Lead image: Stars gather to celebrate the reopening of theatre (photo courtesy Heart of London)
London’s West End is back!
After 14 months in lockdown, 17 May marks the official reopening of indoor entertainment, including theatres, galleries, casinos and cinemas – alongside indoor hospitality.
The legendary West End arts and culture district celebrated the reopenings with a photocall featuring some of the London’s most iconic stars and characters.
Staged by the Heart of London Business Alliance, the Piccadilly photoshoot featured recognisable faces such as Shane Richie and Noah Thomas (stars of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Jake Brewer and Aaron Witter (stars of Magic Mike Live London), Sean Kelly (Bars Manager/Mixologist at Brasserie Zédel) and Mark Lord (Head Beadle of the Burlington Arcade).
So what’s on on London’s West End now?
Shows opening from 17 May
Drag Queens of Pop, starring The Vivienne, Tia Kofi & Veronica Green from RuPaul’s Drag Race, at The Vaudeville Theatre Austentatious, the Jane Austen improv show, at the Fortune Harm, starring Kelly Gough, at the Bush Theatre (off West End) Flight, a co-production with the Barbican, at The Bridge Theatre (off West End) You Are Here, a UK premiere, at Southwark Playhouse
Shows opening from 18 May
The Mousetrap starring Danny Mac and Cassidy Janson at St Martin’s Theatre Cruise, written and performed by Jack Holden, at the Duchess Theatre
Shows opening from 19 May
Death Drop at Garrick Theatre Love Letters, starring Martin Shaw and Jenny Seagrove, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare’s Globe (off West End) Shows opening from 20 May Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, starring Noah Thomas and Shane Richie, at The Apollo Theatre Les Miserables: The Staged Concert at the Sondheim Amelie, starring Audrey Brisson, at the Criterion
Shows opening from 21 May
Magic Mike Live at The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino ABBA Mania at the Shaftesbury Six at the Lyric Theatre (off West End) Reasons You Should(n’t) Love Me, Amy Trigg’s debut play, at the Kiln Theatre (off West End)
Shows opening from 22 May
Walden, starring Gemma Arterton as part of the RE:EMERGE season at the Harold Pinter Theatre
Shows opening from 24 May
Political Party at the Garrick Theatre opens on 24 May
Shows opening from 25 May
Here Come The Boys, starring Strictly’s Aljaž Škorjanec, Pasha Kovalev, Graziano di Prima, Robin Windsor, along with Strictly finalist Karim Zeroual, at the London Palladium
Shows opening from 27 May
Public Domain at the Vaudeville Theatre
Shows opening from 28 May
The Death of a Black Man at Hampstead Theatre (off West End)
For further information, follow @london.westend on Instagram. To book see the individual theatre or show’s website or visit londontheatre.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here