Our pick of stage shows to see in July 2026

It is a jam-packed month of theatrical goodness as July sees the opening of a variety of different shows!

Across the country, you can expect huge revivals of favourite musicals like Fame, Sweeney Todd, My Fair Lady, and Cats, or if you’re more of a dog person, then there are new musicals – namely, about dogs in space as well as a new intimate piece led by a Tony Award winner. Play-wise, there are Greek tragedies, radical Shakespeare retellings, and new writing about model railways and the music industry.

Truly, there is something for everyone!

The Oresteia

A new take on the Greek tragedy arrives at the Bridge, directed by Simon Stone. Originally written by Aeschylus, it was first performed in Athens in 458 BCE. In this new version, a contemporary family wakes up in a Greek myth and can’t seem to find a way out of their hellish destiny. Set to star are David Morrissey, Tom Glynn-Carney, Mary-Louise Parker, and Rosie Sheehy, among others.

Plays at the Bridge Theatre from 2 July to 19 September

Fun Home

The much-loved musical by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron receives its regional premiere up north, with direction by Sarah Frankcom. Based on Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, it tells the story of her upbringing in a family-run funeral home, her sexual awakening, and her attempts to understand her father and the complexities within her family.

Plays at The Royal Exchange Theatre from 3 July to 1 August

9 to 5

Stumble out of bed and get down to the theatre to see a new revival of 9 to 5! Featuring a score by Dolly Parton herself, the laugh-out-loud comedy about three office workers who seek revenge on their overbearing boss has had a makeover. Check out tour dates.

Tour opens at Peterborough New Theatre from 4 to 11 July

Lear

As part of Alan Cumming’s inaugural season as artistic director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Maureen Beattie takes on the title role in Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, with Forbes Masson as Gloucester. Directed by Finn den Hertog, with design by Emma Bailey, Cumming says it is a very Scottish and very female telling.

Plays at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 4 July to 1 August

Sweeney Todd

Attend the tale… in Birmingham! Ramin Karimloo is taking on the role of the tortured Barber, while joining him is Meow Meow as Mrs Lovett in this new revival, directed by Joe Murphy.

Plays at Birmingham Rep from 4 July to 15 August

The Market Deeping Model Railway Club

Have you ever heard of the true story of the Market Deeping Model Railway Club? Well, get it on your radar! When an attack of vandalism threatened to scupper a model railway club’s chance of victory at the annual show, it gathered supporters, including Rod Stewart. William Ivory’s new play will be directed by Adam Penford and star Babatunde Aléshé and Adrian Scarborough.

Plays at Nottingham Playhouse from 6 to 15 July

My Fair Lady

Chichester Festival Theatre will stage My Fair Lady for the very first time this summer. Hadley Fraser will return to the venue to play Henry Higgins, with Keziah Ibe making her professional debut as Eliza Doolittle. It’s bound to be loverly!

Plays in the Festival Theatre from 6 July to 5 September

Hit Machine

Two estranged brothers: one a music mogul and one an aspiring performer. Josh Radnor and Noah Galvin make their London stage debuts in the new play by Jonathan Caren, alongside Khalil Madovi. Listen to our dedicated podcast about the world premiere.

Plays at Soho Theatre from 8 July to 15 August

The Jonathan Larson Project

With news that Rent is heading back to the West End later this year, it’s a great time to be a Jonathan Larson fan. Now there is a chance to hear early and lesser-known work, offering insight into his creative development and the themes that would later shape his musical theatre staples. The cast includes Natalie Kassanga, Max Harwood, Marcus Collins, Michael Mather and Imelda Warren-Green, alongside Georgie Butler and Edward Flynn Haddon, who were selected through an open casting process led by Rob Kelly.

Plays at Southwark Playhouse Borough from 9 July to 22 August

The Cherry Orchard

A cast of WhatsOnStage and stage favourites star in this new version of Anton Chekhov’s final play, by playwright Laura Wade and directed by RSC co-artistic director Tamara Harvey. This summer in Stratford-upon-Avon, you can see the likes of Kenneth Branagh, Helen Hunt, Bill Pullman, Chumisa Dornford-May, Alfred Enoch, Esther Smith and Sophie Stone. 

