The 20 Theatre Shows to see in October (2024)

As the crisp air of October settles in, the theatre world is buzzing with excitement, offering a stellar lineup of must-see shows and even a convention to get stuck into this month. Highlights include the brand new stage adaptation of Ali Smith’s Autumn to the critically acclaimed The Lehman Trilogy which returns to the West End this month. Not only that but there’s also the return of Musical Con in October, where fans can immerse themselves in all things musical theatre.

Whether you're a seasoned theatre lover or just exploring the world of live performances, here are 20 shows you won’t want to miss this October.

Room 13

until 17 November, Barn Theatre

Inspired by the ghost stories of M.R.James, Room 13 is currently premiering at the Barn Theatre. In a lonely hotel, four strangers are forced to spend the night in Room 13, bearing the weight of their own grief, shame and darkness. They will come to realise that Room 13 has secrets of its own. Hailed as being scarier than Woman in Black, this is the perfect show for the spooky season.

Welfare

until 12 October 2024, Derby Theatre

Written by award winning British-Armenian playwright Abi Zakarian, Welfare takes audiences on a trip through the decades as we follow the fortunes of The Derbyshire Miners’ Holiday Camp through the highs and lows of history. Expect to meet generations of families as they explore how time and change affects communities and individuals alike.

Foreverland

until 19 October, Southwark Playhouse

Part sci-fi thriller, part relationship drama, Foreverland is a new play by Emma Hemingford that tells a gripping story about the future of biotechnology. Follow Alice and Jay as they undergo a new form of gene therapy which will radically extend the length of their lives. The play will raise important discussions around what makes a good life, for this generation and the next.

King Troll (The Fawn)

until 2 November 2024, New Diorama Theatre

King Troll (The Fawn) is a dark and otherworldly thriller, written by Sonali Bhattacharyya. The story follows two South Asian sisters, desperate to escape the border regime without losing their humanity. Riya and Nikita both navigate the authoritarian island where they live in different ways, King Troll sets to unearth the troll that lives within all of us.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

from 10 October, Ambassadors Theatre

Heading into the West End after it captured hearts and selling out at the Southwark Playhouse, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is one musical you want to make time for this Autumn. Set in a fishing village on the north costs of Cornwall, the foot-stomping and award-winning musical will take audiences on a journey through the timeless tale of a love that defies all odds.

The Lehman Trilogy

until 5 January 2025, Gillian Lynne Theatre

The landmark production from the National Theatre and Neal Street production returns to the West End for a strictly limited encore season this autumn. Directed by Academy Award, Tony Award and Golden Globe winner Sam Mendes, The Lehman Trilogy is a sweeping story of a family spanning generations and around a company that changed the world.

Fly More Than You Fall

from 18 Oct, Southwark Playhouse Elephant

Starring Broadway, West End and Tony-nominated Keala Settle, Fly More Than You Fall is a new musical heading into the Southwark Playhouse Elephant for a limited run in October. Based on lived experiences, this show is an uplifting and inspiring story about navigating grief. We follow Malia as her life is thrown into turmoil after her mother’s terminal cancer diagnosis.

Brace Brace

until 09 November, Royal Court Theatre

From writer Oli Forsyth and director Daniel Raggett, Brace Brace tells a gripping story of the people we become in the aftermath of a catastrophe. Following on from a plane journey where a man hijacked the plan, survivors Ray and Sylvia struggle to reconcile their responses to the life-changing event.

The Fear of 13

until 30 November, Donmar Warehouse

Starring Academy Award winner Adrien Brody, The Fear of 13 is based on the extraordinary true story of Nick Yarris. A new play by Lindsey Ferrentino and based on the documentary film by Justin Martin, the new play covers how a routine traffic stop turned into a conviction for murder. After spending 22 years on Death Row, The Fear of 13 unearths what happened when he finally petitioned the court to ask for his execution date.

Queenz: Drag Me To The Disco

12 October, De Montfort Hall

Back on the road with a new show, Queenz are bringing your Disco dreams to life for a party of a lifetime. Featuring more sequins and surprises than ever, the production will serve up the ultimate celebration of powerhouse and dazzling disco divas this Autumn. In October alone they’ll visit Leicester, Worthing and Aberdeen! Make sure you book some tickets. 

