What’s happening this month in theatre

Everything happening on the West End this month that you need to know about

It’s the festive season and celebrations on the West End are in full swing. Most of our festive shows and pantomimes opened in November and are still running – you can catch up with what arrived last month in our November theatre round-up, or explore all shows in our theatre guide. December in London is about more than just A Christmas Carol – it’s your first opportunity to catch some fun, sparkly jukebox musicals, and your last to see some of the season’s most acclaimed dramas. Here’s everything that’s happening on the West End this December.

New West End openings

Ever imagined that Dolly Parton was your imaginary friend? Who hasn’t? A diehard fan is guided through life by his fantasy version of Dolly in Here You Come Again: The New Dolly Parton Musical, which opens 10 December at Riverside Studios. Another famous diva lends her music to the West End over at the Criterion Theatre, as Jack and Rose attempt to navigate their love story despite frequent interruptions by Celine Dion in Titanique. The hilarious new musical opens 9 December.

Those seeking a different kind of culture this December have two great Shakespearean pieces to choose from. The RSC stage a magical production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Barbican Theatre from 3 December, with Mathew Baynton (Ghosts, Horrible Histories) as Bottom. Later this month, celebrated adaption The Merchant of Venice 1936 returns to the West End, landing at the Trafalgar Theatre on 28 December.

Tickets on sale now

If you’re ready for all the glitz, glamour and gloom of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s most famous novel, you can now book tickets for The Great Gatsby ahead of its arrival at the London Coliseum in April 2025. This brand-new musical features an original score with jazz and pop influences from Jason Howland (Little Women) and Nathan Tysen (Paradise Square), and promises to be one of the most exciting theatrical events of next year.

Another anticipated arrival next year is Disney’s Hercules, the stage adaptation of the beloved animated film. With a score from Alan Menken featuring all the favourites from the original, this witty take on Greek mythology lands at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in June 2025, with tickets on sale now.

Last chance shows

Big awards winner Guys and Dolls is sadly leaving the Bridge Theatre early next year, heading off on 4 Jan. If you haven’t seen it, now’s your last chance to experience the immersive production and its ever-transforming stage.

It’s also your last chance to catch some celebrated dramas, including Macbeth with David Tennant and Cush Jumbo at the Harold Pinter Theatre, which heads off on 14 December. Waiting For Godot is, ironically, leaving the Theatre Royal Haymarket soon as well, playing its last performance on 21 December. Finally, this is the last month you’ll be able to see Mark Strong and Lesley Manville in Robert Icke’s Oedipus – the Greek tragedy leaves Wyndham’s Theatre on 4 January.

Other West End theatre news

Wicked arrives in cinemas

The long-awaited adaptation of Wicked, the musical that reimagines the life of the Wicked Witch of the West, has finally hit cinemas. Whether you’ve never seen the stage version or you’ve been meaning to revisit it, there’s never been a better time to head over to the Apollo Victoria Theatre and experience Elphaba and Glinda’s story live before you see it on the big screen.