London editor Philip Fisher selects the top five plays in London.
Henry Filloux-Bennett, based on the book by Nigel Slater
The Lowry
Richmond Theatre
21 to 26 October 2019
Composer Harrison Birtwistle, libretto Peter Zinovieff
English National Opera
London Coliseum
18 October to 13 November 2019
Choreography Russell Maliphant, video projection design Panagiotis Tomaras
Russell Maliphant Dance Company
Sadler’s Wells
18 to 19 October 2019
Gregory Maqoma
Vuyani Dance Theatre
Barbican - Dance Umbrella
17 October 2019
Zest Theatre
Stratford Circus Arts centre
16 to 17 October 2019
Jack Bradfield
Poltergeist
New Diorama Theatre
15 to 26 October 2019
Kate Barton
Digital Drama Productions in association with Park Theatre
Park Theatre (Park 90)
15 October to 9 November 2019
Sarah Rutherford
Stage Traffic Productions and Eileen Davidson
Trafalgar Studios (Studio 2)
15 October to 23 November 2019
Conceived and scripted by Krithika Subrahmanian, music by Isaignani Ilayaraaja
NaMaargam Dance Company presented by Dhruv Arts
Southbank Centre Purcell Room
14 October 2019
Duncan Macmillan
The Old Vic
14 October to 9 November 2019
Gaetano Donizetti
The Royal Opera
Royal Opera House
14 October to 2 November 2019
Alice Birch
Clean Break
Donmar Warehouse
11 October to 30 November 2019
Boris Charmatz
FrancoDance UK
Sadlers Wells
11 to 12 October 2019
Anton Chekhov
Theatre of Nations
Barbican Theatre
Sabrina Mahfouz
Royal Court Theatre Upstairs
10 October to 16 November 2019
David Greig
Malthouse Theatre Melbourne and the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
Lyric Hammersmith
10 October to 2 November 2019
Glen Chandler
Boys of the Empire Productions
Above the Stag Theatre (Studio Theatre)
9 October to 2 November 2019
Maxim Gorky in a Version by Mike Bartlett
Almeida Theatre
9 October to 23 November 2019
Zinnie Harris
Arcola Theatre in association with DOT Theatre
Arcola Theatre (Studio One)
9 October to 9 November 2019
Richard Gadd
Francesca Moody Productions
Bush Theatre
Gail Louw
Jermyn Street Theatre in association with Jeffrey T Apter
Jermyn Street Theatre
Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones)
Outer Gaea Company and Théâtre Libre
Tristan Bates Theatre
8 to 26 October 2019
Adapted by Douglas Baker from the novel by Herman Melville
So It Goes
Brockley Jack Studio Theatre
Shelagh Delaney
National Theatre
7 to 12 October 2019
Vasiliy Shukshin
7 to 9 October 2019
Choreography Dada Masilo, music Philip Miller
Dance Consortium
Dance Consortium Sadler’s Wells
4 to 5 October 2019
Tom Marshman
Originally produced by Jo Kimber
Camden People's Theatre
2 to 4 October 2019
Tom Ratcliffe
Above the Stag with Work Theatre
Above the Stag Theatre (Studio)
2 to 27 October 2019
Music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Leo Robin, book by Anita Loos and Joseph Field...
Union Theatre
2 to 26 October 2019
Choreography Kenneth MacMillan, music Jules Massenet
The Royal Ballet
2 October to 6 November 2019
Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong & Simone Ibbett-Brown
Soho Theatre
Soho Theatre (upstairs)
Book by Pravesh Kumar, lyrics by Raxstar
Rifco Theatre Company and Watford Palace Theatre
Arcola Theatre
1 to 5 October 2019
Christoph Willibald Gluck, libretto Pierre-Louis Moline, Hector Berlioz version
1 October to 14 November 2019
Eleanor Burgess
Giles Chiplin Productions, 23 Productions, Finborough Theatre
Finborough Theatre
1 to 28 October 2019
Jonathan Larson
Bridge House Productions
Bridge House Theatre
1 to 27 October 2019
Choreography Angelin Preljocaj, music Nicolas Godin
Ballet Preljocaj
30 September to 2 October 2019
Bertrand Lesca and Nasi Voutsa
Edward Fortes & Hannah Slimmon for Farnham Maltings
Battersea Arts Centre
30 September to 19 October 2019
Maria Vigar
The Hellenic Centre and the Maria Vigar Team
The Hellenic Centre
28 September 2019
Sean Foley, based on the play The Flower within the Bud by Roger Macdougall a...
