September Preview: 55 Shows To Start Your Autumn

Summer has been and gone but with a new season comes a whole abundance of new theatre and September may just be the busiest month this year. With no shortage of new West End openings, tours, amazing regional shows and one night only events, I had a tough job to narrow this list down to my usual top 40 this month - so here's a bumper instalment of 55 shows to see in September:

ALEX NEWELL (Cadogan Hall)

1st September

The Tony award-winning star of stage and screen returns to London for a headline concert. With credits including Shucked, Once On This Island and Glee, expect a night full of incredible vocals.

Tickets from www.cadoganhall.com

SPIES ARE FOREVER (Gillian Lynne Theatre)

3rd September

For one night only, Tin Can Bros bring their sensational comedy musical to the West End. Smart, original and uproariously hilarious, the cast includes Jak Malone, Obioma Uguala, Dean John Wilson, Evelyn Hoskins and Erin Caldwell.

Tickets from www.lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/spies-are-forever

ASI WIND: INCREDIBLY HUMAN (Underbelly Boulevard)

3rd September – 5th January 2025

A longstanding collaborator of David Blaine who was crowned the 2022 Magician of the Year, Asi Wind brings the UK premiere of his new show to London.

Tickets from www.underbellyboulevard.com

SILENCE! THE MUSICAL (Turbine Theatre)

4th – 29th September

After an acclaimed run at Edinburgh Fringe, the notorious unauthorised parody of the Academy Award-winning film The Silence Of The Lambs heads to London in the hope audiences there also eat it up.

Tickets from www.turbinetheatre.com

THE BAND BACK TOGETHER (Arcola Theatre)

4th  - 29th September

This raucous and tender new story written by multi award-winning playwright and novelist Barney Norris with original music  gets its London premiere following a rural tour of England and Wales.

Tickets from www.arcolatheatre.com

THE GATES OF KYIV (Theatre Royal Windsor)

4th – 14th September

Stockard Channing and Michael Praed star in the world premiere of this play in a unique combination of storytelling, music and dance.

Tickets from www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk

23.5 HOURS (Park Theatre)

4th September – 5th October

Exploring the wider implications a conviction has on family and friends, the European premiere of Carey Crim’s family drama stars Lisa Dwan as Leigh Hodges, who finds herself thrust into the turbulent aftermath of her husband’s imprisonment.

Tickets from www.parktheatre.co.uk

THE STORY OF MY LIFE (Stage Door Theatre)

4th September – 19th October

The UK premiere of this Broadway musical stars George Renshaw and Markus Sodergren as childhood friends in this intimate two-hander.

Tickets from www.stagedoortheatre.co.uk

THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE (Upstairs At The Gatehouse)

5th – 29th September

The London revival of this Broadway musical which has been revisited continuously and was made into a Hollywood film is a musical comedy adaptation of The Comedy Of Errors.

Tickets from www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com

KIM’S CONVENIENCE (Riverside Studios)

5th September – 26th October

Following a UK premiere earlier this year, the play which inspired the Netflix hit comedy show returns to London for another run starring the playwright, actor and screenwriter Ins Choi as storekeeper Mr Kim.

Tickets from www.kimsconvenienceplay.com

OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD (Lyric Hammersmith)

5th September – 5th October

The revival of Timberlake Werternbaker’s Olivier-Award winning modern classic is based on the extraordinary true story of Australia’s first penal colony.

Tickets from www.lyric.co.uk

THE LIGHTEST ELEMENT (Hampstead Theatre)

5th September – 12th October

The world premiere of Stella Feehily’s taut drama explores how challenging social norms can be almost as difficult as overturning scientific orthodoxy.

Tickets from www.hampsteadtheatre.com

WAR HORSE (UK & Ireland Tour)

5th September – 8th November 2025

Based on Michael Morpugo’s global best-selling novel, the powerfully moving and imaginative dama returns to the UK stage for a major new tour, kicking off at New Wimbledon Theatre before heading to The Lowry in Salford this month and continues touring for the next 14 months.

Full dates and tickets at www.nationaltheatre.org.uk 

THE BOOK OF MORMON (UK & Europe Tour)

5th September – 3rd May

The Mormons are back for a new tour of the UK and Europe, kicking off in Manchester this month before dates in Edinburgh, Bradford, Birmingham, Plymouth, Zurich, Hull and Dublin with more cities to be announced.

