If you’re visiting London and looking to enjoy some drinks, there’s plenty to choose from in the West End (including Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Shaftesbury Avenue, and Soho) when it comes to happy hour – usually defined as drinks served at discounted prices while the night is young.

Wine and beer are on offer, as well as many delicious and decadent cocktails. Most cocktail venues don’t insist on a formal dress code (apart from no shorts and gym wear), but it can be fun to dress up for an...

Guide to the best Happy Hours in the West End

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Find out where to secure a delicious pre-theatre tipple with our comprehensive guide to the best bars offering Happy Hour drinks in the West End.

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.

Fine dining is lovely for special occasions but it isn’t always possible when you have lots of activities planned – like a theatre trip! – and not much time. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of places in central London where you can get food on the go or sit down and be served quickly.

Read on for our guide to quick bites and fast food in the West End that will keep you full and nourished and won’t break the bank.

## [Marks & Spencer](https://www.marksandspencer.com/c/food-and-wine)

Where...

A guide to fast food and quick bites in the West End

burgers

Keep yourself full with sandwiches, salads, burgers, and much more as you explore everything central London has to offer. 

New casting has been revealed for [*Stranger Things: The First Shadow*,](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/29263-stranger-things-the-first-shadow) as the show approaches its first anniversary in the West End. The production has also extended its booking period to 6 April 2025.

Louis Healy will take over the role of Henry Creel. He is joined by Callum Maxwell as Bob Newby, Miranda Mufema as Patty Newby, Luke Mullins as Dr Brenner, Jessica Rhodes as Joyce Maldonado, and George Smale as James...

'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' announces new casting

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The *Stranger Things* stage prequel follows loner teenager Henry Creel as he arrives in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana and unleashes darkness for all who live there.

Summer is ending, and it’ll soon be colder and darker… but who cares? That just makes it the perfect time to head to the theatre! And of course, autumn means an exciting influx of big show openings, in the West End and in London’s subsidised and fringe scenes. In fact, there are so many September shows that you could easily spend every night at the theatre.

So, what are the real must-see events? How about Mark Rylance and *Succession*'s J. Smith-Cameron playing opposite one another in [*Juno...

Top theatre to see in London in September

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Find out the best shows to see in London in September 2024, from Tom Stoppard's *The Real Thing* to *Juno and the Paycock*, starring Mark Rylance and J. Smith-Cameron.

New casting has been revealed for [*Mamma Mia!*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/304-mamma-mia-tickets) at the Novello Theatre in the West End. The musical has also extended its booking period to 27 September 2025.

Izi Maxwell (*SIX* UK and International tour) makes her West End debut as Sophie and Luke Jasztal moves from Ensemble to play the role of Sam. They are joined by Ben Irish (*Frozen the Musical, Jersey Boys, 9 to 5: The Musical*) as Sky, Harriet Samuels (*Frozen the Musical*) as...

New cast announced for 'Mamma Mia!' in the West End

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*Mamma Mia!* is the third longest running West End musical of all time, premiering in London in 1999 at the Prince Edward Theatre. It has been seen by over 10 million people.

Initial casting has been announced for Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan’s *The Producers*, which opens at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London on 9 December.

Directed by Tony Award-winning director Patrick Marber (*Leopoldstadt*), the musical will star Andy Nyman (*Fiddler on the Roof, Hello Dolly!*) as Max Bialystock, Marc Antolin (*The Band’s Visit, Romantics Anonymous*) as Leo Bloom, Harry Morrison (*Beetlejuice, Assassins*) Franz Liebkind, and Joanna Woodward (*The Time Traveller’s Wife: The...

Initial casting revealed for 'The Producers' at the Menier Chocolate Factory

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Directed by Tony Award-winning director Patrick Marber, the musical will star *Hello, Dolly!*'s Andy Nyman, Marc Antolin, Harry Morrison, and Joanna Woodward.

The Off-Broadway hit *Titanique* will transfer to the West End on 9 December, opening at the Criterion Theatre.

Combining the music of Céline Dion with the plot of the Oscar-winning film *Titanic*, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, *Titanique* explores what really happened to Jack and Rose on that fateful night. From this wild reimagining of their love story comes a hysterical musical fantasia, including songs such as "My Heart Will Go On," "All by Myself," and "To Love you...

