'Hercules' musical to premiere in the West End

The latest Disney musical, inspired by the hit 1997 animated film, has been in the works since 2019, premiering in the U.S. before going to Germany and the U.K.

It will go the distance! Disney's Hercules will premiere in the West End in summer 2025 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, with exact dates to be announced.

Based on the hit 1997 animated film, itself inspired by Greek mythology, Hercules follows the legendary hero, a demigod who lives among mortals. He must prove his strength and worthiness to take his godly place on Mount Olympus. Things are complicated by his evil uncle Hades, who wants Hercules's downfall, and the mortal Meg, with whom Hercules falls in love.

The Hercules musical premiered in the U.S., first as a 2019 outdoor staging in New York followed by a 2023 production in New Jersey. Lear deBessonet directed both iterations.

Earlier this year, Hercules opened in Hamburg, Germany, directed and co-choreographed by Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin, Some Like It Hot), who will do the same for the West End production.

Alongside Nicholaw, the Hercules creative team includes Tony Award-winning songwriters Alan Menken (music) and David Zippel (lyrics), who wrote the score for the original Disney film. They earned an Academy Award nomination for the song "Go the Distance," which appears in the stage musical.

The book is by Tony Award winners Robert Horn (Tootsie, Shucked) and Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE (former artistic director of the Young Vic), and co-choreography is by Tanisha Scott.

The Drury Lane, which will house Hercules in the West End, is currently home to Disney's Frozen, which will close on 8 September.

Check back for information on Hercules tickets on London Theatre.

Photo credit: Hercules in Hamburg. (Photo by Johan Persson)