The nights are drawing in but the stage lights continue to shine in a busy October! What should you prioritise? Check out my picks!
Rent – The Tom Stoppard Theatre (26 Sep – 27 Mar 27)
Thirty years after it redefined musical theatre, Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking musical Rent bursts back onto the West End in a bold new production directed by Luke Sheppard and starring Gaten Matarazzo as Mark.
Affluenza – Riverside Studios (26 Sep – 21 Nov)
When a teen’s drunken car ride ends in devastation, the verdict comes down to one question – is it possible to be too affluent to know the difference between right and wrong? Inspired by true events surrounding a shocking legal defence, Affluenza explores the ripple effects of power and privilege.
Set against the ultra-wealthy social haven of the Hamptons, Affluenza raises thought-provoking questions about moral accountability, family legacy, and the American justice system. Do any of us truly understand the cost and generational impact of privilege and opulence? Written and directed by Andy Sandberg, and starring Noah Schnapp and Janette Manrara.
Franz & Marie – Charing Cross Theatre (28 Sep – 14 Nov)
Set in the twisted world of late 19th Century European Folklore, after action on the front line a platoon of young soldiers has been stationed in an isolated outpost for months awaiting further orders. Among them is Franz Woyzeck, a man haunted by nightmares since his return. He sees fire in the sky—hallucinations that blur the line between reality and trauma. Franz lives for two people: his girlfriend Marie, and their baby, Georgie. Forbidden from taking leave during the war, they haven’t been able to marry, but his devotion is absolute- he goes above and beyond to provide for Marie and his child.
Franz & Marie is a unique and visceral musical that breathes new life into Georg Büchner’s classic German tragedy, ‘Woyzeck’, with soul-rattling Indie Raw Folk.
HAM – Soho Theatre (29 Sep – 31 Oct)
A kinky eco-hijacking of Shakespeare’s Hamlet about meat, madness, and the power of shame. A grief-stricken vegan seeks revenge for the death of a pig. First, he thinks for a long time. Second, he blames his mother. Finally, he wreaks the ultimate vengeance… by putting on a play.
What The Animals Say – Finborough Theatre (29 Sep – 24 Oct)
Two ex-classmates wait for the Stranraer ferry back to Belfast… Jimmy is a struggling actor chasing the break that never comes. Eddie is a celebrity footballer who, despite being Protestant, is the captain of Celtic. At first, they reconnect over football, Father Ted and the staunch Unionist culture they grew up in, but what begins as banter spirals into confrontation as buried resentments, betrayal and violence rise to the surface.
Provocative and hilarious, David Ireland’s explosive debut play is a portrait of two men trapped by the stories they tell themselves and each other.
Martin Guerre – Old Vic (1 – 31 Oct)
You think you know Martin Guerre? Think again. The extraordinary true story of forbidden love, deceit and passion on trial… in an all-new version.
Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Olivier Award-winning musical is reimagined for the London stage with new music, new lyrics, new folk-inflected orchestrations and a thrilling new In The Round staging. Back, but with a whole new identity. From the creators of Les Misérables, this preview production of semi-staged performances will run for five weeks only. Directed by Matthew Warchus.
The Hungry Ghost – Bush Theatre (1 – 31 Oct)
Tonight’s the night. She’s got a plan. And it involves her (secret) girlfriend, and the house they’re about to move into together. And it doesn’t matter to her that her mum warns tonight is the first night of the ghost month. Because parents will say anything to keep you home. Swiping an orange from the family altar and pocketing a coin she finds on her way over to the new place, she steps through the doorway – and unwittingly invites a hungry ghost into both of their lives. As the ghost starts to take over and she wrestles for control of her own body, her carefully constructed house of lies comes tumbling down around her.
A sexy horror rom-com exploring what takes root in the space between superstition and rationality. Starring Olivier Award nominee Mei Mac and Bridgerton’s Isabella Wei, The Hungry Ghost is the debut play from Mei Leng Yew, directed by New Earth Theatre Artistic Director Ailin Conant.
The Cherry Orchard – Harold Pinter Theatre (3 Oct – 9 Jan 27)
Kristin Scott Thomas and Stephen Mangan return to the West End in a gripping new production of The Cherry Orchard, Anton Chekhov’s poignant and piercing tragicomedy about a family on the brink of irreversible change.
Olivier and Tony Award nominated Director Ian Rickson, reunites with Olivier Award winner Conor McPherson for a new adaptation produced by Sonia Friedman Productions. Chekhov’s final masterpiece captures a world in delicate, inevitable transition – and remains as timeless and resonant as ever.
