When will the West End reopen? Here's what we know so far
We dive into which shows have announced their return
Author: Rhys FreemanPublished 14th Apr 2021 Last updated 14th Apr 2021
On the 22nd of February, Prime Minister Boris Johnson laid out the government's roadmap for how England will leave lockdown (providing that everything goes to plan).
What's the roadmap for England to leave lockdown?
The roadmap has been split into four stages with five weeks gap between each stage. The first stage began on the 8th March and saw schools reopening along with care homes allowing single visitors. The steps that affect theatre are steps three and four.
When will theatres start to reopen?
The earliest date that theatres in England will be allowed to reopen is the 17th May. During this period theatres will be allowed to reopen, however under social distancing guidelines. Indoor venues will have to be at half capacity or a maximum of 1,000 people, whichever of those two is lowest, and outdoor venues will be at half capacity or 4,000 people.
When will the restrictions be lifted?
The final stage on the roadmap, stage four, is when all legal limits on social activity will be lifted and this will happen no earlier than the 21st June. All of these dates are subject to whether the vaccine programme continues to go to plan, hospital admissions continue to fall, and that no variants change the risk if the restrictions are lifted.
What have theatre companies said about the roadmap?
Theatre companies have welcomed the news that they will be allowed to reopen. Theatre owners Nimax stated, 'We welcome the news that theatres will be able to reopen in England from 17 May, at the earliest, with social distancing. We’ll be in touch with all ticket holders in the coming weeks with further announcements and we thank you for your patience'
Andrew Lloyd Webber has said, "I am buoyed by the government's roadmap announcement last week and am absolutely prepared to do my part to get theatre open again this summer." It looks that Andrew is very optimistic about the news and has commenced rehearsals for some of his shows.
Which shows will open this summer?
The Mousetrap
Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap will open as soon as theatres are allowed to on 17th May and will continue their record breaking run.
When will the West End reopen? Here's what we know so far
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& Juliet
With a score built on some of Max Martin's greatest hits, & Juliet explores what would happen if Juliet's famous ending was really just her beginning. & Juliet returns to the Shaftesbury Theatre on the 24th September
The Mousetrap
Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap will open as soon as theatres are allowed to on 17th May and will continue their record breaking run.
Death Drop
The Dragatha Christie murder mystery play, Death Drop is returning to the Garrick Theatre on the 19th May with some new leading cast members. RuPaul's Drag Race stars Willam Belli and Latrice Royale will be making their West End debuts also joining the cast is Brummie drag king, Don One and Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist, Myra Dubois. The three will be joining returning cast members LoUis CYfer, Anna Phylactic and Holly Stars.
Everybody's Talking About Jamie
After managing to open for a matter of days back in late 2020, Everybody's Talking About Jamie will be one of the first West End musicals to bounce back with socially distanced performances starting from May 20th.
Les Misérables
The West End's longest running musical is back! Les Misérables returns to the Sondheim theatre as a staged concert on the 20th May. The full production will then take its place on the 25th September.
Amélie The Musical
The critically acclaimed production of Amélie the Musical will be returning to London as they open at the Criterion Theatre on the 20th May.
Six
Six the musical returns to the Lyric theatre on the 21st May. The run at the Lyric will last until the 22nd August and the show will then run at the Arts theatre from the 24th August onwards.
Showstopper! The Improvised musical
The hilarious Showstopper will be returning with their improvised musicals on various Mondays at the Garrick Theatre starting from the 7th June. If you can't wait until then you can also watch their livestreams available on their website!
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
The iconic Regent's Park Open Air Theatre is back with their 2021 season. Romeo and Juliet will run from 17 June - 24 July, and Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel will run from 30 July - 25 September.
Heathers the Musical
Heathers the musical will be returning to the Theatre Royal Haymarket as soon as social distancing rules are lifted on the 21st June with a 12 week run. There will also be a UK & Ireland tour of Heathers running simultaneously from the 28th of July
Hairspray
The long awaited revival of Hairspray starring Michael Ball and Marisha Wallace will open at the London Coliseum on the 22nd June.
TINA: The Tina Turner Musical
TINA - The Tina Turner Musical which is based on the life of yes, you guessed it, Tina Turner, will be back at the Aldwych Theatre from 24th June.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella
Andrew Lloyd Webber's new adaptation of Cinderella will premiere at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in July.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
The hit revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat will be returning to the London Palladium from the 1st July. The show will star Jac Yarrow, Jason Donovan, and Alexandra Burke.
The Prince of Egypt
DreamWorks' The Prince of Egypt with music and lyrics by Wicked's Stephen Schwartz will return to the Dominion theatre from 1st July.
Pretty Woman: The Musical
Based on the hit 1990 film of the same name, Pretty Woman: The Musical will move to the Savoy Theatre and open on the 8th July.
Anything Goes
Megan Mullally and Robert Lindsay are coming to the Barbican Theatre when Cole Porter and P.G. Woodhouse's Anything Goes arrives on the 23rd July
Jersey Boys
The Jersey Boys will be returning to London this summer with a production opening at the Trafalgar Studios from the 28th July.