Dates and tickets at www.thebookofmormonmusical.com

ABIGAIL’S PARTY (Theatre Royal Stratford East)

6th September – 5th October

The first show in the theatre’s 140th anniversary season, Tamzin Outhwaite stars in Nadia Fall’s revival of Mike Leigh’s tragicomic portrait of social class, materialism and sexual tension in 1970s England.

Tickets from www.stratfordeast.com

THE REAL ONES (Bush Theatre)

6th September - 26th October

A funny and honest love letter to platonic soulmates from the team behind Olivier Award winner The P Word starring Nathaniel Curtis and Nnabiko Ejmofor.

Tickets from www.bushtheatre.co.uk

NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL A MUSICAL (UK Tour)

6th September – 12th April 2025

Get ready to relive the playlist of your life by celebrating 40 years of the iconic and chart-topping compilation series. Set in a school reunion in Birmingham in 2009, Nina Wadia and Melissa Jacques are joined by a revolving special guest of pop legends  Sinitta, Sonia, Carol Decker and Jay Osmond at each venue.

Dates and tickets at www.thenowmusical.com

BIRDSONG (UK Tour)

6th September – 22nd February

Max Bowden, James Esler and Charlie Russell star in this new tour of Sebastian Faulk’s epic First World War story of love and loss to mark the 30th anniversary of the interbational best-selling novel.

Dates and tickets at www.birdsongplay.com

CABLE STREET (Southwark Playhouse Elephant)

6th September – 10th October

Following an acclaimed and sold out run earlier this year, the new British musical marches on for a further 42 performances. An electrifying reimagining of when the battle of Cable Street was fought and won in the heart of London’s East End in 1936.

Tickets from  www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk   

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (UK Tour)

6th September – 3rd May

Ken Ludwig’s adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic kicks off a new UK tour in Salford this month, touring the country until May next year.

Dates and tickets at www.murderontheorientexpressplay.com

HUGH PANARO – MAN WITHOUT A MASK (Crazy Coqs)

7th – 9th September

One of Broadway’s biggest stars brings his personal scrapbook of life and career to the UK for the first time, joined by special guests Christina Bianco, Liz Callaway and Laura Pitt-Pulford.

Tickets from www.brasseriezedel.com

COME DINE WITH ME THE MUSICAL (Turbine Theatre)

7th – 29th September

Following its success at Edinburgh Fringe, the new musical based on the iconic TV show gets a London outing, highlighting the chaos that follows clashing chef personalities.

Tickets from www.turbinetheatre.com

DEAR EVAN HANSEN (UK & Ireland Tour)

9th September – 24th May 2025

The brand new production of the Olivier, Tony and Grammy award-winning Best Musical can be found at venues all over the country when its first UK tour kicks off at Nottingham Playhouse. The cast includes Ryan Kopel, Lauren Conroy and Alice Fearn.

Dates and tickets at www.evanontour.com

ROOTS (Almeida Theatre)

10th September – 30th November

Running in rep with Look Back In Anger as part of the Almeida’s Angry and Young season,  Arnold Wesker’s lyrical, impassioned play about a young woman’s journey to self-discovery changed British theatre forever holding a mirror up to 1950s society which is now angled towards 2024.

Tickets from www.almeida.co.uk

A FACE IN THE CROWD (Young Vic)

10th September – 9th November

The world premiere of this new musical from legendary singer-songwriter Elvis Costello and award-winning Broadway playwright Sarah Ruhl stars Ramin Karimloo and Anoushka Lucas.

Tickets from www.youngvic.org

CORIOLANUS (Olivier Theatre)

11th September – 9th November

Shakespeare’s tale of Rome’s greatest soldier and most celebrated warrior who becomes its most dangerous enemy stars David Oyelowo in the titular role

Tickets from www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

I WISH YOU WELL: THE GWYNETH PALTROW SKI TRIAL MUSICAL (Criterion Theatre)

11th September – 12th October

Crashing into the West End direct from an acclaimed run at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Diana Vickers stars as Gwyneth Paltrow in this mostly true story of the campest celebrity trial in history.

Tickets from www.criterion-theatre.co.uk

CAKE: THE MARIE ANTOINETTE PLAYLIST (The Other Palace)

13th September – 10th November

Following electrifying try-out performances last year, this brand new musical, come gig, come ballet comes back for a full reign starring Zizi Strallen as Marie Antoinette joined by a casr including Renee Lamb and Millie O’Connell.

