We spherical up the most effective of what has been on supply in 2024 and have a good time the yr’s most most talked about productions. …
There have been thrilling West Finish transfers, revivals, and festive pleasure, with some exhibits nonetheless operating into the brand new yr. Fingers crossed we’ll see a few of our favourites return in 2025.
One of many standout transfers this yr has been Shifters, which captivated audiences with its progressive storytelling and located a brand new house within the West Finish after rave opinions in its preliminary run. One other extremely anticipated switch, A Mirror, additionally made waves.
Followers of The Lonely Londoners had been thrilled to see the celebrated adaptation return to the stage, providing one other probability to expertise its poignant portrayal of immigrant life in post-war Britain.
A real spotlight of 2024 has been For Black Boys Who Have Thought of Suicide When the Hue Will get Too Heavy. After earlier profitable runs, this groundbreaking present made a implausible comeback, with reward for its uncooked emotional depth and impactful exploration of Black masculinity.
As 2024 attracts to a detailed, theatre lovers can nonetheless catch a few of these productions, lots of that are extending their runs into the brand new yr. We are able to solely hope for an equally thrilling slate of productions in 2025.
Shifters by Benedict Lombe
Des and Dre. Future and Dream. Younger. Gifted. Black. She left. He stayed.
Now, tragedy brings Des and Dre crashing again into one another’s lives, carrying new secrets and techniques and previous scars. Caught within the area between reminiscence and actuality, they have to battle to navigate the shifting borders that threaten to rewrite their previous and reshape their future.Starring Tosin Cole & Heather Agyepong.
Shifters – runs at Bush Theatre Friday sixteenth February – Saturday thirtieth March 2024
Shifters ran on the Duke of York’s Theatre from Monday twelfth August – Saturday twelfth October 2024
King Lear starring Danny Sapani
All of us should face the second of reality that we gained’t reside without end.
Lear, father and king of unquestioned energy, should divide his realm between his three daughters. The primary two shortly declare the love he’s determined to listen to, but his favorite Cordelia shuns the performative circus. “Nothing” she solutions, when requested to talk. And in direction of that nothing Lear’s world begins to slip.
As the brand new technology unleashes the results of their father’s decisions, Lear takes us into the attention of the storm and its path of destruction.
King Lear ran at Almeida Theatre from Thursday eighth February – Saturday thirtieth March 2024
The Large Life – The Ska Musical ebook by Paul Sirett and Tameka Empson. Directed by Tinuke Craig.
It’s 1948 and on board the Windrush Empire, journeying over from the West Indies to England, Ferdy, Bernie, Dennis and Lennie are stuffed with expectations and aspirations.
Desirous to make successes of themselves, they’re optimistic about what the longer term holds, plus Dennis is for certain that displaying his brother’s posthumous medal from World Conflict II will imply he’s welcomed heartily. Constructing this new life will take focus and sacrifice, and the younger males make the daring resolution to forswear wine and girls for 3 complete years and dedicate themselves to their future in London.
Sybil, Mary, Zulieka and Kathy produce other concepts. They know that man can not reside by bread alone! So each’s resolve is put to the take a look at as the fact of life in a less-than-welcoming England, to not point out the climate, makes forgoing the heat of feminine firm arduous to withstand. Will the boys persist with their concept of The Large Life, or will Cupid have the ultimate say?
The Large Life ran at Royal Stratford East Friday sixteenth February – Saturday thirtieth March 2024
For Black Boys Who Have Thought of Suicide When The Hue Will get Too Heavy written and directed by Ryan Calais Cameron
‘I discovered a king in me and now I really like you
I discovered a king in you and now I really like me’
Father figures and trend ideas. Misplaced loves and jollof rice. African empires and illicit intercourse. Good days and unhealthy days. Six younger Black males meet for group remedy, and let their hearts – and imaginations – run wild.
For Black Boys … ran on the Garrick Theatre from Thursday twenty ninth February – Saturday 4th Could 2024
The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon. Tailored by Roy Williams. Directed by Ebenezer Bamgboye
London, 1956. Newly arrived from Trinidad, Henry ‘Sir Galahad’ Oliver is impatient to start out his new life in London. Carrying simply pyjamas and a toothbrush, he bursts by Moses Aloetta’s door solely to search out Moses and his buddies already soured on metropolis life. Will the London fog dampen Galahad’s desires? Or will these Lonely Londoners make a house in a metropolis that sees them as a menace?
