London’s theatres are set to be home to several famous stars this summer. Here’s what you need to know.
Hollywood stars, Broadway darlings and reality TV names alike are performing on the West End this summer. From unique new productions including a one man show about Truman Capote to classics like Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, you’re spoilt for choice.
Here’s everything you need to know about which famous actors will be performing this summer and where you can see them.
Stars on stage in London this summer
Vanessa Williams in The Devil Wears Prada
Dominion Theatre
Williams stars as Miranda Priestly until 19 September 2026
Stage and screen star Vanessa Williams has announced her departure from The Devil Wears Prada in September, so this is your final chance to see her play the iconic editor-in-chief. Williams has starred as the formidable Miranda Priestly since the musical opened in the West End in 2024.
A longtime veteran of Broadway and the West End, this is by no means William’s first encounter with a starring role. Though Williams is perhaps best known for playing Wilhelmina Slater in smash-hit TV series Ugly Betty, she has cultivated a rich stage and screen career over the years. Her theatre credits include The Witch in Into the Woods, Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman and Julie La Verne in Showboat.
She has earned praise for her portrayal of Miranda Priestly and will take her final bows from the role on 19 September.
Dominion Theatre, London
Gaten Matarazzo in RENT
Duke of York’s Theatre
Playing from 26 September 2026 until 13 February 2027
Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo makes his West End debut in the 30th Anniversary production of RENT coming to the West End in September of this year.
Though the hit Netflix show has put him on the map, Matarazzo has been performing on stage since childhood, famously playing the role of Gavroche in Les Misérables on Broadway. Most recently he starred as Tobias in the 2023 Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd, and Jared Kleinman in Dear Evan Hansen, solidifying his singing chops.
Jonathan Larson’s defining musical returns to London in the first major West End revival since 1998. Set in New York City in the early 90s, RENT follows a young group of artists and friends as they try to navigate love, ambition and creativity in the midst of a health crisis and financial insecurity. Matarazzo’s casting in this generation-defining musical will likely bring it to a whole new younger audience.
Duke of York's Theatre, London
Cate Blanchett in Electra/Persona
National Theatre
Playing from 19 August until 10 October 2026
Two-time Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett (Tár, Blue Jasmine) comes to London this summer in the world premiere of Electra/Persona at the National Theatre. Blending two stories – Electra by Sophocles and Persona, the 1966 Ingrid Bergman film – this new play fuses ancient myth and modern psychology in a powerful exploration of identity.
Blanchett is no stranger to classic works. Earlier this year she was nominated for a Best Actress Oliver Award for her portrayal of Irina Arkadina in The Seagull at the Barbican. She also did a production of Electra in the early stages of her stage career. For Electra/Persona, Blanchett is reunited with Nina Hoss, her co-star in psychological thriller Tár.
This highly anticipated production is written and directed by Benedict Andrews (A Streetcar Named Desire), who directed Blanchett in The Maids in 2014.
National Theatre - Lyttelton Theatre, London
Jesse Tyler Ferguson in Tru
Menier Chocolate Factory
Playing from 19 September 2026 – 14 November 2026
Jesse Tyler Ferguson returns to the London stage later this year, in the UK premiere of Tru at the Menier Chocolate Factory. He will star as Truman Capote in this immersive one-man show.
The show arrives fresh off a critically acclaimed run off-Broadway, where Ferguson was praised for his take on the infamous author. Though he is best known for his role in Modern Family, Ferguson has cultivated a varied stage and screen presence. He also recently appeared as King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar.
Tru is set for a limited run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, from 19 September 2026 – 14 November 2026
Menier Chocolate Factory, London
Mary-Louise Parker and David Morrissey in The Oresteia
Bridge Theatre
Playing until 19 September 2026
Stage and screen veterans Mary-Louise Parker and David Morrissey star in a contemporary reimagining of Aeschylus’s The Oresteia at the Bridge Theatre this summer. Making her West End debut as Montie, Mary-Louise Parker brings over 30 years of experience to the role, including an award-winning turn in Proof (2003) and The Sound Inside (2020). She is known for playing complex and emotionally layered women, who operate with some moral ambiguity, and given the subject matter, The Oresteia will be a good fit.
Also joining the cast is screen star David Morrissey. Perhaps best known for his roles in television shows like Doctor Who, The Walking Dead, Sherwood and Daddy Issues, Morrissey has also returned to the stage over the course of his career. Most recently, he starred as Mark Antony in Julius Caesar at the Bridge Theatre. Many of his stage credits are productions of Shakespeare, giving him a wealth of experience in translating classic plays for the modern audience.
