London Theatre, Ballet and Opera To Book 2025

From London’s famous East and West Ends to the esteemed Royal Ballet and Opera, London‘s stages are singing this spring and summer, proving its position as a theatre capital of the world.

Including a Chekhov classic reimagined at The Barbican by a star-studded cast, multiple performances by Spain’s very best Flamenco musicians and dancers, open-air opera, and the most Tony-nominated musical ever, these are the theatre shows, musicals, opera, and ballet in London to book this spring and summer.

Theatre

The Barbican’s theatre lineup for the spring/summer 2025 season is one you’re not going to want to miss out on. None other than Cate Blanchett, Tom Burke, and Emma Corrin will be gracing the well-known stage for this modern adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s famous classic, The Seagull. Reinterpreted by Duncan Macmillan (English playwright behind the stage adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984) and Thomas Ostermeier (German theatre director), The Seagull narrates Arkadina, a larger-than-life actress played by Blanchett, as she navigates both her on stage and personal life, as work and home desires begin to conflict. In true Chekhov style this is a cautionary tale of unrequited love and the unfulfilling side of vanity, fame, and power.

It’s London in the 1970s: dreams are big and skirts are short. Walker Holt owns a tailor’s shop, and must work constantly over the next 24 hours to satisfy his customers’ demands. Through the consequent clash between his work and relationships, Alterations depicts a powerful tale of what it means to live and work in London as a Guyanese man amongst the backdrop of The Windrush Generation. The play was originally written in 1978, and is being brought back to life with all its comedic charm for this exciting run at the National Theatre.

The Years by French author Annie Ernaux won the 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature for a reason. Structured as a series of vignettes – some personal, some social, and some political – the novel paints a vivid image of a woman’s life across approximately seven decades, and the socio-political landscape that shapes her. In this very stylistically clever adaptation of the novel, five women portray the collective biography via a series of moments and images, showing what it means and how it feels to be female across a whole school of subjects, from romance to a career, to political power and reproductive rights. The Years tackles many difficult themes in very powerful ways. After a sold out run at the Almeida theatre last year, the production is showing in London’s West End for a limited run only – buy tickets while you can.

Rosamund Pike: you may know her face from the 2023 film that had everyone talking (Saltburn) or perhaps the critically-acclaimed Gone Girl, and now she is back on stage for her National Theatre debut playing Jessica Parks. Jessica Parks is an intelligent and driven London Crown Court Judge, riding the height of her career while balancing motherhood and her own enriching personal life. That’s until, suddenly things aren’t so “simple”. This is set to be an epic modern tale of balancing family with work success, inter alia (meaning “among other things”), as told by the talented writer Suzie Miller.

Starring Olivier award winning Tasmin Greig, this 1950s drama by Terence Rattigan narrates the tumultuous dynamic between passion, power, and loyalty as a high court judge’s wife Hester Collyer, begins a secret affair with pilot Freddie Page, that starts to unravel after her failed suicide attempt. From the tear-jerking performances, we start to see the loneliness and fracture of a society struggling to regain normalcy after a war.

In the regal grounds of Regent’s Park, another open air theatre will be celebrating the summer season with a packed line-up of performances. The theatre’s main event this year is an interpretation (adapted by Dominic Cooke) of Malorie Blackman’s best-selling novel Noughts & Crosses, which narrates a heart-jerking romance between Callum (from a Naught family) and Sephy (a Cross) in a modern iteration of Shakespeare’s loved Romeo & Juliet.

Opera & Ballet

A night at the opera surrounded by the opulent 1892-built architecture, complete with crystal chandeliers and gold gilding never grows old. After the exciting winter months, the upcoming schedule is looking just as packed. Puccini’s cold-hearted heroine brings riddles and revenge to the Main Stage in Turandot (showing 19 March to 19 April). Rich in fairy tale tropes as well as Chinese and Italian mythological symbols, this dark opera was finished posthumously by Franco Alfano for a tormented and visually-vivid performance. Damaiano Michieletto’s production of Bizet’s ever-popular Carmen will also run on the main stage from 9 April until 3 July, bringing its Mediterranean heat to the capital. Set in Seville, Spain in the 1820s, the fiery and free-spirited heroine Carmen seduces police officer Don José (a soldier in other iterations) ensuing his downfall. Carmen is the second most performed opera (following Puccini’s La Bohème) at The Royal Opera and Ballet, boasting over 600 runs. It’s one that opera fans will never tire of, but also a great gateway for kick-starting your opera love affair. Verdi’s Il Trovatore is also offering curse, superstition, desire, and violence until 19 July.

As usual, you won’t be short on either opera or ballet to see with the Royal Ballet and Opera’s calendar, home to both The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera. This spring and summer promises a glittering array of ballets, starting with Balanchine: Three Signature Works (28 March until 8 April). Born in Russia but working in the USA across the 20th century, George Balanchine defined a new age of ballet in America with his striking choreography. Moving away from European classical ballet towards movement with a neoclassical and African influence, Balanchine reworked everything to do with ballet choreography, from form to elements of costume. The legacy of his art is beautifully performed via three of his signature works (Serenade, Prodigal Son, and Symphony in C) this season. Plus, one for the star-crossed lovers: Kenneth MacMillan’s ballet adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet will also show 4 March until 26 May.

