It's a new month and you know what that means? Plenty of new shows for us all to enjoy up and down the country. Here are just some of the stagey highlights in the West End and further afield this month:
PICKLE (Park Theatre)
May 2nd - 7th
A darkly comic one-woman show about a Jewish woman caught between two conflicting worlds, exploring what it means to be a young Jewish woman in London today. Tickets from https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/pickle
ILLICIT SIGNALS OF BLETCHLEY PARK (CRYPT)
May 2nd - 28th Trailblazing immersive theatre company Parabolic Theatre have launched a new venue in London. Step back in time to 1940s Bletchley Park, a world of espionage, code-breaking and secrets. Tickets from https://www.parabolictheatre.com/crypt
OLD FRIENDS CELEBRATE SONDHEIM (Sondheim Theatre)
May 3rd
A huge celebration of the late grate Stephen Sondheim at the theatre named after him with performances from Bernadette Peters, Michael Ball, Janie Dee, Judi Dench, Elaine Paige, Clive Rowe, Imelda Staunton, Hannah Waddingham and Gary Wilmot to name but a few. Completely sold out now, you can sell a limb to watch it on a big screen down the road at the Prince Edward Theatre with tickets from https://sondheimoldfriends.com/
GREASE (Dominion Theatre)
May 3rd - October 29th
The first new production of Grease to hit the West End in 29 years, this will feature new staging, directed by Nikolai Foster and new choreography from Arlene Phillips. Starring Dan Partridge as Danny, Olivia Moore as Sandy and Peter Andre as Vince Fontaine at certain performances. Playing for 26 weeks only, tickets from https://www.greasemusical.co.uk/
FOXES (Seven Dials Playhouse)
May 3rd - June 11th
Dexter Flanders' unkissable debut play tells a deeply moving and complex story of family, community and sexual identity, tackling the Black gay experience with tenderness and beautiful depth. Tickets from https://www.sevendialsplayhouse.co.uk/
I COULDN'T DO YOUR JOB (Pleasance Theatre)
May 4th - 7th
A one act verbatim play about NHS Paramedics featuring interviews over a period of 5 years. Expect a rollercoaster of emotions as it explores issues within the service and belly laugh moments of the paramedics' most embarrassing and shameless stories. Tickets from https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/i-couldnt-do-your-job#overview
PASSION (Hope Mill Theatre)
May 5th - June 5th
Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's multi-award winning show will be revived at the Hope Mill in Manchester for a limited season. With a cast including musical theatre icon Ruthie Henshall, catch this tale of love, sex and obsession for just 37 performances. Tickets from https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/
THE BREACH (Hampstead Theatre)
May 6th - June 4th
Hindsight proves devastating in this absorbing drama which puts trust and loyalty on the line amongst a group of teenage friends. Written by Naomi Wallace and directed by Sarah Frankcom, tickets from hampsteadtheatre.com
EUROVISION (YOUR DECISION?) (Above The Stag)
May 6th - 14th
May is Eurovision month and Above The Stag in vauxhall are celebrating with the return of this new comedy musical revie that pays homage to Eurovision with 14 of the greatest hits recreated live on stage. Tickets from http://abovethestag.org.uk/eurovision-your-decision
UNUSUAL THEATRE COMPANY: UP CLOSE & PERSONAL
May 7th, 15th & 20th
Union Theatre plays host to three intimate concerts this month. Kieran Brown will play on the 7th, Gabriela Garcia and 15th, and fresh from Heathers and before stepping in to Sister Act, you can catch Lizzie Bea on the 20th. Tickets from http://uniontheatre.biz/whats-on/
MY FAIR LADY (London Coliseum)
May 7th - August 22nd
New York’s critically acclaimed and multi award-winning production of Lerner & Loewe’s much loved classic transfers to London for a limited summer engagement in what will be the first major West End revival of the show for 21 years. Starring Amara Okereke, Harry Hadden-Paton and Dame Vanessa Redgrave, Tickets are on sale at www.myfairladymusical.co.uk
WEST END FOR UKRAINE (Charing Cross Theatre)
May 9th
A host of West End stars join together for a fundraising night in aid of UNICEF. The lineup includes Nikki Bentley, Joanne Clifton, Adrian Hansel, Jai McDowall, Nadim Naaman, Courtney Stapleton, the Barricade Boys, members of the casts of Heathers and Titanic. Tickets from www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk
WESTWAY SESSIONS (Piano Smithfield)
May 9th - 30th
Some of the West Ends finest perform intimate concerts for a small audience. Rob Houchen, Rachel John, Alice Fearn, John Owen-Jones and Cassidy Janson are just some of the names performing. Tickets from https://www.pianosmithfield.com/whatson
FOR YOU I'D WAIT (Turbine Theatre)
May 11th - 21st
