Unmissable theatre this Pride month

Happy Pride Month, WhatsOnStage readers!

As celebrations take place across the capital and beyond, be sure to include a trip to your theatre to see thrilling, exciting and entertaining stories on stage. Here are just a few of our picks.

End of the Rainbow

Drag Race superstar Jinkx Monsoon plays the legendary Judy Garland in a new revival of Peter Quilter’s End of the Rainbow, which documents the performer’s final chapter while she prepares for concerts at Talk of the Town. The piece includes some of Garland’s most beloved songs. Pack tissues.

Plays at Soho Theatre Walthamstow until 21 June

The Fit Prince (who gets switched on the square in the frosty castle the night before (insert public holiday here))

You can always count on Awkward Productions to deliver side-splittingly funny shows, and The Fit Prince is no exception. Except charm and chaos in this fairytale retelling, written by and starring Linus Karp and Joseph Martin, with original music by Leland and multiple surprise cameos (including from stars of Heartstopper, Drag Race UK, Young Royals, and pop star Tove Lo!). Their other show, Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story, is also on a royal tour.

Touring throughout June and visiting Hull, Bristol and Brighton

Kinky Boots

Lola and her angels are turning the London Coliseum into a catwalk as the new revival of Kinky Boots has strutted into the West End! Director Nikolai Foster has rebooted the much-loved musical theatre staple, with songs by pop icon Cyndi Lauper, which now features Strictly Come Dancing’s Johannes Radebe in his musical theatre debut. Everybody say yeah!

Plays at the London Coliseum until 11 July

Oh, Mary!

Rediscover the life of bored, alcoholic Mary Todd Lincoln, a would-be cabaret star, suffocated in a miserable marriage with a closeted president. Cole Escola’s Tony and Olivier Award-winning dark comedy was hailed as “80 minutes of perfectly judged silliness” by WhatsOnStage’s Sarah Crompton in her glowing review. Catch Catherine Tate in the bratty curls this Pride Month.

Plays at Trafalgar Theatre

Redcliffe

Jordan Luke Gage‘s new musical has wowed audiences and critics alike in its first full run at Southwark Playhouse. Based on true events, it follows the forbidden love of two gay men in the mid 1700s in Bristol. Our WhatsOnStage critic wrote: “It is a tale of two halves. In the first act, we laugh heartily, but by act two, there are gentle tears as the play heads towards its tragic end.” Earn bragging rights by seeing it first.

Plays at Southwark Playhouse Borough until 4 July 2026

The P Word

After picking up an Olivier Award after its world premiere a few years ago, Waleed Akhtar’s The P Word returns to the Bush Theatre for a limited run. If you missed it last time, the story follows Zafar, seeking asylum from homophobic persecution, and Bilal (self-styled as Billy), who has had enough of Grindr and the complexity of being a brown gay man, when they meet in London. Queer Eye‘s Tan France produces.

Plays at the Bush Theatre to 27 June

Pride

The well-documented and long-awaited stage adaptation of Pride will arrive in the capital during the city’s celebrations after a celebrated preview run in Cardiff! The film’s original director, Matthew Warchus, and writer, Stephen Beresford, reunite to retell the story set during the miners’ strike of 1984. For those unfamiliar, it follows Mark, a young man who joins a group of lesbian and gay activists who lend their support to the striking mining communities. You can hear Matthew Woodyatt (who plays Dai in the musical) perform “You Stood By Me” as you see the company visiting Ystradgynlais in the Upper Swansea Valley, where they met the former mining communities and members of LGSM, who inspired the true events of the film, in the former Miners’ Welfare Hall.

Plays at the National’s Dorfman Theatre from 11 June to 12 September

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Time for a road trip! Hop on board this new production of the much-loved musical, following three friends travelling across Australia to put on a show. On the way, they’re forced to confront their own personal challenges and societal prejudice, all set to an unforgettable soundtrack of disco anthems. This new revival has costumes by Strictly’s Vicky Gill and choreography from WhatsOnStage Award-winner Matt Cole.

On tour throughout June, visiting Belfast, Dublin, Brighton and Leicester

Public

This brand new musical sees four strangers locked in together in a gender-neutral toilet and forced into small talk! A hit at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe – where our critic noted that “What ultimately makes the show a success is the terrific melodies” – the comedy is now playing at Curve, Leicester. It features musical theatre favourites Ivano Turco and Cole Dennis with Grace Towning and Matt Corner.

Plays at Curve, Leicester until 13 June

Smoke

When Alex wakes up one morning to a new Instagram message from his boyfriend, Ben, all should be fine. Except Ben died two years ago. Written and performed by Alexis Gregory, the comic-thriller describes itself as “savage” and “about another dead gay guy on social media, drugs, the Demon Twink in Starbucks, and Mariah Carey.” Each performance will be followed by a panel by the non-profit organisation You Are Loved (YAL).

On tour throughout June, visiting Hull, Poole and Nottingham

Titanique

It didn’t win the Olivier Award for Best New Entertainment for nothing! Leaving the tragic tale of Jack and Rose in the hands of Céline Dion, this outrageous comedy was described as “a riotous voyage” by our critic and features a raft of iconic songs. With ad-libs and improv each night, every show is different, and from 6 June, you can catch the ultimate G and Diva, William Hanson, making his theatrical debut. Get kooky krazy this June.

Plays at the Criterion Theatre

Honourable mentions: the touring production of Legally Blonde (especially for “There Right There”!) and the tour of WhatsOnStage Award-winning musical Mean Girls.