The West End is famous for its musicals, but its plays are every bit as essential. From record-breaking stage spectacles to the longest-running thriller in history, London’s straight theatre offers some of the most thrilling nights out you can have. Here are the ten plays we think are absolutely worth your time right now, whether you want jaw-dropping stagecraft, a gripping drama or simply the best laugh in town.
1. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
The spellbinding stage continuation of the Harry Potter story remains the West End’s flagship play. Set nineteen years after the books, it follows Harry’s son Albus as he wrestles with the family legacy, and its illusions and stagecraft are some of the most astonishing ever seen in a theatre. A genuine event at the Palace Theatre, and still the benchmark every other play is measured against.
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2. Stranger Things: The First Shadow
The blockbuster prequel to the hit Netflix series took London by storm, and it is unlike anything else on stage. Telling the story of Hawkins before the events of the show, it pairs a genuinely gripping script with effects and illusions that have to be seen to be believed. The hottest “event” play in town, packing out the Phoenix Theatre night after night.
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3. Oh, Mary!
The buzziest comedy ticket in London right now. This anarchic, gleefully silly Broadway smash imagines Mary Todd Lincoln as a frustrated cabaret wannabe, and it has been a word-of-mouth sensation on both sides of the Atlantic. Outrageous, fast and very funny, it lights up the Trafalgar Theatre. Not one for traditionalists, and all the better for it.
4. The Mousetrap
No list of West End plays would be complete without it. Agatha Christie’s classic whodunnit is the longest-running play in the world, and it has been keeping audiences guessing at the St Martin’s Theatre for over seventy years. A cosy, ingenious, twist-in-the-tale thriller and a true London institution. Just remember to keep the ending a secret.
5. To Kill a Mockingbird
Aaron Sorkin’s acclaimed adaptation of Harper Lee’s beloved novel brings the trial of Tom Robinson and the moral courage of Atticus Finch to vivid life. With Richard Coyle leading the company at Wyndham’s Theatre, it is the heavyweight drama pick of the season - powerful, timely and beautifully staged.
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6. Grace Pervades
The prestige star vehicle of the moment. Ralph Fiennes leads David Hare’s astonishing new play as Sir Henry Irving, the greatest actor of the Victorian age, opposite Miranda Raison as the celebrated Ellen Terry. Fresh from a sell-out season in Bath, it has transferred to the Theatre Royal Haymarket to unanimous critical praise. Unmissable for lovers of great acting.
7. Cyrano de Bergerac
Adrian Lester takes on one of the theatre’s greatest roles in a fresh staging of Edmond Rostand’s romantic classic - the tale of the brilliant, big-nosed poet-swordsman who woos on another man’s behalf. Stripped-back and full of heart, it is a showcase for one of our finest stage actors at the Noël Coward Theatre.
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8. The Play That Goes Wrong
Mischief’s runaway hit comedy is still one of the most reliable nights out in the West End. The hapless Cornley Drama Society attempts a country-house murder mystery, and absolutely everything that can go wrong does. Slick, silly and brilliantly choreographed, it has been delighting families and tourists at the Duchess Theatre for years.
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9. My Neighbour Totoro
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s stage version of the beloved Studio Ghibli film is pure theatrical magic. Brought to life with breathtaking puppetry and design, it captures the wonder of the original in a way few thought possible. A multi-award-winning spectacle for all ages at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, and one of the most in-demand tickets in town.
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10. The Truth
Florian Zeller’s sharp, sophisticated comedy of marriage, friendship and the little lies we tell turns infidelity into a deliciously funny game. With a first-rate cast led by Stephen Mangan and Sarah Hadland, it is a smart, grown-up night out at the Apollo Theatre.
Also worth seeing
The West End’s straight-play line-up only gets stronger from here, with a run of star-led productions on the way. Keep an eye out for Keira Knightley in The Lives of Others, Christine Baranski and Richard E. Grant in Hay Fever, Mary-Louise Parker and David Morrissey in The Oresteia, and a revival of Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party.
Whatever you choose, you can browse the full line-up and book on our plays page. This guide is updated regularly as shows open and close, so check back for the latest on what is lighting up the West End.
