New photos have been recently released of the backstage environment at My Neighbour Totoro. Honestly, it looks just as fun an wholesome backstage as it is onstage!
Michelle Miners, Yui Minari, Chui Yen, Sera Maehara, Sango Tajima backstage, photo by Danny Kaan
Based on the iconic Studio Ghibli film, My Neighbour Totoro follow sisters Mei and Satsuki as their family moves to a rural Japanese town in the 1950s. As the girls explore their new home, they find that in addition to their human neighbours, they live near some very interesting spirits.
My Neighbour Totoro has received outstanding reviews. The Stage hailed it as “A huge, healing hug of a show…utterly beguiling,” with Broadway World stating “Wow is too small a word.” Additionally, this production is the winner of 5 Whatsonstage awards and 6 Olivier awards- including the Olivier for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play.
Totoro opened at the Gillian Lynne theatre in March of 2025. It is now in it’s final booking season, and will play it’s final performance on January 3rd. Don’t let the magic pass you by! Book tickets here!
Victoria Chen, Steven Nguyen, Chui Yen, Helen Chong backstage, photo by Danny KaanMichelle Miners, Rachel Clare Chan backstage, photo by Danny KaanNatsumi Kuroda and a crew member backstage, photo by Danny KaanSera Maehara backstage, photo by Danny KaanAi Ninomiya backstage, photo by Danny KaanBai Zhijin, Eero Chen Liu backstage, photo by Danny KaanSteven Nguyen backstage, photo by Danny KaanNatsumi Kuroda and a crew member backstage, photo by Danny Kaan
There’s a lot to look forward to this October! As the transition from summer into fall solidifies, a slew of new shows will be opening. Here is a summary of all the new shows opening up next month.
High School Musical
Photo by Matt Crockett
It’s hard to believe it’s been twenty years since High School Musical first played on television. This newest revival spent a few weeks playing in Manchester, and is now ready to make it’s London debut! The show will open on October 12th and will be playing at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.
Join Troy, Gabriella, and the students of East High as they navigate first love, friendships, and self-discovery. All this while juggling classes, basketball games, auditions, and the expectations of their peers.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Harry Potter and the Cursed Childhas just celebrated their ten year anniversary on the West End, but that doesn’t mean it’s old news. The show has been closed for the last few weeks- reconfiguring into a traditional, single part show. The newly imagined show will open at the Palace Theatre on October 9th.
19 years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, they’re back on a most extraordinary new adventure. This time, they’re joined by a brave new generation that’s only just arrived at the legendary Hogwarts School. Prepare for spectacular spells, a mind-blowing race through time, and an epic battle to stop mysterious forces, all while the future hangs in the balance.
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar had a phenomenal run this summer at the London Palladium, and now prepares to start the second leg of the run at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. This show features Eurovision star Sam Ryder as Jesus. This is alongside Tyrone Huntley as Judas, Desmonda Cathabel as Mary Magdalene, and a selection of actors rotating through the role of King Herod.
Jesus Christ Superstarfollows the events of the last days Jesus’ life, as seen through the eyes of Judas. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the score includes ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Gethsemane’ and the iconic title number ‘Superstar’.
When Ranevskaya returns to her childhood estate after years abroad, she finds her family home and beloved cherry orchard under threat. As old loyalties falter and new ambitions rise, a world of privilege begins to crumble. Can she embrace the future, or will the pull of memory prove impossible to escape?
The Lives of Others
This highly anticipated show will open on October 14th, though tickets are already scarce! The Lives of Others stars Keira Knightley, Stephen Dillane, and Luke Thompson. This show will be playing at the Adelphi Theatre for a strictly limited run.
1984. East Germany. A writer and an actor are placed under state surveillance. From the attic above their apartment, their Stasi man listens for evidence of subversion. But to observe a life is to risk changing your own.
First is The Devil Wears Prada! Teri Hatcher (Lois & Clark, Desperate Housewives) will be taking over the role of Miranda Priestly on October 20th. Of her new role, she said “Miranda is intelligent, commanding, and has a glorious way of putting you in your place while being funny at the same time. Her dialogue is unforgettable, her confidence is contagious. These are the kinds of roles one loves to play. I can’t wait to embrace Miranda’s sharp wit, fierce ambition, and iconic style, and share her story on a stage with a new audience every night.”
