JJune is bustin' out all over and this year it's bringing a Hell of a lot of exciting new shows with it. The West End gets a major transformation thanks to a heap of new shows as well as some exciting ones all over the UK. Here are of the best:
GREASE (Dominion Theatre)
2nd June - 28th October
Taking over the Dominion for a second year of summer lovin', the cast includes Louise Redknapp as Teen Angel alongside Olivia Moore and Dan Partridge.
Tickets from www.greasemusical.co.uk
WE WILL ROCK YOU (London Coliseum)
2nd June - 27th August
Ben Elton’s mammoth musical featuring Queen’s legendary songbook returns to the West End for a limited run celebrating 21 years since the show first premiered in London with a cast including Lee Mead, Brenda Edwards and Ben Elton himself.
Tickets from wewillrockyoulondon.co.uk
WHEN WINSTON WENT TO WAR WITH THE WIRELESS (Donmar Warehouse)
2nd June - 27th July
Jack Thorne's new play is set in May 1926 as a fierce battle for control of the news and who gets to define the truth takes place.
Tickets from www.donmarwarehouse.com
ASSASSINS (Chichester Festival Theatre)
3rd - 24th June
Stephen Sondheims musical is set around a group of people who all want to assassinate the President of the United States and has a cast featuring Danny Mac and Carly Mercedes Dyer.
Tickets from cft.org.uk
HOPE HAS A HAPPY MEAL (Royal Court)
3rd June - 8th July
This play follows Hope as she embarks on a frenetic quest back to the hyper-capitalist country of corporate giants from which she disappeared many years ago, in search of something that she left behind.
Tickets from royalcourttheatre.com
ROMEO & JULIET (Almeida Theatre)
6th June - 29th July
Rebecca Frecknall directs the Shakeapeare classic with Isis Hainsworth and Toheeb Jimoh taking on the roles of the star-crossed lovers.
Tickets from almeida.co.uk
FURY AND ELYSIUM (The Other Palace Studio)
6th - 18th June
Danielle Steers and Iz Hesketh are among the cast starring in this Queer revolutionary musical summer, immersing audiences in Weimar-era Berlin and the fight for artistic
revolution against the backdrop of the rise of fascism.
Tickets from https://theotherpalace.co.uk/fury-and-elysium/
ALL OF IT (Royal Court)
6th - 17th June
A trilogy of short plays from Alistair McDowall including brand new plays Northleigh, 1940 and In Stereo, alongside all of it, which was performed at the Royal Court Theatre in 2020.
Tickets from royalcourttheatre.com
THE CRUCIBLE (Gielgud Theatre)
7th June - 2nd September
Following an acclaimed run at National Theatre, Lyndsey Turner's production of Arthur Miller's gripping parable of power and its abuse hits the West End for a limited run.
Tickets from https://www.thecrucibleonstage.com/
PAPER CUT (Park Theatre)
7th June - 1st July
A wounded gay American soldier tries to find love and acceptance from his family, his country and himself in this queer love story that looks at how a man’s identity is affected by injury, and by fighting for a country that doesn’t fully accept you.
Tickets from parktheatre.co.uk
SCHOOL GIRL; OR THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY (Lyric Theatre)
8th June - 15th July
The UK premiere of Jocelyn Bioh's play directed by Monique Touko is set in Ghana's prestigious Aburi Girls Boarding School in 1986 explores the universal similarities (and glaring differences) facing teenage girls around the world.
Tickets from www.lyric.co.uk
FRANK AND PERCY (Theatre Royal Windsor)
9th June - 22nd July
Ian McKellen and Roger Allam star in the world premiere of Ben Weatherills poignant and witty take on the unexpected relationship that blossoms between two men.
Tickets from http://www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/
THE PILLOWMAN (Duke Of York's Theatre)
10th June - 2nd September
Lily Allen and Steve Pemberton star in the West End premiere of Martin McDonagh’s electrifying play.
Tickets from www.pillowmanplay.com
THE THIRD MAN (Menier Chocolate Factory)
10th June - 9th September
The world premiere of a musical adaptation of Graham Greene's story is set in Post-war Vienna as Holly Martins arrives at the invitation of his friend and hero, Harry Lime, only to discover that Harry has been killed in a car accident. But nothing that he is told about what happened makes any sense.
Tickets from http://www.menierchocolatefactory.com/
DEAR ENGLAND (National Theatre)
10th June - 11th August
James Graham’s new play tells the story of the England men’s football team under Gareth Southgate’s management and stars Joseph Fiennes.
Tickets from nationaltheatre.org,uk
ROMAN HOLIDAY (Theatre Royal Bath)
10th June - 1st July
The UK premiere of a new stage adaptation based on the Academy Award-winning movie stars Michael D. Xavier and Rebecca Collingwood and features the unforgettable music of Cole Porter.