Bridge Theatre, London
Christine Baranski and Richard E. Grant in Hay Fever
Wyndham’s Theatre
Playing from 22 September 2026 until 12 December 2026
Two-time Tony Award winner Christine Baranski (The Gilded Age, The Good Fight) makes her long-awaited West End debut at the end of the summer in Hay Fever. Currently starring as family matriarch Agnes van Rhijn in The Gilded Age on HBO, Baranski’s theatre credits span over five decades, and she’s no stranger to Noel Coward’s work, having done productions of Private Lives and Blithe Spirit in the past.
Academy Award nominee Richard E. Grant (Saltburn, Withnail and I) joins her, returning for his first stage appearance in 20 years. Widely known as a comedy actor, Grant has played many satirical roles during his film career and promises to bring his character wit and flair to the character of David Bliss.
This major new revival of Noël Coward’s razor-sharp comedy follows the eccentric Bliss family as a weekend of misjudged invitations spirals into chaos. It will be one of the hot tickets of the summer.
Wyndham's Theatre, London
Sam Ryder, Simon Russell Beale and Richard Armitage in Jesus Christ Superstar
London Palladium
Playing from 20 June 2026 until 5 September 2026
Andrew Lloyd Webber (Cats, Phantom of the Opera) and Tim Rice’s iconic rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar comes to the London Palladium this summer with an all-star cast including BRIT and Emmy-nominated musician Sam Ryder, who makes his West End stage debut as Jesus.
The cult rock opera follows the last days of the life of Jesus Christ through the eyes of Judas, from his first moment of worry to Christ’s eventual crucifixion.
During the run, six actors will guest star as King Herod, the flamboyant monarch of Galilee who tries to get Jesus to prove his divinity, including Simon Russell Beale (Titus Andronicus, The Lehman Trilogy), Richard Armitage (The Crucible, The Hobbit trilogy), Layton Williams (Titanique, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) and Julian Clary (Big Brother, Sleeping Beauty). Each is expected to bring their own flair to the role – here’s what else you need to know.
This new West End production reunites director Timothy Sheader (When We Are Married) and choreographer Drew McOnie (Cats), the creative team behind the acclaimed Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre version that won a 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival.
London Palladium, London
Richard Coyle in To Kill a Mockingbird
Wyndham’s Theatre
Playing from 25 June 2026 until 12 September 2026
Richard Coyle (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, The Other Bennet Sister) returns to the West End as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. Coyle took over the role from Rafe Spall during its original West End run in 2022, for which he earned widespread praise.
Coyle has had a varied career over the years, across film, television and theatre, so he brings a wealth of experience to his portrayal of Atticus Finch, an Alabama lawyer fighting to uphold justice when his client, an African American man named Tom is falsely accused of a crime.
This acclaimed production of To Kill a Mockingbird is adapted from Harper Lee’s seminal novel by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, A Few Good Men). Anticipation is high for the limited run, and given past popularity, it is expected to be a hot ticket this summer.
Wyndham's Theatre, London
Cole Escola and Jinkx Monsoon in Oh, Mary!
Trafalgar Theatre
Playing until 2 January 2027
Two star castings have been announced for the West End production of Oh, Mary! First, Cole Escola, who wrote the play and originated the role on Broadway will star as Mary in a limited run from 20 July until 15 August 2026.
Drag superstar Jinkx Monsoon will take over from Escola on 17 August 2026. Monsoon also played the role on Broadway and recently finished a West End run as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow.
This outrageous fast paced comedy, which critics praised across the board when it first opened, follows the former first lady in the weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Written by Cole Escola and directed by Sam Pinkelton (Amélie, Here We Are), Oh, Mary! snagged a 2026 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy play. The Broadway production also won two Tony Awards in 2025.
Trafalgar Theatre, London
Stephen Mangan, Ardal O’Hanlon, Sarah Hadland and Janie Dee in The Truth
Apollo Theatre
Playing until 12 September 2026
Oscar-winner Florian Zeller’s entertaining comedy The Truth sees a star-led revival in the West End this summer with Stephen Mangan (The Split, Episodes) as Michel, Ardal O’Hanlon (Father Ted) as Paul, Sarah Hadland (Miranda, Strictly Come Dancing) as Alice and Janie Dee (Noises Off, Comic Potential) as Laurence. Mangan and Dee come in with the most theatre experience, but all four are bringing big comedic chops to the table.
