TRADGE'S TOP PICKS: Autumn 2026

As festival season draws to a close, so for many of us do the summer holidays, with dropping temperatures and returns to normal life characterising the coming months, however there is certainly no shortage of new theatre opening in the near future, so here are my picks for new shows that will be opening between now and the end of autumn, both in London and all around the UK...

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LONDON

THELMA & LOUISE - Neko Case / Callie Khouri

Young Vic: 03/09 - 24/10

Tickets: book here

"On a whim, Louise (Rachel Tucker) invites her best friend Thelma (Amy Lennox) for a spontaneous weekend getaway. After an ill-fated encounter with a stranger at a roadside bar, their lifelong friendship is forged into something dangerous and unbreakable. Propelled by a soaring musical score, they set out on a last-chance adventure in a world where every card is stacked against them.." - Young Vic

Runtime: TBC

Content warnings: Alcohol use; smoking of cigarettes; scenes of a sexual nature; scenes of sexual assault, including rape

Production warnings: Flashing lights; haze and smoke; use of guns, including gunshots

Age guidance: 12+

Accessibility info: click here

RIGHT BEFORE I GO - Stan Zimmerman

Soho Theatre: 05/09 - 10/09

Tickets: book here

"Drawing on real suicide notes and personal testimonies, the play gives voice to individuals from a wide range of backgrounds including public figures, veterans, young people, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people living with mental health challenges. Featuring a rotating cast of all-stars including Maureen Lipman (Educating Rita, Agony), Iz Hesketh (Tip Toe, Renegade Nell), Dominique Moore (Horrible Histories), Claire-Marie Hall (Operation Mincemeat), Emrhys Cooper (Nosferatu, Coronation Street, Vanity), Gerard McCarthy (The Fall), Paul Bigley (Shakespeare in Love, The Danish Girl) and Tosh Wanogho-Maud (Kinky Boots, Titanique)." - Soho Theatre

Runtime: 60 minutes (no interval)

Content warnings: themes of grief, death; references to and description of self harm; references to and description of suicide; detailed descriptions of bullying (full list being developed)

Age guidance: 14+

Accessibility info: click here

INTO THE WOODS - James Lapine / Stephen Sondheim

Noël Coward Theatre: 22/09 - 09/01

Tickets: book here

"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. To sell the cow, To visit the mother, To see the king, To lift the spell. 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." - Delfont Mackintosh

Runtime: 2 hours, 40 minutes (incl. interval)

Content warnings: themes of grief, death, and violence

Production warnings: haze, loud noises, flashing lights, strobe effects, full blackouts

Age guidance: 12+

Accessibility info: click here

RENT - Jonathan Larson

Tom Stoppard Theatre: opening 26/09

Tickets: book here

"Set in New York's East Village, RENT follows a group of young artists, musicians and friends, navigating love, ambition and creativity while trying to build lives on their own terms. Inspired by Puccini's La Bohème, this iconic musical captures the joy, uncertainty and resilience of a generation determined to make every moment count. Featuring an unforgettable score and a story that continues to resonate, RENT is a powerful celebration of community, connection and a call to live every minute as if it were your last." - ATG Tickets

Runtime: not yet available (show has an interval)

Content warnings: themes of HIV/AIDS, bereavement, drug use, suicide, sex and sex work; strong language

Production warnings: smoking; haze; strobe lighting

Age guidance: 14+

Accessibility info: click here

MARTIN GUERRE - Claude Michel Schönberg / Alain Boublil

The Old Vic: 01/10 - 31/10

Tickets: book here

"The extraordinary true story of forbidden love, deceit and passion on trial… in an all-new version. Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Olivier Award-winning musical is reimagined for the London stage with new music, new lyrics, new folk-inflected orchestrations and a thrilling new In The Round staging. Back, but with a whole new identity. From the creators of Les Misérables, this preview production of semi-staged performances will run for five weeks only. Directed by Matthew Warchus, experience this captivating tale as you’ve never seen it before with an exclusive first look at the new Martin Guerre." - The Old Vic

Runtime: TBC

Content warnings: Not yet available

Age guidance: 12+

Accessibility info: click here

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL - David Simpatico & others

Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre: 12/10 - 03/01

Tickets: book here

"Celebrating 20 years since Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL became a global sensation, the hit musical arrives at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre this autumn, in an unmissable new production. Join Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High as they navigate first love, friendships and self-discovery, all while juggling classes, basketball games, auditions and the expectations of their peers." - Troubadour Theatres

Runtime: approx. 2 hours, 25 minutes (incl. interval)

Production warnings: smoke, haze, flashing lights,

Age guidance: 6+

Accessibility info: click here

ONE DAY - David Greig / Abner and Amanda Ramirez

Garrick Theatre: 17/11 - 14/03

Tickets: book here

"Emma walks into Dexter’s life on the night of their graduation. One unsuspecting day that changes them both forever. But where will they be on this day next year? And the year after that? And every year that follows? As Em and Dex’s lives intertwine through joy and heartbreak, missed opportunities and second chances, they navigate love, ambition, and the unpredictable twists of life. The story which has touched millions is brought to life like never before in the life-affirming One Day – The Musical, capturing the intensity of youthful romance, the moments that define us forever, and the enduring hope that love will find its way." - Nimax Theatres

Runtime: 2 hours, 40 minutes (incl. interval)

Content warnings: drug & alcohol abuse; very strong language

Production warnings: strobe lighting

Age guidance: 12+

Accessibility info: click here

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REGIONAL/TOURING

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME -  Simon Stephens

UK tour starting in Birmingham: 04/09

More info/tour dates: click here

"The internationally celebrated novel that captivated 10 million readers is coming in a brand-new staging more thrilling than ever. Chris Boone is gifted with a brilliant mind for numbers but unsettled by the unpredictability of people and everyday life. When a neighbour’s dog is discovered killed, she finds herself under suspicion. Determined to prove her innocence, Chris becomes both detective and suspect, drawn into a mystery that grows darker and more complex with every clue she uncovers. What begins as the search for a culprit soon reveals secrets closer to home, forcing her to confront truths that will test her courage, her family, and her understanding of trust, independence, and the wider world." - Curious Incident website

Runtime: 2 hours, 20 minutes (incl. interval)

Content warnings: sensitive content including ableism, domestic violence, discussion of death, grief, bereavement and suicide; strong language; depictions of vomiting, violence and incontinence; references to autism, stimming, emotional distress and overstimulation.

