Discover the latest shows across the UK and Ireland this autumn.
As autumn settles in, a fresh wave of theatre arrives across the UK and Ireland – offering performers the perfect opportunity to stay on top of industry trends, study current work and support fellow actors on stage.
Keeping your fingers on the pulse of what’s treading the boards is an essential part of a performer’s professional toolkit. Whether you’re tracking specific casting directors, researching creative teams, or simply looking to be inspired by your peers, our quarterly guide highlights key productions opening in the West End, regionally and on tour this season.
Shows in London this Autumn
‘Into The Woods’. Image Credit: Johan Persso
‘Hay Fever’
Wessex Grove and Gavin Kalin Productions bring a new take on Noël Coward’s irresistible comedy to the West End. Directed by Emily Burns, Hay Fever stars Christine Baranski as Judith Bliss and Richard E. Grant as David Bliss.
Cast: Christine Baranski, Richard E. Grant, Nancy Carroll, Will Close, Charles Edwards, Ophelia Lovibond, Ash Hunter, Lucy Karczewski, Jo McInnes, Helena Antoniou, Charlotte Avery and Shaun Mendum
Director: Emily Burns
Writer: Noël Coward
Dates: 22 September to 12 December 2026 (Press Night 1 October)
Location: Wyndham’s Theatre
‘Into The Woods’
After blowing audiences away and winning multiple Olivier Awards for its run at the Bridge Theatre, the James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim transfer to the West End with a mix of returning faces from the recent run joined by some exciting new names in Into The Woods.
Cast: Kate Fleetwood, Simbi Akande, Valda Aviks, Geoffrey Aymer, John Dagleish, Fiona Finsbury, Jennifer Hepburn, Hana Ichijo, Julie Jupp, Lucas Koch, Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson, Gracie McGonigal, Laura Pitt-Pulford, Jack Quarton, Keith Ramsay, Matthew Seadon-Young, Michael S. Siegel, with Hollie Aires, Sabrina Aloueche, Jacob Fowler, Adam Robert Lewis, Sophie Linder-Lee, Toby Turpin and Elsie Watson
Casting: Stuart Burt, CDG CSA
Director: Jordan Fein
Writer: Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine
Dates: 22 September 2026 to 9 January 2027 (Opening night 7 October)
Location: Noël Coward Theatre
‘Rent’
30 years after transforming musical theatre, Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking rock musical returns to the West End in a bold new production directed by Luke Sheppard. Starring Stranger Things’ Gaten Matarazzo as Mark, Rent follows a group of young artists, musicians and friends living in New York’s East Village as they navigate love, creativity, poverty and the AIDS crisis.
Cast: Gaten Matarazzo, Travis Ross, Alexa Lopez, Billy Nevers, Lazy Violet, Danielle Fiamanya, Jeevan Braich, Joaquin Pedro Valdes, Baylie Carson, Laura Delany, Shem Omari James, Ryan Nixon, Leah Vassell, James Wilkinson-Jones, Ryesha Higgs, Montoya Holloway-Johnson, Rhys Hopkins, Hannah Macpherson, TJ Matara-Holloway and Kevin Yates
Casting: Pearson Casting
Director: Luke Sheppard
Writer: Jonathan Larson
Dates: 26 September 2026 to 27 March 2027
Location: Duke of York’s Theatre
‘High School Musical’
‘High School Musical’. Image credit: London Theatre Direct
The first UK non-replica production of Disney’s High School Musical transfers to London following its run at the Lowry, Salford. Directed by Hope Mill Theatre founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton, the production brings the world of East High to the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, with McFly’s Harry Judd joining the London company as ‘Coach Bolton’, taking over from Jason Donovan from the Salford run.
