Last week we told you about all the new musicals coming to London next year. Exciting times. But, as there are so many shows opening, room has to be made and sadly, some of our favourite shows are coming to an end.
Here are five giant London musicals that you have to see before they close in January! And remember, with the New Year Sale, you may just be able to snap up a cheap ticket for the final weeks of their performances…
42nd Street
The classic Broadway show 42nd Street sees the biggest cast in the West End perform on Theatreland’s oldest stage. The all-tapping, all-singing, all-glitzy show opened to rave reviews and has been wowing audiences since opening in 2017.
It tells the story of young hopeful Peggy Sawyer who dreams of making it big on Broadway. Fresh off the bus from small-town America and full of naive excitement, Peggy heads to auditions and wows the producers. So when the leading lady gets injured, will Peggy have her shot at stardom?
Closing: Saturday 5 January 2019
Chicago
You know the songs, you know the stars, but have you actually seen Chicago? The return of the Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical has seen a whirlwind of celebrities take to the stage to give us that old razzle dazzle. Currently, RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Todrick Hall is playing Billy Flynn, while everyone’s favourite reality TV host Caroline Flack is joining the cast as Roxie Hart next week (10 December).
See the killer show which tells the story of two rival showgirls who end up sharing a prison cell when they’re each accused of murder.
Closes: Saturday 5 January 2019
Bat Out Of Hell The Musical
What happens when Meatloaf meets Peter Pan? You get a rocking musical full of adrenaline, fire and magic. It’s packed with music from the record-breaking albums Bat Out Of Hell and Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell and is written by the songwriter behind the epic records, Jim Steinman. It returned to London after receiving high praise from both critics and audiences after its Manchester Opera House, London Coliseum, and Toronto’s Ed Mirvish Theatre runs in 2017.
Set in Obsidian – a post-apocalyptic world led by the tyrannical ruler, Falco – Bat Out Of Hell tells the story of Strat and his wild gang, The Lost. By chance, Strat meets Raven, Falco’s daughter, which leads to a full-throttled love affair.
Closes: Saturday 5 January 2019
Kinky Boots
Sashaying away from the West End is the perfectly sculpted Kinky Boots. The Olivier Award-winning show has been giving audiences the feels since 2015 and now, theatre fans are experiencing the most intense emotion – utter devastation. If you’re yet to see it, it’s a touching tale about two strangers from completely different worlds that become business partners.
When Charlie inherits a failing shoe factory, he does all he can to save the business and his employees’ jobs. Soon, it’s clear that traditional means won’t work but instead of despairing, he lets fate take the lead when he meets a drag queen with a broken heel. The unlikely pair start making boots but will their plan work?
Closing: Saturday 12 January 2019
Dreamgirls
Well, it seems that Effie told a little fib as she and the rest of the of the Dreamgirls are going. The multi-award-winning show is inspired by the stories and careers of R&B acts including James Brown, Jackie Wilson and The Shirelles.
It tells the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago called ‘The Dreams’ and their rollercoaster ride to the top of the charts. During their journey, they learn the hard lesson that show business can often be as tough as it is fabulous, and stardom isn’t always as glamorous as it initially seems.
Closing: Saturday 12 January 2019
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Remember, we have loads of new musicals coming to London in 2019. See 10 of them, here.