This morning, Rachel Zegler announced a solo concert at The London Palladium. After just 30 minutes the show sold out and so they added on an additional matinee performance! After that, just a few hours later that performance has also sold out.
This will be the first ever Rachel Zegler concert. It is taking place at The London Palladium which has been her home for this summer. She is currently still there playing the lead role of Evita, Eva Peron. Although tickets to this solo concert is sold out, there are still limited tickets available before the show closes on 4th September. The now sold-out concert will take place at the Palladium on 5th September. That’s just a1 day after the closing performance of Evita.
Zegler was catapulted into fame following her incredible portrayal of Maria the 2021 film adaptation of West Side Story which was directed by Steven Spielberg. Most recently she starred in Disney’s Live Action Snow White and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. That film is a prequel to the hit Hunger Games films which is are currently being adapted for stage. You can read more about that here.
The Rachel Zegler solo concert will include an evening of music spanning her carreer thus far. From Sondheim to Lloyd Webber to her YouTube covers. Lambert Jackson Productions is producing the concert and will have musical direction and arrangements by Adam Hoskins.
You may have missed out on tickets this time but you can still book last minute tickets here to catch Rachel Zegler in Evita. Alternatively, head to the Palladium an hour and a half after the show starts and you can catch one of the most famous songs of the production performed from the balcony of the venue to the street below.
50 First Dates released their rehearsal images earlier this week. What’s more, they have asked real couples to submit any snaps they have from their first dates!
This new musical at The Other Palace is the brand new musical written by David Rossmer and Steve Rosen. The direction and choreography is by multi-Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (Hercules, The Book of Mormon). The musical is adapted from the movie 50 First Dates which stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.
The story is about an art teacher Lucy Whitmore, who believes every day is Sunday 13th October. When womanizer Henry meets her he realises she’s not like other girls. When he realises she suffers from memory loss, he makes it his mission everyday to make her fall in love with him over and over again.
50 First Dates the Musical stars Georgina Castle as Lucy Whitmore and Josh St Clair as Henry. The remaining cast include Georgia Arron as Sharon/cover Lucy, Aizaac Aruna as Miles, and Zoë Ann Bown as Miriam. Emily Olive Boyd (Les Misérables) plays Fran, with Greg Stylianou Burnsas ensemble/cover Henry and Natasha O’Brien as Delilah. Aiesha Naomi Pease is Ukulele Sue, David Pendlebury (The Phantom Of The Opera) plays Sid with Martha Pothen as Cora. Lastly, there’s Ricky Rojas as Marco, Chad Saint Louis as Sandy with John Marquez as Marlin and lastly Charlie Toland as Doug.
The swings are Cole Dunn (Kinky Boots), Samuelle Durojaiye, Paul Kemble and Samantha Thomas (Les Misérables).
Even though these theatres are super close to Leicester Square you always want to arrive half an hour before your show starts.
Why do you need to arrive 30 minutes before London shows start?
Because performances start at the time on your ticket, if you are late you won’t be admitted into the theatre until a suitable point – if at all! This also allows enough time to have your tickets scanned and bags checked. Not to mention, enough time to scope out the bar and merchandise!
Here’s some further information on the theatres close to Leicester Square:
Magic Mike Live was made and directed by Channing Tatum himself. It is a 90-minute spectacle. It features extremely talented guys performing equally impressive dances. The show also includes unexpected, temperature-raising acts from a thrilling range of acrobatic and musical talent. This ultimate girls night out is strictly for over-18s. The venue operates out of a casino and is very strict on entry. Every patron MUST bring the physical copy of a valid photo ID, regardless of age. So if you want to bring your Granny to celebrate her 80th birthday, make sure she brings her passport!
Born With Teeth is the hit new play written by Liz Duffy Adams and produced by the RSC. The show opened just last week and plays until 3rd November 2025. Netflix Stars Ncuti Gatwa and Edward Bluemel play Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare respectively. This play imagines these literary greats being forced to work together in a creative union. When they meet in a back room of a pub, they sharpen their pens and let their genius fly!
The Producers is the first, ever major London revival of the Mel Brooks musical adaptation of the cult classic film of the same. Not only is this one of the theatres close to Leicester Square but it is also a show which began as a Fringe Production! You can read further about that here. The show is about a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer who schemes with a timid accountant to create the biggest flop in theatre history. However, this plan backfires spectacularly and becomes a smash hit!
