Whether you're looking for a festive production that packs a punch or you're wanting a crowd-pleaser for all ages, spend your Christmas in the West End at these seasonal shows. Whatever age you are, there's a show to suit you. 

If you're wanting to create traditions with your children, nieces or nephews, then we recommend a pantomime that's packed with silliness and jokes a-plenty. There is also a fabulous range of festive dance, from *The Nutcracker* to *The Snowman*. Here, we round up the top...

Top 10 Christmas Shows in London

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Discover the best West End shows to see at Christmastime in 2024, including a fresh comic take on *A Christmas Carol*, and some glorious festive dance.

The full cast has been announced for Nicholas Hytner's new production of Shakespeare's [*Richard II*.](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/14375-richard-ii) *Bridgerton* and *Wicked* star Jonathan Bailey has already been announced as playing the title role when performances start at the Bridge Theatre on 10 February.

Michael Simkins (*The Crown, Silent Witness*) will star as the Duke of York, and is currently appearing in the Bridge Theatre production of [*Guys &...

Full cast announced for Jonathan Bailey-led 'Richard II' at Bridge Theatre

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Michael Simkins (*The Crown, Silent Witness*) will star as the Duke of York, and is currently appearing in the Bridge Theatre production of *Guys & Dolls*.

The West End works so brilliantly because it’s a mix of iconic long-running shows and new arrivals, meaning there’s always something fresh to see as well as the chance to revisit your favourites. But for those new productions to debut, we do have to bid goodbye to other shows.

As there are so many London plays and musicals to keep track of, we’ve put together a handy guide to West End productions with their closing dates, from shows closing in 2024 to those finishing in 2025 and the ones that...

Complete schedule of West End closings

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Learn all about these London shows' closing dates so you can catch them before they go! Get your last-minute tickets to the final performances of West End favourites today.

Mike Bartlett’s new play *Unicorn* will premiere in the West End next year. Performances will begin on 4 February at the Garrick Theatre for a strictly limited run.

Directed by James Macdonald, Bartlett's play follows couple Polly and Nick, who seemingly have it all. But something is missing from their lives, which is needed to add that spark.

The cast will include Nicola Walker (*Unforgotten, The Split*), Stephen Mangan (*The Split, Episodes*), and Erin Doherty (*Death of England: Closing...

Mike Bartlett’s new play 'Unicorn' to premiere in West End in 2025

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Unicorn will reunite James Macdonald, Mike Bartlett, and Kate Horton following their collaboration on the original production of Cock at the Royal Court in 2009.

Paul Mescal will reprise his Olivier Award-winning turn as Stanley in Rebecca Frecknall's production of Tennessee Williams’s *A Streetcar Named Desire* in the West End next year. The play will run for three weeks only from 3-22 February 2025 at the Noël Coward Theatre.

Known for his roles in *Gladiator II, Normal People*, and *All Of Us Strangers*, Mescal will be joined by Patsy Ferran (*Summer & Smoke*) as Blanche, Anjana Vasan (*We Are Lady Parts*) as Stella, and Dwane Walcott (*One Night in...

'A Streetcar Named Desire' starring Paul Mescal to return to the West End for limited run

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Paul Mescal is best known for his roles in *Gladiator II, Normal People*, and *All Of Us Strangers* alongside Andrew Scott. Patsy Ferran will also star.

*101 Dalmatians The Musical* will transfer to the Eventim Apollo in London for a six-week run next summer. 

The musical, which has music and lyrics by Douglas Hodge and a book by Johnny McKnight, was first performed at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2022 and is currently on a UK tour starring Faye Tozer (Glasgow, Edinburgh) and Kerry Ellis (Oxford, Brighton) as Cruella De Vil.

Based on Dodie Smith’s classic book and adapted for the stage by Zinnie Harris (*The Duchess*), *101 Dalmatians*...

