Eight new stage productions that are touring the UK and coming to the West End you won’t want to miss this year.
As we welcome in a brand new year, we can’t help but look back on 2024 and celebrate the productions that wowed audiences on London’s West End and up and down the UK.
We saw worthy productions being commended for their achievements, such as biographical musical MJ: The Musical, which took home three wins at the Black British Theatre Awards and Sunset Boulevard, which equalled the record at the Olivier Awards for its seven wins.
Other shows that have wowed audiences this year include:
- The comedy play Faulty Towers, which is still treading the boards of The Apollo Theatre until March.
- Elton John’s new musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada opened at the Dominion Theatre in November and continues to play to sold-out audiences.
- Six creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss brought their hilarious new musical, Why Am I So Single? to the West End, which is playing until 19 January 2025 – be quick if you haven’t seen it!
However, with 2024 out of the way and 2025 well and truly here, we’re ready for these eight new productions that will be gracing the boards in London and going on tour around the UK this year.
Here & Now
Casting by Spotlight member Will Burton, CDG
Who doesn’t love a jukebox musical from one of the biggest pop bands in British history? Here & Now is the comedy musical that tells the story of ‘Caz’, a shop assistant from a British seaside town, as she finds out secrets that will change everything she knows to be true.
Musical theatre guru Rachel Kavanaugh directs this hilarious new musical featuring songs from Steps, including ‘5, 6, 7, 8’, ‘Better Best Forgotten’ and many, many more.
Kicking off the UK and Ireland tour in Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre in August and running through to May 2026, the cast of Here & Now includes Spotlight members Rebecca Lock, Hiba Elchikhe and Sharlene Hector, alongside Blake Patrick Anderson.
Miss Saigon
Casting by Sarah Leung, CDG
Michael Harrison, in association with Cameron Mackintosh, brings Miss Saigon to the stage once again. The iconic musical returns to the UK in a new production, kicking off in Newcastle in October 2025.
It tells the heart-breaking tale of ‘Kim’, a 17-year-old girl who works in a notoriously dangerous bar as the Vietnam War comes to an end. ‘Kim’ falls in love with an American soldier, ‘Chris’, only for their relationship to be torn apart as Saigon falls.
The cast of this epic new production is yet to be announced, but it will feature hit songs from the original soundtrack, including ‘Last Night of the World’ and ‘The Heat is on in Saigon’.
The Jamie Lloyd Company’s The Tempest & Much Ado About Nothing
Casting by Spotlight member Stuart Burt, CDG
Two exciting new productions of Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Much Ado About Nothing make their way to London’s West End this winter. Both productions are produced and staged by The Jamie Lloyd Company, whose previous productions include the award-winning Sunset Boulevard – just opened on Broadway – and Romeo + Juliet, starring Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, which played at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London in summer 2024.
The Tempest is currently playing at The Theatre Royal Drury Lane until February 2025 and stars Sigourney Weaver as ‘Prospero’.
Much Ado About Nothing opens later in the year, also playing at the Theatre Royal, and will feature the talents of Spotlight members Hayley Atwell and Tom Hiddleston. Opening off the back of The Tempest it will run from 10 February until April 2025.
Titanique the Musical
Casting by Spotlight members James & Rosie Pearson, CDG, CDA, CSA
Now playing at London’s Criterion Theatre, Titanique the Musical is a musical-comedy that wowed audiences off-Broadway and is now setting sail in London’s West End.
Told through the beloved song book of Celine Dion, including classic songs like ‘My Heart Will Go On’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ – and based on the Oscar-winning film Titanic – this brand new show is entertaining audiences with its side-splitting comedy and powerhouse performances from now until March 2025.
Spotlight member Lauren Drew takes on the role of ‘Celine’ and is joined by West End favourites Jordan Luke Cage and Spotlight members Rob Houchen and Layton Williams.
Hercules the Musical
Casting by Spotlight member Natalie Gallacher, CDG
After many years of fans waiting patiently for this crowd favourite to finally make its way to London’s West End, it’s finally happening! Based on the beloved Disney film, Hercules the Musical will open at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in June and is currently booking through to March 2026.
The musical tells the story of ‘Hercules’, the son of ‘Zeus’, as he goes from zero to hero while winning over the heart of ‘Meg’, a damsel in distress who’s made a deadly deal with the god of the underworld, ‘Hades’. With songs from Disney legend Alan Menken, the soundtrack features all the hits: ‘Zero to Hero’, ‘Go the Distance’ and ‘I Won’t Say I’m in Love’.
The full cast is yet to be announced, but Spotlight member Luke Brady is confirmed to be starring in the lead role.
The Prat Pack
Shane Ritchie and Spotlight members Bradley Walsh, Brian Conley and Joe Pasquale come together in this comedy variety show – alongside a 15-piece band – to perform songs from the original Brat Pack and comedy sets that will have audiences up and down the country in stitches in The Prat Pack.
Already selling out at many of the theatres it’s passing through, this hilarious new show kicks off its UK tour in Sunderland in April 2025, before heading to Stoke, Milton Keynes, Torquay and finishing up in Oxford in May.
The Girl on The Train
Casting by Spotlight member Ginny Schiller, CDG
Three leading ladies take on the role of Rachel Watson in this exciting new adaptation of the best-selling Paula Hawkins novel. Spotlight members Giovanna Fletcher, Laura Whitmore and Louise Lytton will share the lead role in the production while on its UK tour.
The Girl on The Train tells the story of ‘Rachel’ who becomes infatuated with a couple she sees from a train window on her daily commute, she finds herself daydreaming about what her life could be. When the woman she has been watching mysteriously disappears, ‘Rachel’ finds herself as a witness and a suspect in this thrilling new production.
The show will be touring the country, kicking off in Richmond in January 2025 and finishing in Milton Keynes in June.
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
Casting by Spotlight member Will Burton, CDG
Based on the best-selling series of young adult fiction books by author Rick Riordon, The Lightning Thief features ‘Percy Jackson’ and his two best friends, ‘Grover’ and ‘Annabeth’, as they set out on a mission to retrieve the stolen lightning bolt to clear their names and prevent a war between the gods.
After its successful 16-week run on Broadway, this exciting new production has just opened at The Other Palace in London and is playing until March 2025.
The cast includes Spotlight members Max Harwood in the titular role, Scott Folan as ‘Grover’ and Jessica Lee as ‘Annabeth’.
Other shows opening in London and going on tour in 2025 are:
- &Juliet – The West End favourite jukebox musical is heading out on tour.
- Elektra – Hollywood star Brie Larson leads this revival of the Sophocles thriller at London’s Duke of York Theatre.
- Clueless: The Musical – The teen drama is being adapted for the stage in a new West End production.
- Richard II – Spotlight member and Bridgerton lead Jonathan Bailey stars in this new production of the Shakespeare classic at London’s The Bridge Theatre.
Spotlight members can get discounted tickets to London shows thanks to our partnership with London Theatre Direct!