How to find out about London theatre?

[LetsGoRoundTheRoundabout]

I’d really like to get to some new theatre next year. How do I find out about the new, exciting things that are coming up? Are there particular websites, mailing lists?

For West End theatres, this website is OK. You just give them your email.
https://www.lovetheatre.com/?utm_source=LT_Resend_BenjaminButton_ATGOpeners_20240417%20(1)&utm_medium=atg-email-lt&utm_campaign=April%2017,%202024&utm_content=49668091&utm_term=16256521&spMailingID=49668091&spUserID=MTU3NjE4OTgzNTgxMAS2&spJobID=2682024870&spReportId=MjY4MjAyNDg3MAS2

For others, National Theatre, Almeida, Donmar, Barbican, Old and Young Vic, Royal Court, Globe, Park Theatre, go to the website and give them your email.

Have fun!

Most theatres have websites and you can sign up for emails. What sort of things are you interested in? There’s The Globe where you can catch Shakespeare, The National where you can see both traditional plays, new works and revivals,then there are places like the Donmar Warehouse which often has new innovative plays often by new authors, similarly the Royal Court . The big London theatres are very mixed, musicals, revivals, one actor shows. I would also make a point of reading reviews in national , like the guardian, telegraph, times which will give you an idea of what is on. And don’t forget the smaller London theatres, like Theatre Royal at Stratford, Hackney Empire, Hampstead theatre, Richmond etcwhich often have great shows with interesting authors and actors.

I would also lookout for the amazing filmed performances of London theatre performances which are shown in cinemas, they are very well done, and a lot cheaper than theatre prices, because that is the drawback, it’s a very expensive addiction!

Also Orange Tree and Richmond Theatre in Richmond, Hampstead Theatre.

Thank you, some names I know there, some I don’t and some I’d forgotten. Moved out of London ten years ago and have become quite the country bumpkin!

I don’t really know what I want to see. I’ve seen plenty of musicals, Shakespeare, traditional plays over the years, so something different. I do quite like the idea of seeing a big A lister - like Jodie Comer in Prima Facie or Benedict Cumberbatch/Johnny Lee Miller in Frankenstein. Also watching out for NT Live, but next year is a big birthday, excuse to splash some cash!

Another way to find things you are interested in is to set up a Google alert for a certain performer you like. I saw Roger Allam in something last fall that I wouldn't have known about otherwise.

I use the TodayTix app which is quite good as alerts you to new shows, has discounts available like rush tickets and for some shows there are lotteries you can enter

Lots of the best theatres for what you want are not West End. Good theatres to keep an eye on for excellent productions of new shows - sometimes with big names in are:

Almeida ( Islington)
Donmar Warehouse (Cov Garden)
Royal Court (Sloane Square)
Young Vic and Old Vic (Waterloo)
Lyric (Hammersmith)
Bush (Shepherd's Bush)

Also if you like lots of your favourite actors' and theatres' facebook pages, good deals start coming up on your advert algorithms.

Was about to say this is very good for knowing what's on/coming up but check out the offers very carefully! Some are still more expensive than going direct.

I know this is an old thread but in case people look back at it...

Amaryllis has posted a great list. I would add Southwark Playhouse, Hampstead Theatre, New Diorama and Park Theatre to that list.

I find most of the main listing sites all just mimic each other's lists and often come out after pre-sales, etc, have already happened.

Getting on the mailing lists for theatres works much better.

What's on Stage is good for new announcements & casting news - you can sign up for email alerts. It's what theatre PR use for marketing updates.