Stage shows with socially distanced audiences: a rolling list of plays and musicals to see

With theatres set to open NEXT MONTH (all being well, we thought we'd run through shows that are sticking to the socially distanced formula for the time being – keeping audiences spaced out while the vaccine roll-out continues and case rates fall.

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BATH / BRISTOL

Theatre Royal Bath – The venue is open now!

Bristol Old Vic – The venue is open now!

Tobacco Factory Theatres – The venue is open now!

CANTERBURY

Marlowe Theatre – The Marlowe has reopened to audiences with the premiere of a new national tour of Six, running until Sunday 27 June. A variety of further shows take the venue through to late July!

CHICHESTER

Chichester Festival Theatre – The venue will have a select few performances of South Pacific with social distancing.

CIRENCESTER

The Barn Theatre – The venue will reopen with new play A Russian Doll on 18 May, based on reports of hacking from the country over the last decade.

COVENTRY/ BIRMINGHAM

Belgrade Theatre – In line with the City of Culture, check out these goodies.

Birmingham Rep – A few shows will open to socially distanced audiences this summer, with a bulky winter season also on the cards as the venue celebrates a big anniversary.

Birmingham Hippodrome – The venue reopens in May with its immersive Van Gogh experience.

Coventry City of Culture – The programme had pushed back its dates – but there's now a raft of socially distanced richness ready to roll.

GUILDFORD / READING

Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud – The venue will reopen with a season of shows including Siobhan Basset's The Hound of the Baskervilles from 3 June, with a plethora of touring shows also available.

The Mill At Sonning – Back from May, with shows unveiled into 2022.

LEEDS / SCARBOROUGH / YORK

Leeds Playhouse – The venue will welcome audiences back from May with family shows, exhibitions, monologues and more!

Stephen Joseph Theatre – Scarborough's lovely venue will open from 18 May, with the first show being Julie Hesmondhalgh's The Greatest Play in the History of the World…

York Theatre Royal – The venue returns in late May with a love-filled, cockle-warming season.

LEICESTERSHIRE

Curve, Leicester – The venue has set Christmas plans (A Chorus Line!) and even plans through to 2023.

Kilworth House Theatre – The venue has shuffled around plans and revealed a new show.

LONDON – WEST END

Amélie the Musical – The Grammy-nominated production returns from May – with tickets on sale now.

Constellations – The Donmar will produce an epic revival of the show, featuring FOUR different cast combinations. Pucker.

Doctor Who: Time Fracture – Whovians get ready – a Covid-secure immersive piece heads for the West End!

Everybody's Talking About Jamie – Out of the darkness, into the spotlight – from 20 May 2021 at the Apollo! Tour plans are to be confirmed.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Due to the government roadmap pause, the show will initially open with social distancing – moving to full capacity from 20 July.

Heathers the Musical – Due to the government roadmap pause, the show will initially open with social distancing – moving to full capacity from 20 July.

Be More Chill – Due to the government roadmap pause, the show will initially open with social distancing – moving to full capacity from 20 July.

Cinderella – Due to the government roadmap pause, the show will initially open with social distancing – moving to full capacity from 20 July.

Hairspray the Musical – The starry production, led by Michael Ball and Lizzie Bea, will initially open with socially distanced audiences! Find out more.

Here Come The Boys – The dance show with Strictly stars comes to London for a run at the Palladium.

Les Misérables – The concert production of Les Misérables will be back from May with a cracking cast – now announced in full.

Magic Mike Live – Bustin' moves back at the Hippodrome, Magic Mike Live returns from 21 May with social distancing – find out more.

The Mousetrap – The long-runner murder mystery returns with some surprise faces in the two casts.

National Theatre – The National will be back in action from June with two shows, including Under Milk Wood with Michael Sheen. See more.

Nimax Theatres – Venue owner Nica Burns has confirmed her venues will open from May in a similar fashion to what occurred in December – with socially distanced performances featuring risk mitigation measures.

The Prince of Egypt – Delivery expected – starting with a socially distanced run, the show will be back from 1 July! Find out more.

Re: Emerge season – Sonia Friedman helms this brilliant season of cracking new writing – with wonderful casts involved.

