Theatre shows to see in London this summer 2024

Summer in London brings the opening of several theatre shows and the return of favourites like the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Expect Shakespeare adaptations, contemporary autobiographical productions, and notable actor and director debuts. Here is our selection of theatre shows to watch out for in London this summer.

The Bleeding Tree

#FLODown: In a small town, a mother and her daughters face the aftermath of shooting a man dead after enduring years of abuse. The Bleeding Tree explores their struggle for survival and the community's quest for justice. Directed by Sophie Drake, this UK premiere production offers dark humour and intimate storytelling, delving into themes of resilience and complicity.

Date: 29 May – 22June 2024. Location: Southwark Playhouse Borough, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE16BD. Price: form £16. Concessions available. Book now.

Black is the Color of My Voice

Black is the Color of My Voice. Bristol Old Vic Photo by Geraint Lewis.ewis.

#FLODown: Black is the Color of My Voice by Apphia Campbell is a poignant play portraying the life of a successful singer and civil rights activist. The story delves into her quest for redemption following her father's passing, tracing her evolution from a gifted pianist with a future in church service to a celebrated jazz vocalist at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. Drawing inspiration from Nina Simone's life, the production features live performances of Simone's iconic songs. Having garnered acclaim, the show has toured nationally in the UK, received standing ovations, and enjoyed sold-out runs in Shanghai, New York, Edinburgh, and London's West End.

Date: 11-15 June 2024. Location: Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, Theatre Square, London E15 1BN. Price: £10 - £37.50. Book now.

Much Ado About Nothing

#FLODown: One of many Shakespeare classics that will be on show at the Globe Theatre this summer, Much Ado About Nothing delves into the lives of Claudio, Hero, Beatrice, and Benedick. Amidst playful antics and romantic twists, love becomes the central theme as the characters navigate the complexities of relationships in this captivating story.

Click here for our review.

Date: 25 April – 24 August 2024. Location: Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London, SE1 9DT. Price: from £10 (standing). From £25 (seated). Book now.

The Dao of Unrepresentative British Chinese Experience

The Dao of Unrepresentative British Chinese Experience.

#FLODown: Daniel York Loh's explosive gig-theatre production delves into the stereotype of the 'model minority' often associated with being British Chinese. Through a blend of disruptive music, multimedia, and various performance styles, Daniel and collaborator An-Ting 安婷 guide audiences on a hilarious yet poignant journey. The show explores Daniel's personal struggles with drug addiction, his journey through rehabilitation, and his emergence onto the stage. With wit and depth, the production raises questions about identity, belonging, and the path to recovery, blending humour with touching moments of introspection and activism.

Date: 19 June – 13 July 2024. Location: Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London W1D 3N. Price: from £12. Book now.

Being Mr Wickham

Being Mr Wickham to open at the Jermyn Street Theatre.

#FLODown: Adrian Lukis, renowned for his role in BBC's Pride and Prejudice, presents Being Mr Wickham at Jermyn Street Theatre. Lukis stars as Mr Wickham in this one-man play, exploring the character's life thirty years after Austen's novel. Directed by Guy Unsworth and produced by Original Theatre, the production offers fresh insights into Wickham's relationships and encounters with historical events. With Lukis's talent and Original Theatre's reputation for excellence, Being Mr Wickham promises to be a delightful theatrical experience, inviting audiences to rediscover this beloved character.

Date:  5-22 June 2024. Location: Jermyn Street Theatre, 16b Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6ST. Price: From £35. concessions available. Book now.

The Secret Garden

Secret Garden at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Photo by Veronica Reverse.

#FLODown: Regent's Park Open Air Theatre will present The Secret Garden, a new adaptation by Holly Robinson and Anna Himali Howard. This adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic tale follows 10-year-old Mary Lennox, who is sent from India to live with her uncle in Yorkshire. At Misselthwaite Manor, Mary discovers a neglected garden and, through her efforts to revive it and make new friends, she begins to heal herself and those around her. The cast includes Hannah Khalique-Brown as Mary Lennox and Jack Humphrey as Archibald Craven, among others. 

Date: 15 June – 20 July 2024. Location: Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, The Regent's Park, Inner Cir, London NW1 4NU. Price: from £15. Book now.   

The Taming of the Shrew 

#FLODown: This summer, director Jude Christian makes her Globe Theatre debut with an inventive take on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, transforming the Globe into an absurd carnival. As audiences step inside, they encounter a vicious comedy where Lucentio vies for the hand of the beautiful Bianca, only to find himself entangled in a competition to tame Bianca's fiercely independent sister, Katherina. The larger-than-life Petruchio emerges as the front runner in this battle of wills, but with Katherina's pride at stake, it will require shocking levels of manipulation to secure her as his bride.

Date: 6 June  - 26 October 2024. Location: Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT. Price: Galleries (Seating) £75-£25 seated, Standing £10, £5. Book now.