'101 Dalmatians' to transfer to London next summer

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The musical first opened at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2022 and is currently on a UK tour starring Faye Tozer (Glasgow, Edinburgh) and Kerry Ellis (Oxford, Brighton) as Cruella De Vil.

England’s capital city beckons travellers with its vast array of awe-inspiring attractions. London’s countless architectural wonders, cultural institutions, and rich history make the city a popular destination. 

Whether you are building an itinerary for a one-day trip to London Town or are fortunate enough to embark on a longer excursion, there’s plenty to do. We have curated a list of London’s top attractions to make for lasting travel memories. Stroll through the city’s many pristine parks,...

Top attractions in London

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Read our guide to London's top attractions to get tickets to, from Buckingham Palace to the London Tower, Wembley Stadium to Kew Gardens, and more.

Pop the champagne because *The Great Gatsby* is coming to the West End! The new Tony Award-winning musical, which opened on Broadway in April 2024, will arrive at the London Coliseum on 11 April 2025, running until 7 September.

An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel, *The Great Gatsby* follows mysterious millionaire, Jay Gatsby, who hosts decadent parties but pines for his former flame Daisy Buchanan. The novel was adapted for the screen in 2013 by Baz Luhrmann, starring Leonardo...

'The Great Gatsby' musical to transfer to the London Coliseum 

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The new musical opened at The Broadway Theatre in April 2024, following a world premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey in late 2023. 

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.

Find out the full cast for [*Orlando*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/26188-orlando-tickets) in the West End this autumn. *Orlando* begins previews at the [Garrick Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/garrick-theatre) on 26 November, with an opening night on 5 December, and performances to 25 Feb. 2023. Book *Orlando* tickets on London Theatre.

Emma Corrin will play *Orlando* in the production. *The Crown* star made their West End debut in *ANNA X* at the Harold Pinter Theatre. 

Deborah Findlay joins Corrin in *Orlando* as Mrs Grimsditch. The Olivier-winning actress and Tony-nominated actress last performed in *Alllelujah!* at the Bridge Theatre. Jessica Alade, Debra Baker, Akuc Bol, Lucy Briers, Richard Cant, Melissa Lowe, Jodie McNee, Oliver Wickham and Millicent Wong complete the cast.

Virginia Woolf’s *Orlando* follows the title character as they embark on a five-century long journey to find out how it's possible to live authentically. The *Orlando* story is inspired by novellist and Woolf's lover, Vita Sackville-West. 

Michael Grandage directs Neil Bartlett's *Orlando* adaptation, with set and costume design by Peter McKintosh, lighting design by Howard Hudson, and composition and sound design by Alex Baranowski.

*Orlando* is at the Garrick Theatre.

Book *Orlando* tickets on London Theatre.

[![LT - CTA - 250](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/1t6HRGmhlYl70k6PmR0mOZ/3caac861bc1d4233cd7844652c925623/LT-CTA-250.png)](https://ticket.londontheatre.co.uk/booking/calendar?product_id=26188&content_product_id=26188&venue_id=117)

*Photo credit: Emma Corrin (Photo courtesy of production)*

‘Orlando’, starring Emma Corrin, sets full casting 

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Michael Grandage directs the Golden Globe-winning actor [Emma Corrin](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/emma-corrin) in Virginia Woolf’s *Orlando* at the Garrick Theatre. 

Emma Corrin leads the 11-strong *Orlando* cast, and Michael Grandage directs. The pair previously worked together on the 2022 Michael Grandage Company film, *My Policeman*, starring Harry Styles. Grandage’s previous theatre credits include *The Lieutenant of Inishmore* with Aidan Turner, and *Photograph 51* featuring Nicole Kidman. 

The *Orlando* play is a time-travelling story like no other. Meet Orlando, born as a male in Elizabeth I’s reign. After a sex change in their early 30s, they live through five centuries without aging and meet key figures in English literary history. As Orlando continues to ask thought-provoking questions, the hero-heroine is left with a major question — how can we find the courage to be ourselves?

