July Preview: The Hottest New Openings To See This Month

We’re into the heart of summer now and while July may be a bit of a quieter month, there is no shortage of gems to look out for. As well as one-night-only concerts and a smattering of new West End openings, there are some especially great regional offerings this month including a couple of shows you’ll see in the West End later this year. Here are more than 30 of the hottest shows to check out in July:

[TITLE OF SHOW] (Phoenix Arts Club)

2nd – 3rd July

The Tony-nominated Broadway hit gets a London outing starring George Crawford, Abbie Budden, Mary Moore and Thomas Oxley in this musical about writing a musical.

Tickets from https://phoenixartsclub.com/events/title-of-show/

I WISH MY LIFE WERE LIKE A MUSICAL (UK Tour)

2nd July – 31st August

The revue about the trials and tribulations of life in showbusiness returns for a new UK tour, revealing all there is to know from people who love it on both sides of the curtain. The tour kicks off in Manchester before heading to London and Cork ahead of its run in Edinburgh next month.

Tickets from www.hopemilltheatre.co.uk and www.kingsheadtheatre.com 

RISHI SUNAK’S DOING A MUSICAL (Waterloo East Theatre)

2nd – 6th July

Written in just a month, this show tells the story of Rishi Sunak trying to win over the electorate by staging a musical about himself - hampered by the writers he’s hired, who are surprisingly unsympathetic to him.

Tickets from https://www.waterlooeast.co.uk/

BARNUM (Watermill Theatre)

2nd July – 8th September

This year’s spectacular summer musical at The Watermill in Newbury is a new production of the Olivier and Tony award-winning musical starring Matt Rawle, Monique Young and Penny Ashmore.

Tickets from www.watermill.org.uk

DORIAN: The Musical (The Other Palace)

4th July – 10th August

Alfie Friedman stars in the titular role of this modern musical retelling of Oscar Wilde’s classic novel. A fully 21st-century production of the Victorian classic incorporating rock music and social media while remaining true to the bohemian thrill of the original. 

Tickets from www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk 

THE CHILDREN’S INQUIRY (Southwark Playhouse Elephant)

5th July – 3rd August

A new verbatim musical examining childcare in the UK from the point of view of four teenagers with all the lyrics composed from interviews with those who have experienced the system.

Tickets from www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

CHARIOTS OF FIRE (Sheffield Crucible)

6th – 27th July

Mike Bartlett adapts the Oscar-winning film based on the remarkable events of the 1924 events, marking the 100th anniversary of the true stories of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams and their record-breaking achievements.

Tickets from www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

HELLO DOLLY! (London Palladium)

6th July – 13th September

Imelda Staunton stars as meddlesome socialite turned matchmaker Dolly Levi in this highly anticipated revival of this musical featuring Jerry Herman’s unforgettable score, also starring Andy Nyman, Jenna Russell, Tyrone Huntley, Harry Hepple and Emily Lane.

Tickets from www.hellodollyldn.com

THE BAKER’S WIFE (Menier Chocolate Factory)

6th July – 14th September

Stephen Schwartz and Joseph Stein’s musical gets its first major revival in the UK since its West End premiere with Clive Rowe and Lucie Jones leading the cast.

Tickets from www.menierchocolatefactory.com

&JULIET (UK & Ireland Tour)

8th July – 12th October

The global sensation embarks on its first UK tour as the songs of Max Martin are used to imagine what happened if Juliet didn’t die at the end of Romeo & Juliet. This production stars Gerardine Sacdalan, Lara Denning, Matt Cardle, Sandra Marvin, Jack Danson, Kyle Cox, Jordan Broatch and Dr Ranj Singh.

Full dates and tickets at https://andjulietthemusical.com/ 

MY SON’S A QUEER (BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?) (UK Tour)

8th July – 25th August

Rob Madge’s glittering show is back to celebrate the joy and chaos of raising a queer child in this beautiful testament to the power of unconditional familial love. Catch it in Leicester, Birmingham, Coventry, Liverpool and Derby this month before it heads to Edinburgh in August.

Tickets at http://curveonline.co.uk/   birminghamhippodrome.com belgrade.co.uk everymanplayhouse.com derbytheatre.co.uk and underbellyedinburgh.co.uk

BLIPPI: THE WONDERFUL WORLD TOUR

8th July – 21st September

Following the success of last year's Olivier award-nominated debut, Blippi returns to London for a limited run in this show suitable for children aged 2+ encouraging them to dance, sing and learn.

Tickets from https://blippiontour.com

OLIVER (Chichester Festival Theatre)

8th July – 7th September

Ahead of a West End transfer later this year, Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh’

S reconceived production of Lionel Bart’s iconic musical stars Simon Lipkin, Shanay Holmes, Aaron Sidwell, Billy Jenkins and Philip Franks.

Tickets from www.cft.org.uk

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (Theatre Royal Plymouth)

6th July – 17th August

Ahead of its debut in the West End later this year, the brand new musical gets its first UK outing with a limited season in Plymouth starring Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestly alongside Matt Henry, Georgie Buckland, Amy Di Bartolomeo, James Darch and Rhys Whitfield.

Tickets from https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/the-devil-wears-prada/

THE HOT WING KING (Dorfman Theatre)

11th July – 14th September

Katori Hall’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy makes its UK debut in a fiery new production as things heat up in Memphis as the annual Hot Wing festival rolls into town.