Skin Hunger – Dante or Die's new piece, which only has three audience members per experience, will be heading to Stone Nest on Shaftesbury Avenue – don't get much more exclusive than that!

Six the Musical – The Queendom will get back to doing what it does best from 21 May 2021 in the West End, with tour plans to be revealed.

LONDON – GREATER LONDON

Almeida Theatre – The venue will kick off with a W-I-P season of semi-staged work.

Bridge Theatre – The venue has unveiled a full season through to the end of the year, with some social distancing in place early on – get to it.

Bush Theatre – Two brand-new shows will be staged in the west London's reopening venue – Phoebe Eclair-Powell's Harm and Benedict Lombe's Lava.

King's Head Theatre – The veteran pub theatre reopens.

Pleasance Theatre – The North London space returns, producing work in conjunction with VAULT Festival.

Old Red Lion Theatre – The venue is back!

Wilton's Music Hall – The venerable space will be back from 28 May with a socially distanced series of shows including Apphia Campbell's solo performance in Black Is The Colour of My Voice and A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad).

The Turbine Theatre – Rob Madge's debut play will reopen the venue in June, with perspex in place to keep people safe.

Soho Theatre – The theatre is back with Amanda Wilkin's Shedding a Skin.

Sadler's Wells – The theatre will be back in action from May.

Shakespeare's Globe – It's all systems Globe for the London home of the Bard.

Kiln Theatre – Opening from May!

Battersea Arts Centre – A new season! Check it out.

Riverside Studios – The Lisa Dwan-led Happy Days has found dates from 11 June to 25 July at the Hammersmith venue.

Orange Tree Theatre – The venue will initially open with social distancing in place.

Southwark Playhouse – Again, straight out of the gate, the theatre will stage a socially distanced new musical starring Wendi Peters.

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre – The outdoor venue will begin shows at reduced capacity – to keep audiences safe. Find out more.

Little Angel Theatre – The family-friendly north London venue will be back with a new piece from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

West End Musical Drive-In – The Troubadour Meridian Water is back in action with a cavalcade of musical performances from April!

Hampstead Theatre – Reopening with social distancing from 28 May with a revival of Alfred Fagon's The Death of a Black Man.

Theatre Royal Stratford East – The venue returns with a season packed full of new writing and revivals.

Queen's Theatre Hornchurch – Neville's Island reopens the space on 20 May!

MANCHESTER/ GREATER MANCHESTER

HOME Manchester – When you're HOME, head outdoors! The theatre is building a new al fresco space.

C-o-n-t-a-c-t – The immersive experience heads to Manchester and Salford from May.

MOLD

Theatr Clwyd – FOUR world premieres see the Welsh venue reopening in style from June.

NORFOLK/ESSEX

Norfolk and Norwich Festival – The festival will kick off from 18 May with socially distanced experiences set to run.

NORTHAMPTON

Royal & Derngate – The theatre will be welcoming audiences back to live performances from 17 May, with its rescheduled co-productions of Animal Farm and Othello.

NOTTINGHAM

Nottingham Playhouse – Back with Piaf!

OXFORDSHIRE / NEWBURY

Oxford Playhouse – The venue has pledged to reopen from mid-May – with programming including Ralph Fiennes and the Donmar's Blindness.

The Watermill – The beloved rustic space is back with a full outdoor season!

PLYMOUTH

Theatre Royal Plymouth – The venue will reopen for a socially distanced season on 27 May including Rambert and The Three Musketeers.

SOUTHAMPTON

MAST Mayflower Studios – The brand new venue opens from Friday 28 May with its inaugural season of productions starting with Rambert 2 and a season of drama in June with Oleanna, Copenhagen, Ralph Fiennes in Four Quartets and opening the tour of Educating Rita.

STOKE

New Vic Theatre in Staffordshire – Family shows will be the order of the day, with the space opening in June with a piece based on the Staffordshire Hoard, followed by mystery play Coppelia.

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

Royal Shakespeare Company – The venue will run an outdoor show with a specially constructed space! Get all the details.

TOUR'

Judy and Liza – Emma Dears and Helen Sheals will lead the tour, based on performers Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli!

The Language of Kindness – The touring piece will explore the experiences of NHS nurses and their families this summer.