Although the *Orlando* protagonist is fictional, Woolf's lover and contemporary novelist, Vita Sackville-West, is said to inspire the story. Sackville-West had an open relationship with her husband, Sir Harold Nicholson, and the pair had same-sex relationships before and during their wedding. Sackville-West believed that the feminine side of her personality was attracted to men, while the harsher side leaned to women.

Neil Bartlett adapts Virginia Woolf’s *Orlando* in London. He’s previously collaborated with *War Horse* creators Handspring Theatre Company, as well as the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. 

### Who is Emma Corrin?

Emma Corrin is an award-winning actor. They are best known for playing Lady Diana Spencer in *The Crown*. Corrin made their West End debut in 2021, playing Anna in *Anna X* at the Harold Pinter Theatre and picking up their first Olivier nomination for Best Actress. Corrin plays Orlando in *Orlando*. 

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Buy Orlando tickets showing at Garrick Theatre, London. Choose your own seats with the best availability at London Theatre.

Orlando Tickets | Garrick Theatre | London Theatre

Orlando wants to answer one question. What does it mean to be ourselves? Journeying over five centuries, Orlando realises it's a lifelong mission. Emma Corrin stars as the title character in Virginia Woolf's classic. Get *Orlando* tickets at the Garrick Theatre today.

Sadly, we can't live throughout five centuries. But, elements of the *Orlando* story are based on truths. Virginia Woolf's *Orlando* is inspired by Woolf's close friend, Vita Sackville-West, told from the time of her ancestor, Thomas Sackville. 

While Sackville-West was married to her husband, Sir Harold Nicholson, the pair often engaged in consensual same-sex relationships on the side. Sackville-West believed she had a split personality: her dominating side leaned to women, while her passive side was geared towards men. Neil Bartlett adapts Virginia Woolf’s *Orlando* into a joyous, inspiring tale fit for the 21st century. Don't miss the *Orlando* play in London.

## What to Watch For:

- Virginia Woolf’s *Orlando* was published in 1928. Other books published in 1928 include D. H. Lawrence’s *Lady Chatterley’s Lover*, A. A. Milne’s *The House at Pooh Corner*, and Bertolt Brecht’s *The Threepenny Opera*.
- Corrin works alongside director Michael Grandage for *Orlando*. The pair previously collaborated on the 2022 film, *My Policeman*, starring Harry Styles.

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How do we define those most fundamental questions in life: who we are and who we love? And what happens when our feelings about gender, sexuality and identity come into conflict with rigid social structures? A century ago, Virginia Woolf ploughed headlong into what feels like a shockingly modern debate with *[Orlando](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/26188-orlando-tickets)*, her forward-thinking 1928 novel. Now, [Emma Corrin](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/discover-emma-corrin-award-winning-performances-on-tv-in-films-and-on-stage) – who rose to fame as Princess Diana in *The Crown* – stars in a new stage version of Woolf’s remarkable work.

The non-binary-identifying Corrin is particularly exciting casting for Orlando, an Elizabethan nobleman who wakes up one day to find that he is now physically a she, and who then proceeds to question the distinctions of gender as the centuries pass (Orlando is immortal and forever young, too). We know that the character is anatomically male at the start of the production, thanks to a flash of prosthetic genitals, but the transformation is left deliberately, and effectively, ambiguous.

Instead, Woolf’s playful tale shows up the absurdities – why should Orlando have to eat daintily as a woman, but not a man? – and the raging inequalities: Orlando can no longer inherit the family estate when he becomes female. Amusingly, some elements remain the same, too. Society keeps pressuring Orlando to marry, presenting first a collection of eligible wives, then potential husbands. 

*Orlando* is essentially an extraordinary love letter from Woolf to her paramour Vita Sackville-West, written to capture all of her many and contradictory facets. That boundless generosity comes blazing through Neil Bartlett’s adaptation: the joy of seeing Corrin’s androgynous, fiercely independent Orlando slipping in and out of different guises, boldly seeking adventure and growth, and pursuing lovers of the same or opposite sex, simply because that’s where happiness lies. 

