Theatre News: West End Round Up

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- Blogs
On February 14, 2026

Here’s your Theatre News, West End Round Up of all the news you might have missed this week. It has been a busy one and many exciting announcements have been dropped. Here’s all your major headlines.

Billy Elliot to return to the West End!

The beloved show, Billy Elliot is returning to the West End in 2027. The show finishes it’s tour at the Adelphi Theatre. The show is returning following a 12 year absence from the West End. Billy Elliot is set against the backdrop of the miners strikes in the 80s. It follows Billy’s journey from boxing to ballet which changes his life and his community.

Billy Elliot will play at The Adelphi Theatre for a limited season from 12th February 2027 until 31st July 2027.

Ben Platt to Premiere new musical in London

Ben Platt will star in the UK Premiere of a new musical, Midnight at the Never Get. The show is written by Mark Sonnenblick who is known for his work on The Devil Wears Prada, the film Spirited and K-Pop Demon Hunters! The new show will premiere at the Menier Chocolate Factory. It is set in New York in 1965. It follows Trevor Copeland and Arthur Brightman’s illegal romance, where they meet to perform songs in a secret nightclub act.

Midnight at the Never Get starts performances at the Menier Chocolate Factory from 11th July 2026 until 12th September 2026. The official opening night is set for 20th July 2026.

All Drag Macbeth to open

This theatre news dropped for the new venue, The Emerald Theatre. The Drag production house, TuckShop are opening a production, Category Is: Macbeth. The show is an all Drag production of Shakespeare’s classic play using the original text. Category Is: Macbeth sets the tale in 1980s London against the city’s club and drag scene

The cast is led by Drag Race UK winners Ginger Johnson as Macbeth and Kyran Thrax as Lady Macbeth. They will be joined by Yshee Black, Cyro and Daniel Jacobs (aka Vinegar Strokes) as the Three Witches, Anna Phylactic as Banquo, Richard Energy as King Duncan and Victoria Scone as Macduff.

Category Is: Macbeth is playing at The Emerald Theatre from 24th April until 28th May 2026.

Paranormal Activity returning this summer!

Paranormal Activity closes on on 25th April 2026 at The Ambassadors Theatre. But fear not! The show returns to the same venue due to popular demand, reopening from 8th August 2026 until 3rd October 2026.

The terrifying play is one of London’s hottest tickets at the moment with Audience Members giving it high praise! The stage production is based on the film series. The story follows James and Lou, who move from Chicago to London in an attempt to leave their past behind, only to find that they remain affected by unexplained events.

Paranormal Activity is currently playing at The Ambassadors Theatre until 25th April 2026. It returns from 8th August until 3rd October.

Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 4 star-studded line up revealed!

Park Theatre announced further details of Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 4, the latest instalment of its fundraising comedy event. Each performance features a different celebrity guest taking on the central role of Sheriff without rehearsal. Ian McKellen will also return to provide voice work across the production.

Seven guest sheriffs are confirmed so far, all reprising appearances from previous editions of the show. They are Gillian Anderson, Emma Thompson, Adrian Dunbar, Jim Broadbent, Sandi Toksvig, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Hugh Bonneville.

Income from this production supports the theatre’s building costs, new writing development and community and education activity.

Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 4 returns to The Park Theatre from 11th May until 27th June 2026.

Hercules final extension announced

Disney’s Hercules set it’s last performance date this week. The shows final extension see the Greek Gods leave The Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 5th September 2026.

Grab cheap tickets while you still can today with Leicester Square Box Office.

Cabaret Extends into 2027

Cabaret announced that they are extending until 30th January 2027 at The Kit Kat Club. This announcement came just as they welcomed new leading cast members Matt Willis and Katie Hall.

You can catch the images of new pair in action and secure your tickets here.

Practical Magic Musical in the works

A new musical is in the works of Practical Magic based on the novel and film of the same name. Noah Jone is providing the music for this show as well as Greg Wattenberg.

The story follows the Owens family, whose women have lived under suspicion in their Massachusetts community for more than two centuries. After being orphaned and raised by their aunts, sisters Sally and Gillian Owens attempt to distance themselves from a family curse.

It is yet to be revealed when or where this adaptation will take place, so watch this space. We are just manifesting that this theatre news will hit the UK for purely selfish reasons!

Stranger Things: The First Shadow set for a Netflix release

Since the final season dropped, Stranger Things: The First Shadow has been a tricky seat to secure in the West End! The play serves as a prequel to the series which blew Netflix viewers away. The stage production is being filmed this week on Broadway. To facilitate the recording, all of New York’s public performances have been cancelled from Tuesday 10th February to Saturday 14th February. No release timeline or details have been made available by producers Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions.

See what all the fuss is about yourself. Secure tickets here for Stranger Things: The First Shadow which is booking at The Phoenix Theatre until 31st May 2026.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Official Opening

Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Tickets

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry officially opened on the West End this week. They released first look production images initially which you can see here. The show is now playing at The Theatre Royal Haymarket following a successful run at Chichester. Based on a novel of the same name, the story follows an ordinary man making a 627 mile journey on foot to respond to a letter. The initial reviews are in and are giving this show really high ratings.

See this moving new musical for yourself. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is now playing at The Theatre Royal Haymarket until 18th April 2026.