Next up is The Hunger Games On Stage. Beginning on October 23rd, Elizabeth Anderson will step into the role of Katniss Everdeen alongside Vinnie Copeland as Peeta Mellark. Nathan Stokes (Gale), Daisy Statham (Prim), Alix Dunmore (Mrs Everdeen), and Isabel Della-Porta (Effie) will join them. Theo Ogundipe (Cinna), Neil McDermott (Haymitch), and Daniel Brocklebank (Caesar) complete the principal cast. The company includes returning cast members Aiya Agustin, Geo Bailey and Alexandra Barredo, alongside new cast members including Jason Battersby, Myla Carmen, Montel Morrison and Jhanaica van Mook.
It was previously announced that Lolly Adefope would be taking over the role of Mary Todd Lincoln in “Oh, Mary!” Joining her will be both Lucy Frederick (Mary’s Chaperone), J R Ballantyne (Mary’s Husband’s Assistant), and Vinnie Heaven (Mary’s Teacher), and Syrus Lowe (Mary’s Husband). This show will conclude it’s West End Run in January, so be sure to grab your tickets soon!
This year marks the 10 year anniversary of this unique show at London County Courthouse. Matthew McGivern and Sophie Craig will join the show as Leonard Vole and Romaine Vole, respectively. Jo Stone-Fewings returns as Sir Wilfrid Robarts QC, with Crispin Redman as Mr Mayhew, Jude Owusu as Mr Myers QC and David Shaw-Parker as Mr Justice Wainwright.
Finally, Sahar Awad, Philip Battley, William Baylis, Siobhan Bevan, Garon Akbar Clark, Michael Cusick, Anthony Ofoegdu, Sean Paul Jenkinson, Io Munro, Caroline Partridge, Tom Richardson and Tristan Rivelle complete the company.
All these announcements have us so excited for this fall! Click here for tickets for all these shows and more.
Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get the hell out of town. When new student Henry Creel arrives, his family finds that a fresh start isn’t so easy… and the shadows of the past have a very long reach.
Brought to life by a multi-award-winning creative team, who take theatrical storytelling and stagecraft to a whole new dimension, this gripping new adventure will take you right back to the beginning of the Stranger Things story – and may hold the key to the end.
Currently playing at the Phoenix Theatre. This show closes on December 27th.
Not-So-Spooky Titles
Maybe you’re not into scary shows, but still want a night out with fall or Halloween vibes. We’ve got you. Here’s a selection of shows featuring ghosts, witches and wizards, and the cosy feeling of a pumpkin spice latte.
Based on Tim Burton’s beloved movie classic, this wildly funny – and weirdly life-affirming – musical tells the tale of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager sharing her home with a pair of newly-deads and the demonic ghost with the most, Beetlejuice. He’s dead trouble, but if you really want to feel alive, just say his name three times…
19 years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, they’re back on a most extraordinary new adventure – this time, joined by a brave new generation that has only just arrived at the legendary Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Prepare for spectacular spells, a mind-blowing race through time, and an epic battle to stop mysterious forces, all while the future hangs in the balance.
The two-part production of this show closes next week, with the one-part production opening on October 9th! This show is playing at the Palace Theatre.
We all know how the story begins. But what happens after it ends?
Once upon a time…
The Baker and his wife. A Witch with a curse. A boy and his cow. A girl in a red cloak. A maiden with long flowing hair. A servant covered in cinders. All journey deep into the dark woods.
As the adventure unfolds and paths entwine, wishes are made, slippers are lost, beanstalks take flight and new friendships are forged – revealing that life beyond ‘Happily ever after’ can still be full of magic, even when there’s darkness.
This show will be playing at the Noel Coward Theatre beginning on September 22nd.
We all know the classic story of The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy famously triumphed over The Wicked Witch of the West but do we know everything? We only heard one side of the story after all! Wicked imagines a beguiling backstory and future possibilities to the lives of L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters from ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, revealing the decisions and events that shape the destinies of two unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
This show is currently playing at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.
Last week saw a truly remarkable act at the Savoy Theatre. With the principal actor for Millicent Clyde on holiday and all three understudies unavailable, it seemed that Paddington was going to have to cancel their show on Tuesday night. That is, until Rose Mary O’Reilly hit the scene. O’Reilly is a swing (an understudy that covers multiple roles) in the production, but doesn’t usually cover the Clyde track. However, she stepped up and covered the role. With only four hours of rehearsal she prevented the cancellation saving over 1000 theatregoers from disappointment.
