In the run-up to 2026’s exciting new offer, we’re taking a final trip down review lane to gather the most enduring shows of the year. Discover which ones have made the cut out of hundreds of press performances and how close it gets to your own selection.
50. Antigone On Strike
Action, politics, and philosophy collide in this poignant drama inspired by real events.
Read our review here.
49. Cry-Baby, The Musical
John Waters’s 90s classic takes the term ‘musical comedy’ to a whole new level through this droll stage adaptation.
Read our review here.
48. Tarantula
Film star Georgie Henley stars in this stirring one-woman show filled with unexpected twists and haunting events.
Read our review here.
47. Four Play
Love, desire, trust, and betrayal clash in this imperfect yet gripping exploration of modern relationships.
Read our review here.
46. Dracapella
Bram Stoker’s literary classic takes a bite of comedy through this parody musical retelling.
Read our review here.
45. The Chaos That Has Been And Will No Doubt Return
Strife, resilience, and self-belief carry this compelling narrative, where true friendship becomes the ultimate lead.
Read our review here.
44. Jobsworth
The madness of the real-life working world gets just a little crazier in this hysterical comedy, starring a millennial struggling to navigate among her multiple jobs.
Read our review here.
43. Murder, She Didn’t Write
It’s no longer whodunnit, it’s how you’ve done it. Anyone is a suspect in this hilarious murder-mystery improv show, where audiences give the clues about what’s to happen.
Read our review here.
42. Tending
Poignancy and truthfulness explode in this endearing homage to NHS workers, based on real-life testimonies.
Read our review here.
41. Roxie Rocks Chicago
Kander and Ebb’s iconic musical comes to life in an immersive cabaret and dinner-theatre experience.
Read our review here.
40. ENB’s ‘Giselle’
The quintessential Romantic ballet brings back its harrowing tale of love and doom through a vibrant, traditionally staged production by the English National Ballet.
Read our review here.
39. More Life
The ethics of immortality permeate this science-fiction play about resurrection.
Read our review here.
38. Fantasia Orchestra’s ‘Birdsong’
Classical music icons and jazz standards shine in an overall refined symphonic performance.
Read our review here.
37. As You Like It
Shakespeare’s comedy classic takes audiences to the Forest of Arden in a most literal manner through open-air performances across London’s parks.
Read our review here.
36. The Magic of Christmas
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and nearly one of the most wonderful shows too, through this explosion of showmanship, immersiveness, and holiday treats.
Read our review here.
35. Dear Annie, I Hate You
Drama, comedy, and resilience come together in this uplifting autobiographical piece about a young woman and her experiences with a brain aneurysm.
Read our review here.
34. Salty Brine: These Are The Contents of My Head
Kate Chopin’s The Awakening comes to the stage in a mixture of sass, cabaret renditions, and poignant personal experiences performed by the iconic American drag queen.
Read our review here.
33. Sh!itfaced Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’
To laugh, or not laugh, that is not the question. The Bard’s most celebrated work becomes the laughing stock of the West End through this hysterical spoof of the Prince of Denmark.
Read our review here.
32. R:Evolution
Classic and contemporary dance merge in a galvanizing montage throughout the history of ballet.
Read our review here.
31. Ghost Stories By Candlelight
Horror, thriller, and mystery thrive in this four-part anthology play about the forces of the unknown.
Read our review here.
30. Ghosts
Ibsen’s classic returns to the London scene in a modernised adaptation starring Callum Scott-Howells and Victoria Smurfit.
Read our review here.
29. BBC Proms – Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1
The Russian composer’s celebrated piece shines in this year’s Proms’s programming through Khatia Buniatishvili’s technically brilliant performance.
Read our review here.
28. Romeo and Juliet
The lovers of Verona move to the American Far West in The Globe’s latest and slightly tongue-in-cheek remake.
Read our review here.
27. BBC Proms – Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto
Hadelich’s immaculate performance reaches the heights of this year’s classical offer.
Read our review here.
26. My Fair Lady
The Mill at Sonning returns to its festive tradition by bringing another musical theatre classic, featuring compelling portrayals and astute staging.
Read our review here.
25. Every Brilliant Thing (Minnie Driver)
Minnie Driver rises above her precursors through an enduring performance of this poignant, life-affirming monologue.