How can I get to The Garrick Theatre? 1 – From Leicester Square Box Office walk past the restaurant next door, towards the main road. 2 – Turn right on Charing Cross Road and follow the road down! 3 – You’ll see the theatre on the left hand side!
The Noel Coward Theatre is the home of not one but two incredible productions this coming month. The Comedy About Spies is the newest production by the award-winning company Mischief Theatre who also have two more comedy shows in the West End this year. The Comedy About Spies is a slapstick comedy about a rogue British agent who pilfers plans for a top-secret weapon. When the CIA and KGB spies converge on London’s Piccadilly Hotel in pursuit of the elusive file, you’ve got a mission that’s hilariously out of control.
How can I get to The Noel Coward Theatre? 1 – From Leicester Square Box Office walk past the restaurant next door and cross the road. 2 – Continue straight along the road. 3 – Turn right at the Pret a Manger and you’re there!
The Choir of Man began as a Fringe production and has since gone global! It takes place in a pub so be sure to grab your onstage pint! The musical features pop songs sung by the pubs choir and celebrates community within the setting of your local.
How can I get to The Arts Theatre? 1 – From Leicester Square Box Office walk past the restaurant next door and cross the road. 2 – Continue straight along the road. 3 – Turn left at the Agatha Christie Memorial and you’re there!
Stereophonic transferred to the West End from Broadway where it was in fact, the most Tony Award nominated play in history! The play is about an up and coming band that suddenly finds itself on the brink of superstardom. As they are in the process of recording the new album, the play explores whether this will make or break them.
How can I get to The Duke of York’s Theatre? 1 – From Leicester Square Box Office walk past the restaurant next door and cross the road. 2 – Continue straight along the road. 3 – Turn right at the Pret a Manger and continue straight past the aforementioned Noel Coward Theatre. 4 – Arrive at the theatre on your right hand side!
The Mousetrap is the classic Agatha Christie murder mystery play. What’s more, it is the longest running show in the West End as it is in it’s 73rd year of running. The play is also said to be the best kept secret in the West End as audiences are asked not to reveal the identity of the murderer and it seems they have honoured that to this day.
This beautiful home-grown British musical is right next door to the above. It is also the proud owner of multiple Olivier Awards. It is based on the hit short story by F.Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born old and ages backwards. This adaptation is set in a Cornish Fishing Village and has captured the hearts of all who go to watch it.
The Book of Mormon is the musical comedy written by the comedy duo behind the animated hit South Park. This wildly successful, not to mention, outrageous musical tells the story of two Mormon missionaries who are sent off to Uganda hoping for a few baptisms. The show is in its 12th year running and still sells out night after night.
How can I get to The Prince of Wales Theatre? 1 – From Leicester Square Box Office, head towards the centre of Leicester Square. 2 – Cross the road and continue straight. 3 – See the theatre on the left and get ready to say Hello! to the Mormons.
Similarly to The Noel Coward Theatre, The Harold Pinter is approaching a production cross over. Both are plays with big actors in. The current production, A Man For All Seasons which is playing until 6th September stars Martin Shaw. It is a play about Sir Thomas Moore who fell out of favour with King Henry VIII.
The second production which will play at the venue from 11th September until 6th December is The Weir. The Weir is an award winning playing which also stars a famous face, Brendan Gleeson. It is an epic play about the power of story telling. On a stormy night, four local men gather in an isolated pub in rural Ireland. Their usual banter and everyday lives are disrupted by the arrival of a woman called Valerie as they try to impress her with their stories.
How can I get to The Harold Pinter Theatre? 1 – From Leicester Square Box Office head towards the centre of Leicester Square. 2 – Turn left when you reach the road. 3 – Turn right onto Panton Street. 4– Continue straight until you reach the theatre on the left!
The initial Paddington cast has just been announced! Paddington the musical opens at The Savoy Theatre later this autumn. All of the leading roles have been announced except for the nations favourite bear himself.
We are “bear-y” excited for this musical adaptation of the classic childrens books written by Michael Bond. These books where turned into a smash hit film franchise. Following this, an immersive experience based on the bears brave journey from Peru to London also opened in the Capital.
The music and lyrics for the new show are written by McFly’s Tom Fletcher. Olivier Award winner Jessica Swale is writing the book of the show. The direction is by hit Director Luke Sheppard. Sheppards current work includes Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical and Starlight Express.
The Paddington cast announced today includes Timi Akinyosade as Tony, Amy Booth-Steel as Lady Sloane and Tarrin Callender as Grant. Delilah Bennett-Cardy plays Judy Brown with Adrian Der Gregorian as Mr. Brown.
