Redcliffe A New Musical continues at the Southwark Playhouse, London until 4 July 2026. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Redcliffe is an important piece not only because it offers a beautiful portrayal of queer love in the past, but because of the way it speaks to the present.
Tag Archives | Southwark Playhouse
Full cast for Redcliffe debut at Southwark Playhouse
The full cast has been confirmed for upcoming premiere of Jordan Luke Gage’s Redcliffe at Southwark Playhouse Borough.
Miles. – Southwark Playhouse Borough
Miles. continues at Southwark Playhouse Borough, London until 7 March 2026. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ The whole show does a good job of communicating just what a mercurial musical force of nature Davis was.
Gwenda’s Garage – Southwark Playhouse Borough
Gwenda’s Garage continues at Southwark Playhouse Borough, London until 29 November 2025. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ Fresh off a well-received run at Sheffield Theatres’ Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse, Out of the Archive’s new musical Gwenda’s Garage roars into Southwark Playhouse. Devised by Nicky Hallett and Val Regan, and based on true […]
MTR Award winner Hot Mess is London-bound
Following its acclaimed world premiere run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the winner of this year’s Musical Theatre Review Best Musical Award, Hot Mess is heading for London to play a transfer season at Southwark Playhouse.
World premiere of new musical Maiden Voyage sails into the Southwark Playhouse
The full cast has been confirmed for the world premiere of Maiden Voyage at London’s Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 19 July to 23 August 2025 (press night is 26 July).
Scissorhandz – Southwark Playhouse
Scissorhandz continues at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, London until 29 March 2025. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ It has an enormous heart and the superhuman talents on display may well leave you breathless.
Keala Settle to star in UK premiere of Fly More Than You Fall
The Greatest Showman breakout star Keala Settle will lead the cast of the upcoming UK premiere production of new musical Fly More Than You Fall at Southwark Playhouse Elephant.
National Youth Music Theatre – Into the Woods
Into the Woods was performed by the National Youth Music Theatre at Southwark Playhouse, London. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It is always a delight to see young performers excelling in musical theatre.
Police Cops: The Musical – Southwark Playhouse Elephant
Police Cops: The Musical continues at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 20 April 2024. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Ludicrously laugh-out-loud funny, highly infantile, but very endearing, this manic musical ticks just about all the boxes required for a guilty pleasure night out.
Police Cops: The Musical and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button are among the winners of the Offies 2024
The Offies Awards 2024 – celebrating the best of independent, alternative and fringe theatre – across Greater London and at selected fringe festivals around the UK – have been announced in a ceremony at London’s Woolwich Works. The winners from 2023 were invited to return to present the awards to this year’s recipients. Among the musical […]
Before After – Southwark Playhouse Borough
Before After continues at the Southwark Playhouse Borough (The Little), London until 2 March 2024. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Slightly reminiscent of The Time Traveller’s Wife… but more. Like The Last Five Years… but better. Before After, written by Stuart Matthew Price (music and lyrics) and Timothy Knapman (book and additional […]
Musical Theatre Review contributors pick their top shows of 2023
A selection of critics have chosen their ‘show of the year’ although some struggled to pick just one. The shows represent just a small percentage of productions staged this year, but we hope these ‘top picks’ bring back some happy memories.
Oh What a Lovely War – Southwark Playhouse
Oh What a Lovely War continues at Southwark Playhouse, London until 9 December 2023. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
‘I am passionate about bringing new audiences to musical theatre and challenging them’: Maimuna Memon’s Manic Street Creature arrives at Southwark Playhouse
Lucky London can experience Maimuna Memon’s multi-award-winning show Manic Street Creature at Southwark Playhouse Borough for a strictly limited run. In 2022 the production was a big hit at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, winning numerous awards, including The Fringe First, the Mental Health Fringe Award and The Stage Debut Fringe Award.
London season and 2024 tour dates for Unfortunate
The critically acclaimed Little Mermaid parody musical Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula The Sea Witch will swim into London’s Southwark Playhouse Elephant this December to play a winter season before embarking on a second UK tour.
New production of Oh, What A Lovely War! to embark on 60th anniversary tour
Blackeyed Theatre is marking the 60th anniversary of Joan Littlewood’s Oh, What A Lovely War! with a major new touring production of the classic anti- war musical.
London run for Police Cops: The Musical
Edinburgh Festival Fringe hit Police Cops: The Musical will transfer to Southwark Playhouse in London following its sixth appearance at the festival this August.