Fences – Lyric Hammersmith (6 – 31 Oct)
Troy is a former baseball player who could’ve gone pro. He spends his days collecting garbage and his evenings spinning stories for family and friends. He is funny, charismatic and fiercely proud. He’s also a man with flaws, shaped by a lifetime battling a world that denies his dreams. And the scars run deep. His wife, Rose, sees America changing. She dares to believe life can be different and dreams that their son, Cory, will have the freedom that Troy never did. But as she works to break the cycles holding her family back, Troy’s frustration and bitterness threatens to tear them apart.
Alive with rhythms of blues and jazz, humour and heartbreak, Fences is August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece. Set in the 1950’s, it is a timeless and deeply human portrait of grief, love and what it means to be a family in post-war Black America. One of the defining plays of the 20th century, it returns to the UK for the first time in over a decade in a vital new production directed by award-winning director Daniel Bailey (Red Pitch, West End).
What Would Jarvis Do? – Omnibus Theatre (6 – 16 Oct)
Didi and GG are best friends and super-fans of Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker. When a pair of yellow trousers, supposedly worn by the man himself, come up for auction through their wildly unconventional therapist, they empty their pockets to buy them. Only there’s one problem. They might not be Jarvis’s trousers at all. Their search for the real yellow trousers spirals into an increasingly surreal odyssey populated by eccentric strangers, impossible coincidences, and the unsettling feeling that they’ve been here before.
What Would Jarvis Do? is an experimental absurdist black comedy about fandom, grief, and the stories we attach to treasured objects. It’s a playful exploration of what happens when the people and things we hold onto disappear – and how we might find a way forward.
Dicey Company – The Libra Theatre Cafe (6 – 7 Oct)
A new musical written by a queer Australian woman, following a group of 5 young women and non-binary people as they play a role-playing game like Dungeons and Dragons. Each player has their own expectations of what the game can do for them, be it to bring them out of their shell, celebrate their skill and wit, or simply get the creative juices flowing as they explore a fantastical realm.
At its core, Dungeons and Dragons is a collaborative storytelling game, but that power can sometimes go to your head even outside of the campaign. Watch as these young adults navigate their real-world power dynamics, friendships, and queer identities.
Some Woman – National Theatre (7 Oct – 21 Nov)
Julie Robson is used to being overlooked. At work, at home, everywhere in between. But when an encounter on a station platform goes wrong and all eyes are suddenly on Julie, something shifts within her and she feels compelled to make a stand. What happens when an ordinary woman pits herself against the forces that shape the world? What happens when she refuses to be quiet?
Anne-Marie Duff is Julie in this provocative new play from Helen Edmundson, directed by Blanche McIntyre.
An Oak Tree – The Other Palace (7 Oct – 15 Nov)
The unmissable theatrical event returns, now featuring Juliet Stevenson, Olivia Williams, Suranne Jones, Tanya Reynolds and many more. Tim Crouch’s An Oak Tree returns to London this autumn with a new slate of co-stars, each seeing the script for the very first time live on stage.
A father loses his daughter to a car accident. The man behind the wheel is a stage hypnotist. When the father volunteers for the hypnotist’s act, these two men meet face to face for the first time since the accident.
Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody – Underbelly Boulevard Soho (7 Oct – 1 Nov)
Inspired by the hit show about hockey, Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody follows starry-eyed golden boy Shane Hollander in a show that will be a hit with fans of the series.
Oh Zeus! – Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch (7 – 10 Oct)
From Kings of Comedy Le Navet Bete. For lovers of Fawlty Towers, Bottom, and The Play That Goes Wrong, Oh Zeus! is a riotous, all-out hilarious ride through Greek mythology.
When the stability of Olympus is threatened by the marriage of Zeus’ daughter Hebe to a mere mortal, the King of the Gods hatches a plan to derail the wedding. Three actors play 40 characters in this mythical farce through Ancient Greece, the Underworld, and back. Expect sensational physical comedy, outrageous jokes, fast paced chaos, and more togas than you can smash a plate at.
End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland – Barbican (8 – 11 Oct)
The boundaries between dreams, memories and realities blur in this dazzling stage adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s popular novel about consciousness and identity. Enter the fragmented mind of Watashi, a human data processor employed by the ‘System’, who encrypts information within his own brain. As he navigates secret conspiracies and tries to make sense of the chaos around him, he discovers a shocking truth that could bring an end to his world.
