All the best shows to catch in the West End and all over the UK in May 2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A spectacular show full of sound and vision that keeps the iconic singer’s memory alive in creative fashion.

⭐️ Greek myth meets environmental doom, but vague stakes and heavy-handed lyricism leave this reimagining oddly empty.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Art, absinthe and anarchy are the order of the day in this immersive experience, transporting you to Paris in 1896

⭐️⭐️⭐️ This murder mystery musical is unafraid to tackle moral questions and shows a lot of promise but is yet to reach its full potential.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ An ambitious mixed-media production that immerses you in a party that will make you both laugh and cry.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ The world premiere play is full of potential, though it lacks in focus and needs further development

The Devil Wears Prada stars talk about their time in the musical and their thoughts on the newly released sequel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A bold and unconventional new take on Brecht’s Hitler satire is astonishingly good

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The debut of this new medical play, full of heart, has plenty of life for the future

⭐️ A misguided piece that confuses shock with satire.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Year 8 boy tries to make amends for his actions surrounding his prep school's Head Boy announcement in this absurd yet relatable one-man play.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An inventive two-hander telling the story of Genie Chance, whose pursuit of the truth made her vital to relief efforts after the 1964 Alaskan earthquake.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Bold, heartbreaking and brilliantly acted. This is political theatre with real emotional depth.

Alexandra Burke will star as the iconic singer for a limited season in Wembley from July

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Intimate, well-performed and full of promise, though not quite as emotionally gripping as it should be

⭐️⭐️ A world premiere play focusing on the Fifth Beatle, Brian Epstein, is in need of a lot of Help

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Arthur Miller’s searing family drama has new life breathed into it in a strong production featuring one scene-stealing performance

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A gripping one man performance that brings Alec Guinness’ life into sharp, human focus.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An intimate and unsettling solo show exploring grief, paranoia and queer precarity with real force.

⭐⭐ An NHS 111 drama built on lived experience, offering flashes of humanity but weighed down by structural indecision and blunt satire.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ A poignant performance navigating identity, neutrality, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A strong, witty and engaging revival of Coward’s play that feels sharp and relevant, brought to life by an excellent cast.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Original cast members joined in the fun for this special screening event that didn’t always match the quality of the original film

Everybody say yeah for a conversation with two stars of the London retuirn of KInky Boots!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ An ambitious folk musical with strong ensemble moments, though the storytelling and character focus feel uneven at times.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ An intimate production of the true crime musical is enjoyable enough even if it doesn’t quite thrill

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An eclectic dance production bringing together an endless array of genres and vocabularies.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A one-woman play about home and what it means to us in turbulent times, bringing 1969 Belfast to this beautiful theatre space.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Samuel Beckett’s classic is revived in a new thoughtful and humorous production worth waiting for

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A joyful, gloriously camp celebration of Kate Bush fandom, using huge vocals, inventive theatricality, and a warm heart.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The horny puppets return to the West End in the perfect musical at the perfect time, and the most you’ll laugh in a theatre this year

⭐⭐⭐ Graduating drama students attempt the tricky marathon piece

The stars of Choir Boy talk about returning to the show for the current London run

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Clint Dyer breathes new life into Ken Kesey’s classic story in a faultless production you’d be crazy to miss

⭐️⭐️⭐️ A moving story of grief both old and new, and of the difficulty of returning to a place from which you've so firmly detached yourself.

A look into why the feel-good family musical could be the West ENd's next long-runner

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Camp melodrama to the max, Kym Marsh and Lisa Faulkner deliver thrills, gasps, and laughs in this gloriously fun guilty pleasure.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kander & Ebb’s musical returns to the UK for the first time in 34 years in a production destined to spin a bigger web in the future

See the full list of winners here, and listen to a special bonus episode where we discuss this year's awards

The stars talk about taking on the roles of The Thénardiers in Les Miserables

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A new play about three 60-year-olds discovering something new about themselves deserves to be seen.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ A bold and visually rich reimagining, with Cuban flair and a second act that catches fire.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tony-award winning playwright Ken Ludwig’s retelling of his grandparents love story through letters makes its UK premiere

⭐️⭐️ A bold and daring new musical featuring space travel finds itself devoid of life

Three cast members from The Rocky Horror Picture Show talk about reuniting to celebrate 50 years of the cult classic.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Confident, chaotic, and expertly crafted, this is sketch comedy that hits hard and keeps audiences laughing throughout.

⭐⭐⭐ A devilish high school makeover, camp horror fun and a phenomenal cast make for a lively retro rock musical.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A nostalgic, people‑watching portrait of pub life where bruised lives unfold behind the bar.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Laura Kay Bailey explores the difficulty of playing divisive roles in this light-hearted yet thought-provoking production.