The Shaftesbury Theatre is to be renamed after Judi Dench, The Notebook and The History Boys set 2027 dates, and the critics split over Martin Guerre at the Old Vic. This is the week in London theatre.
A West End theatre is taking Judi Dench's name, a revival and a Broadway musical have set their 2027 dates, and the reviews are in for a busy week of openings. These are the stories Best of Theatre News covered between Friday 16 October and Friday 23 October.
Openings and reviews
Martin Guerre split the critics at the Old Vic. Matthew Warchus has cut the Boublil and Schönberg musical to 90 minutes and staged it in the round, and the 15 rated reviews average 3.2 out of 5. Most of them single out Liv Andrusier as Bertrande. Read the Martin Guerre review roundup.
Derren Brown: Only Human had its press night at the Apollo Theatre on 21 October. Twelve rated reviews average 4.2 out of 5; several critics think it runs long. Read the Only Human review roundup.
Disney's High School Musical averages 4.0 out of 5 from 16 rated reviews at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. Caitlin Tipping's Sharpay is the performance the critics mention most. Read the High School Musical review roundup.
At the Donmar Warehouse, Danny Lee Wynter's Ilford Boy averages 3.6 out of 5 from ten rated notices. The critics rate the dialogue above the structure. Read the Ilford Boy review roundup.
Caryl Churchill's short new play Triumph, with Kate O'Flynn, averages 3.8 out of 5 from 12 rated reviews at the Almeida Theatre. Read the Triumph review roundup.
Cirque Berserk! opened at the Garrick Theatre on 21 October for a half-term season that ends on Saturday 31 October. See the first production photos.
Announcements and on sale
The Shaftesbury Theatre becomes the Judi Dench Theatre in February 2027. Read about the renaming.
Its first show under the new name is The Notebook, the musical of Nicholas Sparks' novel. Previews begin on 10 March 2027, opening night is 13 April 2027, and the run is booking until 11 December 2027. Tickets went on sale on Friday 23 October, from £20. Read the full announcement.
Nicholas Hytner is restaging his National Theatre production of The History Boys at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, from 10 April to 24 July 2027. Across the run, 20,000 tickets are priced at £25. Read the History Boys story.
The Mousetrap starts its 75th year at the St Martin's Theatre with a new director, Hannah Chissick, a new company from 11 November and a gala on 25 November 2026. Read the Mousetrap plans.
Andrew Lloyd Webber has finished a musical about the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa and hopes to open it in London around September 2027. Nothing has been announced yet. Read what he said.
Variety reports that a musical about Amy Winehouse is in development for the West End. No one named in the report has confirmed it. Read the report.
Casting
Jane Krakowski plays Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh, Mary! at the Trafalgar Theatre from 7 December 2026 to 16 January 2027. The comedy is now booking to 5 June 2027. Read the casting news.
Teri Hatcher joined The Devil Wears Prada as Miranda Priestly at the Dominion Theatre on 20 October. See the first pictures.
The new Mamma Mia! company at the Novello Theatre, led by Sara Poyzer as Donna and Ellie Gilbert-Grey as Sophie, appears in a new set of production photos. See the new cast.
Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer, two of its writers, play Robert and Dennis in Christmas Carol Goes Wrong at Wyndham's Theatre from 14-23 January 2027. Read the casting news.
Ian McKellen, Robert Lindsay and Matt Henry join host Bradley Walsh for Raise the Roof!, a one-night fundraiser for Denville Hall at the Victoria Palace Theatre on Sunday 1 November. Read the line-up.
Closing
Saturday 24 October is the last performance for Tartuffe (Remixed) at the Marylebone Theatre, Man to Man at the Royal Court Theatre, The Story at the National Theatre, Thelma & Louise at the Young Vic, Darkling at the Bush Theatre, Jane Eyre at Southwark Playhouse Elephant and The Urmetazoan at Hampstead Theatre.
Saturday 31 October is the last performance for Martin Guerre, Cirque Berserk!, Angel's Bone at the London Coliseum and Fences at the Lyric Hammersmith. HAM also closes at Soho Theatre that day, and has added 3pm matinees on 24 and 31 October. Read about the extra matinees.
Worth booking this weekend
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and Paranormal Activity at the Ambassadors Theatre has added a 10.30pm performance on 31 October. Our Halloween theatre guide lists the rest.
Speculations, with Janie Dee, begins previews at the Marylebone Theatre on Friday 30 October and has been extended to 17 January 2027. Read about the extension.
Planning further ahead? See what's closing soon and what's opening soon in the West End.