Tickets from theatreroyal.org.uk
ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST (Theatre Royal Haymarket)
12th June - 9th September
Following an acclaimed run at Lyric Hammersmith, T om Basden’s razor sharp adaptation of Fo’s classic farce transfers to the West End.
Tickets from www.anarchistwestend.com
MOM, HOW DID YOU MEET THE BEATLES? (Minerva, Chichester Festival Theatre)
16th June - 8th July
Adrienne Kennedy’s autobiographical play told in the form of a one-act near monologue to her son stars Rakie Ayola as the playwright intent on adapting John Lennon’s book ‘In His Own Write’ for the stage.
Tickets from cft.org.uk
TAMBO & BONES (Theatre Royal Stratford East)
16th June - 15th July
The UK premiere of Dave Harris’ play about a comedy double-act, turned hip-hop superstars, who find themselves stuck in a minstrel show.
Tickets from www.stratfordeast.com
WEST END LIVE
17th - 18th June
The highlight of every musical theatre fans calendar returns to Trafalgar Square for another weekend packed full of all the biggest shows in the West End and beyond. Entry is free but you may be queuing a while to get in. Don’t forget your suncream, umbrella, sunglasses and winter coat. This is London in June after all!
A STRANGE LOOP (Barbican Theatre)
17th June - 9th September
The Tony award-winning musical heads to London for a limited season. It tells the story of Usher, a young, gay, Black writer who hates his day job, so writes a musical about a young, gay, Black writer who’s writing a musical about a young, gay, Black writer… a strange loop.
Tickets from www.barbican.org.uk
AS YOU LIKE IT (Royal Shakespeare Theatre)
17th June - 5th August
A playful and provocative new take on Shakespeare’s comedy which rediscovers the themes of freedom and love from the perspective of older age. It stars a company of actors, most of whom are aged over 70.
Tickets from rsc.org.uk
ROBIN HOOD: THE LEGEND. RE-WRITTEN (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre)
17th June - 22nd July
Told with epic storytelling and stirring tights, this thrilling new take on the classic tale promise humour, heart and a forest full of secrets.
Tickets from openairtheatre.com
I F*CKED YOU IN MY SPACESHIP (Soho Theatre)
19th June - 8th July
After delighting audiences with its premiere at VAULT festival earlier this year, the most interesting titled show of the year moves to Soho Theatre It follows two couples who each launch an extraterrestrial game of shifting relationship dynamics threatened by invasion, alienation, and abduction, when they invite a stranger into their homes with hope of sparking new life…
SCOUTS (The Other Palace)
20th June - 9th July
Scouts from around the world gather to compete in the annual Scout Games but when someone threatens to sabotage the competition it is up to Joe and Ayesha to put aside their rivalries and use their newfound skills to save the day in this brand new actor-musician led comedy musical for the whole family.
Tickets from www.theotherpalace.co.uk
THE WIZARD OF OZ (London Palladium)
23rd June - 3rd September
After its successful run at Curve Leicester, this brand new production of the classic follows the yellow brick road down to London for a limited season with Georgina Onuorah and Christina Bianco reprising their roles as Dorothy and Glinda alongside Jason Manford, Dianne Pilkington and Gary Wilmot.
Tickets from www.wizardofozmusical.com
THEN, NOW & NEXT (Southwark Playhouse)
23rd June - 29th July
The world première production of the heart-warming, original musical by Christopher J Orton (and Jon Robyn is directed by Julie Atheron and stars Alice Fearn.
Tickets from http://www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/
CRAZY FOR YOU (Gillian Lynne Theatre)
24th June - 20th January 2024
Susan Stroman’s acclaimed production of the classic Gershwin musical heads to London for a limited run following its rave reviews at Chichester Festival Theatre. Starring Charlie Stemp, Carly Anderson and Tom Edden, this is going to be a glittering new addition to the West End.
Tickets from www.CrazyForYouMusical.com
BENEATHA'S PLACE (Young Vic)
27th June - 5th August
This razor-sharp satire and UK premiere from Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah is about the power of knowing your history and the cost of letting it go.
Tickets from www.youngvic.org
SONG FROM FAR AWAY (Hampstead Theatre)
28th June - 22nd July
Direct from a critically acclaimed run at HOME Manchester, Will Young stars in this unforgettable story and a personal letter to those left behind.
Tickets from hampsteadtheatre.com.
DR SEMMELWEISS (Harold Pinter Theatre)
29th June - 7th October
Mark Rylance returns to the West End as one of medicine’s greatest pioneers, maverick Hungarian doctor Ignaz Semmelweis – the man whose research could save many millions of mothers’ lives.
Tickets from https://drsemmelweistheplay.com/
What a particularly fantastic month we have in store! Look out for reviews on a lot of these throughout the month and into July. Let me know on Twitter or in the comments what you're most excited about seeing in June. See you in July for lots more fantastic theatre!