The Lonely Londoners ran at Jermyn Avenue Theatre from Thursday twenty ninth February – Saturday sixth April 2024
Purple Pitch written by Tyrell Williams
What occurs when your soccer pitch, a spot you’ve laughed, fought, and solid friendships is threatened by impending demolition? Can three lifelong buddies proceed to dream of stardom, or will their targets be torn down alongside their house?
Purple Pitch ran at West Finish’s Soho Place from Friday fifteenth March – Saturday 4th Could 2024
A Mirror starring Samuel Adewunmi
Would the congregation please stand and swear the Oath of Allegiance.
When creativity and corruption collide, who decides what’s artwork and what’s reality?
The Mirror ran at Trafalgar Theatre till Saturday twentieth April 2024
Participant Kings with Toheeb Jimoh and Clare Perkins
Amidst a divided England, reluctant Has faces an sudden future as King whereas grappling with loyalty, corruption, and impending battle.
Participant Kings ran at Noël Coward Theatre from Monday 1st April – Saturday twenty second June 2024
Love Steps written and directed by Anastasia Osei-Kuffour
The drama fuses poetry, dance and music to inform the story of Anna, a younger, bold girl, who units out to redefine the perfect of affection on her personal phrases. The semi-autobiographical work additionally explores Black feminine identification and racial views on magnificence.
Love Steps ran at Omnibus Theatre (Wednesday third – Saturday twentieth April) and transferred to Talawa’s Studio Theatre Fairfield Halls (Wednesday twenty ninth Could to Saturday 1st June) 2024
The Comeuppance – with Tamara Lawrance and Anthony Welsh
Autumn 2022. A gaggle of buddies collect hours earlier than their highschool reunion.
20 years have handed since commencement: some have had kids; some have moved to the opposite aspect of the world; some have been to battle.
However there’s one other presence of their midst. And as they catch up and reminisce, it solely takes a scratch for the scars of these college days to floor.
The Comeuppance ran at Almeida Theatre from Saturday sixth April – Saturday 18th Could 2024
Cheeky Little Brown by Nkenna Akunna
Meet Woman, a decided sharp-tongued charmer who loves her finest buddy Gemma as a lot as she loves a late-night kebab. It’s Gemma’s birthday celebration. The 2 haven’t seen one another for six months.
With authentic songs, this coming-of-age story examines a friendship between two Black girls on diverging paths of self-love and acceptance.
A tiata fahodzi manufacturing. Directed by Chinonyerem Odimba.
Cheeky Little Brown ran at Stratford East from Tuesday sixteenth April – Saturday twentieth April 2024
In Everglade Studio by Nethaniel Brimmer-Beller
In 1974 London, three musicians and their supervisor seal themselves inside an underground recording studio to finish a country-rock album, unaware that supplies within the partitions are driving them to the brink of madness.
As inventive and social tensions flare, the ambiance grows thornier, the music grows stranger, and Everglade Studio’s combination of creativity and claustrophobia calls for its pound of flesh.
In Everglade Studio ran at The Hope Theatre from sixteenth April- 4th Could 2024
Doughnuts and Ice Cream by Tamzin Murray and directed by Danielle Kassaraté.
This work in progress supported by Nouveau Riche, is a play stuffed with laughter and inside jokes, as three girls take us on an exhilarating journey by poetic conversations about love and success – nonetheless, past surface-level conversations and smiling faces, there’s something a lot deeper going down of their lives.
As Noelle goes by a prolonged journey to prognosis for endometriosis, we see it have an effect on her dynamic with finest buddies Gabby and Jazz, in addition to her relationship with accomplice Andre as they navigate tough conversations round fertility.
Their friendship shortly turns into greater than a spot to thrive but in addition a secure place to interrupt as they piece again collectively her religion and consider of womanhood.
Doughnuts & Ice Cream ran at Catford’s Broadway Theatre from Wednesday seventeenth – Sunday twenty first April 2024
Wedding ceremony Band: A Love/Hate Story In Black And White by Alice Childress
Set within the deep south of the USA in 1918 when interracial marriage was unlawful, Julia, a black seamstress, and Herman, a white baker, are defying all odds with their secret love.
They face vicious judgement not simply by society but in addition their closest family and friends. As they lastly start to imagine their desires for a future collectively are attainable, Herman turns into a sufferer of the Spanish flu. Decided to avoid wasting him, Julia is confronted with choices that can change her life.
