July Preview: 25 Of The Hottest Shows To See This Month

Summer is well and truly here. While many people will be jetting off on holidays, there is no holiday in the world of theatre and this month is still full of some exceptional and exciting theatre openings.

Here are 25 of the hottest ones opening in July:

IN DREAMS (Leeds Playhouse)

1st July – 5th August

A brand new musical using the iconic music of Roy Orbinson gets its world premiere with a cast starring Lena Hall and Oliver Tompsett.

Tickets from leedsplayhouse.org.uk

ONCE (the Barn Theatre)

3rd July – 12th August

The unforgettable story of an irish syteet musician and a funny Czech woman drawn together by their shared love of music returns to the UK in a new production in Cirencester.

Tickets from barntheatre.org.uk

BONES (Park Theatre)

5th – 22nd July

Using physical theatre, this show about a rugby player on the brink of a professional career is an exploration of mental health and toxic masculinity in sport.

Tickets from www.parktheatre.org.uk

CUCKOO (Royal Court)

6th July – 19th August

Michael Wynne’s dark comedy stars Michelle Butterly, Vicky Featherstone, Emma Harrison, Sue Jenkins and Jodie McNee. It explores the safety of home and the different ways we cope in our increasingly uncertain world.

Tickets from www.royalcourttheatre.com

RIDE (Curve Leicester/Southwark Playhouse)

7th – 15th July/19th July – 12th August

After wowing audiences with a run at Charing Cross Theatre last year, the true story of Annie Londonderry, the first woman to cycle around the world, is something incredibly special. Catch it in Leicester and London this month.

Tickets from www.curve.org.uk and www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

DISRUPTION (Park Theatre)

7th July – 5th August

The world premiere of Andrew Stein’s sharp, unnerving thriller. This timely and insightful exploration of our tech obsessed world stars Nathaniel Curtis.

Tickets from www.parktheatre.org.uk

THE CROWN JEWELS (Garrick Theatre)

7th July – 16th September

A heist comedy of epic proportions, Al Murray stars as King Charles II alongside Mel Giedroyc, Neil Morrissey, Joe Thomas and Carrie Hope Fletcher.

Tickets from www.nimaxtheatres.com

HALLS The Turbine Theatre)

7th – 30th July

This new musical written by Jennifer Harrison and George Stroud is centred around 8 first-year university students Who are all allocated the same flat in Halls of Residence.

Tickets from www.theturbinetheatre.com

MISS SAIGON (Crucible Theatre)

8th July – 12th August

The first non-replica regional production of Boubil and Schonberg’s classic is led by Joanna Ampil as the Engineer and Jessica Lee as Kim.

Tickets from sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Chichester Festival Theatre)

10th July – 3rd September

Adam Penford’s new production of the timeless classic from Rodgers & Hammerstein is led by Gina Beck as Maria with a cast including Emma Williams, Edward Harrison, Janis Kelly and Ako Mitchell.

Tickets from cft.org.uk

GHOST LIGHT (The Hope Theatre)

11th - 29th July

A new musical about child stardom and the treatment of women and girls in the public eye, shining a harsh lught on addiction and abuse.

Tickets from www.thehopetheatre.com

THE WIND AND THE RAIN (Finborough Theatre)

11th July – 5th August

The first professional London production in 80 years, the original ran for over 1000 performances when it opened in 1933.

Tickets from finboroughtheatre.co.uk

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (Lavender Theatre)

17th July – 5th August

A stunning new outdoor theatre in Surrey opens with Irving Berlin’s classic starring SuRie as Annie Oakley and Charlie McCullagh as Frank Butler.

Tickets from lavendertheatre.com

BACON (Riverside Studios)

18th – 29th July

Winner of the Tony Craze Award, this unflinching and unexpectedly humorous look at masculinity, sexuality and power returns to London ahead of a season at Edinburgh Fringe.

Tickets from riversidestudios.co.uk

DAZZLING DIVAS (The Mill at Sonning)

20th – 29th July

Written and performed by Issy van Randwyck, this mesmerising musical journey illuminates the lives and work of legendary performers including Billie Holiday, Marilyn Monroe and Dusty Springfield.

Tickets from millatsonning.co.uk

CRUISE (Home Manchester)

20th July – 12th August

The true story of what should have been Michael Spencer’s last night on Earth, Jack Holden’s masterpiece makes its Manchester debut after two sensational West End runs.

Tickets from homemcr.org

SHREK: THE MUSICAL (UK and Ireland Tour)

21st July – 30th December

The musical adaptation of the much loved movies returns in a major new UK tour staring Antony Lawrence, Joanne Clifton, James Gillan and Brandon Lee Sears.

Full dates and tickets at www.shrekuktour.com

MACBETH (Globe Theatre)

21st July – 28th October

While several more Macbeth’s dominate theatre later this year, the Globe Theatre get in there first with this production starring Max Bennett, Matti Houghton and Aaron Anthony.

Tickets from shakespearesglobe.com

ROCK FOLLIES (Minerva)

24th July – 26th August

This punchy new musical is based on the ground-breaking TV series and stars Carly Bawden, Angela Marie Hurst and Zizi Strallen.

Tickets from cft.org.uk

JULIE: THE MUSICAL (The Other Palace)

25th – 30th July

A brand new musical about queer icon Julie D'Aubigny heads to London after a run at the Hope Mill in Manchester.

Tickets from www.juliethemusical.co.uk

SECRET CINEMA PRESENTS GREASE: THE LIVE EXPERIENCE (Birmingham)

26th July – 13th August

A spectacular one-of-a-kind production will bring Rydell High to life in this immersive production, running for a limited time.

Tickets from secretcinema.com HORRIBLE HISTORIES – TERRIBLE TUDORS (Garrick Theatre)

27th July – 2nd September

Back in the West End for a second year, the horrible histories team bring their unique blend of history to a show that is fun for all the family – educational and full of nasty bits, kids and kids alike are bound to love it.

Tickets from www.terribletudors.com

DERREN BROWNS UNBELIEVABLE (Mercury Theatre, Colchester)

28th July – 26th August

Previewing in Colchester before it takes over the West End in September, Derren Browns new show marks the first time one of his shows has been performed by a cast and not himself. A magic show like no other fusing the best of theatre and music with jaw dropping illusions.

Tickets from https://unbelievablelive.com

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre)

29th July – 16th September

The show-stopping classic musical closes this years season at Open Air Theatre starring Carl Mullaney as Albin and Billy Carter as Georges.

Tickets from openairtheatre.com

EVITA (Theatre Royal Drury Lane)

31st July – 1st August

An unmissable event, the London Musical Theatre Orchestra perform alongside Moana’s Auli’I Cravalho as Evita and Matt Rawle as Che in this special concert of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic classic.

Tickets from lwtheatres.co.uk

Another fab month of theatre awaits us all. Look out for reviews for most of these on the website over this month and next.

Keep up to date with all the reviews on the website throughout the month and follow twitter.com/ATDazzles for all the latest