James McAvoy in Cyrano De Bergerac

Thought-provoking shows in London

A selection of thought-provoking plays and musicals in London, written by some of the greatest past and living playwrights and authors.

At its best, theatre is interesting! That’s not to say it can’t also be entertaining, funny, big, bold and fabulous. But interesting – as in not boring! Theatre that’s provocative, that stimulates you, makes you think… inspires you to think. It’s meaty, it’s gripping, it captivates, it pushes boundaries.

So here’s our selection of intelligent, thought-provoking West End shows in London.

A Little Life
Savoy Theatre
Ivo van Hove directs a stage adaptation of best-selling novel A Little Life at London's Savoy Theatre starring James Norton

Starts: 4 Jul 2023
Booking to: 5 Aug 2023

Beneatha’s Place
Young Vic Theatre
Blistering satirical drama Beneatha’s Place at the Young Vic theatre by Kwame Kwei-Armah

Starts: 27 Jun 2023
Booking to: 5 Aug 2023

Brokeback Mountain
@sohoplace Theatre
The world premiere production of Brokeback Mountain starring Mike Faist, Lucas Hedges & Eddi Reader

Booking to: 12 Aug 2023

Disruption
Park Theatre
Andrew Stein’s sharp, unnerving thriller is a timely and insightful exploration of our tech obsessed world.

Starts: 7 Jul 2023
Booking to: 5 Aug 2023

Dr Semmelweis
Harold Pinter Theatre
Mark Rylance stars in the West End premiere of Dr Semmelweis at the Harold Pinter Theatre

Starts: 29 Jun 2023
Booking to: 7 Oct 2023

Es & Flo
Kiln Theatre
Jennifer Lunn's moving and powerful play Es & Flo comes to the Kiln Theatre in London for a limited season.

Starts: 5 Jun 2023
Booking to: 24 Jun 2023

★ Save up to 41%
F**king Men
Waterloo East Theatre
F**king Men by Joe DiPietro is back in London for a strictly limited season at Waterloo East Theatre

Booking to: 18 Jun 2023

★ Save up to 38%
God of Carnage
Lyric Hammersmith
Yasmina Reza's award winning, ruthlessly comic study of middle-class parenting

Starts: 1 Sep 2023
Booking to: 30 Sep 2023

Hamnet
Garrick Theatre
The RSC's production of Hamnet based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, comes to the West End's Garrick Theatre

Starts: 30 Sep 2023
Booking to: 6 Jan 2024

Macbeth
Shakespeare's Globe
One couple’s ruthless quest for power turns nature upside down in Shakespeare’s epic tragedy of Macbeth at the Globe Theatre this Summer.

Starts: 21 Jul 2023
Booking to: 28 Oct 2023

Metamorphosis
Lyric Hammersmith
Franz Kafka’s shocking tale of cruelty and kindness re-imagined

Starts: 1 Feb 2024
Booking to: 2 Mar 2024

Mlima’s Tale
Kiln Theatre
The Kiln Theatre presents the UK premiere of award-winning playwright Lynn Nottage's drama Mlima's Tale.

Starts: 14 Sep 2023
Booking to: 21 Oct 2023

Patriots
Noel Coward Theatre
Tom Hollander stars in the West End premiere of Patriots by The Crown's Peter Morgan

Booking to: 19 Aug 2023

★ Exclusive Prices
Punchdrunk: The Burnt City
One Cartridge Place London
Punchdrunk present The Burnt City, their major new immersive theatre experience at Woolwich Works

Booking to: 24 Sep 2023

★ Save up to 56%
Pygmalion
The Old Vic
An explosive new production of George Bernard Shaw's much-loved drama Pygmalion is revived at The Old Vic theatre this autumn.

Starts: 6 Sep 2023
Booking to: 28 Oct 2023

Retrograde
Kiln Theatre
The explosive new play set in 1950s Hollywood by acclaimed new playwright Ryan Calais Cameron

Booking to: 27 May 2023

Rose
Ambassadors Theatre
Maureen Lipman stars in Martin Sherman’s acclaimed play Rose at the Ambassadors Theatre

Booking to: 18 Jun 2023

School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play
Lyric Hammersmith
School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play is the acclaimed new play that bursts with hilarity and joy!

Starts: 9 Jun 2023
Booking to: 15 Jul 2023

★ Exclusive Prices
The Crucible
Gielgud Theatre
Lyndsey Turner directs this electrifying new production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible at the Gielgud Theatre in London

Starts: 7 Jun 2023
Booking to: 2 Sep 2023

The Interview
Park Theatre
Jonathan Maitland’s powerful new play The Interview gives a fascinating insight into the story behind a legendary interview: the 1995 TV interview with Princess Diana and Martin Bashir.

Starts: 27 Oct 2023
Booking to: 25 Nov 2023

The Pillowman Duke of Yorks Theatre
The Pillowman
Duke of York's Theatre
The Pillowman starring Lily Allen & Steve Pemberton

Starts: 10 Jun 2023
Booking to: 2 Sep 2023

The Shape of Things
Park Theatre
A major revival of Neil Labute's acclaimed play The Shape of Things starring Luke Newton and Amber Anderson

Booking to: 1 Jul 2023

The Third Man - A Musical Thriller
Menier Chocolate Factory
Graham Greene’s brilliant story is brought to life on stage in a new musical thriller

Starts: 10 Jun 2023
Booking to: 9 Sep 2023

Untitled F*ck M*ss S**gon Play
Young Vic Theatre
Startling, hilarious new play Untitled F*ck M*ss S**gon comes to the Young Vic this Autumn 2023.

Starts: 18 Sep 2023
Booking to: 4 Nov 2023



📷 Main photo: James McAvoy (Cyrano de Bergerac). Credit Marc Brenner

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