As funny and irreverant as ever, great songs and great puppetry combine for a fantastic production.
Shaftsbury Theatre – Until 29 August
I was a huge fan of Avenue Q during its 2006 London run, but curious both whether it had aged well and would feel relevant. With only a few tweaks, I think it has managed it well.
This revival of Avenue Q was as funny and irreverant as I remember. It is underpinned by excellent putpptry and memorable songs with clever lyrics.
Paddington plays it safe, but he story works well, the songs are good and the overall production is excellent.
Savoy Theatre
Paddington is overall very well done – slick, well paced fun and engaging musical. The story works well, the songs are good and the overall production is excellent.
However, it does (for me) fall into a bit of the “cookie-cutter” category – there is nothing surprising or interesting about the show. Overall it plays it safe and it doesn’t particularly stand-out from the other family musicals around.
Funny and well staged with really great characters and individual performances.
Olivier Theatre
A Maxim Gorky play being revived by the National Theatre. The play lacks a strong direction and feels a bit wandering. However, it is funny, well staged (and great set design that really uses much of what the Olivier has to offer to great effect). It touches on modern themes well (unnecessarily obviously at times, but hopefully they’ll dial it down before previews are over). And some really great characters and individual performances. Overall a good night at the theatre.
Worth it just for the on-stage talent.
Bridge Theatre – until 30 May
Noel Coward Theatre – 22nd September 2026 – 9th January 2027
11 well-deserved Olivier Nominations – worth it just for the on-stage talent. Sondheim’s most commercial musical – at the Bridge – I am looking forward to it.
A smart and elegant production that feels as relevant today as it was in the 90s
Duke of York’s Theatre – 20 June -12 September
A really elegant thoughtful production. The play was clearly rooted in its two time periods (1809 and 1990s) and brought through the parallels with the modern day (AI, social media) clearly.
The staging (in the round at the Old Vic) paired with excellent direction set design and costume makes the production visually appealing and uncluttered.
Arcadia is, though, “peak Stoppard” – so if you like the philosophical tangents, then this is sublime – if not, it may be a bit of an endurance test.
Definitely one of the best I saw last year, and definitely deserving of a West End run.
Wyndhams Theatre – Until 12 May
From the writer of Prima Facie – Rosamund Pike leads. So well done throughout – the directing, stage design, lighting, and acting all really good. Definitely one of the best I saw last year, and definitely deserving of a West End run.
Hamilton delivers on pretty much everything I’d want from a musical
Victoria Palace Theatre
I really like this – for me it delivers on pretty much everything I’d want from a musical – the movement, the songs complement the emotional journey, it is funny and moving. I also thought the current cast was very good.
As good as you’d want from Oliver – technically first class and doesn’t hold back.
Guilgud Theatre
The current version is (I think) as good as you’d want from Oliver (it will be hard to top) – at every point I think they made excellent creative choices to put together something truly outstanding. It is funny, entertaining, technically first class and doesn’t hold back from the darker side of the story. With or without children in tow It is one of my current top recommendations.
My vote for the most entertaining show in the West End at the moment.
Phoenix Theatre
I saw for the first time having never seen Stranger things and loved it – I thought it was so immensely entertaining. I liked it so much I went a second time.
My one criticism is it feels it could be trimmed a couple of points however, this is because it does some work to fill out some lore for the stranger things world – and even there it didn’t make the thing feel slow or lacking pace. I’d love to go again. I may give it my vote for the most entertaining show in the West End at the moment.
Great songs, good pace and very entertaining
Victoria Palace Theatre
I have love for this show – great songs and it just whips through and is entertaining – just feels a bit dated and tired compared to some of the newer stuff.