Adapted for the stage by Ako Takahashi, directed and choreographed by Philippe Decouflé and starring Tatsuya Fujiwara.
Don Black’s From The Heart – Garrick Theatre (8 – 18 Oct)
Oscar-winning lyricist Don Black returns to the West End with the most ambitious incarnation of From The Heart yet – a musical revue of new songs and much-loved favourites. Refined and expanded following its acclaimed concert performances in 2025, and directed by Nick Winston, the production plays a strictly limited run of 15 performances at London’s Garrick Theatre this October.
Starring a powerhouse cast including Olivier Award-nominated Frances Mayli McCann, soap royalty Shona McGarty, internationally celebrated star Caroline O’Connor, Olivier Award winner Clive Rowe and West End and Broadway star and two-time Olivier Award nominee Michael D. Xavier.
Ghosts – Jermyn Street Theatre (8 Oct – 14 Nov)
Norway, 1881. Years ago, Helene sent her beloved son away from the family home. Today, Oswald returns. His arrival coincides with the grand opening of an orphanage to commemorate the tenth anniversary of his father’s death. But as mother and son reunite, long-buried secrets emerge – setting off a chain reaction that threatens to consume them both.
Carne Deputy Director Kwame Owusu directs Richard Eyre’s powerful adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts. This family drama examines our hunger to be free – from our past, society, and destiny – and the cost on the people that we love the most.
Agatha Christie’s The Hollow – A Hercule Poirot Mystery – Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (9 – 17 Oct)
Renowned detective Hercule Poirot expected a quiet weekend break in the country; instead, he’s drawn into one of the most unsettling cases of his career. At The Hollow, an elegant country estate, a glamorous circle of guests gathers together one summer evening. But beneath the sunlit charm, something darker coils. Old passions refuse to die. New rivalries ignite. Dangerous infatuations take hold. Then – a shot rings out. A body is discovered. A smoking revolver in an unsteady hand. The scene appears almost staged; a shockingly straightforward crime… it is anything but.
Starring Peter Polycarpou as the ever-meticulous Belgian sleuth, The Hollow reunites Fiery Angel with director Lucy Bailey following the sell-out tours of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile.
Ilford Boy – Donmar Warehouse (10 Oct – 28 Nov)
Mixed-race teenager Ted Martin is growing up in 90s East London in a house full of chaos, laughter and tough love. One day Patrick arrives, shaking the foundations of Ted’s life with his sense of style, humour and love of show tunes. Another way to live explodes into view. One filled with art, possibility and people who see him clearly for the first time.
Directed by Donmar Artistic Director Tim Sheader, Danny Lee Wynter’s Ilford Boy is a funny, moving drama about the ghosts that follow us, the families we choose, and the Streisand that helps us survive.
what are we going to do when this is all over? – Hen & Chickens Theatre (13 – 17 Oct)
A play about the memories we hope we never forget and the ones we know we should. Helen and Alexander have been creating theatre together for a number of years, but as Helen’s memory begins to fail and they realise this is something worse than just brain fog, Alexander begins to discover things Helen has been hiding from him for years. Helen’s secrets begin to be revealed as the play comes to its dramatic climax. When Alexander realises Helen’s desires are darker than he ever imagined, he tries to cover her tracks, putting himself in the firing line. The play’s dramatic conclusion may very well be the end of Helen and Alexander forever.
Incorporating Split Infinitive’s signature interactive/immersive and autobiographical style of performance, what are we going to do when this is all over? shows a darker side to memory loss, marriage, and how far we will go to protect the ones we love.
CADEL: Lungs on Legs – Riverside Studios (13 Oct – 15 Nov)
Connor Delves stars as Cadel Evans in CADEL: Lungs On Legs, the London premiere of the smash-hit play about the first Australian to win the Tour de France. CADEL: Lungs on Legs is a groundbreaking play set in motion by award-winning Australian actor Connor Delves. Performed entirely on a bicycle, this one-man show captures the drive and determination of Cadel Evans and explores his inspiring true story as the first Australian to win the Tour de France.
Pedalling non-stop for over an hour, Delves immerses the audience in the highs and lows, heartaches and sacrifices of Cadel Evans’ 2011 victory.