Furthermore, Tom Edden will play Mr. Curry with Brenda Edwards as Tanya, Amy Ellen Richardson as Mrs. Brown, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Millicent Clyde, Teddy Kempner as Mr. Gruber. Lastly, Musical Theatre superstar Bonnie Langford as Mrs. Bird which completes this inital Paddington Cast Announcement.
Who will play Paddington Bear remains a mystery as does what form this lovable bear will appear on stage in. We have high expectations that however he appears it will be truly magical as Sonia Friedman is producing this show. Friedman produced the magical Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as well as Stranger Things: The First Shadow which are both world renowned for their special effects.
Hamilton is the hit musical written by Lin Manuel Miranda. It began on Broadway before transferring to the West End in 2017. It is based on a biography written by Ron Chernow about the American Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton.
Leading the new cast of Hamilton are Bente Mulan as Eliza Hamilton, Jonathan Andrew Hume as George Washington, Yeukayi Ushe as Marquis De Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson and Jasmine Jia Yung Shen as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds.
The leads who are staying on for this cast change are Alex Sawyer as Alexander Hamilton. At certain performances Adam J Bernard will play Alexander Hamilton. Also staying with the show is Jay Perry as Aaron Burr, Emily-Mae as Angelica Schuyler, Jordan Castle as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, Jordan Benjamin as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton and Daniel Boys as King George III.
Also joining the new cast of Hamilton in the ensemble are Yuki Abe, Zera Aitken, Joshua Clemetson, Luca Dinardo, Olivia Kate Holding, Sergi Ibanez, Lily Laight, Aidan Nightingale, Tim Nutt, Joshian Angelo Omaña, Kiran Patel, Liam Raven, Aharon Rayner, Daisy Ward and Natasha Wilde.
Lastly, the remainder of the ensemble is made up by Richard Appiah-Sarpong, Turrell Barrett-Wallace, Roxanne Couch, Nicola Espallardo, Manaia Glassey-Ohlson, Jack Harrison-Cooper, Nicolais-Andre Kerry, Ella Kora and Paulo Teixeira who are staying with the production for another year.
Check out the new cast of Hamilton getting to work below!
The Choir of Man new cast has been announced for the rest of it’s West End run. The show is currently booking till January 4th of 2026 and the new cast will take over on the 2nd of September.
The Choir of Man first landed in the Arts Theatre in October 2021. Following a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2017. The show has since played over 1,000 performances and performed to an audience of over 280,000. The show continues to successfully run at the Arts despite taking a short break earlier in the year for some refurbishments to be done.
The story follows a choir of 9 men in a pub called the Jungle. Singing their way through a collection of hits including songs from Queen, Adele and Sia. The show cleverly combines spoken word, vocals and dance to create a unforgettable fun theatre experience. Another highlight is the working bar on stage and audience members are often offered pints as part of the performance.
The full company will change on the 2nd of September with Aled Prnnock as Bore, Oliver Jacobson as Barman, Jason Brock as Romantic, Paul McArthur as Poet, Benji Lord as Joker, Cal T King as Beast and Ifan Gwilym-Jones as Maestro. They will be joined by Tom Carter-Miles, ALex Mallalieu, Dave Shute and Sam Ebenezer as swings.
For these 4 months Matt Beveridge and Levi Tyrell Johnson will share the role of the Hardman. With Johnson taking over on the 23d of September. The role of Handyman will be played by Ben Groffe until 12th October, Adam Hilton until the 2nd November and finally Geroge Knapper.
Where can I buy cheap The Choir of Man tickets?
At Lsbo.co.uk we have exclusive discounted tickets for the Choir of Man! We also have these available at our box office in Leicester Square. These will be starting from £20.
Book your seats now to see this amazing show and The Choir of Man new cast!
Many big London shows started small at Off West End or Fringe venues. With the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival wrapping up, it seemed apt to round up all the shows that started off in these humble beginnings.
What is an Off West End/ Fringe Show?
These are shows which are generally in smaller venues which is not in London’s main theatre district. It is typically a smaller venue and isn’t funded by the big producers. This can range from pub theatres that seat 40 people to purpose-built theatres that still seat 100s. Generally, these Off West End or Fringe venues are producing new work and therefore taking a risk. A lot of the productions currently playing in London are made up of Broadway Transfers or revivals and so these venues are essential for giving a platform to new and imaginative work.
