Our pick of stage shows to see this September 2026

Trust me, you will want to wake up before September ends!

This month is kickstarting an upcoming autumn filled with theatrical treats for all to enjoy, wherever you are in the country. For the sake of our own sanity, we’ve only included new productions or major first tours. Sorry West End transfers!

Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy

Ava Pickett had a runaway hit with 1536 in the West End and at the Almeida, and now moves from the Tudor period to the Trojan War in this intriguing, contemporary spin on the myth of Helen of Troy. An all-star cast tackles the show at Stratford East.

Plays at Stratford East from 3 September to 10 October

for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf

Ntozake Shange’s choreopoem is celebrating 50 years with a new London revival, which also serves as the first production in The Yard Theatre’s newly redeveloped venue in Hackney Wick.

Plays at The Yard Theatre from 2 September to 17 October

Tartuffe (Remixed)

Mark Rylance stars in a new adaptation of Molière’s comedy, adapted and directed by Darren Raymond. This new piece reimagines the classic play through the lens of a contemporary Nigerian-Jamaican family, combining spoken word, music and rhyming verse.

Plays at Marylebone Theatre from 4 September to 24 October

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

When a gifted teenager sets out to investigate the death of their neighbour’s dog, they uncover all sorts of family secrets. Simon Stephens’ stage adaptation of Mark Haddon will see the lead character of Chris played by female performers for the first time, Alex Keenan and alternate Imi Price, with the character pronouns having been switched for this new revival. Charlie Brooks and Joe McFadden also star.

Tour opens at Birmingham Rep on 5 September

Golden Boy

An absolutely star-studded cast led by Josh O’Connor will help Sam Yates revive Clifford Odet’s American classic, Golden Boy. Set in 1930s New York at the height of the depression, the play follows gifted young violinist Joe Bonaparte, who finds himself lured into the brutal world of professional boxing. O’Connor will be joined by Jason Barnett, Richard Fleeshman, David Ganly, Patrick Martins, Daniel Mays, Oliver Ryan, Hayley Squires, Stanley Townsend, Zubin Varla and Nicholas Woodeson, as well as a live string quartet.

Plays at the Almeida Theatre from 9 September to 31 October

Chewing Gum Dreams

Theatre503 are reviving Michaela Coel’s Chewing Gum Dreams for the very first time, after supporting the piece during its very first time. Lauryn Ajufo will take on the role of Tracey Gordon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike.

Plays at Theatre503 from 10 September to 10 October

Fences

August Wilson’s Fences is being revived in the UK for the first time in more than a decade. Directed by Daniel Bailey, this new production will tour the UK in a co-production with Leeds Playhouse, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and HOME Manchester. The cast is led by Ray Fearon as former baseball player Troy Maxson and Madeline Appiah as his wife, Rose.

Tour opens at Leeds Playhouse from 11 September

Tristan and Yseult

John Leader and Nandi Bhebhe lead the cast as Tristan and Yseult, returning to the stage after nearly ten years. The Emma Rice/Kneehigh production is setting out on a UK tour, co-produced with York Theatre Royal and Nottingham Playhouse.

Tour opens at Theatre Royal Bath from 11 September

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

This new production reimagines Shakespeare’s comedy in 1990s Sussex, where Tory MP Theseus is celebrating his success in shutting down free raves across the county, supported by local Chief Constable Egeus. Comedian and satirist Munya Chawawa is set to appear as Bottom, with Eve Ponsonby as Titania, co-directed by Justin Audibert and Hannah Joss.

Plays at Chichester Festival Theatre from 18 September to 17 October

Happy Days

The “surreal masterpiece” that is Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days is being revived in Pitlochry as part of Alan Cumming’s inaugural season as artistic director at the Scottish venue. Set to star is Siobhán Redmond, who plays Winnie, a woman whose life is falling apart around her, and yet she has never been happier. Forbes Masson will play her husband, Willie.

Plays at the Studio at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 18 September to 10 October

Tru

London theatre has laid claim to Jesse Tyler Ferguson over the last year or so, and now he will reprise his critically acclaimed performance in Jay Presson Allen’s Tru. Drawn entirely from Truman Capote’s own words, the play sees the writer reeling from the publication of an unfinished memoir that alienated him from his society friends, as he reflects on his life and work.

Plays at the Menier Chocolate Factory from 19 September to 14 November

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Visionary director Marianne Elliott will direct a new star-studded production of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in the West End. The play, which will be staged in the round, will star Gillian Anderson as Martha and Billy Crudup as George, alongside Josh Dylan as Nick and Phoebe Horn as Honey, telling the cautionary tale of letting an afters go on for too long!

Plays at @sohoplace from 21 September to 19 December

The Standard of Living

James Graham is back in the West End with a brand new show, The Standard of Living, based on the fascinating life of rebel economist and member of the Bloomsbury Group, John Maynard Keynes, who played a vital role in the creation of the Arts Council. Rory Kinnear and Natalia Osipova star.

Plays at Theatre Royal Haymarket from 21 September to 12 December 

I’ll Be Seeing You

Back to Pitlochry! Simon Russell Beale and Fra Fee unite for this eagerly anticipated staging of Martin Sherman’s tale of one Liberace, amongst the greatest entertainers of the century. The new play has a limited spell in Pitlochry – we hope it will have further life down the line as well.

Plays at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 22 September to 11 October 

Sylvia

Beverley Knight will reprise her Olivier Award-winning role as Emmeline Pankhurst in the limited tour of Sylvia, which includes a residency at the Royal Albert Hall! The hip-hop, funk and soul piece, choreographed and directed by Kate Prince of ZooNation, celebrates the life and activism of Emmeline’s daughter, Sylvia Pankhurst, now played by Naomi Katiyo.

Tour opens at Curve, Leicester on 24 September

Little Shop of Horrors

We’ve certainly been fed when it comes to Little Shop of Horrors revivals this year but we’re excited to see what director and choreographer Carrie-Anne Ingrouille has in store for Manchester and Liverpool audiences. For the first season in Manchester, Maisie Smith will play Audrey opposite Jed Berry as Seymour, Marcus Ayton as the voice of Audrey II, and Benjamin Yates as Orin Scrivello.

Plays at the Hope Mill Theatre from 25 September to 29 November

As You Like It

Jonathan Groff and Fisayo Akinade lead this all-male take on Shakespeare’s As You Like It, marking the RSC debut of the Tony-winning star as he returns to UK shores. Daniel Evans directs his first Shakespeare as co-artistic director of the venue, and we’re intrigued to see what might be in store!

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, from 26 September to 7 November 

Rent

Feels like we’ve been waiting 525,600 minutes for this show to arrive in the West End! Gaten Matarazzo may have become a global star thanks to his appearance as Dustin in Stranger Things, but he now returns to his musical roots playing Mark alongside a star of stage greats in this production, that may run for a long time… Luke Sheppard directs.

Duke of York’s / Tom Stoppard Theatre, from 26 September