'Titanique' to open at Criterion Theatre in the West End

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The award-winning musical combines the music of Céline Dion with the plot of the Oscar-winning film *Titanic*, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

The full cast has been announced for Robert Icke's new adaptation of *[Oedipus](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/41707-oedipus)* in the West End. The play opens at [Wyndham's Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/venues/wyndhams-theatre) on 15 October, running until 4 January 2025.

Joining the previously announced Mark Strong as Oedipus and Lesley Manville as Jocasta are Samuel Brewer (Teiresias), Michael Gould (Creon), Sara Hazemi (Lichas/Understudy Antigone), Gary McDonald (Driver),...

Full cast announced for 'Oedipus' in the West End

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*Sherlock Holmes* and *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* actor Mark Strong and Lesley Manville (*Sherwood, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris*) will star in this adaptation of Sophocles’ great tragedy.

Based around a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, the easily mispronounced Leicester Square (it’s “Lester”) has long had a reputation as an entertainment hotspot. At the centre is a fountain featuring a statue of William Shakespeare copied from an 18th-century memorial in Westminster Abbey with the quote “There is no darkness but ignorance” from *Twelfth Night*.

In the 19th century, Leicester Square’s theatres included the Alhambra Music Hall; Daly’s Theatre, famed for its lavish...

A neighbourhood guide to Leicester Square

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London's cinema capital is a true entertainment hotspot, also home to several exciting West End theatres.

It’s………. a West End cast. Find out who will star in [*Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/27479-vardy-v-rooney-the-wagatha-christie-trial) at the [Ambassadors Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/ambassadors-theatre) from 6 April to 20 May. 

The *Vardy v. Rooney* play follows the week-long court case between footballers wives Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney, and how social media took over the headlines. Liv Hennessy adapts seven days of High Court transcripts.

Lisa Spirling directs Lucy May Barker as Rebekah Vardy, Laura Dos Santos as Coleen Rooney, Jonathan Broadbent as Hugh Tomlinson QC, Tom Turner as David Sherborne and Nathan McMullen playing multiple roles including Wayne Rooney and Jamie Vardy. Further casting is to be announced.

The show features design by Polly Sullivan, composition and sound design by Richard Hammarton, and assistant direction by Lizzie Manwaring.

Following the West End run, the show will tour to Woking, Liverpool, Southend, Salford, and Brighton.

*Vardy v. Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial* is at the Ambassadors Theatre.

Book *Vardy v. Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial* 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=27479&content_product_id=27479&venue_id=12)

*Photo credit: Vardy v. Rooney (Photo courtesy of production)*

‘Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial’ announces West End cast 

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Genre: Play

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How did a court case between two footballers’ wives become a media sensation? Discover what really happened between Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney. *Vardy v. Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial* tickets are available on London Theatre now.

Typically, most football talk concerns what happens on the pitch. But when Wayne Rooney's wife, Coleen Rooney, took Jamie Vardy's wife, Rebekah Vardy, to court after a string of false stories were sold to a British newspaper, all attention went to the wives. The trial gained the nickname 'the Wagatha Christie trial,' in honour of "wag" (the slang term for a footballer’s wife or girlfriend) and Agatha Christie, the literary brains behind *The Mousetrap*.

Liv Hennessey adapts seven days of high court transcripts into an explosive courtroom drama. You'll be on the edge of your seat as you relive the high-profile case, filled with drama, intrigue, and scandal. 

Who will take the trophy? Who will be relegated? And how can social media sleuthing become a credible source? 

### What is the *Vardy v. Rooney* play about? 

On 9 Oct. 2019, Coleen Rooney publicly accused Rebekah Vardy of selling stories about her to The Sun. The four words "It's.......... Rebekah Vardy's account" sent shockwaves across British and global press, with everyone immediately taking site. Nobody could have expected the social media scandal to grow so large. 

On 10 May 2022, the "Wagatha Christie" trial commenced. Over seven days, the libel court case saw Vardy and Rooney remark on each other's lives, with much of it documented heavily in the press. In the *Vardy v. Rooney* play, audiences can follow the two wives all the way to the end, and uncover its shocking verdict.

Tickets to *Vardy v. Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial* are available now. Book your *Vardy v. Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial* tickets on London Theatre today.

Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial - LON - London Theatre

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You're invited to court to witness the case of Rebekah Vardy v Coleen Rooney unfold in their own words. The sensational media storm took over the newspapers, and now it takes over the West End. Find out what really happened to Rebekah Vardy's account with Wagatha Christie tickets today.

The trial between Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney quickly gained notoriety as the ‘Wagatha Christie trial’ — a nod to a “wag” (a footballer's wife or girlfriend) and crime writer, Agatha Christie. Not even Agatha Christie could create a mysterious thriller with so many twists and turns. By the end of the play, chipolatas, pigeons, and Davy Jones will all have a different meaning.

But how do you a week-long court case and years of buildup into a West End play? Call in Liv Hennessey. She's adapted seven days of transcripts into a two-hour story. The *Emmerdale* screenwriter weaves elements of television drama into the court case. After a limited season in winter 2022, the *Vardy. v Rooney* London play gets new West End fixtures. Its new home ground? The Ambassadors Theatre. 

## What to Watch For: 

- To date, over 190,000 users have liked the Instagram post that saw Coleen Rooney use the four fated words, “it’s………. Rebekah Vardy’s account." 
- Lucy May Barker and Laura Dos Santos play Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney. There's also appearances from Wayne Rooney, Jamie Vardy, and more. 

Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial Rush

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Buy tickets for Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial at the Ambassadors Theatre in London. Find official theatre tickets to Plays with Box Office.

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Welcome to the theatre of dreams. No, it’s not Old Trafford. It’s the [Ambassadors Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/ambassadors-theatre), home to a re-enactment of the “Wagatha Christie” court case that took over Britain. 

Coleen Rooney, the wife of ex-England football captain Wayne Rooney, uploaded an Instagram post accusing Rebekah Vardy, wife of Leicester City and England player Jamie Vardy, of submitting false stories to The Sun. A seven-day libel court case in 2022 concluded that Vardy and her agent Caroline Watt were guilty of selling fake news to the British tabloids. 

A year later, Liv Hennessy’s faithful adaptation puts the wives back in the spotlight, as Hennessy condenses the week-long trial into 90 minutes (and injury time) of back-and-forth action.

But, just because the case is so ingrained in popular culture — the court case birthed the “Wagatha Christie” moniker, a combination of “WAG” (a wife and girlfriend of a football player) and Agatha Christie” — does it need to be retold in dramatic form? 

Hennessy’s courtroom drama magnifies the whipped-up media frenzy around the two women into “The Scousetrap,” a twist on London’s longest-running play that happens to be at the theatre next door. But relying on verbatim transcripts doesn’t add anything to what the general public already knows. 

The court events are so inherently theatrical that rehashing the exact dialogue takes away from the drama. We laugh at the phrases we’re already familiar with. We gasp at the revelations. We walk in knowing the result. Everyone already watched this trial happen, and simply staging the transcripts dilutes their impact.

If you’re after a dramatic reading of the culturally significant Instagram post, then you’ll be easily pleased. Laura Dos Santos (as Rooney) kicks off the show with a jester-like performance of the Notes app declaration. Two ensemble actors step into pundit roles, breaking the action and forcing every football pun imaginable into describing the court case. Halema Hussain and Nathan McMulle confidently steer the proceedings in the narrator roles, but every time they interrupt the court events, any built-up tension is lost — their own goal.

When Vardy and Rooney walk into the courtroom for the first time, they’re cheered by the audience as if they’re athletes. Once the court case begins, any cheering is quickly shushed, as there’s a lot of talking without any breaks. As lawyers make a confident summation of the events, they pretend to score a goal, with all those in court freezing in a football “laddish” manner. While funny on occasion, it’s the only method used to break up the storytelling, and infantialises the events to a series of cheap scores. 

Lucy May Barker doesn’t break a sweat playing Rebekah Vardy. She plays the sourpuss WAG with minimal inflections, so we all laugh when she finally breaks out of character as she recounts the shocking Whatsapp messages. Dos Santos plays an understated Coleen Rooney, capturing the emotion of a heartbroken woman. 

But, due to court transcripts providing the story, there’s little opportunity for character development and any imaginative storytelling. What did the wives think of each other behind closed doors? It’s tricky to understand the pair’s longtime feud. It sizzles, but it doesn’t bang. 