Out of all these shows, two of them actually started all the way up in Scotland at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. They were so popular at the festival which takes place every August in Edinburgh that they made it big, not only in the West End, but worldwide!
More information on West End Shows that started at Edinburgh Fringe Venues
Six The Musical started at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. A group of Cambridge University Students wrote it in 2017. Duo Toby Marlowe and Lucy Moss were inspired by both historical queens and queens of pop when writing this musical. Their run at the Fringe was so successful in fact, that Fringe venues invited them back the following year. Following this, they got a West End transfer to The Arts Theatre before moving to it’s current home, The Vaudeville Theatre. As well as it’s home in the West End, the show has gone global! It is also on Broadway and a UK and North American Tour. It was also translated into Japanese and had a Japanese tour as well as a stint on Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Six is about Henry VIII’s ex-wives and rewrites herstory. The concept imagines the queens in a pop group. They are arguing over who will be the bands lead singer by deciding which of them had the worst experience with Henry. Each of the Queens are inspired by an amalgamation of various pop stars such as Beyonce, Ariana Grande and Avril Lavigne to name a few.
The Choir of Man performed at the Fringe in the same year as Six in 2017- it was a great year for Edinburgh Fringe Venues! After a successful summer in Edinburgh, the team went to perform at the Adelaide Fringe Festival the following year.
The Choir of Man didn’t get a spot on the West End until 2021 at the Arts Theatre which is still its home today. Just like Six, The Choir of Man can also be caught if you take a holiday with Norwegian Cruise Lines.
The story follows a mans pub choir and as such is set in a pub. It is a celebration of community and invites the audience to celebrate life with them as the stage is a working bar!
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button started at the Southwark Playhouse which is one of the most active of London fringe venues. It had a short run in 2019 and then had another in 2023. From there, they transferred this new musical to The Ambassadors Theatre in the West End! The show has since gone on to win not one, but three Olivier Awards including Best New Musical. Also, it has recently extended its run until 11th October 2025.
The musical is based on a short story by F.Scott Fitzgerald. It is about a man who is born old and ages backwards. This adaptation is set in a Cornish Fishing Village. The ensemble is made up of actor musicians who bring the story to life and create a vibrant feel to the show.
The Play That Goes Wrong Original Fringe Venue – The Old Red Lion Pub Theatre – 2013
The Play That Goes Wrong was created by a bunch of drama school students and started at a pub theatre which is one of London’s many fringe pub venues. The play then opened At The Trafalgar Studios. In 2014, The Play That Goes Wrong opened in the West End at The Duchess Theatre which is still it’s home today. This makes it the longest running play to show at the venue and also the longest running comedy play ever in the West End.
The Play That Goes Wrong is a comedy about an amateur dramatics group who are trying to perform a classic murder mystery play. “Trying” being the keyword here. This comedic adventure has gone global! The show is currently also on a UK Tour and is performing off-Broadway. Previously, they also toured Australia and the US with a home on Broadway and in Chicago.
Operation Mincemeat Original Fringe Venue – New Diorama Theatre
Operation Mincemeat started at The New Diorama in 2019 before heading to The Southwark Playhouse and Riverside Studios before moving to it’s current home, The Fortune Theatre.
The show is based on a military operation which took place in the second world war. Based on a true story, this musical is funny, touching and award winning! It is also playing on Broadway with the original West End cast.
Operation Mincemeat is booking until 28th February 2026 at The Fortune Theatre.
The concept for this musical actually started off Broadway in 2018. The ideas of this non traditional jukebox musical was scrapped and a new work in progress version of the musical with all original songs began. This short run with original songs by KT Tunstall took place at The Churchill Theatre in Bromley in 2024. Clueless The Musical then received its West End transfer to The Trafalgar Theatre earlier this year! The show is closing at the end of August before heading on tour in the UK.
Clueless is based on the hit 90’s film of the same name which, in turn, is based on Jane Austen’s novel, Emma. It follows the spoiled, rich girl Cher on her mission to play matchmaker. Her ex-stepbrother challenges her to look at her motives. Does she really want to help people, or does she just enjoy meddling? As if!
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry West End transfer was announced a few weeks ago. And we’ve just gotten all the details for this production. The show will be playing at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. From the 29th of January until the 18th of April 2026.