The Lives of Others – Adelphi Theatre (14 Oct – 9 Jan 27)
1984. East Germany. A writer and an actor are placed under state surveillance. From the attic above their apartment, their Stasi man listens for evidence of subversion. But to observe a life is to risk changing your own. Starring Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley, Emmy Award winner Stephen Dillane and Olivier Award nominee Luke Thompson, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s THE LIVES OF OTHERS plays at the Adelphi Theatre for a strictly limited run.
Adapted and directed by Olivier Award-winner Robert Icke and based on the Oscar-winning 2007 film, this electrifying adaptation explores artistic censorship, state surveillance and the relationship between art and politics.
High School Musical – Troubadour Wembley Park (12 Oct – 3 Jan 27)
Join Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High as they navigate first love, friendships and self-discovery, all while juggling classes, basketball games, auditions and the expectations of their peers.
Harry Judd stars as Coach Bolton alongside original High School Musical film cast member KayCee Stroh as Ms Darbus, joined by Tobias Turley, Leonor Correia, Caitlin Tipping and Luke Bayer as Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay and Ryan.
Dog Mom – Southwark Playhouse Borough (14 Oct – 7 Nov)
Fresh from a divorce and newly crammed into a tiny Brooklyn flat, Sarita is trying to rebuild her life. She may not have all the answers, but she knows one thing: she is definitely not a dog person. Then a scruffy stray appears on her doorstep and refuses to take the hint. Suddenly Sarita is navigating dog parks, meddling dog owners, and a canine companion who seems convinced they’re soulmates. As her carefully ordered life descends into comic chaos, Sarita discovers that sometimes the family you end up with is better than the one you planned.
Dog Mom is an offbeat and heartfelt comedy about starting over, finding your people, and learning that love occasionally arrives covered in mud.
Succubus – The Courtyard Theatre (13 – 28 Oct)
An Edinburgh Fringe hit, Succubus is the one-woman horror comedy putting men on the menu. Dismissed by doctors as “hormonal”, a young woman navigates an unusual appetite – for human flesh. As she attempts to carve a path of ethical consumption in a less-than-ethical world, she realises she’s not alone.
The Pianist – Park Theatre (15 Oct – 28 Nov)
Based on Wladyslaw Szpilman‘s extraordinary internationally bestselling memoir, this landmark new production, adapted and directed by the acclaimed Thom Southerland, brings one of the twentieth century’s most remarkable true stories to the stage featuring Szpilman’s own music for the very first time.
Original compositions from the so-called ‘Polish Gershwin’ score his story: popular songs that had Warsaw humming, compositions that made him a star, all given rich new life in orchestrations by Simon Lee, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long-time musical director. A cast of virtuoso actor-musicians conjures the golden age of Jewish Warsaw in all its warmth and wit: the packed concert halls, the candlelit cafés, the irrepressible spirit of a city that loved music above all else. At its heart, this is a love letter to culture, to the artists and dreamers who carried it, and to the extraordinary power of creativity to outlast even the most turbulent chapters of history.
Double Bill: tell me straight & aggy – King’s Head Theatre (15 Oct – 14 Nov)
tell me straight is a fast-paced, semi-autobiographical, coming-of-adulthood play that’s a glorious, witty, and provocative exploration of what it means to navigate and embrace our sexuality.
aggy is a bold one-act play exploring privilege, gender, race and creativity. It’s about art and who gets to make it. The play unflinchingly examines how people freely police one another, and how this can lead to destruction.
Jesus Christ Superstar – Theatre Royal Drury Lane (16 Oct – 9 Jan 27)
The award-winning Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar is extending to Theatre Royal Drury Lane due to record-breaking demand for the summer season at The London Palladium. Starring Sam Ryder as Jesus in his West End debut.
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar follows the events of the last days of the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the legendary score includes ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Gethsemane’ and the iconic title number ‘Superstar’.
Roleplay – Soho Theatre (22 Oct – 21 Nov)
A struggling feminist podcaster reinvents herself in pursuit of fame, only to lose herself in the performance. Darkly hilarious, gripping and surreal, Roleplay is a ferocious interrogation of modern sex, the commodification of feminism and the era of the personal brand.
Writer, actress and comic Hannah Reilly brings her ‘fresh, female-first approach’ to London in this NSFW one-woman show developed and directed by Paige Rattray.
Ceilidh The Musical – Shoreditch Town Hall (22 Oct – 13 Nov)
Ceilidh is a brand new musical that invites you to step into the heart of one of Scotland’s oldest and most beloved traditions. It’s a gathering of songs, stories and dances, all while sharing a dram or two along the way. Led by a lively caller, you’ll be swept up in a whirlwind of music and memories from the moment you walk through the door. But as the music builds and the night takes hold, a story begins to unfold. A family story. One of love, legacy, and why tonight’s ceilidh matters more than most.
