal ambitions.

Plays at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre from 18 March

Ruth

This new musical dramatises the life of the last woman executed in Britain, Ruth Ellis, and marks 70 years since her death. The peroxide blonde nightclub hostess shot and killed her violent upper-class lover, and the piece reimagines her story as a noir-inspired piece about class and gender. It will feature a score by John Cameron, Francis Rockliff and James Reader, and lyrics by Caroline Slocock and Cameron.

Plays at Wilton’s Music Hall from 18 to 28 March

The Secret Garden

A major revival of The Secret Garden will play in its native York. The rarely staged but adored musical will be directed by Tony Award winner John Doyle, who returns to York Theatre Royal, where he served as artistic director from 1993 to 1997. We can’t wait to discover more!

Plays at York Theatre Royal on 19 March until 4 April

Avenue Q

The naughty puppets are moving into Shaftesbury Avenue! Celebrating the musical’s 20th anniversary, the original Broadway puppets and members of the creative team will reunite for this new revival.

Plays at Shaftesbury Theatre from 20 March to 29 August

John Proctor is the Villain

The UK premiere of Kimberly Belflower’s contemporary play has been given the “Green Light”! Danya Taymor directs the Broadway hit, which is set in a rural high school in Georgia, where a group of students studying The Crucible begins to question the traditional hero-narrative of John Proctor amidst their own modern-day scandals.

Plays at Royal Court Theatre from 20 March to 25 April

The Authenticator

After inheriting a stately home, an artist discovers hidden diaries and enlists academics to verify them, uncovering dark family secrets. The gothic psychological thriller by Winsome Pinnock is directed by Miranda Cromwell, with the pair reuniting following their production of Rocket and Blue Lights.

Plays at Dorfman Theatre at the National Theatre from 26 March to 9 May

The Enormous Crocodile

An enormous tour for an enormous croc! Roald Dahl’s children’s tale will be greedily scaling the country, impressing with its snappy puppetry and tunes.

Tour opens at Theatre Royal Brighton on 27 March

The High Life

Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson‘s 1990s sitcom followed the antics of Air Scotia flight attendants Steve, Sebastian and Shona, as well as their captain, Hilary Duff. This new musical picks up with the characters several decades later as they face new challenges in a changing world – and sees the original cast reunite!

Plays at Dundee Rep Theatre from 28 March before touring Scotland

Waitress

Butter, sugar, tour! The much-loved Sara Bareilles musical is opening up again and looking for a soft place to land on tour. Carrie Hope Fletcher will play expectant mother, pie baker, and dream chaser, Jenna, on select dates to kick off this new tour – which features some familiar faces.

Tour opens at the New Wimbledon Theatre on 28 March