Plays at the Swan Theatre from 10 July to 29 August

Midnight at The Never Get

Ben Platt will star in the UK premiere of Midnight at the Never Get, a new musical written by Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner Mark Sonnenblick. Set in New York in 1965, the piece follows Trevor Copeland and Arthur Brightman’s illegal romance, where they meet to perform songs in a secret nightclub act.

Plays at Menier Chocolate Factory from 11 July to 12 September

Trainspotting the Musical

Choose life. Choose a new musical! The cult classic arrives on stage with an all-Scottish cast and is written by Irvine Welsh, based on his novel. A tour has also been revealed, and you can find details of that here, following its world premiere in the West End.

Plays at Theatre Royal Haymarket from 15 July 

Love’s Labour’s Lost

We included this production on our list of must-see Shakespeare this summer as the Globe has used the artistic language of flamenco to reimagine the rarely-staged piece. Flamenco dancers Pablo Egea and Anita La Maltesa, and flamenco singer Carlos Lobo Cordón star alongside the company.

Plays at the Globe Theatre from 17 July to 13 September

Cleansed

Visionary director Rebecca Frecknall is at the helm of a revival of Sarah Kane’s contemporary classic at the Almeida. Set to feature are Leo Bill, Pearl Chanda, Luke Cinque-White, Lizzy Connolly, Jack Riddiford, Parth Thakerar and Stuart Thompson.

Plays at the Almeida Theatre from 21 July to 22 August

Tao of Glass

Inspired by a dream, the production, first seen at the Manchester International Festival in 2019, brings together ten meditations on life, death, and Taoist philosophy alongside ten newly composed pieces of music by the famed composer Philip Glass. WhatsOnStage Award winner Phelim McDermott performs in the production alongside an ensemble of musicians and puppeteers.

Plays at @sohoplace from 24 July to 12 September 

Cats

Jellicles do and jellicles can… arrive back in London for a mega open-air revival at Regent’s Park! The Andrew Lloyd Webber classic has an all-star cast, and we have a feline it could be one of the shows of the summer – and beyond, as the show has already announced a tour.

Plays at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 25 July to 19 September before touring

Fame

The much-loved musical lives forever with this special anniversary production marking 30 years since Fame’s European premiere. Conceived and developed by David de Silva, the show is directed and choreographed by Tom Jackson Greaves and brings the musical back home to Plymouth.

Plays at Theatre Royal Plymouth from 28 July to 15 August

Space Dogs

It really is raining cats and dogs on this list! Speaking of canines in the sky, Space Dogs, a new docu-comedy musical written and performed by Nick Blaemire and Van Hughes tells the true story of Laika, a stray dog from Moscow, and the top-secret Soviet scientist, Chief Designer, who sent her into orbit during the Cold War Space Race.

Plays at The Other Palace Studio from 28 July to 9 August

Death Note

The Manga musical returns, this time in a brand-new full-scale production at the Barbican. With a revised script and new songs alongside the original score by Frank Wildhorn, Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s story of Light Yagami, a teen who begins to use the Death Note to kill criminals after becoming disillusioned with the justice system, reaches new dimensions. Xander Pang and Colin Ryan will star.

Plays at the Barbican from 30 July to 12 September

Dog Man

It only feels right to balance out the cats on this list with some more dogs! Dog Man, Dav Pilkey’s celebrated book about two friends and their comic creation, a half-man, half-dog police officer, has been adapted into a stage musical.

Plays at Southbank Centre from 30 July to 16 August before touring

Now You See Me Live

You can see them! Live at the London Coliseum! Inspired by Lionsgate’s worldwide blockbuster film franchise, a selection of world-class magicians, illusionists, hypnotists and more, including multiple Britain’s Got Talent finalists, will thrill audiences – just as they have done on Broadway and in Las Vegas.

Plays at the London Coliseum from 31 July to 6 September