Production warnings: flashing lights, loud sound effects and heightened sensory moments.

Age guidance: 13+

DEATH OF A SALESMAN - Arthur Miller

Liverpool Everyman: 19/09 - 10/10

Tickets: book here

"For many generations and hundreds of years, people have chased the American dream. Journeying across continents, they made America their home – where success was a promise, but the golden future was always a few more pay cheques away. Willy Loman chased that dream too, but now time is running out and his precious future is still slipping from his grasp. He’s been the model immigrant, raised his family as good Americans and done his best to be well liked. So why does his wife feel she’s at breaking point? And why don’t his sons want to follow his path?" - Liverpool Everyman

Runtime: TBC (will have an interval)

Content warnings: Mental health & suicide, toxic relationships, mild violence, emotional abuse, mild sexual content.

Age guidance: 12+

Accessibility info: click here

SYLVIA: A MUSICAL REVOLUTION - Cohen / Parma / Prince / DJ Walde

UK tour starting in Leicester: 24/09

More info/tour dates: click here

"Whilst her mother and sister battled for women’s suffrage, Sylvia ignited a revolution for the forgotten: working women, the impoverished, the silenced. Caught between her family and her beliefs, Sylvia risked it all to bring change to millions. With an electrifying score by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde, renowned choreographer and storyteller Kate Prince (ZooNation – Message in a Bottle, Some Like it Hip Hop, Into the Hoods, The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party) delivers her Olivier-nominated vision in this theatrical treat that audiences can’t get enough of." - Sylvia website

Runtime: 2 hours, 30 minutes (incl. interval)

Content warnings: historical themes of political protest, activism, and the suffragette movement, including references to police arrests

Production warnings: flashing lights

Age guidance: 10+

AS YOU LIKE IT - William Shakespeare

RSC Theatre, Stratford: 26/09 - 07/11

Tickets: book here

"Tony Award-winning Jonathan Groff makes his RSC debut in Shakespeare’s most sweet-natured comedy, where love is love – no matter where it falls. Rosalind is banished from the court of Duke Frederick – but not before she and young Orlando fall for each other. Seeking out her exiled father in the Forest of Arden with her devoted cousin, Celia, Rosalind disguises herself as a young man, Ganymede. In fear of his own life, Orlando also escapes to the forest and soon runs into Ganymede, who pledges to cure his lovesickness. But in order to do so, Orlando has to woo her… or rather, he has to woo ‘him'. Then the games commence." - The RSC

Runtime: TBC

Production warnings: loud music; flashing lights

Age guidance: TBC

Accessibility info: click here

KING LEAR - William Shakespeare

Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester: 02/10 - 15/11

Tickets: book here

"Shakespeare’s most elemental tragedy charts a kingdom where power corrupts, families become enemies and prosperity devolves into war. At its centre is the mind of a man who can no longer understand what it means to be human. Lear is a searing portrait of a king unable to distinguish truth from lies. As the storm rises and night falls, language, identity and meaning break down completely. This reimagining of Shakespeare’s masterwork is adapted and directed by Matthew Dunster, who returns for his sixth engagement at the Royal Exchange, in a unique and emotionally charged take on one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays." - Royal Exchange Theatre

Runtime: TBC

Content warnings: depictions of violence; use of firearms, knives and other weapons; blood and graphic injury; suicide and suicidal thoughts; death and dying; discussion of grief; depictions of mental distress, family conflict and abuse; sexual content.

Age guidance: TBC

Accessibility info: click here

BACK TO THE FUTURE - Bob Gale / Robert Zemickis / Alan Silvestri

UK tour starting in Bristol: 08/10

More info/tour dates: click here

"Welcome to Hill Valley! When Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past and send himself... back to the future. Set your destination time and get ready to make musical theater history. Get your tickets yesterday!" - Back to the Future website

Runtime: approx. 2 hours, 40 minutes (incl. interval)

Production warnings: strobe lights, loud sounds, haze, pyrotechnics, open flame

Age guidance: 6+

BILLY ELLIOT - Lee Hall / Elton John

UK mini tour starting in Sunderland: 04/11

More info/tour dates: click here

"Seen by almost 12 million people across five continents and honoured with more than 80 awards worldwide, Billy Elliot the Musical is one of the most successful and beloved British musicals of all time. Ten years after it last played to audiences in its original home of London and the UK, this extraordinary production comes home at last. Set in a northern town during the miners’ strike of 1984/85, the show follows Billy’s journey from the boxing ring to the ballet class, where he discovers a passion for dance that will change his life forever." - ATG Tickets

Runtime: approx. 2 hours, 50 minutes (incl. interval)

Content warnings: strong language, scenes of domestic conflict, smoking, violence

Production warnings: repetitive flashing lights, pyrotechnics, smoke, haze

Age guidance: 8+

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Did I miss any? Which shows over the next few months are you most excited about? Let me know below, or via my Instagram page.