Cast: Harry Judd, KayCee Stroh, Tobias Turley, Leonor Correia, Caitlin Tipping, Luke Bayer, Char Burnett, Jordan Benjamin, Simeon Beckett, Olivia O’Connor, Yna Tresvalles and Curtis Patrick, Alexander Black, Eleanor Bye, Harriet Caplan-Dean, Alison Driver, Conor Luke Drury, Mary Francis, Sonia Gil-Lubeiro, Tamsin January, Joseph Lennox, Lucas Morlotti, Katie Mulligan, André Phipps, Meg Silsby, Kade Stenson, Ethan Vijn and Eddie Zickerman
Directors: Joseph Houston and William Whelton
Writer: David Simpatico
Music: Bryan Louiselle
Dates: 12 October 2026 to 3 January 2027 (Press Night 20 October)
Location: Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
‘Martin Guerre’
The Olivier Award-winning musical from the creators of Les Misérables returns to London in an entirely new version, running for a strictly limited run of five weeks only. This semi-staged production in the round features new music, new lyrics and folk-inflected orchestrations, revisiting the extraordinary true story of love, identity, deception and betrayal in Martin Guerre.
Cast: Liv Andrusier, Alex James-Hatton, Shane O’Riordan, Colin Ryan, Caroline Sheen, Barney Wilkinson, Mathew Craig, Dan Hand, Bethan Louise Honer, Eli McFarland, Oliver Payne, Adam Pearce, Aaron Lee Lambert, Gabriella Stylianou, Monique Ashe-Palmer, Mali Wen Davies, Daniel Forrester, Becca Francis, Grace Galloway, Chris Jenkins and Nathaniel Purnell
Director: Matthew Warchus
Book: Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg
Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg
New lyrics: Alain Boublil, Annabel Mutale Reed & Paul Hodge
Dates: 1 to 31 October 2026 (Press Night 20 October)
Location: The Old Vic, London
‘The Pianist’
The world stage premiere of The Pianist, based on Władysław Szpilman’s internationally acclaimed memoir, comes to Park Theatre following a premiere in Southampton. Adapted and directed by Thom Southerland, the production features Szpilman’s own music, newly orchestrated by Simon Lee, and is performed by a company of actor-musicians.
Cast: Daniel Krikler, Rosalind Ford, Oliver Grant, TJ Holmes, Mischa Jardine, Elżbieta Kalicka, Nitai Levi, Melania Maggiore, Max Roll, Oliver Magor and Erin Rowlatt
Casting: Ginny Schiller CDG
Director/Adapter: Thom Southerland
Writer: Władysław Szpilman (memoir), adapted by Thom Southerland
Music: Władysław Szpilman
Orchestrations: Simon Lee
Dates: 15 October to 28 November 2026 (Press Night 22 October)
Location: Park Theatre
‘Jesus Christ Superstars’
After a sold-out summer season at the London Palladium, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical Jesus Christ Superstars transfers to Theatre Royal Drury Lane, with Sam Ryder reprising his acclaimed turn in the title role.
Directed by Tim Sheader, the sung-through musical explores the final days of ‘Jesus Christ’ through the eyes of ‘Judas’, once again played by Tyrone Huntley, continuing in his critically acclaimed role for six performances a week, with Matty J taking over as alternate Judas, performing the role on Thursdays. Standby ‘Jesus’ is Matthew Harvey,
Cast: Sam Ryder, Tyrone Huntley, Desmonda Cathabel, David Thaxton, Bob Harms, Matty J, Phil King, Eric Lewis, Matthew Harvey, Koko Alexandra, Jasmine Jules Andrews, Courtney Arango, Amy Barker, Alistair Beattie, Daniel Bowskill, Jahlil M Burke, Martha Burton, Marcelo Cervone, Sarah Freer, Sebastian Goffin, Alexander Kranz, Owen Lloyd, Milo McCarthy, Dan Moore, Cherece Richards, Kyle Richardson, Olivia Saunders, Toyan Thomas-Browne, Charley Warburton and Lillie-Pearl Wildman. King Herod is played in rotation by Matt Bomer, Rob Brydon, Reece Shearsmith, Bob The Drag Queen, Michael Ball, Simon Russell Beale, Omid Djalili and Layton Williams
Casting: Grindrod Burton Casting
Director: Tim Sheader
Writers: Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber
Dates: 16 October 2026 to 9 January 2027 (Gala Night 27 October)
Location: Theatre Royal Drury Lane
‘The Lives of Others’
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s Oscar-winning film is adapted for the stage by Olivier Award winner Robert Icke in this world premiere. Set in East Germany in 1984, The Lives of Others follows a writer and an actor placed under Stasi surveillance, as the man listening to their private lives begins to question his own loyalties.