Being an understudy or swing is a truly challenging feat. Learning the track you perform every night in addition to 3-4 others takes a high level of organization. Each track has it’s own lines, harmonies, choreography, intricate spacing, set and/or props handling, and more. Not to mention everything that happens backstage- such as costume and wig changes. Swings and understudies learn all this with a fraction of the rehearsal time the primary actors get.
Before the show, producer Sonia Friedman took to the stage saying, “It’s theatre history. You’re all going to experience something I’ve never seen before which is- first time playing a lead role with 3-4 hours rehearsal.”
Understudies and swings are an absolutely integral part of the theatre world. It’s not uncommon for audiences to feel a sense of disappointment when they learn an understudy will be performing at their show, but please remember exactly how hard they’ve worked. Being cast as an understudy or swing doesn’t mean the performer isn’t “as good” as the principal actor- it just means they have the extra talent of being able to juggle multiple roles, so that’s where they serve the company best.
The team at Theatre Bookings salutes Rose Mary and all hardworking understudies and swings!
The Death Note Reviews are in! Read on to find out what critics thought!
Death Note officially opened this week, though the road to get here has been a long one! The original musical was written back in 2013 and premiered in Tokyo in Japanese. Over the next ten years it was adapted into Korean, Russian, and Portuguese. The first English language production came in the form of a concert staging held for two nights at the London Palladium in August 2022. This was followed by a three night run at the Lyric Theatre the following September. Finally, a fully realized English language version has debuted and is running until September 12th at the Barbican Centre.
The Reviews are In:
Publication
Rating
The Key Takeaway
Radio Times
★★★★★
“isn’t like anything I’ve witnessed before…the best show I have seen in the last decade.”
Broadway World
★★★★
“Diehard fans will love seeing the world brought to life with its stunning visuals and all-around formidable cast, while newcomers will quickly give themselves over to the thrilling melodrama.”
What’s On Stage
★★★★
“the production values alone outstrip most current West End musicals, and the haunting, majestic pop score is surely enough to inspire repeat visits from fans.”
The Guardian
★★★★
“a smart, metaphysical whodunnit – or perhaps, more accurately, howdunnit – with a nice line in emotional intensity cranked up by its power-ballad musical score.”
Death Note is about a brilliant high school student, Light, who discovers a supernatural notebook. This notebook has the power to kill anyone whose name is written in it. Determined to reshape the world according to his own sense of justice, he begins secretly eliminating criminals. This draws the attention of a mysterious, world-class detective who becomes determined to unmask him. What follows is a tense, intellectual game of cat-and-mouse between two geniuses. Each one is convinced they’re in the right, as the show explores questions of justice, power, and the cost of playing god.
This show is a pop/rock stage adaptation of the wildly popular manga and anime series of the same name by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. It has music by Frank Wildhorn (Bonnie & Clyde, Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel), lyrics by Jack Murphy (The Civil War, Wonderland, Rudolf: The Last Kiss), and a book by Ivan Menchell (Bonnie & Clyde,The Nanny, Phil of the Future).
Heading the cast is Xander Pang as Light. WhatsOnStage calls him a “superb find,” with Radio Times describing his performance as “incredible” and “effortless.” Joining him in leading roles are Colin Ryan as L, the detective tasked with tracking Light down, and Stephanie Zaharis as Misa, a popstar who finds herself wrapped up in Light’s journey. All three leads have had stellar reviews; with The Guardian saying “all three performers attack their roles with grade-A gusto.”
They are joined by Telly Leun as Ryuk, Grace Mouat as Rem, Paolo Montalban as Soichiro, Chloe Saracco as Gelus, and Elsie Buckley as Sayu. The ensemble is made up of Louise Liluna Browning, Aoife Haakenson, Samantha Ho, Katie Ka Lay Ho, Olivia Hazel Jones, Matthew Koon, Abel Law, Luchia Moss, Patrick Munday, Richie Paisley, Regine Phua, Nicky Wong Rush, and Ernest Stroud. Nicole Carlisle, Renz Cardenas, David Ouch, and Sian Yeo are the show’s swings, with Yeo also serving as Dance Captain.
You can buy them with Theatre Bookings online by clicking here. However, for the best prices call us on 0207 087 2999 or visit us in person on the same week that you wish to see the show.
Make the most of the final weeks of summer with a trip to the West End. It’s a fantastic way to bring the whole family together and create lasting memories. To help you choose, we’ve rounded up a selection of summer shows currently playing, organized by age group. (Psst- these are the ones that won’t break the bank!)