Starring Deborah Ayorinde, Lachele Carl, Lylianna Eugene, Diveen Henry, Saskia Holness, Patrick Martins and Bethan Mary-James.
Wedding ceremony Band ran at Lyric Hammersmith from thirty first Could – twenty ninth June 2024
My Father’s Fable written by Religion Omole. Directed by Rebekah Murrell.
“Shall we have now an actual dialog? I’m able to cease pretending in case you are.”
Peace didn’t know what she wanted when her father died. Then she discovered Bolu, her half-brother from Nigeria she didn’t know existed. Regardless of her mom’s considerations and inspired by her accomplice, Peace invitations Bolu to England. Full of grief and a thousand questions, his arrival seems like one thing clicking into place.
However questions on this stranger’s intentions and his mysterious previous cling heavy within the air. Determined to maintain her fractured household – and herself – collectively, Peace should face the truth that the solutions she desperately seeks would possibly simply result in every little thing falling aside.
Starring Theo Ogundipe, Tira Lade, Rakie Ayola and Gabriel Akuwudike.
My Father’s Fable ran at Bush Theatre from fifteenth June – twenty seventh July 2024
Skeleton Crew by Dominque Morisseau. Directed by Matthew Xia.
“I’m not asking you to make up completely satisfied endings. All I’m asking is that you just inform ‘em they’ll’t write us off. You bought to combat for us.”
In 2008 Detroit, one of many metropolis’s final surviving automobile factories is threatened with closure. A good-knit personnel face a crushing financial actuality. Torn between loyalty to one another and the intuition to avoid wasting their very own pores and skin, can they cling on to their desires, to their ambitions, to hope?
Starring Tobi Bamtefa, Branden Cook dinner, Pamel Nomvete and Racheal Ofori.
Skeleton Crew ran at Donmar Warehouse from Friday twenty eighth June – Saturday twenty fourth August 2024
The Sizzling Wing King by Katori Corridor. Directed by Roy Alexander Weise.
Issues are heating up in Memphis because the annual Sizzling Wing Competition rolls into city. With their sights set on the crown, Cordell, his accomplice Dwayne and buddies Isom and Large Charles workforce up once more because the New Wing Order, with a brand new perspective and a mouth-watering new wing recipe.
However after an sudden household emergency, their plans get derailed as the boys navigate the that means of affection, household and staying true to your self.
Starring Jason Barnett, Kaireece Denton, Kadiff Kirwan, Olisa Odele, Simon-Anthony Rhoden and Dwane Walcott.
The Sizzling Wing King ran at Nationwide Theatre’s Dorfman from Thursday eleventh July – Saturday 14th September 2024
Dying of England: The Performs by Clint Dyer and Roy Williams.
These three interconnected performs are, by turns, exhilarating, profoundly shifting, humorous however livid, and deeply theatrical. Watch one as a standalone expertise or uncover the connections between two or three of the performs as Michael, Delroy, Denise and Carly navigate the thrill and challenges of what it means to be British in 2024.
Starring Paapa Essiedu and Sharon Duncan-Brewster.
Dying of England: The Performs ran at Sohoplace from Monday fifteenth July – Saturday twenty eighth September 2024
Housemates Returns: Earlier than I Go Written and carried out by Tobi King Bakare.
Ajani can speak. He can host events, speak to ladies, attraction any dwelling being. Nevertheless, he finds it arduous to specific himself to the individuals he cares about essentially the most. When he dies and will get caught in Limbo, he’s given an ultimatum: “Discover ways to ‘correctly’ talk or stay right here without end”. Ajani takes on the search and embarks on a poetic journey of discovery, unlearning and therapeutic.
Housemates Returns: Earlier than I Go ran at Brixton Home from Monday fifteenth – Saturday twenty seventh July
How I Realized to Swim Written by Anyone Jones
Jamie can’t swim. Bit awkward while you’re 30. Fuelled by guilt and a necessity to fix her damaged household, Jamie is taking up her greatest worry. The ocean.
With the assistance of a chipper swim teacher, a shady non secular information and one cathartic crab sandwich, she’s questioning, ‘What number of lengths does it take to scrub away remorse?’
How I Realized to Swim ran at Brixton Home from Wednesday twenty fourth July – Saturday 14th September 2024
The Faculty For Scandal directed by Tinuke Craig
‘There’s no risk of being witty with no little ailing nature.’
