Theatre Roundup: Summer 2022

Spend your summer on stage with the best prices available on West End tickets until the end of May

As the days get longer and brighter, there’s a dizzying amount happening in London’s West End. From long-running masterpieces to shiny new productions, it’s a pretty crowded theatre season, with West End debuts rubbing shoulders with tenured actors and classic musicals polished up for younger audiences. If you’re struggling to keep up with it all, allow us to take the heat off. Even better, if you book before the end of May you’ll get the best prices around – with no fees and exclusive pricing on all shows.

Here’s all the stages to keep an eye out for this summer.

The classics

West End productions may come and go, but these shows have stuck around for a reason. The ambitious tear-jerker that is Les Misérables has been playing in London over 35 years, and still remains one of the most popular musicals of all time, as does The Phantom of the Opera, which has also made it past that 35-year mark.

Joining these heavyweights this June is Anything Goes, a brand new production of the nautical comedy which features beloved characters Billy Crocker and Reno Sweeney and boasts an incredible cast. South Pacific, the powerful World War II love story by Rogers & Hammerstein, also makes a return to London, arriving at Sadler’s Wells in July.

Seen the film, read the book

Some of the most beloved stories around have made the jump from page and screen to land on London’s stages. There’s Matilda The Musical, an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic book with music by Tim Minchin, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, another chapter from the wizarding world that introduces us to Harry’s children.

You can also get your nostalgia hit with the brand new show Back To The Future The Musical, playing at the Adelphi Theatre, or let your hair down at Magic Mike Live (over 18s only, obviously). And ‘grease is the word’ over at the Dominion Theatre, where Grease The Musical finds itself back on stage where it belongs.

Juke box musicals

Familiar tunes are presented in a whole new way in these shows with famous soundtracks. Tina – The Tina Turner Musical puts the music of Tina Turner on stage, whilst Get Up, Stand Up! honours the life and discography of Bob Marley. The Drifters Girl sees Beverley Knight starring as Faye Treadwell, manager of The Drifters, in a world-premiere production. Meanwhile, MAMMA MIA! has employed the music of ABBA to delight audiences for over 20 years.

Disney on stage

No one does family-friendly musicals quite like Disney. Disney’s The Lion King has been one of the most popular shows on the West End for over two decades, bringing the African savannah to life with unbelievable staging and costuming. Disney’s Frozen, a more recent addition to the West End, tells the ever-popular story of two sisters doing their best to protect each other. You can also catch Disney’s most famous flying nanny at the Prince Edward Theatre, as Mary Poppins arrives to help the Banks family discipline their unruly children.

Fresh faces

You may not have had a chance to catch these ones yet, but trust us – you should. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella is playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre until 12 June, so there’s just enough time to sneak it into your summer schedule. My Fair Lady makes a West End return, playing the London Coliseum for a limited season, whilst cult Broadway show Bonnie & Clyde brings its story of love and crime to the West End for the first time. Life of Pi, the five-time Olivier winner, made its delayed West End transfer in late 2021 and has been dazzling audiences ever since with its unbelievable puppetry.

Heavy hitters

There’s some pretty famous faces appearing on the West End this summer season. Mad House sees David Harbour and Bill Pullman depict and not-so-loving family reunion, whilst Amy Adams makes her West End debut in Tennessee Williams’ famous play The Glass Menagerie. Also arriving is a new production of Chekhov’s classic The Seagull, which stars Emilia Clarke as Nina.

Find tickets to all the best West End shows here, with no fees and exclusive pricing available on all shows if you book before the end of May.