Help is on the way, dears! Everyone’s favourite Scottish nanny – first inhabited in the 1993 comedy film by Robin Williams, playing a divorced dad who disguises himself as Mrs Doubtfire so he can see his children – is now a West End star.

The inventive, heartfelt and raucously funny stage musical adaptation has become a new audience favourite, packed with gags, big musical numbers, and a touching reflection on how family can come in different forms, as long as there is love.

As you prepare for...

Make a day out of 'Mrs Doubtfire' in London

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Make your family visit to West End musical comedy *Mrs Doubtfire* a sure-fire hit by adding even more fun activities to your London trip.

Further casting has been announced for the Brie Larson-led production of Sophocles’s [*Elektra*,](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/42608-elektra) which begins performances at the Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End on 24 January, 2025.

Larson, who is making her West End debut, will be joined by Stockard Channing (*The West Wing, The Good Wife*), Marième Diouf (*Romeo and Juliet*), Greg Hicks (*Grapes of Wrath, Coriolanus*), and Patrick Vaill ([*Stranger Things: The First...

Further casting revealed for Brie Larson-led 'Elektra' in the West End

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Stockard Channing, Marième Diouf, Greg Hicks, and Patrick Vaill will join Brie Larson in Anne Carson's translation of Sophocles's great tragedy.

The full cast has been announced for William Shakespeare's *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*, which opens at the Barbican in London on 3 December, running until 18 January, 2025.

Joining Mathew Baynton (*Ghosts, Wonka*) as Bottom, is Andrew Richardson (*Guys and Dolls*) as Oberon/Theseus and Katherine Pearce (*Waterloo Road*), who returns to the RSC as Puck.

New company members also include Alexander Bellinfantie (Moth), Eliza Smith (Mustardseed), and Natalie Thomas (Peaseblossom).

They join...

'A Midsummer Night's Dream' announces full cast at the Barbican

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Joining Mathew Baynton as Bottom, is Andrew Richardson as Oberon/Theseus and Katherine Pearce as Puck. Eleanor Rhode directs Shakespeare's play about love, magic, appearance, and jealousy.

Lead casting has been announced for new musical *Hercules*, which opens in the West End next summer. Performances will begin at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 6 June, 2025.

Luke Brady will play the title role in the musical next year. His stage credits include *As You Like It* (RSC), *SuperYou* (Lyric Theatre), *Assassins* (Chichester Theatre), *The Prince of Egypt* (Dominion Theatre), *Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice,* and *The Taming of the Shrew* (Shakespeare’s Globe), while on screen he...

'Hercules' reveals lead casting in the West End

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*Hercules* has music by Alan Menken and lyrics by David Zippel, and a new book by Robert Horn and Young Vic outgoing artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah.

There’s no better way to escape those dark winter nights than with a trip to the theatre. Happily, November is serving up plenty of exciting London shows to keep any winter blues at bay, with some major openings in the West End and beyond. 

Those who can't wait for *The Greatest Showman* musical to arrive in London can whet their appetities with [*Come Alive!*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/37379-come-alive), a spectacular circus show based on the music of the hit 2017 film, with an...

Top theatre to see in London in November

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West End

Find out the best shows to see in London in November 2024, from *Barcelona* with Lily Collins and Álvaro Morte, to *Dr. Strangelove* with Steve Coogan.

Additional shows have been announced in the Bush Theatre's line-up for 2025, including a new play starring Olivier Award nominee and *It's a Sin* actor Omari Douglas.

He has been cast in Coral Wylie's new play *Lavender, Hyacinth, Violet, Yew*, which follows 19-year-old Pip as they dig into their family's past, unearthing old secrets. Directed by Debbie Hannan (Overflow), the cast also includes Wil Johnson, Pooky Quesnel, and writer Wylie. The show will run from 8 February to 22 March.

Making...

Bush Theatre announces new shows in 2025 season

1200 LT Lavender, Hyacinth, Violet, Yew

Work by Coral Wylie, babirye bukilwa, and Mohamed-Zain Dada will continue the Bush Theatre's programming in 2025, with Olivier Award nominee Omari Douglas returning to the stage.

New play *The Last Laugh* will run at the Noël Coward Theatre in the West End from 25 February to 22 March next year, ahead of a season in New York and a UK tour. 

Written and directed by Paul Hendy, the show re-imagines the lives of three of Britain's greatest comedy heroes: Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe, and Bob Monkhouse. *The Last Laugh* played at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer. 

Bob Golding, Damian Williams, and Simon Cartwright will all reprise their roles as Eric Morecambe,...