Tickets from www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

RED SPEEDO (Orange Tree Theatre)

13th July – 10th August

The UK premiere of Lucas Hnath’s play is directed by Matthew Dunster and stars Finn Cole as Ray whose dreams of international glory for swimming are threatened when performance-enhancing drugs are discovered in the club’s refrigerator.

Tickets from www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk

CAROUSEL IN CONCERT (Royal Festival Hall)

13th July

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic returns to London for one night only in a concert starring Jamie Muscato, Christine Allado and Rebecca Caine.

Tickets from https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/performance-dance/rodgers-and-hammersteins-carousel

FANGIRLS (Lyric Hammersmith)

15th July – 24th August

The UK premiere of the smash-hit pop-phenomenon, rave-inspired musical sees 14-year-old Edna fall in love with someone from the world’s biggest boyband who doesn’t know she exists.

Tickets from https://lyric.co.uk/shows/fangirls/

DEATH OF ENGLAND: MICHAEL (@SohoPlace)

15th July – 28th September

The first of three plays in the trilogy to be performed in rep at the same theatre, Clint Dyer and Roy Williams’ first state of the Nation plays stars Thomas Coombes in this scorching and fearless play which asks explosive and enduring questions about identity, race and class in Britain.

Tickets from http://www.sohoplace.org/

HAIRSPRAY (UK & Ireland Tour)

16th July – 19th April 2025

The West End and Broadway hit returns for a major new tour starring Neil Hurst, Gina Murray (until September), Joanne Clifton (from September), Michelle Ndegwa, Solomon Davy, Declan Egan, Alexandra Emmerson-Kirby and Reece Richards.

Full dates and tickets at www.hairsprayuktour.com

THE GRAPES OF WRATH (Lyttlelton Theatre)

17th July – 14th September

Frank Galati's Tony Award-winning adaptation of John Steinbeck’s masterpiece stars Cherry Jones as the Joad family embark on an epic journey across America in the hope of finding work and a new life in California.

Tickets from www.nationaltheatre.org.uk 

SHREK THE MUSICAL (Eventim Apollo)

19th July – 31st August

Following a UK tour, the West End and Broadway hit returns to London for 6 weeks only bringing to life the world of Shrek as the original story plays out. The production stars Antony Lawrence, Joanna Clifton, James Gillan and Todrick Hall.

Tickets from https://www.eventimapollo.com/events/shrek-the-musical/

FANTASTICALLY GREAT WOMEN WHO CHANGED THE WORLD (The Other Palace)

20th July – 8th September

The empowering, high octane, joyous musical returns to London with music by Miranda Cooper and Chris Bush based on the popular children’s books. Celebrate women including Rosa Parks, Marie Curie, Amelia Earhart and author Kate Pankhurt’s own relative and Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.

Tickets from https://fantasticallygreatwomenthemusical.com/

JAMIE MUSCATO (Cadogan Hall)

21st & 22nd July

One of the most exciting musical theatre voices in the UK performs a brand new solo concert in London. With roles in Heathers, West Side Story and Moulin Rouge, expect an evening of incredible vocals.

Tickets from www.cadoganhall.com

DEATH OF ENGLAND: DELROY (@SohoPlace)

23rd  July – 28th September

The second in the trilogy to be performed in rep at the same theatre, Clint Dyer and Roy Williams’ first state of the Nation plays stars Paapa Essiedu in this searing story of a Black working-class man searching for truth and confronting his relationship with Britain.

Tickets from http://www.sohoplace.org/

GO! THE MUSICAL (Upstairs At The Gatehouse)

23rd – 28th July

Hot from Ancient Egypt comes this musical and humorous retelling of Exodus retelling the messy part of Moses’s struggle to assert his leadership and gain the people’s trust following their exit from Egypt.

Tickets from https://gothemusical.com/ 

THE YEARS (Almeida Theatre)

27th July – 31st August

Annie Ernaux’s critically acclaimed play sees five different actors bring one woman’s personal and political story to life, set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing post-war Europe.   

Tickets from www.almeida.co.uk

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre)

27th July – 21st September

The classic returns to London to close out this year’s summer season at Open Air Theatre in a production starring Adam Dannheisser, Lara Pulver and Liv Andrusier.

Tickets from www.openairtheatre.com  

A CHORUS LINE (Sadler’s Wells)

31st July – 25th August

Curve’s production directed by Nikolai Foster gets a London run as part of its UK tour starring Adam  Cooper, Carly Mercedes Dyer and Jocasta Almgill.

Tickets from https://www.sadlerswells.com

I LOVE YOU, NOW WHAT (Park Theatre)

31st July – 24th August

Sophie Craig’s debut play draws from her own experiences of her dad dying from an aggressive brain cancer. The show follows a blossoming romance delving into the human experience of grief and how it can be filled with hope, humour and love.

Tickets from http://www.parktheatre.co.uk/

What are you most excited to see? Let me know in the comments or on all my socials - @ATDazzles on all of them, and look out for reviews of many of them on the website over the next month.

To have your show included in the August 2024 preview or any other monthly post, send me an email with details of your show and I’ll include as many as possible.

See you in the theatre!