London theatre reviews from the UK newspaper The Guardian
Here’s a selection of reviews of London shows from the theatre and arts critics at The Guardian newspaper.
The chief theatre critic at The Guardian is Arifa Akbar, with Chris Wiegand as theatre, comedy and dance editor.
Mark Lawson also writes reviews for the Guardian.
See below for a full run-down of star ratings and theatre opinions about West End shows in London from The Guardian.
Cloud 9 at the National Theatre Lyttelton (2026)
★★★★
"Caryl Churchill's magnificent Cloud 9 reaches for the skies." "This crisp, handsome and note-perfect revival lands in exactly the right…
The Lives of Others at the Adelphi Theatre (2026)
★★★
"[This] adaptation of the Oscar-winning film has plenty of suspenseful stagecraft but struggles to match its subtlety" "This production is…
High School Musical at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre (2026)
★★★
"Sweet, slick and as squeaky clean as ever." "It can’t escape the limitations of the story’s spectacularly two-dimensional characters, who…
The Cherry Orchard at the The Harold Pinter (2026)
★★★
"The drama never quite enters dark or tragic territory." "Kristin Scott Thomas, who brings a hard-edged modernity that you believe…
Rent at the Tom Stoppard Theatre (Formerly Duke of York's) (2026)
★★★
"Sheppard cradles the piece in community, knitting together the story’s hopeful vagabonds." "The choreography (Tom Jackson Greaves) catches the hard-knock…
Hay Fever at the Wyndham's Theatre (2026)
★★★
"Ophelia Lovibond’s Sorel who emerges as the most vital character" "Frankie Bradshaw’s sumptuous set, with corniced ceilings and French windows"…
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the @sohoplace (2026)
★★★
"The play, while exquisitely written and structured, feels tortuously long at over three hours, and though this is the point…
The Standard of Living at the Theatre Royal Haymarket (2026)
★★★
"Played with equal amounts of old-school reserve, and charm." "Little short of ravishing." "Cleverly crafted dialogue." "A nod to today."
Tru at Menier Chocolate Factory at the Menier Chocolate Factory (2026)
★★★★
"A feat of varied pacing and intonation that Tyler Ferguson immaculately judges." "Paul Farnsworth’s design is less set than installation,…
Fences at the Leeds Playhouse and Lyric Hammersmith (2026)
★★★★
“Daniel Bailey’s dynamic production fizzes with jazz and moments of possibility amid taut scenes of thwarted ambition and harsh realities…
Thelma & Louise: The Musical at the The Old Vic (2026)
★★
"Despite a book by the original screenwriter, this stage adaptation doesn’t have the depth – or the songs – worthy…
for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf at the The Yard Theatre (2026)
★★★
“Collectively, the poems form a rich panorama: tales of domestic abuse bound up in a threatening marriage proposal; infidelity that…
Tartuffe (Remixed) at the Marylebone Theatre (2026)
★★★
"Spitting posh platitudes through false teeth so bucked they might enforce a liquid diet, raking one hand across an oily…
Electra/Persona at the National Theatre (2026)
★★★
“Blanchett and Hoss face off in lopsided Sophocles/Bergman double bill” “Benedict Andrews’ drama after Bergman and Sophocles first welds the…
Who Killed Marilyn? at the Emerald Theatre (2026)
★
“You imagine this drama is setting itself up for something beyond the slew of familiar theories. But there is little…
As You Like It at the Shakespeare's Globe (2026)
★★★
“This production of the Bard’s pastoral comedy begins the dress-up long before its characters enter the forest for their games…
Abigail's Party at the Harold Pinter Theatre (2026)
★★★
“Tamzin Outhwaite’s incredible achievement is that she banishes Steadman’s original portrayal of Bev as the definitive one.” “Her performance, and…
Death Note The Musical at the Barbican Theatre (2026)
★★★★
"The multi-platform phenomenon makes its way to the stage, with all the supernatural hijinks, J-horror tropes and emotional intensity intact."…
Game of Thrones: The Mad King at the Royal Shakespeare Company (2026)
★★★★
“This prequel to the TV series has one joust after another, spectacular stagecraft and plenty of modern resonance.” “Michael Shaeffer’s…
I’m Every Woman - The Chaka Khan Musical at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre (2026)
★★★
"Burke plays Khan with an energetic youthfulness" "Director Racky Plews’ staging is nimble, making use of immersive projections, while the…
Now You See Me Live at the London Coliseum (2026)
★★★
“It could scarcely be more pompous – but happily, there are plenty of entertaining tricks.” “Andrew Basso has arguably the…
Tao of Glass at the @sohoplace (2026)
★★★★★
"Tao of Glass starts by asking us where music comes from, but ends up showing where it can take us…
Love’s Labour’s Lost at the Shakespeare's Globe (2026)
★★★★
"this production is... generally a joy." "Dance and movement routines – the romantic longing and underlying violence of flamenco reasonably…
The Oresteia at the Bridge Theatre (2026)
★★★
“They are so privileged that they speak of Bollinger as a cooking wine, and live in a house that has…
Jesus Christ Superstar - London Palladium at the London Palladium (2026)
★★★
"Sam Ryder raises the roof in rock opera turned up to 11." "There is actual stardust in the cast as…
PRIDE The Musical at the National Theatre (2026)
★★★★★
“As a musical, it becomes more than the sum of its parts: a remarkable piece of British social history, deeply…
Sinatra The Musical at the Aldwych Theatre (2026)
★★★
"In the lead, Joel Harper-Jackson marries smooth vocal power to Sinatra’s signature swagger."' “Jenna Russell can steal a scene with…
The Misanthrope at the National Theatre (2026)
★★★
“This reworking of the 17th-century classic simpers in its satire and woos in its human drama.” “With sprawling ideas and…
Much Ado About Nothing at the Shakespeare's Globe (2026)
★★★
"A riot of romcom energy… insuppressibly crowd-pleasing, eminently worth seeing." "This elegant, effervescent production of Shakespeare's problem play has all…
Glengarry Glen Ross at the The Old Vic (2026)
★★
"For all its promise, the purpose of the gender reversal here feels unresolved." “Mamet’s gender-swapped motormouths fail to close the…
High Society at the Barbican Theatre (2026)
★★★
"Smooth musical hardly misbehaves but the songs are heavenly" "Impeccable vocals and slick staging make for dazzling set pieces in…
Beetlejuice at the Prince Edward Theatre (2026)
★★★
"There are drop-dead gorgeous designs and the performances are full of life but this off-kilter escapade has scattershot gags and…
Equus at the Menier Chocolate Factory (2026)
★★★★
"Performed on a thrust stage, with no bad seat in the house, Posner’s production is as solid as its satisfyingly…
Mother Courage and Her Children at the Shakespeare's Globe (2026)
★★★★
"Anna Jordan’s new translation and Michelle Terry’s lovable performance bring out the humanity of a woman doing what’s necessary to…
Sherlock Holmes at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre (2026)
★★★★
"Horwood’s version succeeds in simultaneously teasing and taking seriously the original." “Billed as “a new mystery”, the script by Joel…
An Ideal Husband at the Lyric Hammersmith (2026)
★★★★
"The dissolute aristocrats from 1895 remain sharply funny, and bitingly relevant, in this flamboyant new spin" "Its first, slower half…
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