Feb West End Show Advice

[LiLoCupcake2024]

Posted: 11/9/25 at 10:53am

Hi there! Heading to London for a week of theatre in January and would love some advice curating my itinerary.

I have seven slots for the following lot of shows — including three that are musts for me. Any advice on the remaining four slots would be greatly welcomed!! This is only trip for the next year at least so I’m considering it my only shot to catch anything that’s on. 

MUST: American Psycho, Paddington, Starlight Express

POSSIBLES (can choose 4):

• Into the Woods (saw the 2022 Broadway revival twice and various other stagings)
• Arcadia (never seen)
• High Noon (a favorite film)
• All My Sons (saw it with Bening & Letts on Broadway)
• The Devil Wears Prada (I know what I’m in for and might welcome that)
• Oliver! (Never seen a production of it)
• The Producers (love the show, never seen it staged)
• The Mousetrap (still haven’t made my way to see it)
• Shadowlands (love the story and Hugh)

Anything else that I should consider? My window is Feb 1 - 6, so these seem to be the most exciting crop of shows on at the time. Not interested in the longer running shows that are on which I’ve already seen in New York or London previously.

Thank you!!

Updated On: 11/9/25 at 10:53 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/9/25 at 11:20am

This production of “Oliver” is the best one I’ve ever seen live and I really do recommend it. I think a lot of the cast also just extended for a while (Simon, especially) so hopefully you’d get to see him. 
 

Not on your list is “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” which got unbelievably (I believe) unanimous rave reviews earlier in the year and is transferring to the Theatre Royal Haymarket. It’s one I absolutely can’t wait to see. 

The artwork for “Into the Woods” has me thinking they’ll go in a very dark direction with it really excites me. And that cast just can’t be beat, so based on that alone I’d recommend booking. 

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 11/9/25 at 12:18pm

I'll echo the rec for Harold Fry.

I also currently have tickets for the following in the new year:

• Beautiful Little Fool (musical)
• Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
• The Producers
• Into the Woods
• The Playboy of the Western World
• Indian Ink
• Arcadia
• American Psycho

High Noon is on my "wait and see" list as the Pinter is one of my least favorite theaters. but I would love to see Gough and Crudup.  Ticket sales appear modest so far.

Updated On: 11/9/25 at 12:18 PM

[Cheesecake2]

Posted: 11/9/25 at 2:03pm

None of it.  Go to Paris instead and see Les demoiselles de Rochefort.  Go to all the fabulous cabarets and cafes, see the impressionists at musee d’orsay and enjoy Paris, a far superior city than London.  Also, people don’t fly out of London anymore cause it’s too expensive.  They’re flying out of Charles de Gaulle

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 11/9/25 at 2:13pm

Cheesecake2 said: "None of it. Go to Paris instead and see Les demoiselles de Rochefort. Go to all the fabulous cabarets and cafes, see the impressionists at musee d’orsay and enjoy Paris, a far superior city than London. Also, people don’t fly out of London anymore cause it’s too expensive. They’re flying out of Charles de Gaulle"

TROLL

 

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 11/9/25 at 2:34pm

LiLoCupcake2024 said: "Hi there! Heading to London for a week of theatre in January and would love some advice curating my itinerary.!!"

Saw "The Mousetrap" in London and absolutely loved it.  But....that was back in the early 1980's!  I assume it has stood the test of time.

Enjoy your days in fabulous London.  Such a wonderful, historic city with so much to offer.

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/9/25 at 3:50pm

I'll be there at a similar time and looking to add some non-musical plays to my list. Thoughts on the following? (mostly sight-unseen because they haven't begun...)

• My Neighbour Totoro
• Arcadia (the cast might be a big deciding factor; any rumblings?)
• Man & Boy w Ben Daniels at the National
• Playboy of the Western World at the National
• Woman in Mind with Sheridan Smith

[Cheesecake2]

Posted: 11/9/25 at 6:57pm

What happened to Guys and dolls transferring?  Or Oliver? Or fiddler on the roof?