1770s London, the place the aristocracy’s morals have plunged decrease than the necklines on the ladies’s robes. The vicious Woman Sneerwell enjoys ruining reputations for pleasure, and her newest goal is the younger bachelor Charles Floor — why ought to this pretentious little rake inherit his uncle’s fortune? Along with Charles’ conniving brother Joseph, Sneerwell orchestrates an elaborate scheme of intrigue and infidelity that’s positive to ruffle all the precise feathers — hopefully.
Solid: Stefan Adegbola, John Chief, Jessica Lade, Riess Fennell, Wil Johnson and Tara Tijani.
The Faculty For Scandal ran at Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon till Friday sixth September 2024
Coriolanus starring David Oyelowo
Warrior. Hero. Traitor.
Unrivalled within the artwork of battle, and undefeated on the sphere of battle, Coriolanus is Rome’s best soldier.
When a legendary victory brings the chance of excessive workplace, he’s persuaded to face for election. However whereas populist politicians inform the individuals what they wish to hear, Coriolanus refuses to play the sport. As Rome’s most celebrated warrior turns into its most harmful enemy, the way forward for the town and its hero cling within the stability.
With Kobna Holbrook-Smith, Chereen Buckley, Patrick Elue, Anton Cross, Ashley Gerlach, Kemi-Bo Jacobs, Marcia Lecky and Pamela Nomvete.
Coriolanus runs on the Nationwide Theatre from Wednesday 11 September — Saturday ninth November 2024
Princess Essex by Anne Odeke
It’s Southend-on-Sea, Essex, in 1908. Princess Dinubolu of Senegal enters a magnificence contest on the iconic Kursaal, Europe’s greatest leisure complicated. Meet Princess Essex.
An unbelievable true story based mostly on the primary girl of color to enter a UK magnificence pageant, that is additionally the primary manufacturing to be each written by and carried out on the Globe stage by a lady of color – making historical past, impressed by historical past!
With Tyreke Leslie, Sophie Mercell and Alison Halstead.
Princess Essex runs at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre from Friday thirteenth September – Saturday twenty sixth October 2024
Macbeth with Moyo Akande and Cush Jumbo
Unsettling intimacy and brutal motion mix at breakneck pace as Max Webster directs the story of affection, homicide, and nature’s energy of renewal. Groundbreaking sound design and reside Celtic folks music (all performed by light-weight headphones supplied) immerse the viewers in each whisper, cry and thought.
Macbeth ran at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre from Tuesday 1st October – Saturday 14th December 2024
I Am Leah by Jo Ingabire & Jessica Hagan
Marking the thirtieth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, the play explores what it means to be a survivor, immigrant and British in a charged political local weather.
Leah is a robust, impartial black girl. At the very least that’s the function she has been taking part in. However when she learns that she has to journey to Rwanda, the nation of her delivery which she left as a refugee, to obtain a status award, her world implodes.
I’m Leah ran at Camden Folks’s Theatre from Tuesday eighth October – Saturday twelfth October 2024
The Mountain High written by Katori Corridor. Director by Nathan Powell.
Wednesday 3 April, 1968 is not any atypical evening.
After making his history-altering “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr retires to Room 306 of the Lorraine Motel. As he displays on one other day spent with Memphis’ public servants of their combat for equality and truthful pay, room service arrives within the type of Camae–a candy motel maid with some huge, sudden information.
With Ray Strasser-King as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Justina Kehinde as Camae.
The Mountain High ran at Stratford East from Tuesday twenty ninth October – Saturday 2nd November
A Raisin within the Solar ebook by Lorraine Hansberry. Directed by Tinuke Craig.
In a rented condominium on Chicago’s South Aspect, the Youthful household is filled with hope, desires, grief, and large plans. Their beloved father has died, and the cash from his life insurance coverage coverage might change their lives.
Mama desires to place down roots in a house of her personal. Her daughter Beneatha has her coronary heart set on changing into a health care provider. However her son Walter Lee thinks the cash is his to spend — and he’s prepared to sacrifice his values and his household to get what he desires. Every should face what it means to flee the confines of a segregated society. How do you create a significant life in a world designed to maintain you down?
The solid consists of Solomon Israel as Walter Lee, Josephine-Fransilja Brookman as Beneatha, Money Holland as ruth, Kenneth Omole as Joseph/Bobo, Doreen Blackstock as Lena and Gilbert Kyem Jnr as George.
A Raisin within the Solar ran at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre from thirteenth September – 14th December 2024
Mulatto Boy written and introduced by Editor De Melo.