Cast: Keira Knightley, Stephen Dillane, Luke Thompson, Jamie Ankrah, Jake Benson, Matt Ray Brown, Lucy Doyle, Calum Finlay, Josh Gordon, Paul Higgins, Leda Hodgson, Nick Holder, Sibylla Meienberg, Irfan Shamji, Richard Sutton and Andrew Woodall
Casting: Julia Horan CDG
Adapter/Director: Robert Icke
Writer: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Music: Max Richter
Dates: 14 October 2026 to 9 January 2027 (Press Night 29 October)
Location: Adelphi Theatre
‘The Jungle Book’
After two years of bringing fun for the whole family with their festive production of Ballet Shoes (announced for a UK tour in 2027), the National Theatre are mixing it up this year for their big family festive offering to present a thrilling new adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s classic stories in The Jungle Book.
Set in the mangroves of the Sundarbans, young ‘Mowgli’ is raised among wolves and must learn how to protect the family he has found while discovering where he truly belongs. Anupama Chandrasekhar’s adaptation is directed by National Theatre Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham, with puppetry by Finn Caldwell and Nick Barnes.
Cast: Hiran Abeysekera, Parkey Abeyratne, Azan Ahmed, Sebastian Charles, Sarah Amankwah, Laura Cubbit, Kazeem Tosin Amore, Antony Antunes, Ankur, Eryck Brahmania, Darcy Braimoh, Lucca Chadwick-Patel, Fred Davis, Ali Goldsmith, Ayesha Dharker, Valentine Hanson, Romina Hytten, Sasha Jagsi, Tony Jayawardena, Rebecca Killick, Sarah Mardel, Avye Leventis, Michael Jean-Marain, Kel Matsena, Sifiso Mazibuko, Jordan Metcalfe, Shaun Yusuf McKee, Sharita Oomeer, Mahesh Parmar and Gavin L Vincent
Casting: Bryony Jarvis-Taylor CDG and Martin Poile CDG
Director: Indhu Rubasingham
Writer/Adaptor: Anupama Chandrasekhar, after Rudyard Kipling
Dates: 13 November 2026 to 6 February 2027 (Press Night 30 November)
Location: Olivier Theatre, National Theatre
Regional Shows and Tours This Autumn
Image Credit: London Theatre Direct
‘Ceilidh’
A new Scottish musical from award-winning writers Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie, Ceilidh invites audiences into the heart of one of Scotland’s most beloved traditions, combining live music, dancing and storytelling. Following its acclaimed North American season, the UK production premieres in Pitlochry before transferring to London and embarking on a UK tour.
Cast: Scott Gilmour, Kyle Gardiner, David Rankine, Kirsty Findlay, George Drennan, Annie Grace, Star Penders, Rori Hawthorn, Jerome Lincoln, Laura Lovemore, Charlie West, Harry Ward, Leo Shak, Elinor Peregrin, Helen Logan and Robin MacKenzie
Casting: Serena Hill
Director/Choreographer: Sam Pinkleton
Writers: Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie
Music: Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie
Dates: 7 to 17 October 2026 (Pitlochry); 23 October to 13 November 2026 (London)
Locations: Pitlochry Festival Theatre; Shoreditch Town Hall, London
UK Tour: Continuing into 2027, including Guildford, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Bradford, Glasgow and Liverpool
‘Little Shop of Horrors’
Thomas Hopkins Productions and SAMS Entertainment, in association with Hope Mill Theatre, present a major new revival of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s cult musical comedy, Little Shop of Horrors. The production premieres at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester before transferring to Liverpool Playhouse for a festive season.
This new staging is directed and choreographed by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille. ‘Audrey II’ will be brought spectacularly to life through four specially commissioned puppets created by acclaimed creature maker Robert Allsopp, whose work spans the Wicked movies and some of Doctor Who’s most extraordinary creatures.