Then, Now & Next – Southwark Playhouse Borough
Then, Now & Next continues at Southwark Playhouse Borough, London until 29 July 2023. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩
Listen now: Alice Fearn discusses the Wicked movie adaptation and the rumours of her involvement on The Mayor of Musical Theatre Podcast
For weeks, rumours that beloved West End star ALICE FEARN will appear in the Wicked movies as Glinda’s mother have whirled around Oz like so many Kansas houses. On the latest episode of The Mayor of Musical Theatre podcast (in association with Musical Theatre Review), The Mayor took the opportunity to take the question directly to Fearn herself.
Cast confirmed for new musical Then, Now & Next
The full cast has been unveiled for the world premiere of heart-warming original musical Then, Now & Next at the Southwark Playhouse this summer.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying – Southwark Playhouse
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying continues at Southwark Playhouse, London until 17 June 2023. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Award-winner Liv Andrusier to return to star in hit new musical Ride
Liv Andrusier will reprise her award-winning performance in the central role in acclaimed new musical Ride when the hit show returns to London this summer.
World premiere and two classic musicals to feature in NYMT’s summer season
The world premiere of the stage musical adaptation of Lara Williamson’s best-selling novel The Boy Who Sailed The Ocean In An Armchair is one of three major musical productions to feature in the National Youth Music Theatre’s (NYMT) summer season.
How To Succeed in Business – full cast
Full casting has been unveiled for the new production of the classic Broadway musical How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at the Southwark Playhouse this summer. As previously announced double Olivier Award-winner and Tony Award-nominee Tracie Bennett (Follies, National Theatre, Mame, Hope Mill Theatre) will play the traditionally male role of J.B. Biggley, […]
Alice Fearn to star in new musical Then, Now & Next
West End favourite Alice Fearn will star in the world premiere of heart-warming original musical Then, Now & Next at the Southwark Playhouse this summer.
Southwark Playhouse return for Benjamin Button musical
Following a limited world premiere run in 2019, the Celtic musical based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s haunting The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will return to the Southwark Playhouse in May.
New London production of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Georgie Rankcom will return to Southwark Playhouse to direct a new production of the classic Broadway musical How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
Full cast for world premiere of Berlusconi musical
Sebastian Torkia will take on the title role in the world premiere of new musical Berlusconi at the Southwark Playhouse this spring.
Musical Theatre Review contributors pick their top shows of 2022
A selection of Musical Theatre Review critics were asked to choose their ‘show of the year’ although, as you can see, some struggled to pick just one.
Berlusconi musical to premiere in London
One of Italy’s most controversial politicians, media mogul and former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi provides the inspiration for a new musical which will receive its world premiere at the Southwark Playhouse next spring.
Yeast Nation: The Triumph of Life – Southwark Playhouse
Yeast Nation continues at the Southwark Playhouse, London until 27 August 2022. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Yeast Nation is a musical with a title every bit as intriguing as its equally audacious Tony-winning forerunner, Urinetown. Written by Mark Hollman (music and lyrics) and Greg Kotis (book and lyrics), the show […]
Tasting Notes – Southwark Playhouse
Tasting Notes continues at Southwark Playhouse, London until 27 August 2022. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ It’s a new musical about wine! At the ever interesting and affordable Southwark Playhouse! Can’t believe you need to read a review before booking. Hang your head in shame. Okay, fair enough, there is a […]
Recent graduates to join quartet of West End actors in European premiere of Yeast Nation
Four established West End actors will share the stage with four recent graduates when black comedy Yeast Nation (The Triumph of Life) receives its European premiere at the Southwark Playhouse this summer. Christopher Howell (42nd Street, Chichester Festival Theatre, Wicked, Apollo Theatre) heads the cast as the oldest being in the universe, Jan the Eldest; with […]
Full cast revealed for new musical Tasting Notes
West End Mischief Theatre stars Niall Ransome and Nancy Zamit will feature in the cast of new original musical Tasting Notes at the Southwark Playhouse this summer. Produced by Caroheda Productions Ltd, the wine bar-set story which features music and lyrics by Richard Baker and book and lyrics by Charlie Ryall is due to play […]
The Lion – Southwark Playhouse
The Lion continues at Southwark Playhouse, London until 25 June 2022. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Men will literally spend £10k on guitars instead of going to therapy. Some will even perform a one-man show about their predicaments, and then go on to sanction adaptations of that show starring other actors. The “I […]