Huvi’s all the time seen himself as a member of the three lions sadly not everybody else feels the identical method.
Mulatto Boy is a daring, one-man present mixing spoken phrase, West African theatre, and Angolan traditions, exploring the complexities of Black mixed-race identification and Britishness, questioning who defines identification and belonging.
Stars Edi De melo as Huvi and Tunji Lucas as Griot.
Mulatto Boy ran at Clapham’s Omnibus Theatre from Tuesday fifteenth October – Sunday third November 2024
Revealed by Daniel J Carver. Directed by Jay Zorenti-Nakhid.
At instances devastating and surprising, but hilarious and heartwarming, Revealed is a relatable household drama that celebrates the braveness in connecting with these we discover hardest to like.
16-year-old Luther, his father Malcolm and grandfather Sidney take refuge on the household’s Caribbean restaurant. Thrown collectively for the evening, their differing opinions on racism, masculinity, sexuality, parenting, and love are revealed, with explosive penalties.
Starring Jayden Hanley as Luther, Daniel j Carver as Malcolm and Everal A Walsh as Sidney.
Revealed ran at The Belgrade Theatre from Friday 18th October – Saturday 2nd November 2024
Wolves On Highway by Beru Tessema. Directed by Daniel Bailey.
Manny desires of being an enormous canine – however proper now he’s hocking faux designer items, dwelling along with his mum, and coping with her new boyfriend. The glittery skyscrapers of Canary Wharf he sees out the window day by day have by no means appeared to date. However when his finest buddy gives him a solution to earn money sooner than he might ever think about, he pulls his complete household right into a world that’s nearly too good to be true.
Wolves on Highway is an exhilarating deep-dive into the mysterious world of crypto-currency, revealing how ambition and hope might be exploited, regardless of the system at play.
The solid consists of Alma Eno, Hassan Najib, Ery Nzaramba, Kieran Taylor-Ford with Jamael Westman (9-23 Nov) and Tom Moutchi (9-21 Dec)
Wolves On Highway ran at Bush Theatre from Saturday ninth November – Saturday twenty first December 2024
The Significance of Being Earnest @ Nationwide Theatre
Being wise might be excessively boring. At the very least Jack thinks so.
Whereas assuming the function of dutiful guardian within the nation, he lets unfastened on the town underneath a false identification. In the meantime, his buddy Algy takes on an analogous facade.
Sadly, dwelling a double life has its drawbacks, particularly in relation to love. Hoping to impress two eligible women, the gents discover themselves caught in an online of lies they have to rigorously navigate.
Starring Ncuti Gatwa, Sharon D Clarke, Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo, Shereener Browne and Jasmine Kerr.
The Significance of Being Earnest runs on the Nationwide Theatre from Wednesday twentieth November 2024 – Saturday twenty fifth January 2025
Aladdin Directed by Nicholai La Barrie.
This Christmas, fly excessive with Aladdin on a magical journey proper right here in Hammersmith!
Your needs have been granted—Aladdin is hovering into the Lyric this festive season. Buckle up for a whirlwind journey above the streets of Hammersmith as Aladdin and Jasmine embark on a hilarious, high-flying journey full of magic, mayhem, and mischief.
Meet Aladdin. The native cheeky chancer, hustling his method by life whereas “serving to” (learn: barely lifting a finger) at his mum’s busy Wishy Washy Launderette in Shepherd’s Bush Market.
Enter Jasmine. The daring, sharp-witted orphaned princess, who’s tired of life and able to break away. When she crosses paths with Aladdin, sparks fly. However along with his meddling mom Widow Twerkey, her evil step-father Abanazaar and now a Genie in tow, can the course of real love run clean? In fact not, it’s panto!
Solid consists of Andre Antonio, Emmanuel Akwafo, Francisco Gomes, Isaiah James-Mitchell and Summer time Priest.
Aladdin runs on the Lyric Hammersmith from Saturday sixteenth November 2024 – Sunday fifth January 2025.
Alice in Wonderland Gerel Falconer, Lyricist & Rapperturg.
After an explosive argument with Mum at Brixton Underground Station, eleven-year-old Alice leaps onto the tube seconds earlier than the doorways hiss shut.
Trapped on a practice rushing into Nonsense, surrounded by bizarre passengers, and on the mercy of a Queen who gained’t relinquish the controls, can Alice flip this practice round?
Alice in Wonderland runs at Brixton Home from Thursday twenty first November 2024 – Saturday 4th January 2025.