The show initially premiered at The Chichester Festival Theatres part of it 2025 season back in May. It then ran for around one and half months to a sold out theatre nightly. The show is based on the book by Rachel Joyce and features the music of Passenger- known for “Let her go”. The story is focused on Harold Fry who decides to deliver a letter to a long-lost friend by hand. This unexpectedly turns into a cross-country journey during which he confronts his personal past and encounters strangers. The show was very well-received with critics saying it was “a series of strongly-sung and deeply felt performances from an exceptional cast”(WhatsOnStage).
Joyce also made a statement on the transfer. “I couldn’t be more thrilled that this joyful show has found a home in the West End. I never imagined, when I first wrote the book, that it would become a musical one day. And never in my wildest dreams did I think it might find a home in one of my favourite theatres – the Theatre Royal Haymarket, which I have known and loved since I was a child. Passenger’s music and lyrics are perfect for this story of hope, as is Katy Rudd’s magical direction.”
Casting
The initial casting for The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry has also been announced. Mark Addy and Jenna Russell are both due to reprise their roles as Harold and Maureen in the West End. The other cast members have yet to be announced although we, like many fans, are hoping for more of the original cast to return. A full concept album is expected to be released with the track “Song for the Countryside” coming out earlier in July. The track featured Jack Wolfe who played the balladeer at Chichester.
Nicola Roberts from Girls Aloud will star in Hadestown as Persephone later this year. She will join the hit show in September for a limited run.
Hadestown is the award winning musical written by grammy award winner Anais Mitchell. The story is a re imagining of Greek Mythology. It is told in a modern way alongside a folk inspired, original score. The main focus on the story is the tragic love story of Orpheus and Eurydice. It also features the iconic fates and other Greek gods.
You can catch Roberts in Hadestown from 16th September 2025 until 18th January 2026. She will appear alongside the current cast which includes Desmonda Cathabel as Eurydice, Chris Jarman as Hades, Cedric Neal as Hermes and Dylan Wood as Orpheus.
She is also joining the current Fates played by Melanie Bright, Allie Daniel and Lauran Rae. The remaining cast in the production are Femi Akinfolarin, Michelle Andrews, Ollie Bingham, Laura Delany and Sebastian Lim-Seet as the Workers. Finally she’ll be joining Lucinda Buckley, Juan Jackson, Oisín Nolan-Power, Lindo Shinda and Jasmine Triadi who are the swings.
Roberts plays Persephone, the Wife of Hades who was stolen from the land of the living and taken to the underworld. She is the goddess of harvest, spring, and fertility. Every six months she return to the land of the living to bring spring before returning to the underworld with Hades. It is her who convinces Hades to give the tragic lovers a chance.
Book tickets to watch Hadestown at The Lyric Theatre. The show is currently booking until February 2026.
Nicola Roberts is performing from 16th September 2025 until 18th January 2026.
Eva Noblezada (The Great Gatasby) will star as Sally Bowles in the new cast of Cabaret! Alongside this announcement, the remaining new full cast was announced. Noblezada’s fiance Reeve Carney (Hadestown) is also joining the cast as the Emcee. Here’s everything you need to know.
Who Are Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney?
The are both Grammy Award winning Broadway Stars! Carney originated the role of Orpheus in Hadestown and also played it on Broadway. Noblezada is returning to the role of Sally Bowles after playing it on Broadway. Their Grammy awards are from the cast recording of Hadestown for Best Theatre Album.
When can I watch Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney in Cabaret London?
The stagey duo begin performances on 22nd September 2025. There are both scheduled to perform the full 8 shows a week until 24th January 2026 – with the exception of 22nd October – Wednesday 5th November 2025. They are taking over from the current leads of the production, Rob Madge and Hannah Dodd.
The remaing new cast annouced today include West End legend Ruthie Henshall as Fraulein Schneider. This is alongside Olivier Award nominee Robert Hands as Herr Schultz and Lucas Koch as Ernst Ludwig. Joe Atkinson, Xavion Campbell-Brown, Olivia-Rose Deer, Anya Ferdinand, Danny Fogarty, Manu Sarswat, Tom Scanlon and Eva-Rose Tanaka are also joining the new company from 22nd September.
Finally, staying on in the company from 22nd are Jessica Kirton as Fraulein Kost/Fritzie, alongside Adrian Grove, Ela Lisondra, Hícaro Nicolai, Andy Rees, Alexandra Regan, Marina Tavolieri and Lucy Young.
Secure your tickets now to watch Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club which is currently booking until May 2026.
Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney take of performances from 22nd September 20255.