Following the lives of 6 characters before, during and after the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, this first full length musical from Golby & West enjoys its first public outing. Tickets from www.theturbinetheatre.com/whats-on/for-you-i’d-wait
A LITTLE RAIN IN MONACO (Pleasance Theatre)
May 11th - 14th
Following the cancellation of their run at Chiswick Playhouse, the show must go on and London finally gets to see this new contemporary LGBTQ+ show discussing class, identity and mental health whilst putting a spotlight on the people stuck between success and desperation. Tickets from https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/little-rain-monaco#overview
THE FATHER AND THE ASSASSIN (National Theatre)
May 12th - June 18th
The story of the man who murdered Gandhi - this gripping new play traces Nathuram Godse’s life over thirty years during India’s fight for independence: from a devout follower of Gandhi, through to his radicalisation and their tragic final encounter in Delhi in 1948. Tickets from https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/the-father-and-the-assassin
LEGALLY BLONDE (Open Air Theatre)
May 13th - July 2nd
Lucy Moss brings a new version of Legally Blonde to London to form the centrepiece of Open Air Theatre's 90th anniversary. With an incredible cast led by Courtney Bowman as Elle Woods, this is going to be special. Tickets from openairtheatre.com
LIFT (Southwark Playhouse)
May 13th - June 18th
Set around the lives of eight everyday protagonists who chance to ride in the same elevator at Covent Garden tube station, Lift reveals the people behind the masjs they wear, the secrets they dare not speak, and the unrealised connections between them. With a cast including Luke Friend, Kayleigh McKnight, Hiba Elchikhe and Jordan Broatch, tickets from southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
Look out for a Lift competition on my socials next week.
ORDINARY DAYS (Cockpit Theatre)
May 13th - 15th
Adam Gwon's musical returns to London, directed by original star Julie Atherton. Set after the events of 9/11, it features complex interconnected songs in a tale that makes ordinary lives feel more extraordinary in the end. Tickets at https://www.thecockpit.org.uk/show/ordinary_days
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS (Mercury Theatre)
May 13th - 28th
Shakespeare's screwball comedy headlines the 50th anniversay season of Mercury Theatre in Colchester. Tickets from www.mercurytheatre.co.uk
CORRINA, CORRINA (Liverpool Everyman)
May 19th - June 4th
A new play by award-winning Liverpool-based playwright Chloe Mossexplores what happens when we think no one is watching us. A story of power dynamics, superstitions and revenge. Tickets from https://headlong.co.uk/
THE GLASS MENAGERIE (Duke of Yorks Theatre)
May 23rd - August 27th
An Oscar winner comes to town as Amy Adams makes her West End debut in a new production of Tennessee Williams's celebrated memory play. Running for 14 weeks, tickets are from https://www.thedukeofyorks.com/
SOHO BOY (Drayton Arms Theatre)
May 24th - June 4th
A new musical by Paul Emelion Daly about the joys and perils of moving to London gets a short London run before playing Edinburgh fringe. Starring Owen Dennis in his professional debut, tickets from https://www.thedraytonarmstheatre.co.uk/soho-boy
THE LION (Southwark Playhouse)
May 25th - June 25th
Benjamin Scheuer’s Drama Desk Award-winning autobiographical show is a one-man folk musical telling a true story of survival. With a guitar in hand, Ben confronts his turbulent life’s journey from a rift in his childhood to his own brush with mortality. Tickets from southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
BLEAK EXPECTATIONS (Watermill Theatre)
May 27th - July 2nd
The world premiere of this new stage adaptation of the hit BBC Radio 4 comedy written by Mark Evans and directed by Caroline Leslie. A chaotic caper through Dickensian London with young Pip Bin: tragic half orphan, hopeless romantic and would-be-hero. Tickets from https://www.watermill.org.uk/
BONUS:
ABBA VOYAGE (ABBA Arena)
From May 27th
Ok technically it's more a concert but theatre but I felt like I had to include this? Catch the four members of ABBA as digital versions of themselves called ABBAtars in this innovative show in their brand new purpose built arena in London featuring their classic hits as well as songs from their latest number one album. Tickets from https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/abba-voyage
I may even do one of my First Night posts on this as of course I will be there having the time of my life on May 27th!
Another great month of theatre awaits. Let me know in the comments, on twitter or instagram what you're looking forward to seeing in May. And if you have any shows opening in June, feel free to message or email me to get them included. Look out for reviews of some of these shows throughout the month.