Tickets from www.theotherpalace.co.uk

TWO OF US (Watford Palace Theatre/HOME Manchester)

13th – 28th September

The world premiere of this play about reunions and male relationships, it stars Barry Sloane as John Lennon and Jay Johnson as Paul McCartney in an intimate exploration of what might have happened during the final meeting of the two musical icons.

Tickets from http://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/

WAITING FOR GODOT (Theatre Royal Haymarket)

13th September – 14th December

The play that changed the rules returns to the West End in a new production of Samuel Beckett’s enduring classic starring Lucian Msamati and Ben Whishaw.

Tickets from www.waitingforgodotplay.com

PRINCESS ESSEX (Shakespeare’s Globe)

13th September – 26th October

Telling the true story of Princess Dinubolu, the first woman of colour to enter a UK beauty pageant, this exploration of beauty and bravery was written by Anne Odeke who also stars.

Tickets from www.shakespearesglobe.com

HERE IN AMERICA (Orange Tree Theatre)

14th September – 19th October

The world premiere of David Edgar’s drama exploring a confrontation between two titans of stage and screen stars Michael Aloni, Jasmine Blackborow, Faye Castelow and Shaun Evans.

Tickets from www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk

RUBY WAX: I’M NOT AS WELL AS I THOUGHT I WAS (Ambassador’s Theatre)

16th – 28th September

After a sell-out run of a 40 date national tour, Ruby Wax brings her rawest, darkest, funniest and most compelling stage show yet to the West End.

Tickets from www.atgtickets.com

OSTAN (Park Theatre)

18th September – 12th October

An unflinching drama about the unravelling life of someone stuck in the UK immigration system, the world premiere of this new drama features a broad representation of the MENA region among its cast and creatives.

Tickets from www.parktheatre.co.uk

LOOK BACK IN ANGER (Almeida Theatre)

18th September – 30th November

Running in rep with Roots  as part of the Almeida’s Angry and Young season,  Morfydd Clark, Iwan Davies, Billy Howle, Ellora Torchia and Deka Walmsley star in John Osborne’s ground-breaking, furious play.

Tickets from www.almeida.co.uk

BUYER & CELLAR (King’s Head Theatre)

18th September – 10th October

Jonathan Tolins’ outrageous comedy about the price of fame, the cost of things and the oddest of odd jobs returns with Rob Madge starring as Alex, an out-of-work actor who finds himself working beneath Barbra Streisand’s Malibu home in her legendary basement shopping mall.

Tickets from www.kingsheadtheatre.com

PINS AND NEEDLES (Kiln Theatre)

19th September – 26th October

The inaugural production in Amit Sharma’s season as Artistic Director at the Kiln is the world premiere of Rob Drummond’s new play which puts science and scepticism to the test.

Tickets from www.kilntheatre.com

LES MISERABLES: THE ARENA SPECTACULAR (World Tour)

19th September – 16th February 2025

As the legendary show approaches its 40th year, the barricades will be taken around the world with Alfie Boe and Killian Donnelly sharing the role of Jean Valjean and Michael Ball and Bradley Jaden sharing Javert alongside acast and orchestra of over 65. The tour kicks off in Belfast this month.

Full dates and tickets at www.lesmis.com/worldtour 

NEVER LET ME GO (Rose Theatre)

20th September – 12th October

The world premiere new stage adaptation of Kazxuo Ishiguro’s best-selling novel asks the question of how we find and hold on to love in a world ruled by out-of-control science and savage hierarchical structures.

Tickets from www.rosetheatre.org

GIANT (Royal Court)

20th September – 16th November

The world premiere of Mark Rosenblatt’s debut play stars John Lithgow as Roald Dahl alongside Elliot Levey in a story that promises to offer a complicated portrait of the much-loved children’s author, dealing with the fall-out from his anti-Semitic outbursts.

Tickets from www.royalcourttheatre.com

THE KING’S SPEECH (Watermill Theatre)

20th September – 2nd November

Taking an intimate view of one of life’s most unorthodox relationships between the soon to be crowned King George VI and his speech therapist, this new production of David Seidler’s play stars Peter Sandys-Clarke and Arthur Hughes.

Tickets from www.watermill.org.uk

THE CABINET MINISTER (Menier Chocolate Factory)

21st September – 16th November

Arthur Wing Pinero’s breathless farce is given a new life in Nancy Carroll’s adaptation seeing a crack cast tackling this sparkling story of marriage blackmail and class where all bets are off!

