One of our fave things to do in London with kids is to hit up a musical or fam-friendly show, so we're feeling excited about the new ones opening in 2023! Read on for all the details, and also for a few picks you might want to ditch the kids for (including the delectable Aidan Turner and Jenna Coleman starring in Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons, pictured above).
Cirque du Soleil Kurios
Step into the curio cabinet of an ambitious inventor who defies the laws of time, space and dimension in order to reinvent everything around him. Cirque de Soleil, as always, takes circus, acrobatics and jaw-dropping moments to a whole new level.
When: 13th January - 5th March 2023 Where: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP www.cirquedusoleil.com/kurios
Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons
Fun fact: You’re going to speak more than 123 million words in your lifetime. But what will you do when they run out? The answer to that and more is what Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons is all about and makes for the perfect date night or mum's night out. Just popping this here: It stars Poldark's Aidan Turner and Serpent's Jenna Coleman. #allthecrushes A rom-com, heart warmer that's about what we say, how we say it, and what happens when we can’t say anything anymore. When: 18th January - 18th March 2023
Where: Harold Pinter Theatre, 4 Panton St, London. SW1Y 4SW www.lemonstheplay.co.uk
Bat out of Hell
We would do anything for love... and we’ll deffo be booking theatre tickets too! The Meat Loaf musical returns to London this February and is a Rocky-Horror, Romeo-and-Juliet celebration of star-crossed lovers from opposite sides of the tracks. You better believe it.
When: 17th February - 1st April 2023
Where: Sadler's Wells Theatre Holborn, Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4TN
The Great British Bake Off Musical
The Noël Coward Theatre is being doughtally transformed into TV's most iconic tent for The Great British Bake Off Musical. It's set for a short(crust) run of just 12 weeks kicking off at the end of Feb and we literally have no idea how this reality show is going to play out on the stage. Intrigued. When: 25th February – 13th May 2023 Where: Noël Coward Theatre, St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4AU
Sylvia, a Movement, a Musical
Suffragette, hip hop musical Sylvia is kicking off in full at the Old Vic, after a previous 'work-in-progress' outing there in 2018 and is directed and and choreographed by Kate Prince. It also stars the super fabulous Beverley Knight as Emmeline Pankhurst. All the wins. Also, pop 8th March in your diaries for a special post-show talk with some of the cast members who play iconic characters from the Suffragette movement to mark International Women’s Day. When: 27th January – 1st April 2023 Where: The Old Vic, The Cut, London SE1 8NB
Shirley Valentine
Sheridan Smith stars in Willy Russell's one-woman play about a bored, Liverpudlian housewife who has wound up lost in her marriage and motherhood, and who dreams of so much more than frying up egg and chips. When: 17th February - 3rd June 2023
Where: The Duke of York's Theatre, 45 St Martin's Lane, WC2N 4BG www.thedukeofyorks.com/shirley-valentine
Guys and Dolls
Head to The Bridge for an immersive, toe-tapping performance of Guys & Dolls from Feb onwards for hit songs by the bucketload. You can also expect plenty of laughs and a dash of romance in this family hit that will transport you to the streets of Manhattan and the bars of Havana all in one top notch show. When: 27th February – 2 September 2023 Where: Bridge Theatre, 3 Potters Fields Park, London SE1 2SG www.bridgetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/guys-and-dolls
A Little Life
Once Lemons has finished over at Harold Pinter, we'll be back there for the page to stage adaptation of one of the most thought-provoking reads we've ever binge-read: A Little Life. Starring Happy Valley's James Norton and Bridgerton's Luke Thompson, Hanya Yanagihara's best-selling novel as a play is one of our highlights of the year. And yes, we totally met her a while ago and fangirled her into talking about who she thought should play Jude in any future adaptations. We approve of this version's choice hugely. When: 25th March–18th June 2023. Where: Harold Pinter Theatre, Panton Street, London SW1Y 4DN
Shen Yun
Through breathtaking dance and music, Shen Yun’s artists tell of a time when divine beings walked upon the earth before this culture was eclipsed by communism. We're talking visually stunning Ancient Chinese dance, martial arts, opera, music and acrobatics mixed with fairies, horses, love, loss and humour in an amazing performance that will stun the whole family. Can't. Wait. When: 14th - 22nd April 2023
Where: Eventim Apollo, 45 Queen Caroline Street, London W6 9QH
Mrs Doubtfire
Everything will be ship-shape this Spring thanks to Euphegenia Doubtfire, dearies. Yep, everyone's most beloved housekeeper, Mrs Doubtfire has left the Broadway stage to come to London for its debut season, premiering in May 2023. When: 12 May 2023 – January 2024 Where: Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8DP www.mrsdoubtfiremusical.co.uk
Groundhog Day
Olivier Award-winning actor Andy Karl returns to the Old Vic to play weatherman Phil Connors in this fam-friendly theatre winner. Set in the small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Phil gets caught in a time loop that sends him down a hilarious path to enlightenment and, eventually, redemption. When: 20th May - 12th August 2023
Where: The Old Vic, The Cut, London SE1 8NB
Grease the Musical
After its hit run in 2022, Grease is heading back to the Dominion this summer for another outing. If it's a review you're after before you book tix, we have The One That You Want right here: we sent our London for Kidz roving reporters along to check out how electrifying it was and it got mixed opinions.
When: 2nd June - 28th October 2023
Where: 268-269 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7AQ
We Will Rock You
Join Galileo and Scaramouche as they try to take down a global corporate world when this larger-than-life Queen-inspired musical returns to the London stage. Prepare to be utterly rocked.
When: 2nd June - 26th August 2023
Where: London Coliseum, St Martin’S Lane, London WC2N 4ES www.wewillrockyoulondon.co.uk
The Wizard of Oz
Click your heels and head to the London Palladium this summer for blockbuster show The Wizard of Oz. Expect all the fun, colour and famous songs we all love from the MGM blockbuster in this timeless classic that the whole family are sure to delight in. This is definitely a show with a heart.
When: 23rd June - 3rd September 2023
Where: London Palladium, Argyll Street, London W1F 7TF
The Spongebob Musical
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea and has now become a star on the stage? SpongeBob SquarePants! Plunge into this all-singing, all-dancing stage show to find out what the underwater folk of Bikini Bottom will do when a volcano erupts and destroys their home... Guaranteed to make a big splash with your whole crew.
When: 26th July - 26th August 2023 Where: Southbank Centre Queen Elizabeth Hall, Belvedere Road, Lambeth SE1 8XX
That's all for now, folks! We'll regularly update throughout the year as news comes in of more plays, musicals and shows in London for 2023.
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