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Original poster

To ask for help deciding on a London theatre show?

155 replies

Theda13 · 16/02/2026 23:21

I really can’t decide, the more I look into London shows, the more get added to my wishlist.

So far, I have seen: Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Wicked, Nye, Calamity Jane, The Lion King, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Beautiful and Motown: The Musical. There must be others that I’ve forgotten about too.

My top contenders this time round are: The Phantom of the Opera, Hamilton and the Book of Mormon.

OP posts:
Greenfingers37 · 17/02/2026 12:15

Found Miss Saigon very boring but adore Les Mis (have tickets for Albert Hall in June) and am looking forward to seeing Paddington in July.

SpanThatWorld · 17/02/2026 12:13

Hadestown and Operation Mincemeat

JuliettaCaeser · 17/02/2026 12:11

Caberet is incredible best thing we’ve seen. Extremely adult content though definitely for 16 plus only.

Hadestown is good. Off to see Oliver tomorrow for half term treat can’t wait!

Found moulin rouge very lightweight. The film
is actually far better.

ThisYearIsMyYear · 17/02/2026 12:09

Hamilton is excellent and personally I'd like to see Oliver, Cabaret and Into The Woods. But do yourself a favour and cross The Book of Mormon off your list. It's a couple of hours of my life I'll never be getting back, and I love musicals for the most part. The company are great but the show itself is just terrible and embarrassingly dated. Another musical everyone seemed to love and I hated was Hadestown. But I'll second the pp who suggested Matilda, which I enjoyed way more than I expected. I'm kind of curious about A Mirrored Monet too, but it's not a recommendation as I don't know anything about it.

Hohofortherobbers · 17/02/2026 11:43

Back to the future is brilliant. I did not like book of mormon

ScaredAndPanicky · 17/02/2026 11:37

Nooooo! how can you veto Phantom it is the best musical ever (the only one I have been back to see 3 times - and I live a long way from London).

NorthFaceofthelaundrypile · 17/02/2026 11:25

Have you been to The Globe? An incredible experience whatever the performance.
Even if you think you’ll struggle with the Shakespearean language you’ll understand and absorb so much more than you might anticipate.

FastFood · 17/02/2026 10:29

I'm not a fan of musicals but I liked American Psycho

Metalguruisitu · 17/02/2026 10:16

Theda13 · 17/02/2026 09:59

Oliver is on the list now too. My DP has just vetoed Phantom, which was my top choice. Oliver seems more likely now…

Show quote history

What’s his logic OP. It wasn’t near the top of mine but it blew me away. I don’t like Opera, and I get cringy at musicals sometimes, but it was something I was truly engrossed in and some of the effects were amazing. The sort of show where you remember years later how you felt watching it.

neverbeenskiing · 17/02/2026 10:10

I think Hamilton overrated but I seem to be in the minority there.

I enjoyed Mrs Doubtfire much more than I thought I would.

Matilda was great, although we went for the kids benefit DH and I both really liked it.

DH wasn't keen on Wicked but 12 yo DD and I loved it.

Back to the Future was just ok.

We all loved The Producers.

The Stranger Things musical was amazing, terrific performances and the staging and set design was so clever and inventive, I spent half of it going "how the hell did they do that?" Not suitable for children though, it's pretty gory.

Really didn't like Motown the Musical, the actual music was good but the story was dull and I found the dialogue a bit cringe-worthy.

Original poster
Theda13 · 17/02/2026 09:59

blackbaccara · 17/02/2026 00:57

Another vote for Oliver! at the Gielgud. Simon Lipkin's Fagin definitely worth a watch, along with other brilliant cast members.

Oliver is on the list now too. My DP has just vetoed Phantom, which was my top choice. Oliver seems more likely now…

OP posts:
sundayvibeswig22 · 17/02/2026 08:17

I seen Titanique recently and really loved it! The singing was fantastic.

bumphousebump · 17/02/2026 08:11

Mincemeat was fantastic. Saw Hamilton and really wasn’t my cup of tea, should have left at the interval, same with stranger things (just awful script, like high school musical, with 2 marvellous sets that lasted about 10 minutes). Book of Mormon very good but not for the prudish, same for Cabaret.

katiemarnie · 17/02/2026 07:51

Cabaret was brilliant.

Georgiepud · 17/02/2026 07:48

JHound · 17/02/2026 01:00

Yes. Oliver! Is fantastic too. Fagin stole the show.

Show quote history

And another vote for the new Oliver!
Cameron Mackintosh at his best.

BlockCable · 17/02/2026 07:45

I have lived in London for over 30 years so have seen most musicals. The thing is, it is so subjective. Operation mincemeat and Matilda were meh for me. You could not pay me to watch Titanique again. But I absolutely love Les Mis and Cabaret. We all have different tastes! Currently, The Producers is really good I think.

JumpLeadsForTwo · 17/02/2026 06:37

I’m off to see Operation Mincemeat at the Lowry tonight- cannot wait as I’ve heard it’s amazing! Hamilton and Phantom are excellent

SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 17/02/2026 02:04

I saw Phantom last year and thought it was amazing!

Quincy2381 · 17/02/2026 01:25

The Producers is very funny

JHound · 17/02/2026 01:01

ItsTimeToChang3 · 17/02/2026 00:08

Operation mincemeat!!!

I recommended that before reading this thread. It was amazing!

JHound · 17/02/2026 01:00

blackbaccara · 17/02/2026 00:57

Another vote for Oliver! at the Gielgud. Simon Lipkin's Fagin definitely worth a watch, along with other brilliant cast members.

Yes. Oliver! Is fantastic too. Fagin stole the show.

JHound · 17/02/2026 00:59

Hamilton is incredible - I have seen it multiple
times.

I highly highly HIGHLY recommend Operation Mincemeat.

I watch a tonne of shows and that is easily in my top 5.

blackbaccara · 17/02/2026 00:57

Another vote for Oliver! at the Gielgud. Simon Lipkin's Fagin definitely worth a watch, along with other brilliant cast members.

ItsTimeToChang3 · 17/02/2026 00:52

YesSirICanNameChange · 17/02/2026 00:46

Good shout! I've seen three of the touring cast in London; they're outstanding! I have tickets to see the tour after seeing it twice in London; one of those shows I just keep going back to.

Show quote history

I just saw their opening night at the Lowry. Oh my God they are absolutely incredible! Best musical I’ve ever seen