'The Last Laugh' to transfer to the West End

1200 LT THE LAST LAUGH. Bob Golding (Eric Morecambe), Damian Williams (Tommy Cooper) and Simon Cartwright (Bob Monkhouse). Photo Pamela Raith (1)

Written and directed by Paul Hendy, the show re-imagines the lives of three of Britain's greatest comedy heroes: Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe, and Bob Monkhouse.

Something wicked this way comes… and London is packed with spook-tacular shows and activities that are perfect for Halloween 2024. The annual fright night falls on 31 October, which is a Thursday this year, and if you just love everything about this spine-tingling holiday, then you’ll want to start thinking about your plans now.

One ghoulishly great way to celebrate Halloween is with a play or musical – perhaps one that centres on witches, like...

Top shows and attractions in London for Halloween

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Trick or treat! Discover a wide variety of fun activities and events to book for Halloween in London, ranging from spine-chilling shows to eerie attractions.

It’s Halloween, duh! [*Mean Girls*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/35503-mean-girls) has announced it will be extending performances at the Savoy Theatre in the West End until 8 June, 2025. 

Tina Fey's hit musical, which is based on the 2004 film of the same name, follows student Cady Heron as she attempts to fit into North Shore High after being home schooled in Africa. But when she gets involved with popular girl group The Plastics, she learns that there are few things more dangerous...

'Mean Girls' tickets now available through June 2025

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Tina Fey's hit musical, which is based on the 2004 film of the same name, follows student Cady Heron as she attempts to fit into North Shore High after being home schooled in Africa.

I dreamed a dream! West End star Lucie Jones (*Wicked, Waitress, Pippin, Ghost, The Baker’s Wife*) will return to the London production of [*Les Misérables*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/300-les-miserables-tickets) for eight weeks this December. She will play Fantine from 23 December to 15 February 2025.

Katie Hall, who is currently playing Fantine in the West End, will perform the role in the World Tour of *Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular* from 26 December, in Manchester,...

Lucie Jones to return to 'Les Misérables' in the West End for eight weeks 

1200 LT Lucie Jones as -Fantine-. Photo by Johan Perrson

This October, *Les Misérables* entered its 40th year in London and is celebrating with its first world tour: *Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular*.

UPDATE:&nbsp;Jerusalem&nbsp;starring Mark Rylance and Mackenzie Crook will open at the Apollo Theatre in April 2022. <a href="/theatre-news/news/mark-rylance-and-mackenzie-crook-to-star-in-jerusalem-west-end-revival">Find out more about&nbsp;Jerusalem&nbsp;in London here</a>.Sonia Friedman has used social media to tease that Jez Butterworth's play <a href="/show/jerusalem">Jerusalem </a>is set to return to London next year.Directed by Ian Rickson, the play premiered at the <a href="/theatres/royal-court">Royal Court</a> in 2009, and starred Mark Rylance as Johnny "Rooster" Byron, a wanted man who is being searched for by the council while his son wants to take him to the local fair, local gangsters want to kick his head in, and his mates are after his stash.Opening to rave reviews, the play transferred to the <a href="/show/apollo-theatre">Apollo Theatre</a> in 2010, and Mark Rylance went on to win the Olivier Award for best actor, followed by the Tony Award for best actor in a play after the production opened on Broadway the following year.Rylance returned to the role once again in the West End in 2011, but the play has not returned since.Now, on St George's Day, on which the play is set, Sonia Friedman announced the play, directed by Rickson and starring Rylance, will return in 2021.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Rooster's ready! See You Next Year... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jerusalem?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jerusalem</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyStGeorgesDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyStGeorgesDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/k093E3DXbY">pic.twitter.com/k093E3DXbY</a>— Sonia Friedman Productions (@SFP_London) <a href="https://twitter.com/SFP_London/status/1253262372099194883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2020</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>A venue, dates and ticketing details are yet to be announced for the revival.

Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem to return to London in 2021 with Mark Rylance

Jerusalem Mark Rylance

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The Rooster returns to London. Jez Butterworth’s heralded play *Jerusalem* returns to the West End with its original stars, Mark Rylance and Mackenzie Crook, and in its original staging by director Ian Rickson. Set an alert for *Jerusalem* tickets in London on TodayTix.

Johnny “Rooster” Byron (Mark Rylance) lives in a caravan in the woods. Council officials are trying to serve him an eviction notice, but never seem to find him home. Nor does his young son, who wants Roster to join him at the county fair. Or Troy Whitworth, who is after revenge. Rooster has evaded them all for as long as he can, but his time may finally be up. 

Jez Butterworth’s *Jerusalem* play was greeted with universal acclaim upon its premiere at the Royal Court Theatre in 2009. Time Out described it as “a state-of-the-nation play which is a pastoral comedy” and “an edgy piece of new writing,” while The Guardian declared that “the triumph belongs to Rylance for perfectly embodying Butterworth's vision of a vanished demonic magic.”