Lindsay Posner (A View From the Bridge) directs this gripping and devious comedy about two couples with a tangle of secrets between them and a reluctance to face the truth. Once the alcohol starts flowing, so too do the secrets.
When Zeller’s play – adapted from his native French by Christopher Hampton (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) – first premiered in the West End in 2017, it was nominated for an Oliver Award for Best Comedy.
Apollo Theatre, London
Adrian Lester in Cyrano de Bergerac
Noel Coward Theatre
Playing until 5 September 2026
Following an acclaimed run at the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2025, Cyrano de Bergerac comes to the West End this summer with the original cast, including Adrian Lester (Henry V, The Lehman Trilogy, Riviera, Hustle) as the titular character.
Lester earned high praise from critics for his portrayal of Cyrano, skilled at wordplay and swordsmanship, but full of doubts about his looks making him unworthy of the woman he loves. The Guardian called his performance that of a ‘sublimely wounded soul.’
This popular revival was a sell-out during its run at the RSC in 2025 and will be a hot ticket when it comes to the West End this summer.
Noël Coward Theatre, London
Letitia Wright in The Story
National Theatre
Playing from 27 August 2026 until 24 October 2026
Written by acclaimed playwright Tracey Scott Wilson, The Story makes its UK debut at the National Theatre this summer, with Letitia Wright (Black Panther) stepping into the role of Yvonne, an ambitious journalist obsessed with getting a good scoop to propel her career.
Wright was praised for her recent performance in Not Your Superwoman at the Bush Theatre, so it’s likely this is a role where she’ll also shine. The Story will be her National Theatre debut, helmed by director Clint Dyer (Death of England trilogy, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest).
Originally written in 2003, The Story was inspired by the Janet Cooke scandal in 1981: Cooke won a Pulitzer Prize for a written piece about an inner-city child that was later discovered to be fraudulent. The topic feels ever more relevant in today’s landscape as it examines the politics and intersections of race, representation and journalism.
National Theatre - Olivier Theatre, London
Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
@sohoplace Theatre
Playing from 21 September 2026 until 19 December 2026
Gillian Anderson (The X-Files, The Crown) and Billy Crudup (The Morning Show) come to the West End as Martha and George in a revival of Edward Albee’s Pulitzer Prize winning Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Curious about the history of the play? Here’s what you need to know.
Crudup is a multi-Tony Award winner who cut his teeth on the works of Tom Stoppard and Samuel Beckett, so this is a natural progression. While Anderson is known mostly for her television and film work, she was nominated for an Olivier Award for her turns in A Streetcar Named Desire and A Doll’s House.
Directed by multi-award-winning director Marianne Elliott (War Horse, Company), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? will be the first classic American play performed at @sohoplace since it opened in 2022. The theatre’s in the round set up will make for interesting staging of this cutting examination of the complexities of marriage. Here’s what else you should know
@sohoplace Theatre, London
Ben Platt in Midnight at the Never Get
Menier Chocolate Factory
Playing from 11 July until 12 September 2026
Making his UK stage debut this summer, Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award-winner Ben Platt is set to star in musical Midnight at the Never Get, by Mark Sonnenblick. Platt stars as nightclub singer Trevor Copeland, who in 1965 New York is in an illegal romance with pianist Arthur Brightman. Using a secret nightclub act, they perform love songs in an act of defiance of a world that demands they stay hidden.
Midnight in the Never Get is the first original musical Platt has worked on since his award-winning turn in Dear Evan Hansen. This role will be a marked departure from his previous work, but given his accolades over the years, this is likely to be something of a star turn for the stage and screen star.
Menier Chocolate Factory, London
Sting in The Last Ship
Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Playing from 22 September until 3 October 2026
Music icon Sting stars in his own musical in the West End, following runs in Amsterdam and New York. The Last Ship is based on Sting’s own childhood in a shipbuilding town and incorporates music from his 1991 album The Soul Cages. The musical enjoyed a brief run on Broadway in 2014, playing for just under a year, and recently embarked on a world tour.
Though music has been his focus, Sting has made appearances in film and television over the years in such films as Quadropehnia (1979), Dune (1984) and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998). Most recently, Sting starred in the first season of Only Murders in the Building, playing am exaggerated version of himself. His appearance in The Last Ship marks his West End debut.
Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London
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