London’s West End Theatre Update November 2014

West End, West End theatre, theatre, musicals, drama, comedy and entertainment

London’s West End Theatre has launched its festive programme with shows running across the capital over Christmas and New Year.

Showcasing a wealth of musicals, drama, comedy and entertainment in the heart of London, there are also a number of seasonal shows to get theatre-goers in the festive mood.

Some of these include Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at the Dominion Theatre starring Aled Jones and Tom Chambers, circus and burlesque show La Soiree at the Winter Festival on the Southbank, Slava’s Snowshow and the stage adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ classic The Snowman.

“The West End is one of the most Christmassy places on earth, with thousands of visitors coming to see the Christmas lights of Oxford Street and Regent Street and enjoying London’s world-class Christmas entertainment.

“For many people, seeing a West End show at one of London’s 50 West End theatres is an important part of their Christmas and we are delighted to launch the West End’s Christmas Season for 2014.”

Ballet and dance

Ballet and dance highlights over Christmas in London include English National Ballet’s sumptuous Edwardian Christmas-themed production of The Nutcracker at the London Coliseum, Matthew Bourne’s acclaimed dance adaptation of Edward Scissorshands at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, the Royal Ballet’s West End transfer of The Wind in the Willows at the Vaudeville Theatre narrated by British TV favourite Alan Titchmarsh, plus Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at the Royal Opera House.

New big-name musicals

Major musicals enjoying their debut Christmas in the West End this year include Made in Dagenham The Musical at the Adelphi Theatre starring Gemma Arterton, Tony Award-winner Memphis The Musical starring Beverley Knight at the Shaftesbury Theatre, the return to London of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical CATS in a new production starring Nicole Scherzinger at the London Palladium, Tamsin Greig in the musical adaptation of Pedro Almodovar’s Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown at the Playhouse Theatre, The Scottsboro Boys from the writers of Cabaret and Chicago at the Garrick Theatre, plus Jerry Mitchell’s production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Savoy Theatre starring Robert Lindsay.

Long-running shows playing over Christmas include Ronan Keating in ONCE The Musical, Billy Elliot, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Michael Jackson show Thriller Live, ABBA musical Mamma Mia!, Broadway hit Jersey Boys, soul musical The Commitments, Disney’s The Lion King, Matilda The Musical, Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, The Book of Mormon, STOMP and WICKED.

Comedy and drama

Award-winning plays this winter range from nail-biting thrillers to intense drama and hilarious comedy.

Major new drama productions include Kristin Scott Thomas in Electra at the Old Vic, Tim Pigott-Smith in the Almeida’s five-star production of King Charles III at the Wyndham’s Theatre and Antony Sher in the RSC’s Henry IV Parts I and II at the Barbican Theatre.

Comedies include the lavish stage adaptation of Shakespeare in Love at the Noel Coward Theatre, Adrian Edmondson and Neil Morrissey in Neville’s Island at the Duke of Yorks, Jane Horrocks in East is East at the Trafalgar Studios, slapstick comedy The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre, plus Richard Bean’s Great Britain at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.

The full theatre programme is available online alongside a host of London offers, providing up to 70% off tickets to major West End shows, plus theatre and dinner packages and London hotel and theatre breaks.

West End News