*Jerusalem* transferred to the Apollo Theatre on the West End in 2010 and then to the Music Box Theatre on Broadway in 2011, before finally returning to the West End for a second run following its New York success. Now this enduring and beloved work is back on the West End once again.

Set an alert for *Jerusalem* tickets in London on TodayTix.

## What to Watch For

- Mark Rylance won both the Laurence Olivier Award and the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play for his work in *Jerusalem* as Rooster.
- Returning co-star Mackenzie Crook received Olivier and Tony nominations for his performance as Ginger.
- The *Jerusalem* West End run returns to the same theatre where it played twice in 2010 and 2011, the Apollo.
- *Jerusalem* is often considered to be one of the best plays of all time. In 2019, The Independent described Jerusalem as “the greatest British play of the century.”
- Jez Butterworth was most recently represented on the West End with his hit play *The Ferryman*, which played the Gielgud Theatre in 2017.

Jerusalem - 23938 - TT LON

The Rooster is back. Ian Rickson's acclaimed production of Jez Butterworth's play Jerusalem returns to London's West End for a limited run, with original stars <a href="/actor-profile/mark-rylance">Mark Rylance</a> and <a href="/actor-profile/mackenzie-crook">Mackenzie Crook</a> reprising their roles.&nbsp;Jerusalem&nbsp;tickets will be available on London Theatre soon.Johnny "Rooster" Byron is a wanted man. Local council officials want to serve him an eviction notice, his friends want his ample supply of alcohol and drugs, his son wants to take him to the county fair, and Troy Whitworth wants to settle a score. It's a lot for one man, living out in the woods in a caravan, to handle. How does The Rooster do it?&nbsp;Jerusalem first premiered at the <a href="/theatres/royal-court-theatre">Royal Court Theatre</a> in 2009, in the downstairs Jerwood Theatre. Butterworth's play was an instant sell-out sensation and received critical acclaim. Rickson's production quickly transferred to the West End in 2010, then to Broadway in 2011, and then to the West End again later in 2011. Rylance and Crook played Johnny "Rooster" Byron and Ginger respectively in all four productions. The pair now return to those two legendary roles.&nbsp;Jerusalem was showered with awards upon its initial staging. Rylance won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Play, and the play was nominated for six Olivier Awards overall. The following year, Rylance won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, and Jerusalem again received six nominations total. The Independent described the play in a 2019 article as "the greatest British play of the century."Jerusalem returns to London's West End twelve years after its premiere as the continued reigning champion of British theatrical drama. The Rooster is back at it again.&nbsp;

Tickets to *Jerusalem* will be available soon.

Jerusalem - LON - London Theatre

A modern classic returns to the West End. For a strictly limited run, Mark Rylance returns to his iconic role in one the most well-received plays of the 2000s. 
Rooster Byron’s caravan life is under assault on all sides. It’s a portrait of modern Britain that remains as timely as when it premiered. 
Don’t miss your chance to see the strictly limited run of *Jerusalem* at the Apollo Theatre.

Jez Butterworth’s 2009 tragicomedy [*Jerusalem*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/23938-jerusalem "Jerusalem"), starring Mark Rylance as Johnny “Rooster” Byron, has long been heralded as among the greatest plays of the decade, if not century. So, does this feverishly anticipated revival – once again led by Rylance and Mackenzie Crook as sidekick Ginger, and directed by Ian Rickson – cement its place in theatre history? In short: hell yes. 

Like all great state-of-the-nation epics, it feels different, but just as potent, in this new context. It can certainly be read as a Brexit play, with Rooster’s group of rural, working-class misfits clinging to a fantasy version of a past England. Davy, who works in the local abattoir, boasts that his ears pop if he even leaves Wiltshire, and sniffs that BBC Points West is now in thrall to Belgium. But it reaches further than one referendum: it’s an empathetic exploration of the outsider, and of our national myth-making.

Most importantly, Rylance’s titanic performance as the gypsy Rooster really is one for the ages. His entrance is spectacular: he bursts out of his Airstream trailer in the woods, tattooed, sunburnt and limping, barrel chest puffed out, and skips into a handstand over the water trough. He then retrieves an egg from his squawking chickens, chucks the shell into the audience, mixes up a hangover cure with milk, vodka and speed, and downs it in one – to rapturous applause.

It immediately establishes Rooster the showman. He used to be a motorcycle daredevil and now has a captive audience of disaffected young people who come to buy drugs, party at his Bacchanalian raves, and hear his outlandish stories. Those tales work their rough magic on us too: the one about his birth to a virgin mother via a stray bullet, or his meeting with the giant who built Stonehenge on the A14, “about half a mile past the Little Chef.”