Read our review here.
24. A Man For All Seasons
Robert Bolt’s historical play about Thomas More returns to the London scene in an intricate production starring Martin Shaw and Gary Wilmot.
Read our review here.
23. The Fit Prince
Forget every romantic comedy you’ve ever seen, or just remember them all at once through this one. Hilarious humour, a charming love story, and nerve-wracking audience interaction make this royal affair the scoop no one should miss!
Read our review here.
22. The Deep Blue Sea
Terence Rattingan’s 1950 heart-wrenching play returns to the West End with a stirring performance by Tamsin Greig.
Read our review here.
21. Double Act
Versatile performances and moving narrative make this two-hander a profound, sensitive, and haunting exploration of young male struggles.
Read our review here.
20. Cinderella
Oh no, they didn’t! Oh yes! They did do wonders with Richmond Theatre’s latest family panto production, starring Helen George and Charlie Stemp.
Read our review here.
19. The Comedy About Spies
It may not be MI6’s proudest achievement. And certainly, none of them is of any service to intelligence. Yet, laughter is secured in Mischief’s uproarious farce about the secret agent universe.
Read our review here.
18. The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams’s revered play returns in an intimate, whimsical production at the Yard Theatre, featuring imaginative visuals and impeccable performances.
Read our review here.
17. Cassidy Janson Live at the Vaudeville
The West End star shines even brighter through this one-off West End concert featuring her most career-defining songs.
Read our review here.
16. Retrograde
Following a critically acclaimed 2023 run at the Kiln Theatre, the play arrives in the West End with its explosive narrative inspired by the anti-American witch hunt against Sydney Poitier.
Read our review here.
15. Manhunt
The Royal Court hosts the world premiere of this gripping thriller about the real-life spree killer Raoul Moat.
Read our review here.
14. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bridge Theatre)
The acclaimed 2019 production returned to the venue for another limited run this year, bringing back its extraordinary immersive staging alongside electrifying performances.
Read our review here.
13. Beauty and The Beast, A Horny Love Story
London’s gay adult panto par excellence brings the house down once again with this twinkie-winkie twist on a tale as old as time.
Read our review here.
12. Just For One Day
The Live Aid Concert plays on night after night in this heartwarming musical about the event that united the world and inspired a whole generation.
Read our review here.
11. Kenrex
Jack Holden’s jaw-dropping performance and gripping writing are all the evidence you need to be enthralled by this absorbing true crime thriller.
Read our review here.
10. Glyndebourne’s ‘The Marriage of Figaro’
Mozart’s operatic masterpiece returns in a flawless performance by the renowned group, also playing at this year’s BBC Proms.
Read our review here.
9. Shucked
Corny characters and maize-merising humour are the kernel of this husky musical comedy.
Read our review here.
8. Good Night, Oscar
Sean Hayes gives a moving, star-striking portrayal of real-life pianist and TV personality Oscar Levant in one of the finest plays of the year.
Read our review here.
7. Clarkston
Joe Locke and Ruaridh Mollica brim with chemistry in this poignant, heart-stopping tale of resilience and young romance.
Read our review here.
6. The Code
The shadiest side of Tinseltown reveals itself in this enduring play about Hollywood’s repression.
Read our review here.
5. The Great Christmas Feast
Charles Dickens’s holiday classic submerges audiences in its Victorian universe through this intricate, immersive production, guaranteed to endure through Christmas past, present, and yet to come.
Read our review here.
4. Second Best
Asa Butterfield’s stage debut comes off triumphantly through this one-man show about the boy who almost lived.
Read our review here.
3. ENB’s ‘The Nutcracker’
Tchaikovsky’s Christmas masterpiece reaches new levels of magnificence through this visually striking production.
Read our review here.
2. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Globe)
It’s no longer summer. And the comedy swiftly turns into high drama. The Globe’s edgy production of Shakespeare’s popular work pushes boundaries while showcasing an immaculate understanding of the piece.
Read our review here.
1. Richard II
Jonathan Bailey delivers an extraordinary portrayal in the title role of one of Shakespeare’s least-performed plays, in a remarkably staged production under Nicholas Hytner’s direction.
Read our review here.
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