Theatre Shows Closing in May 2026
April 26, 2026
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre | 2 May – 6 June 2026
A brand-new original Holmes mystery by Joel Horwood, set in Victorian London and packed with high-stakes chases and shocking twists. One of the most atmospheric settings in London makes this unmissable as the evenings get longer.
Ambassador’s Theatre | 2 May – 1 August 2026
Ava Pickett’s suspenseful Tudor drama set in the hours after Anne Boleyn’s execution transfers to the West End following five-star reviews at the Almeida.
Already one of the most talked-about plays of the year – I can’t wait for this!
Soho Theatre Walthamstow | 15 May – 21 June 2026
Drag Race favourite Jinkx Monsoon stars as Judy Garland in this emotionally charged biographical drama, directed by Rupert Hands.
A deeply personal portrayal of a complex icon.
Shakespeare’s Globe | 7 May – 27 June 2026
Michelle Terry leads Brecht’s masterwork in a new translation by Anna Jordan, directed by Elle While.
A timely revival of one of theatre’s great anti-war texts, performed under the open sky at the Globe.
Lyric Hammersmith | 7 May – 6 June 2026
Oscar Wilde’s razor-sharp political satire gets a fresh and stylish revival from director Nicholai La Barrie.
Wickedly funny and more relevant than ever.
Royal Court Theatre | 8 – 30 May 2026
Oscar-winner Gary Oldman returns to the London stage for the first time in nearly 70 years, starring in Beckett’s haunting meditation on memory.
Paired with a bold new absurdist comedy by rising playwright Leo Simpe-Asante.
An unmissable double bill.
Hampstead Theatre | 8 May – 13 June 2026
Sarah Ruhl’s acclaimed American romantic comedy finally gets its UK premiere.
Witty, warm, and deeply theatrical – a great date-night show.
Southwark Playhouse | 8 May – 13 June 2026
The cult Korean rock musical makes its English-language debut in what promises to be a genuinely unique theatrical event.
National Theatre | 16 May – 30 July 2026
The extraordinary National Theatre production gallops back to its home.
Michael Morpurgo’s heartbreaking story of World War One, brought to life with awe-inspiring puppetry.
A modern classic, back where it belongs.
Prince Edward Theatre | 20 May 2026 – 17 April 2027
Say his name three times.
Tim Burton’s beloved film finally crosses the Atlantic as the Broadway smash makes its West End debut.
Gloriously weird, wonderfully anarchic, and a near-guaranteed sell-out.
Bush Theatre | 7 May – 6 June 2026
A hilarious new play about hope, endings, and what happens when a knock-knock joke hits you in the gut. Expect the Bush’s trademark blend of sharp wit and emotional sucker-punches.
Young Vic | 12 May – 11 July 2026
A major new production opening at the Young Vic this month. One of London’s most consistently exciting theatres, the Young Vic delivers innovative, socially engaged work that you won’t find anywhere else.
King’s Head Theatre | 6 May – 7 June 2026
A raucously funny new dance show arrives at the King’s Head. Sexy, playful, and completely unlike anything else on in London this month.
Arcola | 6 May – 6 June 2026
An award-winning comedy-drama set entirely in a nightclub bathroom, following sixteen women whose lives briefly and brilliantly intersect over the course of one night.
Arcola | 7 May – 13 June 2026
Booker Prize winner Samantha Harvey adapts Barbara Pym’s beloved novel in its world premiere stage debut, a sharp and poignant portrait of four London office workers navigating loneliness and later life.
Brixton House | 19–30 May 2026
Paula Varjack’s fizzing mix of theatre, dance and lip sync unpacks Janet Jackson’s infamous 2004 Super Bowl moment and what the fallout reveals about race, gender and who gets to control the story.
Bush Theatre | 28 May – 27 June 2026
Waleed Akhtar’s Olivier Award-winning play returns with its original cast, charting the parallel lives of two gay Pakistani men from casual hook-ups to the UK’s hostile immigration environment.
Charing Cross Theatre | 18 May – 8 August 2026
A haunting musical rooted in Appalachian folklore, weaving a spellbinding tale of love, witchcraft and rebellion.
Royal Court | 29 May – 4 July 2026
Georgie Dettmer’s provocative playwriting debut follows a journalist wired to a machine and a mother whose grief is sold for clicks, asking urgent questions about pornography, deepfakes and violence against women.