White Rabbit Red Rabbit

from 1 October, @sohoplace

Featuring an electric line up of actors including Catherine Tate, Daisy Edgar Jones, Michael Sheen and Toby Jones, White Rabbit Red Rabbit is an unforgettable theatrical adventure that heads to the West End for the first time. Each night a completely new adventure awaits, depending on how the author’s words compel each actor to perform.

Oedipus

until 4 January 2025, Wyndham’s Theatre

Starring the internationally renowned, multi award-winning Mark Strong and Lesley Manville, Sophocles’ epic tragedy heads to the West End this autumn and is transformed into an essential, explosive human thriller. Directed by Robert Icke, this Ancient Greek tragedy takes secrets of the past and turns them into the present for a limited run at Wyndham’s Theatre. 

Becoming Nancy

until 2 November, Birmingham Rep

Adapted from Terry Ronald’s best-selling novel, the UK premiere of the new musical Becoming Nancy bursts onto the Birmingham stage in October. Directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, this new musical focuses on love, friendship and finding your voice, set in 1979.

Autumn

until 2 Nov, Park Theatre

Heading to the stage in a brand new adaptation is Ali Smith’s state-of-the-nation novel Autumn. From writer Harry McDonald and director Charlotte Vickers, Autumn finds connections across time and explores what difference art can make in a time of political divides.

Dr. Strangelove

until 25 January 2025, Noel Coward Theatre

Starring seven-time BAFTA Award winner Steve Coogan, the first ever adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s comedy masterpiece heads to the West End this month! Dr. Strangelove is an explosive funny satirical story about a U.S. military officer’s accidental triggering of a nuclear apocalypse. This new production will certainly have a new generation of audiences laughing.

The New Real

until 2 November, The Other Place Stratford-upon-Avon

The RSC’s Other Place auditorium is transformed for David Edgar’s epic, panoramic play about how the political fault-line was redrawn. Starring an epic cast, follow Rachel, a stellar American political strategist and her British data whizz Caro as they fight a ferocious election in a place where it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s fake.

Barcelona

until 11 January 2025, Duke of York’s

Barcelona is a new seductive thriller which is heading to the West End in October, starring Lily Collins and Álvaro Morte. Directed by Lynette Linton, the play explores the fantasy of who we pretend to be, versus the truth of who we are. Follow what happens when an American tourist goes home with a handsome Spaniard.

West End Musical Halloween

28 Oct, Lyric Theatre

Don’t have any concrete plans for Halloween yet? Combine musicals and the spooky season with West End Musical Halloween. Expect songs from Sweeney Todd, Little Shop of Horrors, Hadestown and The Rocky Horror Picture Show sung by some of the biggest names in the West End. Singing, dancing along and dressing for the occasion are very much encouraged, don’t miss out on a brilliantly fun night this October!

The Devil Wears Prada

from 24 October, Dominion Theatre

Strutting into the West End this month is The Devil Wears Prada: A New Musical, based on the blockbuster film and bestselling novel. Taking its new home in the Dominion Theatre following a run in Plymouth this summer, the musical features an epic cast including Tony Award nominee Vanessa Williams, Matt Henry, Georgie Buckland and Amy Di Bartolomeo. Promising to be both hilariously fun and stylish, the musical tells an inspiring story about discovering what kind of person you truly want to be.

Musical Con

19-20 October, ExCel London

The world’s biggest musical theatre fan convention is back in London this month! Musical Con allows theatre fans to meet the stars, celebrate the biggest shows in theatreland, and learn from the pros through some showstopping workshops. Now in its third year at the ExCel in London, Musical Con really is the home for theatre fans to come together all under one roof and be as stagey as possible. There are still tickets left if you are looking for something fun to do in October.

What will you be watching in October? Join us again next month for another round up. If you’d like your show feature for the theatre shows to watch in November (2024) drop me an email on theatreandtonic@gmail.com with information and an image!