Polly Sullivan’s set conceives the Old Bailey as a football pitch (who knew grass and granite could work so well together?), but the clear plastic chairs feel out of place for both surroundings. 

And there was ripe opportunity to use Sky Sports Saturday ticker tape projections to elevate the production and share side stories to add further context. Instead, we’re made to sit, listen, and take stock. 

When the Wagatha Christie trial played out in real-time, I followed the court case with bated breath. It’s hard to think of chipolatas, pigeons, or Davy Jones’s locker without thinking of Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney. It’s a shame that a pivotal moment in contemporary British popular culture now lends itself to a static, monotonous drama. 

“I think why on Earth are we here?” says lawyer David Sherbourne in his closing statement. I asked myself the same question. 

*Vardy v. Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial is at the Ambassadors Theatre. Book Vardy v. Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial tickets on London Theatre.*

[![Book Tickets CTA - LT/NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/3qAtGOdQq9x3k1WcHlaJnw/90ece91bbe47ed07e142c2e43c7a7a3f/BookTickets-250.png)](https://ticket.londontheatre.co.uk/booking/calendar?product_id=27479&content_product_id=27479&venue_id=12)

*Photo credit: Lucy May Barker and Laura Dos Santos (Photos by Pamela Raith Photography)*

'Vardy v. Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial' review — the football courtroom drama scores an own goal

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Read our review of the courtroom drama between footballer's wives, Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney, playing at the Ambassadors Theatre through 20 May.

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It’s murder in the West End - as the award-winning musical comedy Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! hits London. 

The Ambassadors Theatre, located in London's vibrant West End, is a cultural hub of activity and creativity. It's known for staging a wide range of performances, from classic Shakespearean plays to cutting-edge new works from emerging playwrights. The building has a rich history, having first opened its doors in 1913. Over the years, it's borne witness to countless breathtaking performances, and was the original home of the infamous play, 'The Mousetrap'. It's famous for its intimate set-up, with 444 seats spread across two levels, with each seat providing an excellent view of the stage. From the ornate architecture both inside and out to the welcoming anticipation in the auditorium as the curtain is about to rise, the Ambassadors Theatre offers a truly unique theatre-going experience.

**How to get to the Ambassadors Theatre:**
The Ambassadors Theatre is easily accessible via public transport. The nearest underground station is Covent Garden on the Piccadilly Line. Leicester Square station is also close, with access to the Northern and Piccadilly line. This area is also well-served by multiple bus routes that stop nearby, making it easy to reach from across the city. If you are driving, the nearest car park is at Chinatown or Trafalgar Square. Remember, the theatre is located within the London Congestion Charge zone.

**Additional Information**

Venue opens 1hr 30min before showtime.
Please arrive with plenty of time, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable point, which may be the interval.

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Ambassadors Theatre

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The Ambassadors Theatre opened in 1913. It was built as a companion to [St Martin’s Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/st-martins-theatre), with the intention of housing smaller productions in a more intimate venue. 

The inaugural play *Panthea* lasted just 15 nights. Early plays included *Deburau* starring Ivor Novello, and Eugene O'Neill's *The Emperor Jones.* [*The Mousetrap*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/the-mousetrap)* premiered at the Ambassadors Theatre on 25 Nov. 1952, and later moved to St. Martin's Theatre in 1974.

Recent shows include a decade-long run of *Stomp,* as well as star-studded plays.

## Ambassadors Theatre Seating Information

The auditorium has two levels – Stalls and Dress Circle. It is an intimate theatre.

In the Stalls, the rake of the seating becomes obvious from Row E and is quite a sharp rake, but the last two rows are set lower than those in front. The overhang of the Dress Circle affects the view from Row M.

The Dress Circle is not affected by an overhang, but the legroom on this level is not ideal.

## Additional Information

Venue opens 1hr 30min before showtime.
Please arrive with plenty of time, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable point, which may be the interval.

Ambassadors Theatre - London Theatre

Opened in 1913, the Ambassadors Theatre is designed for smaller productions. It premiered 'The Mousetrap' in 1952. The auditorium has Stalls and Dress Circle.

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The Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End, dating from 1913, is known for its diverse performances and intimate seating arrangement.

‘Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial’ announces West End cast

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