Now playing in London
Stars on Stage
Catch world-renowned actors and celebrated performers live in the West End — browse current productions, ticket prices and booking links for London's most star-studded shows.
FAQ
FAQ
Which film and TV stars are on stage in the West End right now?
The current West End Stars on Stage line-up is strong. Ralph Fiennes and Miranda Raison in Grace Pervades open at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 24 April, booking to 11 July 2026. Rosamund Pike in Inter Alia at Wyndham’s runs to 20 June 2026. Hugh Bonneville and Maggie Siff in Shadowlands at the Aldwych and Griff Rhys Jones and Clive Francis in I’m Sorry, Prime Minister at the Apollo both run to 9 May 2026. Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club rotates a steady stream of headline names — Jamie Muscato and Joy Woods take over as Emcee and Sally Bowles from 25 May 2026, with Ruthie Henshall continuing as Fraulein Schneider.
Are West End star casting runs shorter than regular productions?
Yes, almost always. A big-name West End star booking typically runs for 10 to 16 weeks — long enough to justify the production, short enough to fit around the actor’s film and TV commitments. Inter Alia is a 13-week run at Wyndham’s, Grace Pervades plays for 11 weeks at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, and Shadowlands runs 14 weeks at the Aldwych. That’s very different from open-ended long-runners like The Lion King or Les Misérables, where the production continues indefinitely and the cast rotates. If you want to see a specific star on a West End stage, book as soon as dates are announced — the best seats usually go within days.
Why are tickets for star-led West End shows more expensive?
Three reasons. First, demand: a film or TV star tied to a limited run — Ralph Fiennes in Grace Pervades, say, or Rosamund Pike in Inter Alia — concentrates months of ticket-buying interest into a short window, which pushes prices upward via dynamic pricing and premium seat pricing. Second, economics: star fees, insurance and understudy coverage are significantly higher for celebrity-led West End productions. Third, scarcity: the run is finite, so there’s no “wait six months and pay less” option. That said, restricted-view and balcony seats at Stars on Stage productions still offer genuine value if you’re flexible on sightlines.
How do I know who’s going to be in a West End show before I book?
Cast information is published on each individual show page on our site as soon as it’s officially confirmed by the producers, and updated when principal roles change. For celebrity-led West End productions, the headline star is almost always announced at the same time the run is — as with Hugh Bonneville in Shadowlands and Griff Rhys Jones in I’m Sorry, Prime Minister — with supporting cast typically following a few weeks later. If you’re booking specifically to see a named actor, check the performance date against the confirmed cast schedule: very occasionally stars miss performances due to illness and understudies go on in their place. Cast is never guaranteed.
What’s the best way to get tickets for a celebrity-led West End show?
For high-demand Stars on Stage productions, the reliable pattern is: sign up to the producer’s and our newsletter to catch the on-sale announcement, book in the first 24 hours for the best seat choice, and target midweek or matinee performances if your dates are flexible — those typically cost less and sell more slowly than Friday and Saturday evenings. If the run is sold out, we publish remaining availability (day seats, returns, restricted view) on the individual show page — it’s worth checking two to three days before the performance you want. Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club is the obvious long-running exception — its star leads rotate, so there’s almost always a fresh name to see.
Are star-led West End shows worth the higher ticket price?
Often, yes — a major Hollywood or RSC-trained name in a small West End theatre is a genuinely rare event and the performance usually justifies the billing. Stars currently or recently on stage (Ralph Fiennes, Rosamund Pike, Hugh Bonneville, Griff Rhys Jones) have consistently drawn strong reviews from the British press, and the atmosphere of a star-led run is different from a long-runner — there’s a palpable sense of a one-off moment. That said, you’re paying for a combination of the performer and the production itself. If the play isn’t one you’d otherwise want to see, a West End musical or long-running classic will often deliver more theatrical value pound-for-pound.
