Ditch the dinner-and-drinks cliché: from foul-mouthed Mormons to glittering Parisian romance, here are nine West End shows guaranteed to spark conversation (and maybe a second date).
You are spoilt for choice in London, with The Book of Mormon, Kinky Boots and The Play That Goes Wrong among the crowd-pleasing favourites that are ideal for a first date.
Whether you step into the Moulin Rouge or get transported to the Serengeti Plains, there is a show to suit every mood – with movie musicals a great option if your date is a new theatregoer. Here is our pick of the best shows in the West End for a first date with a difference.
The Book of Mormon
Prince of Wales Theatre
Booking to 5 September 2026
This irresistible musical comedy from the creators of South Park is a real crowd-pleaser, making it the perfect choice for a first date. It is also a good indicator of your potential partner’s sense of humour as it is fearless, foul-mouthed and pushes every boundary (and somehow gets away with it). In this Tony and Olivier Award-winning show, two mismatched Mormon missionaries are set an impossible mission in Uganda. Every single song in The Book of Mormon is an absolute riot and masterclass in ensemble work, with highlights including “Hello!”, “Turn It Off”, “I Believe” and “Baptise Me”.
Prince of Wales Theatre, London
Paranormal Activity
Ambassadors Theatre
10 August 2026 – 3 October 2026
If you and your date both love horror films and ghost stories, then Paranormal Activity is a great option. Returning to the West End this summer by popular demand, the haunting play is inspired by the acclaimed Blumhouse & Paramount film series created by Oren Peli. The story follows American couple James and Lou as they move from Chicago to London to escape their past, but they soon discover that it is not places that are haunted, but people. Expect eye-catching stagecraft in this hit show, which blurs the lines between cinema and live theatre.
Ambassadors Theatre, London
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Piccadilly Theatre
Booking to 24 October 2026
Bring the romance to your date night with a trip to Moulin Rouge! The Musical and enter a world of passion, glamour and glittering theatrical excess. This 10-time Tony Award-winning jukebox musical is based on Baz Luhrmann’s hit 2001 film, which followed Christian and Satine as they fell in love against a soaring soundtrack of “Your Song”, “Come What May” and “Elephant Love Medley”. The reimagined stage version features many of the iconic songs from the film plus new additions, combining more than 70 hits from Adele, Katy Perry, Beyoncé and more to create an unforgettable pop score, making for a truly exhilarating West End trip.
Piccadilly Theatre, London
The Lion King
Lyceum Theatre
Booking to 16 May 2027
Disney’s The Lion King’s record-breaking run on London’s West End, spanning almost 30 years, has not happened by accident – it is a true timeless classic. This powerful musical has broad appeal and with an unforgettable score by Elton John and Tim Rice, including “The Circle of Life” and the Academy Award-winning “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”, it will transport your first date from London’s West End to the Serengeti Plains. The immersive puppetry used in the show is also truly spectacular. A movie musical is also a good idea if your companion is a new theatregoer.
Lyceum Theatre, London
Kinky Boots
London Coliseum
Booking to 11 July 2026
Kinky Boots is the ultimate feel-good musical, packed with show-stopping numbers and dazzling choreography. It tells the inspiring story of an unlikely friendship between drag queen Lola (Strictly’s Johannes Radebe) and Charlie Price (The X Factor winner Matt Cardle) that saves a failing shoe factory. By the end of the show, your spirits will be as sky high as the iconic red high heels and with a spring in your step you will probably want to head to a nearby pub or bar to carry on chatting or dance the night away.
London Coliseum, London
Cyrano de Bergerac
Noel Coward Theatre
Booking to 5 September 2026
If you prefer plays to musicals, then it doesn’t get much better than the Royal Shakespeare Company’s acclaimed production of Cyrano de Bergerac, now playing in the West End for a limited season. Tempt your date to join you with its all-star cast, led by Adrian Lester (The Sandman, Hustle) as Cyrano alongside Susannah Fielding (This Time with Alan Partridge) as Roxane and Levi Brown (This Town) as Christian. Cyrano is a poet, soldier and philosopher, dazzling with words, fearless with a sword and secretly in love with Roxane. But haunted by doubt about his appearance, he watches from the shadows as she falls for Christian. This show is intensely romantic and fiercely funny.
Noël Coward Theatre, London
Titanique
Criterion Theatre
Booking to 3 January 2027
Titanique is an Olivier Award-winning musical comedy that parodies the iconic Titanic film and answers the question: what really happened to Jack and Rose on that fateful night? Packed with 90s nostalgia, non-stop laughs and powerhouse vocals, it makes for the ultimate feel-good date night. Plus, the show features Céline Dion’s iconic hits, so you will be feeling romantic after listening to powerhouse ballads like “My Heart Will Go On” and “To Love You More” backed by a full live band. For podcast fans, the show currently stars William Hanson, who co-hosts ‘Help I Sexted My Boss’, as Ruth.
Criterion Theatre, London
The Play That Goes Wrong
Duchess Theatre
Booking to 3 October 2027
Created by Mischief Theatre, The Play That Goes Wrong is an Olivier Award-winning comedy play. If you want to bring a hefty dose of humour to your first date, then this hit show is right up your street. It follows the accident-prone Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society as they attempt to stage a classic murder mystery – with disastrously hilarious results. From collapsing sets and missed cues to flying props and forgotten lines, expect non-stop chaos and perfectly timed physical comedy. If the first date goes well, then for your second date you could watch Mischief Theatre’s The Comedy About Spies, a madcap Cold War caper, at the Adelphi Theatre from 1 August-26 September 2026.
Duchess Theatre, London
Sinatra The Musical
Aldwych Theatre
Booking to 10 April 2027
Let West End star Joel Harper-Jackson (Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Kinky Boots) be the soundtrack to your first date as he stars as the iconic crooner in Sinatra The Musical, now open in London’s West End. The new musical features more than 20 of Frank Sinatra’s greatest hits – including “That’s Life”, ”The Best Is Yet To Come” and “Come Fly With Me.” This new musical brings his music and legacy to life on stage. Set against the glittering backdrop of 1940s New York, the show charts Sinatra’s extraordinary rise, fall and comeback. The show also stars Olivier Award-winner Jenna Russell (EastEnders) as Frank’s mother Dolly Sinatra.
Aldwych Theatre, London
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