Lift: A Musical – Southwark Playhouse
Lift continues at the Southwark Playhouse, London until 18 June 2022. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about a drama set in a lift. There’s a Chinese opera about a man trapped in a lift for 81 hours (a true story, disturbingly)… Aerosmith sang about ‘Love in an Elevator’… […]
European premiere for Kotis and Hollman’s Yeast Nation (The Triumph of Life)
Benji Sperring will direct the European premiere of black comedy Yeast Nation (The Triumph of Life) at the Southwark Playhouse this summer. Written by the Tony Award-winning team behind Urinetown, Greg Kotis and Mark Hollman, the show which is described as a ‘bio-historical musical comedy’ will play the London venue from 22 July until 27 […]
Five Questions With: Dean Johnson
DEAN JOHNSON will direct a new production of the London Underground-set musical LIFT at London’s Southwark Playhouse from 13 May until 25 June 2022. Developed by new musical theatre specialists Perfect Pitch and now presented by Gartland Productions, the musical which debuted at Soho Theatre in 2013 starring Cynthia Erivo, Julie Atherton and George Maguire, has […]
Anyone Can Whistle – Southwark Playhouse
Anyone Can Whistle continues at Southwark Playhouse, London until 7 May 2022. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Musicals are by their nature absurd – or at least certainly a step or two away from reality – but some musicals are just way more absurd than others. King of the Fools – the one […]
Southwark Playhouse premiere for new musical Tasting Notes
New original musical Tasting Notes will debut at the Southwark Playhouse this summer. Produced by Caroheda Productions Ltd, the wine bar-set story which features music and lyrics by Richard Baker and book and lyrics by Charlie Ryall will play the London venue from 27 July until 27 August 2022. If you could see one day […]
Winners of Offies Awards 2022 announced
This year’s Offies Awards ceremony was free and online – and announced winners for the Offies, the OffFest and also the new OnComms for online shows Winners were announced in 25 Offies categories from amongst the live shows that returned to London stages from May 2021, and in eight OnComm categories from online shows from […]
London return for underground set musical LIFT
London Underground-set musical LIFT will return to the capital this summer with a new production directed by Dean Johnson. Presented by Gartland Productions, the new version of the musical which received its world premiere in London almost a decade ago will play the Southwark Playhouse from 13 May until 25 June 2022. Developed by new […]
Operation Mincemeat – Southwark Playhouse
Operation Mincemeat continues at the Southwark Playhouse Large, London until 19 February 2022. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ If you didn’t catch SpitLip’s oblique – and hilarious – retelling of this Second World War mission at its last outing in Southwark, then you absolutely must get yourself down to SE1 in double-time, before […]
Alex Young to star in new London production of Anyone Can Whistle at Southwark Playhouse
Alex Young (Amalia Balash in She Loves Me at Sheffield Crucible and Young Sally in Follies at the National Theatre) will star in a new London production of Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim’s 1964 musical Anyone Can Whistle, directed by Matthew Rankcom in The Large at Southwark Playhouse from 1 April to 7 May 2022 […]
Gatsby – Southwark Playhouse
Gatsby continues at Southwark Playhouse, London until 8 January 2022. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ The beauty of creating atmosphere in a novel is that so much of the heavy lifting is done in the imagination of the reader. Adaptations often fall short when bringing well-realised fictional worlds to other mediums, […]
Indecent Proposal – Southwark Playhouse
Indecent Proposal continues at Southwark Playhouse, London until 27 November 2021. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ The immortal playwright Tennessee Williams wrote: “In this world, there are only two kinds of people: The buyers and the ones that get bought.” This musical adaptation of Indecent Proposal clearly explores the darker side […]
More cast details confirmed for premiere of The Rhythmics
Further casting news has been announced for the premiere of new feel-good musical The Rhythmics at the Southwark Playhouse this Christmas. As previously announced, former pop star turned musical theatre favourite Noel Sullivan (School of Rock, We Will Rock You) will play single dad Grey with recent graduate Zweyla Mitchell Dos Santos making her professional […]
Christmas season for Gatsby musical at Southwark Playhouse
Linnie Reedman and Joe Evans’ Gatsby: The Musical will follow its digital concert performance at Cadogan Hall earlier this year, by playing a full festive season at the Southwark Playhouse. Written and directed by Reedman with original jazz-infused music by Evans, the musical inspired by F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic Jazz Age romantic tragedy, The Great […]
Tokyo Rose – Southwark Playhouse
Tokyo Rose continues at the Southwark Playhouse, London until 30 October 2021, before going on tour. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Buoyed by their success at the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the female-led Burnt Lemon Theatre are here in London to present their reworked and expanded Tokyo Rose in the Southwark […]