Tickets from www.menierchocolatefactory.com

A DOLL’S HOUSE (Sheffield Crucible)

21st September – 12th October

This fresh and resonant new production of Henrik Ibsen’s powerful drama is adapted by Chris Bush and directed by Elin Schofield with a cast including Tom Glenister and Siena Kelly.

Tickets from www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK (Gielgud Theatre)

21st September – 23rd November

J. Smith-Cameron and Mark Rylance star in this new production of Sean O’Casey’s timeless masterpiece in a big-hearted, black-humoured tragi-comic triumph that reflects on a mother’s resilience in the midst of life’s most trying moments.

Tickets from www.junoandthepaycock.com

PLAY ON! (UK Tour)

23rd September – 22nd February 2025

This Twelfth Night inspired musical promises to bring a swinging Duke Ellington soundtrack, mistaken identities and 1940s New York to life on stage. The tour kicks off this month at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry.

Tickets from https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/play-on/

COME ALIVE: THE GREATEST SHOWMAN CIRCUS SPECTACULAR (The empress Museum)

From 23rd September

Inspired by the movie and featuring the songs made famous from it, this brand-new dynamic production involves a blend of world-class circus performers, singers and dancers  with a cast led by Simon Bailey as the modern-day Showman.

Tickets from www.comealiveshow.com

ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES (UK & Dublin Tour)

23rd September – 5th July 2025

The smash hit show returns for its first tour around the country direct from a four year run in the West End. Paul Whitehouse, Sam Lupton and Tom Major lead the cast when it kicks off in Bromley this month.

Dates and tickets at www.onlyfoolsonstage.com 

THE LEHMAN TRILOGY (Gillian Lynne Theatre)

24th September – 5th January

Sam Mendes’ landmark production returns to London for a strictly limited run. John Heffernan, Aaron Krohn and Howard W. Overshown star in this sweeping story of a family spanning generations and a company that changed the world.

Tickets from www.thelehmantrilogy.com

A TUPPERWARE OF ASHES (Dorfman Theatre)

25th September – 16th November

The world premiere of Tanika Gupta’s new play is a wild and heart-breaking family drama about life, immigration and the Indian spiritual cycle of death and rebirth, starring Meera Syal.

Tickets from www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

CARRIE HOPE FLETCHER: LOVE LETTERS (UK Tour)

27th September – 15th October

The musical theatre star hits the road again for her new tour exploring all forms of love; from romantic to maternal, unrequited to obsessive, showcased through a composition of stunning musical theatre classics.

Dates and tickets at www.cuffeandtaylor.com

ONE SMALL STEP (Charing Cross Theatre)

27th September – 9th October

The first of two new Japanese plays getting their UK premiere in London, this original play by Takuya Kato sees a married couple working on a project to migrate humans to the moon when they suddenly encounter an unexpected setback to their plans

Tickets from www.charingcrosstheatre.com

THE WHISTLING (The Mill At Sonning)

27th September – 16th November

The world premiere of this ghost story is based on the novel by Rebecca Netley, adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel.

Tickets from www.millatsonning.com

BELLRINGERS (Hampstead Theatre)

27th September – 2nd November

The debut play from Daisy Hall is a comic and deeply moving story which sees two young men begin to question whether they’ll make it through the night when their faith in tradition starts to falter.

Tickets from www.hampsteadtheatrecom

THE OTHER PLACE (Lyttlelton Theatre)

27th September – 9th November

The world premiere of this new play directed and written by Alexander Zeldin is inspired by Sophocles’ classic story Antigone.

Tickets from www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

TITUSS BURGESS – THE INDECISIVE WARRIOR (Phoenix Arts Club)

30th September – 13th October

The star of Broadway stage and screen performs an intimate London residency for 2 weeks. With his powerhouse vocals and gift for storytelling, expect a heartfelt exploration of music, memory and the transformative power of song.

Tickets from www.phoenixartsclub.com

As well as all these new openings, it is also your last chance to see some favourites with the following playing their final performances (for now at least) this month:

FROZEN (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) - ends 8th September

HELLO, DOLLY! (London Palladium) - ends 14th September

KATHY AND STELLA SOLVE A MURDER (Ambassador's Theatre) - ends 14th September

KISS ME, KATE (Barbican) - ends 14th September

THE BAKER'S WIFE (Menier Chocolate Factory) - ends 14th September

NEXT TO NORMAL (Wyndham's Theatre) - ends 21st September

SLAVE PLAY (Noel Coward Theatre) - ends 21st September

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre) - ends 28th September

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 October 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!