September is looking very starry!
A major slate of new shows is opening in September 2025 for the West End’s autumn season, and it is shaping up to be filled with stars!
Stephen Fry, Joe Locke, Susan Sarandon, Andrea Riseborough, Juliet Stevenson, Brendan Gleeson, Letitia Wright, Olly Alexander, Alicia Vikander, Andrew Lincoln, Simon Russell Beale, and Tamzin Outhwaite are all lined up for starring roles in September’s new West End and London season.
From Shakespearean blood and thunder in Titus Andronicus to Oscar Wilde wit in The Importance of Being Earnest, audiences can look forward to a mix of classic revivals, contemporary drama and groundbreaking new work. Highlights include Susan Sarandon at The Old Vic, Alicia Vikander at the Bridge, Simon Russell Beale at Hampstead, and Brendan Gleeson at the Harold Pinter — plus daring reimaginings from the National Theatre, the Young Vic, and immersive masters Punchdrunk.
Here’s our Top 10 highlights of what shows are starting in September 2025. Also check out the full listing of New Shows in September, and the complete rundown of All Shows playing in September.
1. Entertaining Mr Sloane – Young Vic Theatre
Joe Orton’s jet-black comedy Entertaining Mr Sloane returns to the London stage this autumn, with Tamzin Outhwaite leading the cast at The Young Vic. A razor-sharp satire of desire, morality and manipulation, Orton’s play remains as provocative today as when it first scandalised audiences in the 1960s.
Starts at the Young Vic Theatre on 15 September 2025.
Young Vic Theatre, London
2. Mary Page Marlowe – Old Vic Theatre
Mary Page Marlowe, Tracy Letts’ moving and intimate portrait of an ordinary woman’s extraordinary inner life, comes to The Old Vic. With Susan Sarandon and Andrea Riseborough headlining, this acclaimed drama unfolds across decades, piecing together the many identities, choices and contradictions of one remarkable character.
Starts at the Old Vic on 23 September 2025.
Old Vic, London
3. Bacchae – National Theatre (Olivier)
The National Theatre’s Olivier stage is set for an explosive retelling of Bacchae, Euripides’ timeless tale of ecstasy, vengeance and the clash between the rational and the divine. Featuring James McArdle, Clare Perkins, Ukweli Roach and Sharon Small, this production promises a visceral, contemporary staging of one of Greek tragedy’s most powerful works, from the new artistic director of the National Theatre.
Starts at the National Theatre (Olivier) on 13 September 2025.
National Theatre - Olivier Theatre, London
4. The Lady from the Sea – Bridge Theatre
At the Bridge Theatre, director Simon Stone unveils a fresh vision of Henrik Ibsen’s The Lady from the Sea, with Alicia Vikander and Andrew Lincoln starring. Stone’s gripping new adaptation promises to dive into the play’s themes of love, freedom and destiny.
Starts at the Bridge Theatre on 10 September 2025.
Bridge Theatre, London
5. Titus Andronicus – Hampstead Theatre
Shakespeare’s blood-soaked tragedy Titus Andronicus takes the stage at Hampstead Theatre in a landmark production from the RSC, starring Simon Russell Beale. Renowned for its brutal intensity and unflinching portrait of revenge, the play showcases Beale’s commanding presence in one of the Bard’s darkest plays.
Starts at Hampstead Theatre on 5 September 2025.
Hampstead Theatre, London
6. Clarkston – Trafalgar Theatre
The UK premiere of Clarkston comes to Trafalgar Theatre this autumn, featuring Joe Locke, Ruaridh Mollica and Sophie Melville. Written by Samuel D. Hunter, this tender and heartbreaking story of friendship and escape unfolds in the aisles of a small-town Costco, capturing the dreams and disappointments of America’s forgotten corners.
Starts at the Trafalgar Theatre on 17 September 2025.
Trafalgar Theatre, London
7. Ohio – Young Vic Theatre
Fresh from an award-winning, five-star run at the Edinburgh Fringe, folk duo The Bengsons bring Ohio, a joyful and moving new musical, to London’s The Young Vic. With songs full of hope and resilience, and enhanced by creative captioning throughout, the show offers a fresh theatrical experience running from 30 September to 24 October 2025.
Starts at the Young Vic Theatre on 30 September 2025.
Young Vic Theatre, London
8. Lander 23 – One Cartridge Place
Immersive theatre pioneers Punchdrunk return with Lander 23, a groundbreaking sci-fi adventure described as a “live-action video game.” Staged at Punchdrunk’s vast home in South London, One Cartridge Place, the production invites audiences to embark on a high-stakes mission, blending cutting-edge storytelling with the company’s signature world-building.
Starts at One Cartridge Place London on 17 September 2025.
One Cartridge Place London, London
9. The Importance of Being Earnest – Noel Coward Theatre
Oscar Wilde’s beloved comedy The Importance of Being Earnest transfers to the West End this autumn, lighting up the Noel Coward Theatre with an all-star cast including Olly Alexander and Stephen Fry. Directed by Max Webster (Life of Pi) and transferring from a sold-out National Theatre run, Wilde’s classic delivers wit and charm in abundance.
Starts at the Noel Coward Theatre on 18 September 2025.
One Cartridge Place London, London
10. The Weir – Harold Pinter Theatre
Conor McPherson’s haunting and lyrical drama The Weir returns to London in a major revival at the Harold Pinter Theatre, starring Brendan Gleeson. This Olivier Award-winning play is set in a rural Irish pub, where ghost stories shared by locals unravel into something deeper.
Starts at the Harold Pinter Theatre on 12 September 2025.
Harold Pinter Theatre, London
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