February Preview: All The Best New Theatre To Catch This Month

It's the first monthly preview of the year and while February may be the shortest month of the year, there is no shortage of amazing shows to enjoy around London and all over the UK. Here are some of this months highights:

MTFest (The Other Palace Studio/The Turbine Theatre)

30th January – 11th February

8 brand new musicals get their first outings as the new musical theatre festival returns to London. Among the shows on offer are DarkLord from the writers of Heathers and a musical based on Come Dine With Me.

Tickets from https://www.theturbinetheatre.com/

PHAEDRA (Lyttleton Theatre)

1st February – 8th April

Simon Stone reimagines Seneca’s famous tragedy on this new striking new play starring Janet McTeer.

Tickets from nationaltheatre.org.uk

SMOKE (Southwark Playhouse Borough)

1st - 25th February

Oli Higginson and Meaghan Martin star in this story that takes place in pre-‘Me Too’ New York City, at a ‘BDSM’ party.

Tickets from southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

SPITTING IMAGE SAVES THE WORLD: IDIOTS ASSEMBLE (Birmingham Rep)

1st February - 12th March

Having gone through 3 Prime Ministers since being announced, the TV show is ready to hit the stage. Expect a lot of laughs and puppets in this sure to be hilarious show.

Tickets from Birmingham-rep.co.uk

NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND (Watermill)

3rd February – 18th March

The world premiere stage adaptation of Bill Bryson’s award-winning memoir heads to the Watermill in Newbury, Celebrating the quirks and eccentricities of British life.

Tickets from watermill.org.uk

THE KING AND I (UK Tour)

4th February – 1st July

A new UK tour kicks off for the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic this month. Beginning performances at the Marlowe in Canterbury on 4th February, you can also catch it in Wimbledon, Liverpool and Birmingham this month.

Full dates and tickets from kingandimusical.co.uk

BENJAMIN RAUHALA AND HIS WEST END BESTIES (Cadogan Hall)

5th February

Music director Benjamin Rauhala hosts an all star concert with a cast including Frances Mayli McCann, Natalie Paris, Jodie Steele, Courtney Stapleton, Benjamin Yates, Ben Joyce, Kathryn Gallagher, Max Harwood, Luke Baker and Allie Daniel.

Tickets from www.fw-live.com/ben

TORI SCOTT: TORI WITH AN I (Crazy Coqs)

5th & 6th February

Leaving the wigs of The Cher Show, this new show from Tori Scott is a celebration of survival, martinis and new beginnings. She will be joined by one of her stage daughters Danielle Steers on Monday 6th and Christina Bianco on Sunday 5th.

Tickets from https://www.brasseriezedel.com/events/tori-scott-tori-with-an-i/

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Duke Of York’s Theatre)

7th – 10th February

Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy meets reality TV romance in a raucuous and lyrical adaptation by the National Youth Theatre’s Rep Company.

Tickets from www.nyt.org.uk/whats-on

WINNER’S CURSE (Park Theatre)

8th February – 11th March

Clive Anderson stars in this show that combines humour and audience interaction to take you behind the scenes of a high stakes international peace talk.

Tickets from https://parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/winners-curse

STANDING ON THE SKY'S EDGE (Olivier Theatre)

9th February - 25th March

Following a well received run in Sheffield, this hotly anticipated show makes its London premiere. A love letter to Sheffield and ode to the iconic Park Hill Estate, this show charts the hopes and dreams of three generations over the course of six tumultuous decades.

Tickets from nationaltheatre.org.uk

WINDFALL (Southwark Playhouse Borough)

9th February – 11th March

Scooter Pietsch’s hilarious and chaotic comedy arrives following a critically ccclaimed run in New York last year.

Tickets from www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/

GRACELAND (Royal Court)

9th February – 11th March

Ava Wong Davies presents Sabrina Wu in this new play that was developed as part of an Introduction to Playwriting group at the Royal Court.

Tickets from https://royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/

TROUBLE IN BUTETOWN (Donmar Warehouse)

10th February - 25th March

The world premiere of this play by Diana Nneka Atuona is directed by Tinuke Craig is set in a port town during the war; home to souls from every corner of the globe. When Nate, an African American GI, escapes his barracks and discovers this new world without segregation, can he find safe harbour? And with danger on every corner, whom can he trust?

Tickets from www.donmarwarehouse.com

MEDEA (@SohoPlace)

11th February - 22nd April

Sophie Okonedo and Ben Daniels return to the West End to star n Robinson Jeffers’ adaptation of Euripedes’ Medea, directed by Domini Cooke.

