Best Theatre Shows to Watch Out For In 2020

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West End Theatres

London’s love for the theatre dates back hundreds of years. From the exciting history and mystery of William Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre to the electric 80s’ and 90s’ of avant-garde In Yer Face Theatre, London has created a colourful collage of vibrant drama, making for a unique mix of West End family favourites and more challenging pieces. With so much on offer every month, it can be hard to pick and choose what to see during your London hotel special offers stay. That’s why we’ve compiled a month by month list of the best shows to see in London over the next 10 months, giving you just a few of the dazzling options for entertainment in London.

March

Vault Festival

Whether you’re visiting the Beauty and Melody Spa Piccadilly or in London for work, the Vaults Festival under Waterloo Station is a two-month-long arts festival that showcases the best in upcoming cabaret, theatre and comedy talent. With over 12 venues inside the labyrinthian venue, there are also plenty of spaces to socialise in, with food and drinks served from atmospheric underground bars. The Vault Festival started at the end of January and will run until March 22nd so there’s plenty of time to make the most of the cutting edge shows and variety of venues.

To Kill A Mockingbird

One of the most highly anticipated theatrical performances hitting London this year, To Kill a Mockingbird adapted by Aaron Sorkin will see Harper Lee’s heartbreaking novel brought to life on the stage of the legendary Gielgud Theatre. With tickets already selling fast, theatre-loving guests at West End hotels London should book soon, especially with the Gielgud Theatre right on your doorstep.

Death of England

Performed at the National Theatre until the 7th of March, this piece of new writing from Clint Dyer and Roy Williams is a one-man play exploring race, masculinity and generational rifts. Performed in the round, Death of England is an intimate yet riveting show performed by Rafe Spall of War of the Worlds and The Ritual fame.

The High Table

Temi Wilkey’s debut play runs at the Bush Theatre until 21st March and confronts preconceived notions of sexuality within African culture. Whilst hard-hitting in its subject matter, the play has received rave reviews and promotes an uplifting message that’s designed to push boundaries and break stigmas surrounding Nigerian generational rifts and prejudiced views of same-sex relationships.

April

Uncle Vanya

One of the most famous plays by legendary Russian writer Anton Chekov, Uncle Vanya is being performed at the Harold Pinter Theatre just off of Leicester Square. With it’s cast including British household name Toby Jones and Richard Armitage, this staging will be directed by famed West End director Ian Rickson.

The Welkin

The Welkin is the new play by Lucy Kirkwood, the acclaimed contemporary writer of works such as Chimerica and Mosquitoes which were also performed at the National Theatre. Set in the mid 18th century in rural Suffolk, The Welkin follows the trial of a pregnant murderer and the jury of women who set out to decide her fate. With dazzling reviews, this period drama will be playing throughout April at the South Bank’s National Theatre.

May

Leopoldstadt

Tom Stoppard’s most recent play is inspired by his own childhood and Jewish grandparents, all of whom died in the holocaust. Playing at the Wyndham’s Theatre since January and carrying on until June, Leopoldstadt is one of the most personal plays by the famed writer. Surrounded by Soho and Leicester Square, the centrally located Wundham’s Theatre is ideally situated for pre-theatre dining at the tantalising restaurants near Piccadilly.

June

The Glow

The chilling new play from Alastair Macdowell is a unique exploration of death and madness, exploring a woman’s experience of a Victorian Mental Institution and a medium’s attempts to exorcise the ghosts she believes to be inhabiting her. Playing throughout June at the Royal Court Theatre, this is a terrifying new period piece from the writer of Pomona and X.

July

Prince of Egypt

The thrilling new musical based on the Dreamworks animated film from the 90s’ is a magical take on the story of Moses and his quest to free the Jewish slaves of Egypt. The musical will be playing at the Dominion Theatre and has music composed by the same team behind hit show Wicked.

August

The Contingency Plan

Playing at the Donmar Warehouse, The Contingency Plan was written by Norfolk based writer Steve Waters in 2009. With a restaging 11 years later, the play’s chilling foresight over the climate crisis has given this restaging urgent precedence and will no doubt be a real winner this summer.

September

A Doll’s House

Ibsen’s play about the plight and claustrophobia of a married woman caused outrage at the time it was premiered, and whilst more than a hundred years have passed since its first staging in Norway, the play still cuts deep today. With it being performed at the Charing Cross based Playhouse Theatre from June 10th till September 5th, this Frank McGuiness adaptation of the original text will star Jessica Chastain in the main role of Nora.

October

Life Of Pi

The stage adaptation of the award-winning book and later Spielberg film will be performed at the Wyndham Theatre on Charing Cross Road from June till October 4th and brings back the puppet driven spectacle that was so successful at the Sheffield Crucible in 2019.

November

Good

Good will be a new play written by CP Taylor and directed by the Royal Court’s former artistic director Dominic Cooke. Telling the story of a music professor in 1930s’ Germany, Good will star David Tennant in the lead role and explore how toxic ideologies can infiltrate seemingly normal lives.

December

Frozen

The highly anticipated adaptation of the Disney musical will make its way to London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane in the autumn and will see Elsa, Olaf and the gang brought to life in a unique live performance of the film. This is a true hit for all ages, and will no doubt get everybody into the Christmas spirit later this year.

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