That mix of the mystical and the mundane, with very specific local references and idioms, is key to Butterworth’s filthily funny and utterly beguiling drama, which all takes place on St George’s Day, as the local town of Flintock holds its annual fair. His characters can wax lyrical about the historic May pastoral revels or powerful ley lines one minute, and in the next laugh over Rooster drunkenly smashing up his TV. 

Rylance’s twinkling-eyed host has a rebellious, libertarian spirit, which again chimes with some of our current debates. He despises the new estate built nearby, and is at war with the bureaucracy. Kennet and Avon Council, represented by two po-faced council workers in yellow vests with clipboards, are determined to evict him, but Rooster claims an ancient ownership to this land that runs much deeper than permits and petitions.

Is he a hero or a menace? He claims that these kids would otherwise be in worse danger, hanging out at bus stops or, in the case of the missing Phaedra, left at the mercy of her thuggish stepfather. But I felt far more unease this time around at seeing underage girls getting high with older men, particularly given Rooster’s casually misogynist (and occasionally racist) language. Butterworth’s writing of the female characters is weaker too, and he slots them into confining boxes: the innocent nymph, the pushy tramp and the joyless mum.

Yet, as the mood darkens, Butterworth does interrogate his magnetic protagonist. Rooster’s anarchic behaviour is far less entertaining when he’s neglecting his young son and letting his ex down – or, worse, tempting her with cocaine. He gradually becomes a pathetic figure as we learn that his waifs and strays actually make fun of him, and that he’s been repeating this same pattern with each new generation for decades. Nothing ever changes.

What at first seems like a paean to tradition then curdles into tragic stasis. Everyone is trapped in jobs or lives they hate, including Ginger, unemployed plasterer and wannabe DJ. Crook playing him older is even more effective, since he’s expressing adolescent dreams as a weary grown man. He and Rylance have built up a remarkable dynamic: co-dependency laced with both affection and needling nastiness.

There’s great support also from Gerard Horan as publican and reluctant Morris dancer Wesley, Alan David as the befuddled Professor, and, playing the wistful songbird Phaedra, Eleanor Worthington-Cox (who, when *Jerusalem* last stormed the West End, was starring as one of the original [Matildas](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/305-matilda-the-musical "Matilda the Musical")). 

Ultz’s detailed once again set mixes natural beauty, given a golden hue by Mimi Jordan Smith’s ethereal lighting, with mouldering rubbish. Wild and whimsical, uproarious and desolate, Butterworth’s play is still a mighty force of irrepressible live theatre. 

[*Jerusalem is at the Apollo Theatre to 7 August.*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/23938-jerusalem "Jerusalem")

*Photo credit: Mark Rylance (Photo by Simon Annand)*

'Jerusalem' review — Mark Rylance's titanic performance is one for the ages

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Fawlty Towers – The Play - LON [39250] 

Fawlty Towers – The Play

Featuring your favourite scenes from the sitcom’s unforgettable twelve episodes, this really is the stage comedy event of the year!

The Apollo Theatre opened on 21 Feb. 1901. The theatre is named after the Greek god of the arts, and was built to house musical theatre productions.

The late 20th-century saw many plays at the Apollo Theatre, including *Separate Tables* starring John Mills, *Mrs Klein* starring [Zoe Wanamaker](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/actor-profile/zoe-wanamaker), and *A Madhouse in God* starring [Vanessa Redgrave](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/actor-profile/vanessa-redgrave).

During a performance of the Olivier Award winning play [*The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time) on 19 Dec. 2013, a large section of the ceiling collapsed, potentially caused by the heavy rain London had experienced that week, and 88 people were injured. 

Recent shows at the Apollo Theatre include *Jerusalem* starring Mark Rylance, and the West End premiere of *Everybody's Talking About Jamie.*

## Apollo Theatre Seating Information

The auditorium has three levels – Stalls, Dress Circle and Grand Circle. The Stalls seats offer excellent views of the stage. Views in the outer seats are hindered by the overhang of the Dress Circle.

The Dress Circle seats may offer little legroom and little raking in the seating. The last two rows of seats sit on a higher level and offer better views than those in front.

The Grand Circle has a shallow ranke. The last two rows of seats are also built up higher.

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The Apollo Theatre, named after the Greek arts god, opened in 1901 for musicals. It hosted famous plays and experienced a ceiling collapse in 2013.

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The Apollo Theatre-LON is a historic, Grade II listed venue in London's West End. It's renowned for its wide variety of shows, and is within walking distance from several Tube stations.

Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem to return to London in 2021 with Mark Rylance

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