Holland Park Opera opening up its stage to Londoners means the summer season has officially started. Kicking off this year in May, this open-air theatre promises another exciting summer of opera, ballet, musical performances, and kid-friendly events. The calendar is filled with too many exciting showings to name, however highlights include Giuseppe Verdi’s 19th century tale of romance in Paris, La Traviata, Handel’s 1744 baroque drama Semele, and The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár, co-produced by Opera Holland Park, Scottish Opera, and D’Oyly Carte Opera. There’s nothing quite like listening to the most world-renowned opera against a summer breeze to see you into the warmer months.

Sadler’s Wells and its four London theatres are hosting an incredible variety of works this summer, ranging from classical ballet to flamenco, acrobatics, and a sweet rendition of A Jazz Age Cinderella by London Children’s Ballet. Northern Ballet will perform Jane Austen’s adored Jane Eyre 13 to 17 May; the Flamenco festival will return 27 May to 8 June featuring Spain’s very best; Phoenix Dance Theatre adapts James Baldwin’s novel Giovanni’s Room with Inside Giovanni’s Room; Rambert will show Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby 5 to 19 August; National Youth Dance Company will perform Boy Blue on 19th July – to name only a few! Sadler’s Wells has also just announced the opening of Sadler’s Wells East in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, and will be host to a wonderful calendar of productions and workshops this summer.

Musical Theatre

After winning several awards for the sold-out Broadway run, including a Tony award for lead actor Sean Hayes’ role, Good Night, Oscar is hopping across the Atlantic for a short seven-week stint. Quick-witted and a famous Hollywood actor and concert pianist, protagonist Oscar Levant seemingly has just about everything going for him. However, the celeb-packed, golden age of cinema in the 1950s isn’t quite the extravagant fare the television makes it out to be. Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright is the playwright, so the performance is packed with clever and satirical one liners, including Oscar’s famous quote “there’s a fine line between genius and insanity; I have erased this line.”

The most Tony-nominated play ever is making its way from New York City’s Broadway to London’s West End for a lyrical season of 70s pop rock music. Whilst this has been denied by the play’s writer David Adjmi, many critics have drawn parallels between the rise of indie rock band Fleetwood Mac in the 1970s and Stereophonic’s plot. The scene: a recording studio in 1976 Sausalito, California, as rock band Sterophonic are recording their way towards hit success, for a fun glimpse into the life of musical stars.

Another name that requires little to no introduction: The Great Gatsby. One hundred years on, the jazz age has descended again upon London, with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s tale – made into a musical – of love, lust, greed, and power. Let the champagne flow and costumes sparkle for “the greatest party on London’s biggest stage”. What do you say, old sport, time to book tickets?

London Road’s synopsis pens a poignant tale that is unfortunately based on real life events. It’s 2006 and five women have been murdered in Suffolk. The neighbourhood rallies together to form a supportive community of people as they find themselves at the heart of the tragedy, using their words to navigate this devastating loss via musical score. After a successful run in 2011 at the National Theatre, London Road is back for a week only in June, so book tickets while you still can.

After making its debut at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2019, Evita is making a come back, this time to London’s West End for a season of female power, work, and tragedy. The dramatic score written by one of the biggest composer names in musical theatre – Andrew Lloyd Webber – narrates the life of Argentine President Juan Perón’s second wife, Eva Perón, (played by Rachel Zegler) as she rises to power to become the most powerful woman in Latin America, despite her impoverished background. Reimagined this time by director Jamie Lloyd, Evita will show for 12 weeks this summer.

After a completely sold-out run at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, this incredible production of a theatre favourite, Fiddler On The Roof, will be on show at The Barbican for a short eight week stint. Set in 1905 in Anatevka, Tevye, a Jewish milkman is attempting to set his five daughters up for marriage. However, a changing society, changing beliefs, and outside influence sets to interfere with his plans. Just like at Regent’s Park, this production is set to become popular, so booking early is advised.

On Wednesdays we wear pink – you know the drill. This is one to book for an uplifting, don’t take yourself too seriously kind of evening. After an incredibly successful film trilogy, Mean Girls needs very little introduction. The impressive team behind this production have cleverly transformed the film into a musical (while keeping all the best parts) with Tina Fey (who worked on the original film), Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin (behind Legally Blonde) behind the production. After all, “it’s not like a regular musical. It’s a cool musical.”

As if! The 90s are back, with the yellow plaid suit to match. This cult-classic romantic comedy is hopping over to London – in musical form – this summer for a fun remaking of the superficial lifestyle of Beverly Hills teens. Rebranded by Amy Heckerling, also behind the 1995 film, the production boasts choreography by Lizzi Gee and an exciting young cast. Call up your friends and book for a fun, unserious night at the theatre.