Cast: Maisie Smith, Michael Starke, Jed Berry, Marcus Ayton, Benjamin Yates and others
Casting: Rob Kelly
Director/Choreographer: Carrie-Anne Ingrouille
Writer: Howard Ashman
Music: Alan Menken
Dates: 25 September to 29 November 2026 (Hope Mill); 3 December 2026 to 9 January 2027 (Liverpool) (Press Night 7 October Manchester, 10 December Liverpool)
Locations: Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester; Liverpool Playhouse
‘Billy Elliot’
The original award-winning production of Billy Elliot the Musical returns to the UK stage in a major new national tour before transferring to the West End. Featuring Elton John’s celebrated score and Lee Hall’s book, the production follows ‘Billy’, a young boy from a mining community who discovers a passion and talent for ballet.
Cast: Noah Mannion, Rafferty Smale, Spencer Collins, William Gurney, Liam Mower, Annette McLaughlin, Deka Walmsley, Jack Bandeira and Lesley Joseph
Adult Casting: Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion
Children’s Casting: Nick Hockaday CDG for Jessica Ronane Casting
Director: Stephen Daldry
Writer: Lee Hall
Music: Elton John
Choreographer: Peter Darling
Dates: 4 to 28 November 2026 (Sunderland), 2 December to 9 January 2027 (Manchester), 19 January to 6 February (Edinburgh)
Location: Sunderland Empire, Palace Theatre Manchester, Edinburgh Playhouse
*This will be followed by a limited West End season at the Adelphi Theatre from February 2027 before continuing with further tour dates.
‘The King’s Speech’
David Seidler’s acclaimed drama, adapted from his Academy Award-winning screenplay, follows the future ‘King George VI’ as he works with Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue to overcome his stammer ahead of the pivotal wartime radio broadcast that will define his reign.
This new production of The King’s Speech is directed by Loveday Ingram and originates at the Barn Theatre in Cirencester before embarking on an extensive UK tour in 2027.
Director: Loveday Ingram
Writer: David Seidler
Dates: 9 October to 7 November 2026 (Barn Theatre); UK tour from January 2027
Location: Barn Theatre, Cirencester, followed by UK tour
UK tour: Oxford, Coventry, Cheltenham, Theatr Clwyd, Darlington, Blackpool, Bath, Guildford, Aberdeen, Nottingham, Eastbourne, Leicester, Bromley, Wolverhampton, Southend, Salisbury, Ipswich, Winchester, Northampton, Carlisle, Cambridge, Windsor and Liverpool
‘Sylvia’
The Olivier Award-winning musical returns in a major UK tour before a limited London season at the Royal Albert Hall, a venue that holds significance due to the nature of the story. It was the home of over 20 suffragette rallies and some of the most historic speeches in the fight for women to gain the vote and the suffragettes were banned from the Hall between 1913 and 1918.
With an electrifying hip-hop, funk and soul score, Sylvia tells the story of Sylvia Pankhurst and her fight for working women and men, set against the wider struggle for women’s suffrage.
Cast: Beverley Knight as Emmeline Pankhurst, Naomi Katiyo as Sylvia Pankhurst, Kelly Agbowu, Claudia-Rose Carlier, Jaye Marshall, Kirstie Skivington, Ellena Vincent, Lauren Azania, Zion Battles, Ebony Clarke, Eloise Davies, Solomon Davy, Collette Guitart, Leah Hill, Nathan Louis-Fernand, Tachia Newall, Uzuazo O’David, Castell Parker, Cleve September, Kenedy Small and Ivano Turco
Casting: Stuart Burt
Director/Choreographer: Kate Prince
Book/Lyrics: Prince, with Priya Parmar
Music: Josh Cohen & DJ Walde
Dates: 24 September to 7 November 2026 (UK tour); 13 to 15 November 2026 (London)
Location: Royal Albert Hall, London
Save on Your Stage Research
Seeing live theatre is a crucial part of keeping your fingers on the pulse of the industry, but ticket costs can add up fast. Luckily, as a Spotlight member, you can save money while supporting your peers.
Thanks to our partnership with London Theatre Direct and Parliament Hill, Spotlight members can unlock exclusive discounts and savings on theatre tickets across an ever-changing selection of top West End and touring productions.
How to claim your discount:
- Sign in to your Spotlight account
- On your account homepage, either click the link found under the Spotlight x London Theatre Direct header, or navigate to Discounts in the quick links section
- Browse the live offers to secure your discounted seats
Join Spotlight or sign in to your account today to ensure your profile is casting-ready and get discovered by the casting professionals bringing these incredible stage stories to life.