Join Blippi and Meekah live on stage for a one-of-a-kind interactive adventure that inspires kids to move like, play like, and explore just like Blippi!
This show is 80 minutes long and plays at The Arts at Marble Arch. Tickets are starting at £22.50.
The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big, stripy tiger!
This show is 55 minutes long and plays at Theatre Royal Haymarket. Tickets are starting at £9.50.
Searching for hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the high-spirited Snake. Will the story of the terrifying Gruffalo save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures? After all, there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo – is there?
This show is 1 hour long and plays at the Lyric Theatre. Tickets are starting at £11.
Ancient Greece. A time of gods, mortals… and Hercules, who isn’t quite either. But if he’s not a god, how can he possibly save the world from Hades? It’s one thing flexing those pecs, but going from zero to hero requires a different kind of strength.
This show is 2 hours and 10 minutes long and plays at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Tickets start at £31.
My Neighbour Totoro is an enchanting coming-of-age story exploring the magical fantasy world of childhood and the transformative power of imagination, as it follows one extraordinary summer in the lives of sisters Satsuki and Mei.
This show is 2 hours and 30 minutes long and plays at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Tickets are starting at £34.
Wicked is the magical story of an unexpected friendship between two young women whose lives take very different paths in the Land of Oz. With spectacular songs, breath-taking stage effects, and plenty of heart, it’s a fun and unforgettable musical the whole family can enjoy.
This show is 2 hours and 45 minutes long and plays at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Tickets start at £32.50.
Oliver! is a lively and heart-warming musical packed with unforgettable songs, colourful characters, and plenty of adventure. Follow young Oliver as he journeys through Victorian London, making new friends, facing exciting challenges, and discovering where he truly belongs.
This show is 2 hours and 40 minutes long and plays at the Gielgud Theatre. Tickets start at £39.
Fresh out of college, aspiring journalist Andy scores a job at the prestigious Runway magazine working for fashion’s most powerful and terrifying icon — editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly. Sacrificing her personal life to meet Miranda’s impossible demands, Andy finds herself seduced by the glamorous world she once despised. How far will she go to succeed… and will it be worth selling her soul to get what she’s always wanted.
This show is 2 hours and 35 minutes long and plays at the Dominion Theatre. Tickets start at £27.50.
When a rogue British agent pilfers plans for a top-secret weapon, CIA and KGB spies converge on London’s Piccadilly Hotel in pursuit of the elusive file. Join a clueless young couple, a hapless actor angling for an exciting spy movie role, and enough double agents to confuse even the sharpest operative, in a mission that’s hilariously out of control.
This show is 2 hours and 20 minutes long and plays at the Adelphi Theatre.
Meet Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager sharing her home with a pair of newly-deads and the demonic ghost with the most, Beetlejuice. He’s dead trouble, but if you really want to feel alive, just say his name three times…
This show is 2 hours and 40 minutes long and plays at the Prince Edward Theatre.
If you had the power over life and death, what would you do? When brilliant student Light Yagami discovers a notebook with the power to determine who lives and who dies, his mission to reshape society quickly spirals out of control.
This show is 2 hours and 20 minutes long and plays at the Barbican.
This year has seen a dramatic increase in puppetry in the West End. Puppets have been around for centuries, with evidence of their existence dating back to Greece in the 5th century BCE. From finger puppets, to shadow puppets, to marionettes, there are dozens of different kinds of puppets. Let’s talk about how they’re being used on the West End today!
The Lion King
Certainly one of the biggest examples of puppetry in the West End is The Lion King. This show uses over 232 puppets, and each one is specially crafted to have a certain affect onstage. Zazu, pictured above, is a hand puppet. The actor holds controls that trigger his mouth and eyes in one hand, and the movement of the other arm controls his wings.
Another notable puppet is the cheetah, pictured below. The actress controls the back legs of the cheetah with her legs, the front legs with her hands, and she controls the cheetah’s head with her own. She wears a special headpiece that connects to the cheetah’s head with cables. This fully aligns her movements with the cheetah, allowing for a full transformation. Neat, huh?
My Neighbour Totoro
Another brilliant example of puppetry in the West End is My Neighbour Totoro.
Photographed by Manuel Harlan
The puppets used in this show were designed by international award-winning puppeteer Basil Twist in collaboration with The Jim Henson Company. This show features five different sized Totoro puppets and seven Sho-Totoro puppets (pictured below), as well as many others, such as soot sprites and chickens.