There are profound moments that speak soberly to us, as well – most poignantly when Orlando emphasises, twice, that when he changed gender, some people wanted to kill him. That rings out with terrible force during a World Cup in a nation where homosexuality is criminalised, and at a time when many in the trans community face hostility and violence.

Michael Grandage’s nimble production also captures some of Woolf’s formal inventiveness. A chorus of Woolfs (fracturing her identity between them) narrates in fragmented, overlapping, layered language, glorying in the power of words to create and complicate. And a wonderful Deborah Findlay, acting as Orlando’s housekeeper and, here, dresser, breaks the fourth wall with panto vigour.

However, in zipping through hundreds of years in just 90 minutes, Bartlett resorts too often to comic zaniness – *Horrible Histories* style. There are so many quotes and references that it grows distracting, whether it’s lyrics from *Cabaret*, the peerless final line of *Some Like It Hot*, or even a riff on the Just Eat ad, alongside dodgy cod-Shakespearean blank verse.

Likewise, with casting that is cheerily gender- and colour-blind, Orlando ceases to be such a radical figure; it’s just one more person putting on a costume. That means nothing is “real”: not just the exterior constructs that Woolf was challenging, but the people within them as well, reduced to cameos. In particular, I wanted more of Lucy Briers’s world-weary Elizabeth I, and Millicent Wong’s smouldering princess and shrewd sex worker. Lampshading the latter as the “working-class supporting character” in a comic aside doesn’t excuse this use of her.

And yet this *Orlando* worth seeing for Corrin alone. Their performance is a glorious feat of shapeshifting, from wide-eyed boy to swaggering, sexy nobleman and self-possessed lady – while always retaining the soul of the character, their curious mind, quick wit and passionate heart. Corrin’s Orlando feels deeply: “I could taste her,” they gasp as lust overcomes them, and their heartbreak is all-consuming. 

Though Bartlett references how the past can speak to the here and now, his script stops short of really engaging with contemporary concerns. He over-emphasises some fairly obvious takeaways (of course you were better off as a man than a woman in most of recorded history, and still today really) and is too heavy-handed, even slightly tasteless, in how he prefigures Woolf’s suicide. 

But I was charmed by Peter McKintosh’s evocative design, which whisks us from the great frost of 1607 (dry ice and exquisite stillness) to a raucous Russian banquet, sumptuous tent in Constantinople, or the splendour of court – all juxtaposed with blasts of rock music. A flawed but engaging experiment, and one given a beating heart by the magnificent, mercurial Corrin.

*Orlando is at the Garrick Theatre through 25 February. Book Orlando tickets on London Theatre.*

[![LT - CTA - 250](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/1t6HRGmhlYl70k6PmR0mOZ/3caac861bc1d4233cd7844652c925623/LT-CTA-250.png)](https://ticket.londontheatre.co.uk/booking/calendar?product_id=26188&content_product_id=26188&venue_id=117)

*Photo credit: Emma Corrin in Orlando (Photo by Marc Brenner)*

'Orlando' review – Emma Corrin is magnificent in this experimental Virginia Woolf adaptation

Born in Tunbridge Wells in 1995, Emma Corrin is a Golden Globe-winning actress, best known for playing Lady Diana Spencer in Netflix’s *The Crown*. She made her West End debut as Anna in *[Anna X](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/anna-x)* at the [Harold Pinter Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/harold-pinter-theatre).

While at school, Corrin developed a keen interest in the performing arts, eventually taking a gap year by doing a Shakespeare course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. After twelve months at LAMDA, Corrin then began a drama degree at Bristol University, later leaving to pursue Education, English, Drama and the Arts at St John’s College, Cambridge. While studying, Corrin appeared in two films: *Cesare* and *Alex’s Dream*, later graduating from Cambridge University in 2018.