Wyndham's Theatre
27 September 2019 to 11 January 2020
Michael Frayn
Garrick Theatre
27 September 2019 to 4 January 2020
Based on the novel by Sally Gardner adapted for the stage by Jemma Kennedy
Unicorn
Unicorn Theatre (Weston Theatre)
26 September to 27 October 2019
Choreography Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, music Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante
Boy Blue
26 September to 5 October 2019
Katori Hall
Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Theatre Royal Stratford East
Theatre Royal Stratford East
25 September to 2 November 2019
Music and lyrics by Adam Howell and book by Paul Hurt; based on Frank McCourt...
Ashcroft Theatre, Fairfield Halls
24 September to 5 October 2019
Florence Bell
The Space London
24 September to 12 October 2019
Georg Frideric Handel
The Royal Opera, Bavarian State Opera, Dutch National Opera, Hamburg State Op...
23 September to 11 October 2019
Jack Lowe
Curious Directive
Shoreditch Town Hall
23 September to 12 October 2019
Stav Meishar
Petit Mort Productions and Dreamcoat Experience
Jacksons Lane
23 to 24 September 2019
Athol Fugard
Lyttelton Theatre (National Theatre)
21 September to 17 December 2019
Peter Nichols
Trafalgar Studios
21 September to 30 November 2019
Laura Wade, Adapted from the Unfinished Novel by Jane Austen
Chichester Festival Theatre
Menier Chocolate Factory
20 September to 16 November 2019
Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields
Mischief Theatre
Vaudeville Theatre
From 20 September 2019
Stephen Jeffreys
Rose Theatre Kingston, The Original Theatre Company, Karl Sydow
Rose Theatre Kingston
20 September to 12 October 2019
Christopher Hampton, based on the novel by Ödön von Horváth
The Coronet Theatre
19 September to 19 October 2019
Ruby Thomas
Hampstead Downstairs / Celia Atkin
Hampstead Theatre, Downstairs
19 September to 26 October 2019
Federico García Lorca, in a New Version by Marina Carr
Young Vic
19 September to 2 November 2019
Created by Hannah Moscovitch, Ben Caplan and Christian Barry, songs by Ben Ca...
2b
Wilton’s Music Hall
19 to 28 September 2019
Caryl Churchill
Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre Downstairs
18 September to 12 October 2019
Lesley Storm
Frinton Summer Theatre in association with Park Theatre
Choreography Akram Khan, music Vincenzo Lamagna after Adolphe Adam
English National Ballet
18 to 28 September 2019
Justin Audibert
Unicorn Theatre
18 September to 27 October 2019
Evan Placey
Jacob Thomas and Oliver Mackwood Productions in association with Park Theatre
Park Theatre (Park 200)
18 September to 26 October 2019
Peter Hamilton
Clockschool Theatre Company
Old Red Lion Theatre
17 September to 5 October 2019
Jules Massenet
James Kettle
Jonathan Church Productions and Exeter Northcott
16 to 21 September 2019
Music Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, libretto Lorenzo Da Ponte
16 September to 10 October 2019
Nancy Harris
Bridge Theatre
14 September to 26 October 2019
David Hare
Debbie Hicks
The Vaults, Launcelot Street
13 September to 17 November 2019
Written by Ronnie Larsen, music and lyrics by Dennis Manning
Above the Stag
Above the Stag Theatre (Main House)
13 September to 6 October 2019
Christopher Green
The Albany, Entelechy Arts and Christopher Green, in association with ARC Sto...
Goldsmiths College, London
13 to 15 September 2019
Choreography Ricardo Amarante, Mukaram Avakhri, Tati Aigul
Astana Ballet
Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House
12 to 14 September 2019
Lisa D'Amour
Arcola Theatre, Atticist and Ellie Keel Productions
11 September to 12 October 2019
David De Silva
Selladoor Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Dan Looney and Adam Paulden, ...
Peacock Theatre
11 September to 19 October 2019
Lloyd Evans.
Lumbago Theatre Company
Hen & Chickens Theatre
10 to 14 September 2019
Book by John Weidman, music by David Shire and lyrics by Richard Maltby, base...
Theatre Royal Plymouth
Dominion Theatre
10 September to 2 November 2019
Book by Studs Terkel, adapted by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso with addition...
HI IMPACT
Upstairs at the Gatehouse
10 to 22 September 2019
Choreography Darrell Grand Moultrie / Jamar Roberts / Robert Battle / Alvin A...
