The Best Plays in London

What to see where and until when: theartsdesk's stage tips

share this article

London is the theatre capital of the world, with more than 50 playhouses offering theatrical entertainment. From the mighty National Theatre to the West End, the small powerhouses of the Donmar Warehouse and the Almeida and out to the fringe theatres, it's hard to know which to turn. Our guide is here to help you sort the wheat from the chaff. Below is our selection of the best plays on in London right now, with links to our reviews for further elucidation.

Albion, Almeida Theatre ★★★★ Mike Bartlett's play has deepened in accordance with our divisive times. Until 29 Feb

Collapsible, Bush Theatre ★★★★ Breffni Holahan’s bravura performance controls a monologue of mental malaise. Until 14 Mar

Death of England, National Theatre ★★★★ New monologue about rage, racism and national identity is simply magnificent. Until 7 Mar

Kunene and the King, Ambassadors Theatre ★★★★ A strange meeting across the boundary of race: John Kani co-stars in his two-hander with Antony Sher. Until 28 Mar

Leopoldstadt, Wyndham's Theatre ★★★★ Director Patrick Marber knits Tom Stoppard's putative swan song into a compelling whole. Until 13 Jun

Nora: A Doll's House, Young Vic ★★★★ Ibsen diced, sliced and reinvented with poetic precision. Until 21 Mar

The High Table, Bush Theatre ★★★★ New debut play is a heartfelt account of the black lesbian experience. Until 21 Mar

The Upstart Crow, Gielgud Theatre ★★★★ Terrific Shakespeare spoof Ben Elton's new comedy is a gagfest. Until 25 Apr

Uncle Vanya, Harold Pinter Theatre ★★★★★ Ian Rickson’s exemplary production relishes the nuances of Conor McPherson's adaptation. Until 2 May

Comments

Add comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.

rating

0

share this article

the future of arts journalism

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

more theatre

This transfer from Regent's Park Open Air Theatre sustains its magic
Story of self-discovery through playing the piano resounds in Anoushka Lucas's solo show
Tone never settles, but Sondheim's genius carries the day
Shaw's once-shocking play pairs Imelda Staunton with her real-life daughter
Ince's fidelity to the language allows every nuance to be exposed
David Ireland pits a sober AA sponsor against a livewire drinker, with engaging results
The 1952 classic lives to see another day in notably name-heavy revival
The Irishman's first new play in over a decade is engaging but overstuffed
This wild, intelligent play is a tour de force till the doom-laden finale