The Lion King
Disney's The Lion King will be returning to the Lyceum Theatre from the 29th July.
Phantom of the Opera
Despite earlier concerns, the iconic Phantom of the Opera isn't going anywhere. Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical will be returning to Her Majesty's Theatre in late July.
Back to the Future The Musical
After a brief stint in Manchester at the start of last year, Back to the Future The Musical will be making its way to London's Adelphi Theatre at 88mph from the 20th August 2021!
Frozen the Musical
Frozen the Musical will make its West End debut at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane from the 27th August with Samantha Barks starring as Elsa
The Last Five Years
After a hit run at the Southwark Playhouse, The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown will transfer to the Vaudeville Theatre and run from 17th September to 13th October. The show stars Molly Lynch as Cathy and Oli Higginson as Jamie.
& Juliet
With a score built on some of Max Martin's greatest hits, & Juliet explores what would happen if Juliet's famous ending was really just her beginning. & Juliet returns to the Shaftesbury Theatre on the 24th September
The Mousetrap
Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap will open as soon as theatres are allowed to on 17th May and will continue their record breaking run.
Death Drop
The Dragatha Christie murder mystery play, Death Drop is returning to the Garrick Theatre on the 19th May with some new leading cast members. RuPaul's Drag Race stars Willam Belli and Latrice Royale will be making their West End debuts also joining the cast is Brummie drag king, Don One and Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist, Myra Dubois. The three will be joining returning cast members LoUis CYfer, Anna Phylactic and Holly Stars.
Everybody's Talking About Jamie
After managing to open for a matter of days back in late 2020, Everybody's Talking About Jamie will be one of the first West End musicals to bounce back with socially distanced performances starting from May 20th.
Les Misérables
The West End's longest running musical is back! Les Misérables returns to the Sondheim theatre as a staged concert on the 20th May. The full production will then take its place on the 25th September.
Amélie The Musical
The critically acclaimed production of Amélie the Musical will be returning to London as they open at the Criterion Theatre on the 20th May.
Six
Six the musical returns to the Lyric theatre on the 21st May. The run at the Lyric will last until the 22nd August and the show will then run at the Arts theatre from the 24th August onwards.
Showstopper! The Improvised musical
The hilarious Showstopper will be returning with their improvised musicals on various Mondays at the Garrick Theatre starting from the 7th June. If you can't wait until then you can also watch their livestreams available on their website!
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
The iconic Regent's Park Open Air Theatre is back with their 2021 season. Romeo and Juliet will run from 17 June - 24 July, and Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel will run from 30 July - 25 September.
Heathers the Musical
Heathers the musical will be returning to the Theatre Royal Haymarket as soon as social distancing rules are lifted on the 21st June with a 12 week run. There will also be a UK & Ireland tour of Heathers running simultaneously from the 28th of July
Hairspray
The long awaited revival of Hairspray starring Michael Ball and Marisha Wallace will open at the London Coliseum on the 22nd June.
TINA: The Tina Turner Musical
TINA - The Tina Turner Musical which is based on the life of yes, you guessed it, Tina Turner, will be back at the Aldwych Theatre from 24th June.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella
Andrew Lloyd Webber's new adaptation of Cinderella will premiere at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in July.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
The hit revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat will be returning to the London Palladium from the 1st July. The show will star Jac Yarrow, Jason Donovan, and Alexandra Burke.
The Prince of Egypt
DreamWorks' The Prince of Egypt with music and lyrics by Wicked's Stephen Schwartz will return to the Dominion theatre from 1st July.
Pretty Woman: The Musical
Based on the hit 1990 film of the same name, Pretty Woman: The Musical will move to the Savoy Theatre and open on the 8th July.
Anything Goes
Megan Mullally and Robert Lindsay are coming to the Barbican Theatre when Cole Porter and P.G. Woodhouse's Anything Goes arrives on the 23rd July
Jersey Boys
The Jersey Boys will be returning to London this summer with a production opening at the Trafalgar Studios from the 28th July.
The Lion King
Disney's The Lion King will be returning to the Lyceum Theatre from the 29th July.
Phantom of the Opera
Despite earlier concerns, the iconic Phantom of the Opera isn't going anywhere. Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical will be returning to Her Majesty's Theatre in late July.
Back to the Future The Musical
After a brief stint in Manchester at the start of last year, Back to the Future The Musical will be making its way to London's Adelphi Theatre at 88mph from the 20th August 2021!
Frozen the Musical
Frozen the Musical will make its West End debut at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane from the 27th August with Samantha Barks starring as Elsa
The Last Five Years
After a hit run at the Southwark Playhouse, The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown will transfer to the Vaudeville Theatre and run from 17th September to 13th October. The show stars Molly Lynch as Cathy and Oli Higginson as Jamie.
& Juliet
With a score built on some of Max Martin's greatest hits, & Juliet explores what would happen if Juliet's famous ending was really just her beginning. & Juliet returns to the Shaftesbury Theatre on the 24th September
As shows continue to release their opening dates we will keep this page updated.