Alvin Ailey Dance Theater Company
Cora Bissett
Raw Material and Traverse Theatre Company
9 to 28 September 2019
Alexander Zeldin
Dorfman Theatre (National Theatre)
9 September to 12 October 2019
Music, lyrics, book and orchestrations by Dave Malloy
Danielle Tarento in Association with Citric Acid Productions
Southwark Playhouse
6 September to 12 October 2019
Maya Arad Yasur, translated by Eran Edry
Actors Touring Company, Orange Tree Theatre and Theatre Royal Plymouth
Orange Tree Theatre
Henrik Ibsen in a New Adaptation by Tanika Gupta
6 September to 5 October 2019
Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig
Hampstead Theatre
5 September to 12 October 2019
Choreography Jessica Lang / Ronald K Brown / Robert Battle / Alvin Ailey
5 to 13 September 2019
Choreography Rennie Harris / Alvin Ailey
4 to 14 September 2019
W Somerset Maugham
4 September to 5 October 2019
Dael Orlandersmith
4 to 28 September 2019
Tim Crouch
National Theatre of Scotland in association with the Royal Court Theatre, Tea...
3 to 21 September 2019
Chigozie Obioma, adapted by Gbolahan Obisesan
New Perspectives
3 September to 12 October 2019
William Shakespeare
RIFT and Kaleidoscope Festival
Alexandra Palace
3 to 28 September 2019
Adapted by Ross McGregor from the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson
Arrows & Traps Theatre Company
Jack Studio Theatre
Jackie Kay
31 August to 5 October 2019
Book by James Lapine; book, music and lyrics by William Finn
Selladoor Productions
The Other Palace
30 August to 23 November 2019
James Corley
Nisha Oza in association with Kings Head Theatre
King’s Head Theatre
27 August to 21 September 2019
Florian Zeller, translated by Christopher Hampton
Fiery Angel and Gavin Kalin Productions with The Kiln Theatre
Duke Of York's Theatre
24 August to 2 November 2019
Kate Grenville, adapted for the stage by Andrew Bovell
Sydney Theatre Company
23 August to 7 September 2019
Ben Jonson
Shakespeare's Globe
Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare's Globe
23 August to 12 October 2019
Harvey Fierstein
Bill Kenright / Paul Taylor-Mills
The Turbine Theatre
22 August to 13 October 2019
Simon Woods
22 August to 25 November 2019
Lucy Prebble, based on the book by Luke Harding
Old Vic Theatre
20 August to 5 October 2019
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
DryWrite
Wyndham’s Theatre
20 August to 14 September 2019
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
16 August to 5 October 2019
Michael John LaChiusa
Pint of Wine Theatre Company
Charing Cross Theatre
15 August to 28 September 2019
Robert Icke, Very Freely Adapted from Arthur Schnitzler’s Professor Bernhardi
10 to 28 August 2019
Book & Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Music by Stephen Flaherty
British Theatre Academy
Southwark Playhouse (The Large)
9 to 31 August 2019
Daniel Winder with lyrics by Matthew Bugg & Rae Mcken and music by Matthew Bugg
Iris Theatre
The Scoop
8 August to 1 September 2019
Director and choreographer Matthew Bourne, music Sergei Prokofiev
New Adventures
7 to 31 August 2019
William Shakespeare, adapted by Kazumi Shimodate
The Shakespeare Company Japan
Tara Theatre
7 to 10 August 2019
Anna Ziegler
Announcement Productions
Trafalgar Studios 2
6 to 31 August 2019
Philip King
Two's Company and Karl Sydow in association with Tilly Films and Neil McPhers...
Ashwin Singh
2 to 4 August 2019
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Tim Rice
William Village and Timothy Sheader for Regent’s Park Theatre Ltd
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
2 August to 21 September 2019
Benjamin Polya, adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel
St Pauls, Covent Garden
1 August to 1 September 2019
Ronnie Larsen
Above the Stag Theatre
31 July to 8 September 2019
Catherine Hiscock
Goose Bite Theatre Company
31 July to 3 August 2019
Bianca Bagatourian
How It Is Productions in association with the Park Theatre
Park Theatre
30 July to 10 August 2019
Oliver Page
Flo Taylor productions in association with We are Kilter
Kings Head Theatre
30 July to 4 August 2019
29 July to 17 August 2019
Created by Idris Elba and Kwame Kwei-Armah
Manchester International Festival, Young Vic and Green Door Pictures
29 July to 24 August 2019
Felix O'Brien with music and lyrics by Nadine Wild-Palmer and Louie Lee
Amplified Theatre
King's Head Theatre
28 to 29 July 2019
Book and Lyrics by Andy Stanton, Music by Jim Fortune
25 July to 31 August 2019
Tennessee Williams
24 July to 24 August 2019
Book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein
Phoenix Theatre
30 January 2019 to 15 February 2020
Book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, inspired on Alexander Hamilton ...
The Public Theater
Victoria Palace Theatre
From 6 December 2017
Duchess Theatre
From 5 September 2014
Based on the novel by Roald Dahl, book by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by T...
Royal Shakespeare Company
Cambridge Theatre
From 7 October 2011
