What's opening in London Theatre this month? (June 2019)
Updated on 3 June 2019
The year has simply flown by as we’re now ready to welcome June and the return of summer. A British summer, however, isn’t always guaranteed to bring warmer weather and sunny days. Still, that won’t stop everyone from having barbeques and Pimm’s. It also won’t stop the show from going on, as many new productions are getting ready to take to the London theatre stage and welcome in West End audiences for the first time. Whilst you get excited for sunshine and blue skies, here are some shows you should also be getting excited for…
Sweat (opens 7 June)
Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Lynn Nottage’s dramatisation of one of the poorest towns in America is set to make its transfer to the Gielgud Theatre after its critically acclaimed run at the Donmar Warehouse where it made its UK premiere. Nottage spent two and a half years in Reading, Pennsylvania (not Reading, UK) interviewing its residents. In this town, people work all day and drink all night. Sweat tells the story of a town devastated by hard times, showing us three friends at their local bar and how their relationship changes through pay cuts, promotions, and strikes. In this award-winning play, we see the lines between friendship, violence, love, hate, racism and prejudice blur into one. Whilst this tale shifts between the years 2000 and 2008, the story is shockingly ever so relevant today. You won't want to miss this spectacular new production for its West End premiere.
🎫 Book your tickets for the Sweat play in London at the Gielgud Theatre from £18.
Bitter Wheat (opens 7 June)
Broadway producer David Mamet has written a provocative new play, Bitter Wheat, that delves into the scandal of the sexual assault accusations around Harvey Weinstein. This new play from the Olivier Award, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer will star Hollywood legend John Malkovich, and it will make its world premiere in London’s West End at the Garrick Theatre. Malkovich will play a fictional character, Barney Fein, who is based on Weinstein. The topical new drama focuses on money, power, glory and sex, and how the corrupt abuse their platforms. The Harvey Weinstein scandal ended his illustrious career and kicked off the #metoo movement which has empowered women around the world to speak out and share their stories. This daring new play will run for four months only across the summer months and its tickets are likely to be hotter than any heatwave we could hope for!
🎫 Book your tickets for Bitter Wheat at the Garrick Theatre from £30.
On Your Feet (opens 14 June)
On Your Feet, the story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan is set to sashay its way into our hearts and the London Coliseum this summer. It’s an inspiring true story of how two people met, believed in each other and their talent, in order to become an international sensation. It’s a tale of heart and heritage that comes to the stage and has already earned triumphant applause. The original production had the critics over on the other side of the pond raving and now the smash-hit musical congas its way into London to win over British audiences and critics alike.
🎫 Book your tickets for On Your Feet at the London Coliseum from £23.
The Light in the Piazza (opens 14 June)
The Light in the Piazza is set to make its London premiere at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. This stunning musical embodies the feeling of Italy and is the perfect summer show as the tale follows Margaret and her daughter Clara as they vacation in Florence for the summer. Set to a beautiful, romantic operatic score, we watch Clara as she meets Fabrizio and it seems like love is in the air. Although, the couple’s chance of happiness hangs in the balance when long-held secrets threaten to come to light. This 6-time Tony Award-winning musical will be in London for just 20 performances and will star award-winning opera singer Renee Fleming and Disney Channel’s Dove Cameron.
🎫 Book your tickets for The Light in the Piazza at the Royal Festival Hall from £24.
Present Laughter (opens 22 June)
The legendary playwright Noel Coward is set to have his semi-autobiographical play Present Laughter revived in a brand-new production at London’s prestigious Old Vic Theatre, and will be directed by in-house director Matthew Warchus. Olivier Award-winning actor Andrew Scott will star as fictional character Garry Essendine, a highly sought-after actor who after turning 40 is facing a mid-life crisis. This is one of Coward’s most famous and hilarious plays and certainly one you won’t want to miss this summer. The revival has a strictly limited run, closing on 10 August, and with it being a guaranteed laugh-out-loud hit, you’ll want to be sure to secure your tickets whilst you can!
🎫 Book tickets for Present Laughter at the Old Vic Theatre from £26.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (opens 27 June)
The classic musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is making a welcomed return to the London stage with a reimagining from the extraordinary Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. This multicoloured story tells the tale of Jacob and his sons, one of which is Joseph, the apple of Jacob’s eye. Through jealousy, his brother’s plot to get rid of Joseph and his coat, landing him in trouble until his skill for prophesising dreams come to light. This family-loved musical features hit songs, popular in the musical world and the mainstream, such as ‘Any Dream Will Do’, ‘Go, Go, Go, Joseph’ and ‘Close Every Door’. The London Palladium will welcome back Jason Donovan, who popularly played the title role of Joseph in the 90s, as the Pharaoh. Also joining the cast is BAFTA and Olivier Award-winning actress Sheridan Smith in the role of the Narrator. Jac Yarrow will join them for his West End debut in the iconic role of Joseph. Any dream doesn’t have to do this summer when Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is playing but be sure to book tickets now, because its run finishes at the dawn of summer.
🎫 Book your tickets for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium from £18.
Also opening in London in June 2019…
Citysong opens at Soho Theatre on 12 June 2019
🎫 Book your tickets for Citysong at Soho Theatre from £11.
Radio opens at the Arcola Theatre on 16 June 2019
🎫 Book your tickets for Radio at the Arcola Theatre from £18.
Hamlet opens at St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden on 19 June 2019
🎫 Book your tickets for Hamlet at St Paul’s Church from £15.
Three Sisters opens at the Vaudeville Theatre on 19 June 2019
🎫 Book your tickets for Three Sisters at the Vaudeville Theatre from £24.
Dark Sublime opens at Trafalgar Studios on 25 June 2019
🎫 Book your tickets at Dark Sublime at Trafalgar Studios from £30.
The End of History opens at The Royal Court Theatre on 27 June 2019
🎫 Book your tickets for The End of History at The Royal Court Theatre from £15.