It didn’t take long for Corrin to make her television debut. In 2019, she played Esther Carter in an episode of *Grantchester*, starring alongside Jemma Redgrave and Robson Green. She then played Esme Winikus in *Pennyworth*, an American crime drama using characters from DC Comics. She’s also starred in *Misbehaviour*, a British comedy film with Rhys Ifans, Keeley Hawes, Jessie Buckley and Keira Knightley.

Corrin’s breakout role came in 2020, cast as Diana, Princess of Wales in Netflix’s *The Crown*. She joins an illustrious line up of British actresses in the show, including Claire Foy, Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter. To date, Corrin has won Best Actress categories at the Critics Choice and Golden Globe Awards, with this number likely to grow.

Corrin made her professional stage debut in Joseph Charlton’s play *Anna X*. She played the title character who tries to find herself in a mix of New York parties.

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Born in Tunbridge Wells in 1995, Emma Corrin is a Golden Globe-winning actress, best known for playing Lady Diana Spencer in Netflix’s The Crown. She made her West End debut as Anna in Anna X at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Emma Corrin - Stars on Stage | London Theatre

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Boys From The Blackstuff

The Garrick Theatre is a renowned and historical theatre venue located in the heart of London, Charing Cross Road, near Leicester Square. Opened in 1889, it was named after the stage actor David Garrick. Designed by Walter Emden and C.J. Phipps, it is built with an exquisite blend of classical and baroque architectural styles, giving it a unique touch of elegance. The theatre boasts a theatrical heritage unrivalled in its history of performances, artists, and premieres, hosting a variety of world-class productions ranging from dramatic plays, farces, comedic performances, to Shakespearean plays. With a seating capacity of 656 spread across three levels - stalls, dress circle, and grand circle - the theatre offers an intimate atmosphere, drawing audience closer to the performances and making it a favourite venue for both theatre-goers and performers. Along with the splendid auditorium, the theatre contains bars at each level providing a comfortable space for refreshment. The theatre is equipped with state-of-the-art systems offering excellent audio and visual experiences. A visit to the Garrick Theatre is a step back into time, offering classic London theatre experience in a beautiful and iconic venue. 

## How to Get There
The Garrick Theatre is easily accessible by various modes of transport. If you are using the London Underground, the closest Tube stations are Leicester Square (Northern, Piccadilly) and Charing Cross (Bakerloo, Northern). By bus, several bus routes pass close to the theatre, including the numbers 24, 29 and 176. If driving, the nearest car park is Q-Park Chinatown.

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The Garrick Theatre opened in 1889, and is named after actor David Garrick. When the theatre was built, architects discovered an underground river on the site!

The theatre became associated with comedy in 1982 with a four-year run of the farce *No Sex Please, We’re British*. This was the longest-running show at the Garrick, until J. B. Priestley’s *An Inspector Calls* transferred from the [Aldwych Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/aldwych-theatre) in 1995 and resided for six years.

In recent years, a number of musicals have played here, including *A Little Night Music*, *Chicago*, and *The Scottsboro Boys*. In 2015, [Kenneth Branagh](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/kenneth-branagh) took up residency at the Garrick for a year-long season of plays with his own theatre company. 

## Garrick Theatre Seating Information

The auditorium has three levels – Stalls, Dress Circle and Grand Circle. In the Stalls, the view of the top of the stage is slightly obscured by the overhang of the Dress Circle from Row N onwards. 

In the Dress Circle, the view of the stage is not obscured by the overhang of the Upper Circle, but the ceiling can feeel low for those in the last row. The seats are designed in a horseshoe shape around the theatre and the Dress Circle offers good sightlines.

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The Garrick Theatre, opened in 1889, is associated with comedy and musicals, and has housed popular shows like 'An Inspector Calls'. It features three seating levels.

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The Garrick Theatre is an iconic London venue, known for its architectural elegance, rich history, and hosting top-tier productions.

‘Orlando’, starring Emma Corrin, sets full casting

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