There truly is no other experience like seeing a high quality musical theatrical production in the West End of London or on Broadway in New York. These iconic shows represent the best the theatre world has to offer. With incredible production values, top tier talent and memorable songs and dances to bring some of the most beloved stage productions to life, everyone can find shows to love in the hearts of the world’s theatre districts.
Let’s dig into some of the best shows ever produced on the boards of the West End and on Broadway.
Les Misérables
Do you hear the people sing?! This long-running musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide with its epic storytelling, memorable songs, and powerful performances. You’ll want to watch this one day more.
Back to the Future
One of the most elaborate film to stage adaptations of all time, the stage version of Back to the Future fleshes out the events of the original movie with songs and dances that will delight fans of Doc and Marty everywhere. The show not only features the famous Back to the Future theme and various songs from the movie, but also has a load of great new songs.
The Phantom of the Opera
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece, based on Gaston Leroux’s novel, is a haunting love story with breathtaking music, stunning sets, and an enduring appeal that has made it one of the longest-running musical shows in West End history. Listen to the music of the night!
Hamilton
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking musical has taken the theatre world by storm in recent years. Combining hip-hop, history, and a diverse cast, Hamilton tells the story of America’s founding fathers in a fresh and innovative way.
Cats
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats, based on T.S. Eliot’s poetry collection, is a visually stunning and whimsical production that features memorable characters, captivating choreography, and a beloved score. Let’s just not mention the movie version…
The Lion King
Disney’s stage adaptation of its animated film transports audiences to the African savannah with awe-inspiring puppetry, vibrant costumes, and a moving story about family, identity, and the circle of life. As Timon and Pumba would tell you, you’ll have no worries once you go and see the Lion King on stage.
The Producers
The musical adaptation of Mel Brook’s classic film becomes even better as a stage show. The story of a theatre producer who schemes with his account to produce the worst show ever is brilliant on the stage. With great songs like Betrayed and Keep It Gay, it’ll be a show you have stuck in your head for weeks. Remember, you can make more money with a flop than with a hit.
Mamma Mia!
Here we go again…Featuring the timeless songs of ABBA, Mamma Mia! is a feel-good jukebox musical that has audiences singing and dancing in the aisles. It tells a heartwarming story of love, family, and self-discovery on a Greek island where a soon to be married girl brings three candidates of who her unknown father is to the island.
Blood Brothers
Amazingly there was a play before it was adapted to become the much more famous musical. Willy Russell’s powerful musical drama follows the intertwined lives of twin brothers separated at birth. With a gripping story, emotional performances, and a memorable score, Blood Brothers has touched audiences for decades. What starts out as a comedy with adults playing children ends as a gripping drama.
Wicked
Defying gravity and also the odds of being in the shadow of the famous Wizard of Oz film, this enchanting musical reimagines the backstory of the witches from The Wizard of Oz, offering a fresh perspective on good and evil. With dazzling visuals, catchy songs, and a strong message of empowerment, Wicked has become a modern classic.
We Will Rock You
With great humour written by Ben Elton, this is the story of Globalsoft who are a large corporation who in the future have banned all music and have people addicted to the internet. Only a group of rebels can stop them and restore music. This is a great show that features classic songs from the band Queen.
Matilda the Musical
Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved book, Matilda the Musical is a witty and heartwarming production that celebrates the power of imagination and resilience. It features catchy songs, and clever lyrics from Tim Minchin, and has loads of memorable characters including the villain we all love to hate in Miss Trunchbull.
Avenue Q
It’s Sesame Street meets Family Guy in a show that mixes humans with puppet monsters and has bad taste bears, puppet sex scenes and is loads of fun. The humour is great and despite songs about watching porn on the internet and featuring a character called Lucy the Slut, it also has loads of heart.
The Book of Mormon
Created by the creators of South Park, this irreverent and satirical musical comedy pushes boundaries and tackles sensitive topics with sharp humour. It has gained critical acclaim for its clever writing, great songs and will make you fear having maggots in your scrotum.
It’s important to note that this list represents only a selection of the incredible shows that have graced the West End and Broadway stages over the years. There are many other notable productions that have left a lasting impact on theatre enthusiasts and shaped the vibrant theatre scene in London.
You can get loads more Theatre articles in the Theatre section of the site, and don’t forget to check out all our stage shows on the Extreme Improv XStreamed YouTube Channel and Geek content on the Geek Battle YouTube Channel.
