West End theatres announce dates for the return of musicals
West End prepares to lift the curtain! Theatres announce dates for the return of musicals including Phantom Of The Opera and Tina – and reveal when Frozen and Cinderella will make their UK premiere
- West End theatres are preparing to reopen once lockdown restrictions ease
- From May 17, indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 or more can open
- Major productions are returning including SIX, Tina and Come From Away
- Musicals fans are also looking forward to the premiere of new shows
West End theatres are preparing for the return of audiences once lockdown restrictions ease.
The Government’s roadmap out of lockdown allows indoor events with a capacity of 1,000 people or half full, whichever is lower, to take place from May 17.
It is at this point that the majority of London’s theatres are planning to return, with Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Les Misérables: The Staged Concert among the first to reopen their doors.
Other big name musicals including Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Jersey Boys and Anything Goes have also recently announced their dates for reopening, with returns staggered until later in the summer.
Some including Wicked have yet to confirm a date as they process tickets that have been cancelled and await further confirmation from the Government.
Here, FEMAIL reveals when you should be able to enjoy your favourite show…
Pretty Woman: The Musical
FROM MAY 17, PICCADILLY THEATRE
From screen to stage: Aimee Atkinson and Danny Macsent in Pretty Woman: The Musical
Based on the classic film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, Pretty Woman tells the story of Vivian Ward who is hired by a rich businessman called Edward Lewis to escort him to a number of events during his stay in the city. Now booking until September 2021.
Back To The Future: The Musical
FROM MAY 17, ADELPHI THEATRE
Based on the iconic 1985 film starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, Back to the Future The Musical is bringing the beloved movie to the stage for the first time.
It had its world premiere at the Manchester Opera House in February 2020, but its initial run was cut short due to lockdown. It is now set for its West End premiere.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
FROM MAY 20, APOLLO THEATRE
Fan favourite: Hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie returns to the Apollo Theatre this May, making it one of the first major musicals to reopen in London
Hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie returns to the Apollo Theatre this May, making it one of the first major musicals to reopen in London.
With a hotly-anticipated new film adaptation due to be released this year, tickets for the popular show, inspired by a true story of a schoolboy drag queen, are being snapped up.
Les Misérables: The Staged Concert
FROM MAY 20, SONDHEIM THEATRE
One run more! Les Misérables: The Staged Concert will return for a three-month run this year
Les Misérables: The Staged Concert opened to critical acclaim at the Sondheim Theatre in December 2020, and was extended twice by public demand.
Now, performances are set to return from May 20 until September 5, when the theatre will close for three weeks in order to be able to re-mount the full production of Les Misérables.
SIX
FROM MAY 21, LYRIC THEATRE
History brought to life: SIX, about Henry VIII’s wives, reopens at the Lyric Theatre on May 21
From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power.
It reopens at the Lyric Theatre on May 21 and will transfer to the Arts Theatre from August 24.
Jersey Boys
FROM JUNE 2, TRAFALGAR THEATRE
The Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning smash hit musical Jersey Boys is returning to London’s West End, opening at the new sparkling new Trafalgar Theatre.
The playhouse will combine the two smaller studio spaces at Trafalgar Studios: Trafalgar Studio One and Trafalgar Studio Two.
TINA: The Tina Turner Musical
FROM JUNE 3, ALDWYCH THEATRE
Simply the best! Tina: The Tina Turner Musical returns to the Aldwych Theatre from June 3
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – which is presented in collaboration with the music icon herself – will return to the Aldwych Theatre from June 3, continuing the musical’s West End run.
The musical features hit songs like Proud Mary, River Deep Mountain High and (Simply) The Best.
Anything Goes
FROM JUNE 5, THE BARBICAN
This major new production of Cole Porter and P. G. Wodehouse’s classic musical of pure escapism, Anything Goes opens at the Barbican this summer.
It features a 50 strong company including a full-sized live orchestra and 15 tap-dancing sailors and marks the West End debut of US star Megan Mullally.
Come From Away
FROM JUNE 19, PHOENIX THEATRE
Coming to a screen soon: Come From Away is being adapted into a film
Come from Away, the Broadway musical by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, is based on the events in the week following the 9/11 attacks on America, when 38 planes were ordered to land in the small Canadian town of Gander.
This true story tells the tale of the town who kept 7,000 stranded visitors housed and fed following the biggest tragedy the US had seen.
Since opening in 2019, it has become a fan favourite. A film adaptation is now in the works.
Cinderella
FROM JUNE 25, GILLIAN LYNNE THEATRE
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella is set to completely reinvent the world’s best-loved fairytale when it opens in London’s West End this Summer.
This highly anticipated new production stars Carrie Hope Fletcher in the title role and has a book written by the Killing Eve scriptwriter Emerald Fennell.
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat
FROM JULY 1, LONDON PALLADIUM
Fifty years on from its original release as a concept album, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat opens at the London Palladium this summer.
Jason Donovan, who starred as Joseph, returns to play the Pharaoh in this production of the popular family-friendly musical.
Phantom of the Opera
FROM JULY 20, HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sensational long-running musical The Phantom of the Opera continues to run in its original form at the West End’s Her Majesty’s Theatre.
Frozen: The Musical
AUGUST 2021, THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE
Disney’s FROZEN as it comes alive at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane. This new West End musical celebrates the extraordinary story that melted hearts across the world. Tickets are currently not available to buy but the show is expected to open in August 2021.
Still to be confirmed…
WICKED
The musical is still finalising a date for its return. A statement from producers reads: ‘We have suspended performances until Sunday 20 June 2021 in line with Step 3 of the Government roadmap and are currently working through cancellations for performances up to and including Saturday 15 May 2021.’
HAIRSPRAY
Michael Ball is set to reprise his role as Edna Turnblad at the London Coliseum but dates have yet to be confirmed.
SISTER ACT
Due to ongoing government restrictions resulting in a further delay to the production, Jamie Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg, the producers of Sister Act – The Musical, have announced that it is now impossible to open the show at London’s Eventim Apollo this July. The performances are therefore rescheduled to begin in July 2022.
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