Top theatre to see in London in November

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.

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!, a spectacular circus show based on the music of the hit 2017 film, with an original story. Or you can spot some famous faces on stage with Lily Collins in Barcelona, Steve Coogan in Dr. Strangelove, and Ben Whishaw and Lucian Msamati in the Samuel Beckett two-hander Waiting for Godot.

Book tickets to London shows in November on London Theatre.

Come Alive!, Empress Museum

Inspired by the hit 2017 film The Greatest Showman, this Big Top spectacular combines the considerable circus skills of Cirque du Soleil with the musical theatre talent of the West End. Cabaret connoisseur Simon Hammerstein (grandson of lyricist Oscar Hammerstein) directs the brand-new story, and fans can expect to hear all their favourite songs from the film, including “This is Me”, “The Greatest Show” and “A Million Dreams”. Simon Bailey (Moulin Rouge!) plays The Showman, with newcomer Aaliya Mai co-starring as Max. Be sure to arrive early to soak up the pre-show immersive elements and chow down at the Empress Diner.

Book Come Alive! tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Dr. Stangelove, Noël Coward Theatre

“We want to send people home laughing – and afraid!” jokes writer Armando Iannucci about this first stage adaptation of the classic Stanley Kubrick film. With a cast led by seven-time BAFTA Award-winner Steve Coogan and direction by Sean Foley (who also co-adapted the script with Iannucci), this is sure to be a hot ticket. The team are keen to draw parallels between the Cold War anxieties of the original film and current geopolitical instabilities, while ensuring they keep the gag count high.

Book Dr. Strangelove tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Barcelona, Duke of York's Theatre

This explosive two-hander from the pen of American playwright Bess Wohl stars Lily Collins (Emily in Paris) and Álvaro Morte (Money Heist). A drunken one-night stand in Barcelona between an American tourist and an older Spanish man takes an unexpected turn as the night progresses and the pair start to reveal more of their backstories. As the personal and political collide, the intermittent bombshells and changes of tone ensure that the audience is always kept on its toes.

Book Barcelona tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

The Lehman Trilogy, Gillian Lynne Theatre

In this unmissable drama, the history of capitalism is viewed through the prism of one immigrant family – Lehman brothers Henry, Mayer and Emanuel, who arrive in New York from Bavaria in 1844. The family’s trajectory from dry goods store owners to investment bankers takes in the 1929 Wall Street Crash, ’30s Depression and ultimate collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, triggering the biggest financial crisis in history. Actors John Heffernan, Aaron Krohn and Howard W. Overshown portray the siblings, as well as the play’s other 100-odd characters, in a masterclass of stage storytelling.

Book The Lehman Trilogy tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Waiting for Godot, Theatre Royal Haymarket

A cavalcade of rave reviews greeted this production of Samuel Beckett’s landmark drama – voted the most significant English-language play of the 20th century by a 1999 National Theatre poll. Lucian Msamati (Game of Thrones) and Ben Whishaw (Paddington) excel as Vladimir and Estragon, two characters who ruminate while sitting under a tree waiting for the mysterious Godot to arrive. With sterling support by Tom Edden (Crazy for You) and Jonathan Slinger (A View From the Bridge) as Lucky and Pozzo.

Book Waiting for Godot tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

The Forsyte Saga (Parts 1 & 2), Park Theatre

John Galsworthy’s epic tale of love, power and family secrets has twice been adapted for TV and now hits the Park Theatre in a two-part stage version. Spanning the late Victorian period to the start of the roaring Twenties, Shaun McKenna and Lin Coghlan’s adaptation focuses on the two primary female characters, the possessive patriarch Soames Forsyte’s wife Irene and his daughter Fleur. Galsworthy’s opus is a perennial favourite, so expect four decades of slippery social climbing and sex scandals.

Book The Forsyte Saga Part 1 tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk
Book The Forsyte Saga Part 2 tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Wicked, Apollo Victoria

Wicked recently turned 18 in the West End, which means it’s now old enough to drink and vote. It’s still one of London’s greatest nights out, with the cavernous Apollo Victoria still seemingly packed to the gills at every performance. Current cast includes returning Elphaba champion Alexia Khadime and Phantom’s Lucy St. Louis as Glinda, though she’s being capably covered for while on maternity leave. Get your tickets now before the upcoming movie draws in all the poseurs.

Book Wicked tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

The Choir of Man, Arts Theatre

Be sure to get down to this rollicking sing-song before they call time at the end of December. Described as “a lock-in like no other”, the nine-strong cast deliver rousing reinterpretations of hits from Adele, Paul Simon, The Proclaimers, Guns ‘N’ Roses, and others in a pub setting called The Jungle that has a working bar on stage. Complementing the song and dance, Ben Norris’s poetic monologues are the glue that holds the show together. A celebration of community spirit, it’s the perfect night out for stags, hens and office parties – and dancing in the aisles is actively encouraged.

Book The Choir of Man tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk