What’s On Stage December 2025

Theatre highlights this December include Dick Whittington and His Catford Cat written by Susie McKenna
 at Broadway Theatre Catford …

You can also catch Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo starring Arinze Kene and Twelfth Night starring Freema Agyeman

Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo starring Arinze Kene Young Vic

When an atheist suddenly finds himself walking around after death, he has got some serious re-evaluating to do.
 
Iraq, well into the new millennium. A fast-talking Tiger haunts the streets, plagued by a fundamental question: “Why am I here?”.  And he’s not the only one. 
 
US forces have long since toppled Saddam Hussein, yet Baghdad remains aflame. In the chaos, the lives of American Marines Tom and Kev collide with Iraqi translator Musa after their chance encounters with the Tiger. Iraqi or American, man or beast, they are all searching for meaning, revenge, forgiveness, and a solid gold toilet seat that’s worth a fortune.

Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo runs @ Young Vic from Tuesday 2nd December – Saturday 31st January 2025

Into The Woods and Happily Ever After with Geoffrey Aymer

the Baker and his Wife embark on a desperate quest to break a wicked curse, encountering beloved characters like Cinderella, Jack, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel—each on their own journey to find happiness. But in the dark heart of the woods, magic comes at a price. As the characters’ dreams are granted, their world begins to unravel, forcing them to confront loss, responsibility, and the reality that happily ever after may not be what they imagined.

Cast: Bella Brown, Chumisa Dornford-May, Geoffrey Aymer & more.

Into The Woods and Happily Ever After runs @ Bridge Theatre from Tuesday 2nd December – Saturday 18th April 2026

A Midsummer Night’s Dream @ Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.

To escape a society ruled by tyrannical law, four young lovers flee to the forest beyond the city walls.

Unbeknownst to them, the world of the woods has been unsettled by a fierce battle between the Fairy King and Queen, Oberon and Titania, over the ownership of a stolen child.

Snow starts to fall in summer as the dispute rages on, and more people fall victim to the jealousy-fuelled forces of the powerful pair, and the disturbing spells of Oberon’s unruly lackey Puck. As day turns to night, and reality becomes illusion, can anyone stop the Dream from becoming a nightmare?

Cast: Tiwa Lade, David Olaniregun and Tara Tijani.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs @ Sam Wanamaker Playhouse from Wednesday 3rd December – Saturday 31st January 2026

This production will be going on tour to Shakespeare North (4–7 February), Leeds Playhouse (14–28 February), Bristol Old Vic (4–21 March), and Oxford Playhouse (24–28 March).

A Ghost In Your Ear with Jonathan Livingstone

An actor arrives late at a sound studio for a last-minute job that he is yet to see the script for: an audiobook recording of a particularly chilling ghost story. But as the evening progresses, the horrors start to escape the pages of the story, and haunt the studio itself…

Using binaural sound technology, the audience wears headphones so they are immersed in the terrifying auditory world of the show.

A Ghost In Your Ear runs @ Hampstead Heath Theatre from Saturday 6th December 2025 – Saturday 24th January 2026

Anansi The Spider created by Justin Audibert

The greatest tales ever spun…

Sit under the canopy of the banyan tree and experience the laugh-out-loud West African and Caribbean tales of the infamous Anansi!

People say that in a time long, long ago, animals walked on two feet and spoke with words, like we do. And back then, it was known by everyone that the cleverest of all the animals in the kingdom was the spider. Anansi was the original trickster and the master spinner of yarns, although sometimes he was a little too clever for his own good…

Anansi The Spider runs @ runs at Birmingham Rep from Thursday 4th December – Sunday 11th January 2026

Dick Whittington and His Catford Cat Written by Susie McKenna

A tribute to Sharon D Clarke’s parents who were part of the Windrush Generation and also inspired by the story of Sam King, the real life first Black mayor of Southwark.

This new take sees Dick Whittington and His Catford Cat finding his fortune on the streets of Lewisham. Not only is the production inspired by Windrush but the majority of the principal actors also have direct family ties. 

Dick Whittington and His Catford Cat runs @ Broadway Theatre Catford from Tuesday 9th – Wednesday 31st December

Twelfth Night starring Freema Agyeman

A woman survives a shipwreck and washes up on an unknown shore. Alone and bereaved of her twin brother, she embarks on a secret new life as a go-between for two people in the extremity of love and grief. Caught up in the ensuing love triangle, she experiences the chaos and humanity of unexpected love; and discovers that in Illyria, everyone is hiding something.

Twelfth Night runs @ The Barbican from Monday 8th December 2025 – Saturday 17 January 2026

The Cocoa Butter Club: A Festive Feast @ Brixton House

You’re invited to The Cocoa Butter Club’s Festive Feast, an exquisite evening bursting with performances from burlesque stars, drag divas, music maestros, plus, spoken word, circus artists, and more…. It’s a generous serving of an unmissable show, wrapped in sing-a-longs, seasonal RnB, Neo Soul, and Old Skool jams!

Expect an exciting Cabaret and Club experience featuring multi-disciplinary talent from London’s melanated and internationally-celebrated collective.

The Cocoa Butter Club: A Festive Feast runs @ Brixton House from Saturday 13th – Saturday 20th December

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Chinonyerem Odimba

What makes you think that change is such a bad thing?

Alice doesn’t belong. Nobody notices her. So why shouldn’t she do something reckless? Like following a white rabbit – like slipping into a world where time bends, riddles multiply, and everyone demands to know who she is.

In Chinonyerem Odimba’s dazzling new version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll’s classic is reborn, taking the audience through the looking glass and reimagining a timeless world of curiosity, chaos, and croquet.

But at the centre of it all is Alice: curious, brave, and desperate for something more.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland runs @ Orange Tree Theatre from Thursday 18th – Monday 22nd December

Disney’s Hercules book by Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah, and co-choreography by Tanisha Scott.

The musical, inspired by the animated film, based on the ancient myth.
It’s what classical civilisation would have wanted.

Ancient Greece. A time of gods, mortals… and Hercules, who isn’t quite either. But if he’s not a god, how can he possibly save the world from Hades? It’s one thing flexing those pecs, but going from zero to hero requires a different kind of strength.

Cast: Luke Brady, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Robyn Rose-Li, Mainda Parris, Candace Furbert, Sharlene Hector, Brianna Ogunbawo, Kimmy Edwards, Kamilla Fernandes, Sarah Benbelaid, Francessca Daniella-Baker, Marie Finlayson, Ryesha Higgs, Cruz-Troy Hunter, Travis Kerry, Lamoi Leon and Ope Sowande.

Disney’s Hercules @ Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Christmas Bookings run from – Monday 22nd December – Friday 2nd January 2026

Paddington The Musical @ Savoy Theatre

When a small, lost bear from Peru arrives in London in search of a new home, a chance encounter with the Brown family leads him to the wonderful world of Windsor Gardens.

But London isn’t all afternoon teas and friendly faces – and even the happiest families have their cracks beneath the surface. So when a mysterious and vengeful villain sets her sights on Paddington, the Browns embark on a thrilling rescue mission, realising they need this special bear as much as he needs them.

Cast: Timi Akinyosade, Tarinn Callender, Brenda Edwards, Kellianna Jay, Natasha Leaver, Jáiden Lodge, Andilé Mabhena and Hugo Rolland.

Paddington The Musical runs from Saturday 30th November – Monday 25th May 2026