How does the UK lockdown ending in December affect London theatres?

UPDATE: West End theatres will close from 16 December as London is placed in "tier three". For the latest information, read here.

The national lockdown will end in England on 2 December, with the country returning to a tiered system. As London has been placed in "tier two", live theatre and entertainment can continue to an in-person audience. 

Below, we've listed what this means for performances across London in December. We've listed every West End and off-West End theatre that will be home to productions in December. We'll update this page with the latest news on each show, so be sure to bookmark this page and stay up to date with all the news on London's theatres.

Almeida Theatre 

Nine Lessons and Carols will begin previews at the Almeida on 3 December, ahead of an opening night on 9 December. Performances are now to 9 Jan. 2021.

Apollo Theatre

Roles We'll Never Play will play from 6-7 December, Everybody's Talking About Jamie reopens on 12 December and The Vivienne's Christmas is on 21 December.

Bridge Theatre

A Christmas Carol will begin performances on 3 December, starring Simon Russell Beale, Patsy Ferran and Eben Figueiredo.

Bush Theatre

Overflow will be the first show to open at the Bush Theatre, with performances from 8 December.

Charing Cross Theatre

The Elf Who Was Scared of Christmas, starring Gina Beck and Neil McDermott will bring Christmas cheer from 8 December.

Dominion Theatre

A Christmas Carol, starring Brian Conley, Jacqueline Jossa and Matt Willis will begin previews on 7 December, ahead of an opening night on 14 December.

Duchess Theatre

The Play That Goes Wrong will recommence performances from 9 December.

Garrick Theatre

Three productions will open at the Garrick Theatre. Death Drop begins on 4 December, with Potted Panto on 5 December and Showstopper! The Improvised Musical on 7 December.

Gatsby's Drugstore

The Great Gatsby will reopen its 1920s art-deco show from 9 December.

Hampstead Theatre

The Dumb Waiter will open the Hampstead Theatre from 3 December.

London Palladium

Pantoland at the Palladium will continue the annual tradition of panto in London, with shows from 12 December. Due to a seating capacity of 1,000, performances will now be played to a smaller audience.

Lyceum Theatre

Currently starring in Strictly Come Dancing, Bill Bailey's Christmas Larks will entertain audiences for a week from 28 December.

Lyric Theatre

Six will continue its West End reign at a bigger venue, with performances from 5 December.

National Theatre

Dick Whittington will bring pantomime back to the National, with shows from 11 December.

Noel Coward Theatre

The Comeback will see The Pin make their West End debut, with shows from 8 December. In a tweet from Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, they have confirmed that if you live in a Tier 3 area and cannot travel to London to see The Comeback, you can have your tickets changed.

Palace Theatre 

A variety of shows will open at the Palace in December, including The Understudy on 7-8 December, Kings of Broadway on 9 December, The Pirates of Penzance from 12-13 December, Adam Kay shows from 15 December and West End Musical Christmas from 17-20 December.

Riverside Studios

All shows in the advertised Christmas season will take place, with shows from 3 December.

Sondheim Theatre

Les Miserables: The All-Star Staged Concert will return to the West End, with performances from 5 December. In a tweet from Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, they have confirmed that if you live in a Tier 3 area and cannot travel to London to see Les Miserables: The All-Star Staged Concert, you can have your tickets changed. Due to a seating capacity of 50%, performances will now be played to a smaller audience.

The Old Vic

Live performances of A Christmas Carol starring Andrew Lincoln will be livestreamed from 12 December.

Theatre Royal Haymarket

Love Letters will transfer from Windsor to London, with shows from 3 December.

Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre

The NBC broadcast of The Grinch starring Matthew Morrison will get the green light for a live broadcast in December.

Turbine Theatre

Cinderella will reopen indoor performances at the Turbine, with performances from 3 December. 

Vaudeville Theatre

Mischief Movie Night will bring improvisational films to the West End from 9 December.

Unaffected: Adelphi Theatre, Aldwych Theatre, Ambassadors Theatre, Apollo Victoria Theatre, Arts Theatre, Cambridge Theatre, Criterion Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Duke of York's Theatre, Fortune Theatre, Gielgud Theatre, Gillian Lynne Theatre, Harold Pinter Theatre, Her Majesty's Theatre, London Coliseum, London County Hall, Novello Theatre, Peacock Theatre, Phoenix Theatre, Piccadilly Theatre, Playhouse Theatre, Prince Edward Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre, Savoy Theatre, Shaftesbury Theatre, St. Martin's Theatre, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Trafalgar Theatre, Victoria Palace Theatre, Wyndham's Theatre