Tickets from www.sohoplace.org

DUET FOR ONE (Orange Tree Theatre)

11th February - 18th March

Stephanie Abrahams is a world-renowned concert violinist at the peak of her career. But upon receiving life-changing news, Stephanie is forced to look for a new way to live. As her beloved music falls silent, Stephanie must dig deep into her past to face an unknown future.

Tickets from orangetreetheatre.co.uk

WOMEN, BEWARE THE DEVIL (Almeida Theatre)

11th February - 25th March

Set in England in 1640, a war is brewing, rumours and flying, a household is in crisis and the Devil’s having some fun.

Tickets from Almeida.co.uk

ROMEO AND JULIE (Dorfman Theatre)

14th February - 1st April

Two Welsh teens raised a few streets apart – but from entirely different worlds – crash into first love and are knocked off their feet. But at the crossroads to the rest of their lives, Julie’s family fears the worst in a world of unequal opportunity.

Tickets from nationaltheatre.org.uk

NO LIMITS – A SONG CYCLE (Turbine Theatre)

15th – 26th February

Deconstructing the concept of falling behind in life, this new song cycle follows a diverse cast of characters from all walks of life as they dare to believe in themselves and strive for a brighter future.

Tickets from https://www.theturbinetheatre.com/

THE BEACH HOUSE (Park Theatre)

15th February – 11th March

A tender new play that explores the fragility of female relationships as three women grapple with motherhood, sisterhood and distractions.

Tickets from https://parktheatre.co.uk

OKLAHOMA! (Wyndham's Theatre)

16th February - 2nd September

Following an acclaimed run at the Young Vic, Oklahoma! Moves to the West End. Anoushka Lucas and Arthur Darvill are among those reprising their roles in this new production of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic.

Tickets from www.OklahomaWestEnd.com

SHIRLEY VALENTINE (Duke Of York’s Theatre)

17th February – 3rd June

Sheridan Smith returns to the West End in this new production of Willy Russell’s life-affirming story.

Tickets from shirleyvalentineonstage.com

BAT OUT OF HELL (Peacock Theatre)

17th February - 1st April

Returning to the West End for a limited season, this musical features Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf’s greatest hits, performed by a sensational cast.

Tickets from www.sadlerswells.com/your-visit/peacock-theatre

THE WAY OLD FRIENDS DO (UK Tour)

17th February - 10th June

Ian Hallard’s brand new play sees two friends set out on a path to form the world’s first ABBA tribute band. It starts its run at the Birmingham Rep before touring all over the UK.

Tickets from https://thewayoldfriendsdo.com/

THE WALWORTH FARCE (Southwark Playhouse Elephant)

17th February – 18th March

The first production to play the new Southwark Playhouse is a revival of Enda Walsh’s award winning play starring Dan Skinner, Emmet Byrne, Killian Coyle and Rachelle Diedericks.

Tickets from https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/the-walworth-farce/

CAN’T WAIT TO LEAVE (Waterloo East Theatre)

21st – 26th February

Taking place entirely within the uncomfortable setting of a hospital waiting room, this is a furious, unpredictable and heart-breaking monologue told by a young bisexual man grappling with issues of abandonment, exploitation and identity.

Tickets from waterlooeast.co.uk

SONG FROM FAR AWAY (Home Manchester)

22nd February – 11th March

Will Young returns to the stage in Manchester in this emotional play which is an unforgettable story and a personal letter to those left behind.

Tickets from https://homemcr.org/production/song-from-far-away/

THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF MUSICAL (Noel Coward Theatre)

25th February - 13th May

Following a run in Cheltenham, the Bake Off musical transfers to the West End with a cast including Haydn Gwynne, John Owen-Jones, Zoe Birkett and Grace Mouat.

Tickets from www.bakeoffthemusical.com

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (Watford Palace Theatre)

27th February – 11th March

Morals, prejudice and power collide in this retelling of one of Shakespeare’s best-known, and most controversial, plays. Tracy-Ann Oberman stars in this production which starts in Watford before heading to Manchester in March.

Tickets from watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

AFTER THE ACT (New Diorama Theatre)

28th February – 1st April

Twenty years after its repeal, the children of Section 28 are taking to the stage to unpack a turning point in LGBTQ+ British history, singing and dancing over the grave of this national anniversary.

Tickets from https://newdiorama.com/whats-on/after-the-act

Also continuing throughout February is the amazing VAULT festival in Waterloo where 100s of new shows are being performed. Take a look at https://vaultfestival.com/ to see the full schedule.

2023 is already shaping up to be a fantastic year for theatre and February is no exception. Let me know what you’re most excited to get booked in, and to be included in future monthly previews, send me a message or email. - and keep an eye out on twitter.com/ATDazzles instagram.com/ATDazzles and facebook.com/ATDazzles to see reviews of many of these shows... and maybe even a sneaky competition!