Fresh from a sell-out season in Baltimore, Ceilidh makes its premiere at Shoreditch Town Hall. This joyous, irreverent, heart-pounding night is created by award-winning duo Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie, and directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Sam Pinkleton.
Memoriam – Southwark Playhouse Borough (22 Oct – 21 Nov)
In the near future, tech company Memoriam is able to extract and repackage human memories as immersive VR experiences. When her grandmother Rivka becomes the last living Holocaust survivor, Memoriam employee Rachel sees an opportunity to preserve her memories and safeguard an invaluable piece of history. But as the boundaries between commerce and remembrance begin to blur, the repercussions for their family prove far greater than anyone could imagine.
Startlingly funny and deeply moving, Noga Flaishon’s new play is a searing look at the commodification of memory, the legacy of trauma and the stories we pass on. Memoriam makes its UK premiere after a critically acclaimed US run.
Every Ghost Story Ever – Barons Court Theatre (22 – 28 Oct)
Experience ghost stories from throughout the ages: from the first ghost story ever written, to the true tale of Arthur Conan Doyle speaking from beyond the grave, to terrifying accounts of the hauntings of London’s streets, and much more. Why do we tell ghost stories? What makes us truly afraid? Is this show supposed to be serious or funny? All these questions will be answered in: Every Ghost Story Ever.
This is a one-person horror comedy storytelling hour from writer-performer Billy Morton.
The Revlon Girl – Park Theatre (26 Oct – 14 Nov)
Ten years after audiences first discovered The Revlon Girl, the original Olivier-nominated production returns. Since it’s inaugural performance in 2016, The Revlon Girl has grown from an unknown work to one of the most talked about plays in recent years; enjoying overwhelming critical praise and audience acclaim- not just in the UK but also internationally. Neil Anthony Docking’s funny, moving and deeply compassionate drama based on events following the Aberfan Disaster tells the remarkable true story of the mothers who met above the Aberfan Hotel every Tuesday night — where they could talk, cry and laugh without feeling guilty — and who, one evening, secretly invited a representative from Revlon to give them beauty tips.
With an impressive all-female cast, this Olivier-nominated production first found success during its inaugural tour in Wales during the 50th Anniversary Year of the Aberfan Disaster; soon finding itself to be a smash hit at the Edinburgh Festival before transferring to a sell-out London run.
The Moth – Finborough Theatre (27 Oct – 21 Nov)
A chance meeting on a train between John, a Black British journalist, and Marius, a White South African ex-soldier, sets in motion an escalating chain of events that reshapes their lives over the next thirty years – as John withholds forgiveness and Marius becomes increasingly obsessed with seeking it.
Finally, before the nation’s television cameras, they face each other to confront the past and lay bare their conflicting truths. Inspired by a true story, The Moth is a gripping new play that speaks directly to our times – a psychological thriller of memory, race, war, trauma, the legacy of Apartheid and the limits of forgiveness.
Speculations – Marylebone Theatre (30 Oct – 3 Jan)
Marilyn Monroe. John F. Kennedy. Lee Harvey Oswald. Three deaths that shook America. One woman who refused to stop asking questions. New York, 1965. Celebrated journalist and television star Dorothy Kilgallen is chasing the biggest story of her career.
America has been given its answers. Dorothy doesn’t believe them. Her investigation leads from Hollywood to the White House, from the Kennedy dynasty to the New Orleans underworld — and towards a web of connections between some of the most powerful and dangerous figures in America. But someone wants Dorothy to stop asking questions. And as the threats move ever closer to home, uncovering the truth could cost her everything.
Janie Dee stars as Dorothy Kilgallen in the world premiere of Torben Betts’ gripping new political thriller, directed by Trevor Nunn.
Dogstar – Hampstead Theatre (30 Oct – 5 Dec)
The crew of the Dogstar are dropping like flies. Whalers with no whales left to catch, they have been icebound for months and a whiff of mutiny is in the air as they look to cast blame. But something strange is happening. Are the crew’s heavenly visions a symptom of scurvy, a result of the endless polar night – or a chance at salvation?
Daisy Hall returns to Hampstead Downstairs, following sell-out hit Bellringers in 2024. Dogstar is a darkly comic story about the forces that shape our lives, even at the edge of the world.