Since the Totoro puppets are very large, they require a team of puppeteers to operate. Bringing this iconic character to life was no small feat. Putting an animated film with so many magical elements on the stage required utilizing many different crafts. Did you know that every single piece of Totoro’s fur is individually tied onto his body? This was to give him the ultimate soft-and-fuzzy look, so the audience would feel as though they want to touch him.
This hilarious show features a range of characters- humans, puppets, and monsters alike! The show primarily uses two different kinds of puppets: rod and live-hand, both pictured below. Rod puppets only require a single actor to operate. The actor uses one hand to manipulate the puppet’s mouth and head and the other to move either one or both of the puppet’s hands using rods. Live-hand puppets use two actors- one controls the head, mouth, and one hand of the puppet, and the other controls the other hand. It can be a real challenge for the two actors to stay completely in sync while puppeteering!
Noah Harrison as Rod and Charlie McCullagh as Nicky
These are only three examples of puppetry in the West End, but many shows use puppetry in some form or another. Whatever show you choose to see this summer, take a moment to appreciate the dedication and artistry that goes into every aspect of bringing it to life!
The Duke of York’s Theatre on St. Martin’s Lane is to be renamed The Tom Stoppard Theatre this summer. This name change will honour legendary playwright Tom Stoppard following his passing last November.
The change will take place over the next months. Internal signage will begin changing in the next few weeks, with external signage taking a bit more time to complete.
This theatre originally opened in 1892 under the name “Trafalgar Square Theatre.” Two years later it was renamed “Trafalgar Theatre,” and finally was relegated the name “Duke of York’s” in 1895, which it has maintained to this day. The theatre has three gorgeous levels and a capacity of 640 patrons.
Originally born in Czechoslovakia, Stoppard fled the country as a child amid threat of Nazi occupation. Following the war, he settled in the UK with his family. Stoppard always knew he had a passion for writing. At age 17 he left school to be a journalist for the Western Daily Press in Bristol. In the mid 1950s, he began writing short radio plays, and completed his first stage play in 1960. In his lifetime he’d had nearly 50 of his works produced on the stage, and many more works produced for radio, film, and television.
Stoppard writing is notable for themes of censorship, political freedom, and identity. Some of Stoppard’s most notable works for stage include Rosencrantz andGuildenstern are Dead, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Leopoldstadt, and Arcadia.
Arcadia is currently playing at the Tom Stoppard Theatre. This play explores the relationship between chaos and order, and certainty and uncertainty. It is widely lauded as being one of his finest works. For tickets, please click here.
The Producers closing date has been confirmed! Mel Brooks’ The Producers has been playing at the Garrick Theatre since the end of August 2025. After nearly a year of stellar performances, they have announced they are closing on September 19th, 2026.
Top: Andy Nyman as Max Bialystock, Johanna Woodward as Ulla, and Marc Antolin as Leo Bloom. Bottom: Marc Antolin and ensemble in the song “I Wanna Be a Producer”
Based on the 1967 film of the same name, The Producers follows two Broadway producers in the 1950s. They scheme to produce a terrible show to commit fraud. Complications arise, however, when they realize they’ve accidentally created a smash hit. This show is an outrageous comedy that is sure to have you laughing out loud.
The original Broadway production opened in 2001 starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. A production on the West End followed closely in 2004. This revival stars Andy Nyman as Max Bialystock and Marc Antolin as Leo Bloom- the titular producers. Joining them are Johanna Woodward, Trevor Ashley, Raj Ghatak, and Harry Morrison in the principal cast.
Trevor Ashley as Roger De Bris and Raj Ghatak as Carmen Ghia
How did critics review The Producers?
This production earned 4 and 5 star reviews across the board. Anya Ryan of London Theatre said “…it delivers one belly laugh after another. And still, there is so much more to this production than good, old-fashioned tomfoolery.” Nick Curtis of The Standard declares “I honestly can’t find fault with it.” Read more review excerpts here.
Antolin, left, and Nyman, right, sandwiching Harry Morrison as Franz Leibkind
How do I get tickets?
The Producersplays Monday-Wednesday at 7pm, Thursday-Saturday at 7:30, with 2:30 matinees on Thursday and Saturday. We have exclusive discounted tickets available at our box office in Leicester Square. Alternatively, tickets are available here for as little as £22 on select performances. The Producers will be closing mid September, so with only 12 more weeks of performances, be sure to grab your tickets today!
This show is recommended for ages 13+ (contains scenes of a sexual nature, and references to Adolf Hitler and Nazis).
