London’s theatre scene is set to dazzle audiences this autumn with a range of exciting new productions and revivals. From classic reimagining’s to contemporary explorations of societal issues, the upcoming season promises a wealth of engaging performances.
Brace Brace: Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, 3 October- 9 November
Brace Brace is a gripping story of the people we become in the aftermath of catastrophe from writer Oli Forsyth and director Daniel Raggett. The play will be running at the Royal Court as part of their 2024 season where nine new writers were given to opportunity to have their writing debuted on a London stage. Forsyth is this year’s recipient of the Jerwood New Playwright accolade which is supported by the Jerwood Foundation.
The Duchess: Trafalgar Theatre, 5 October-20 December
The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster is set to debut at the Trafalgar Theatre for a limited run of 11 weeks. The Duchess will be starring former Doctor Who star, Jodie Whittaker, who returns to the stage for the first time in over a decade. The production will be a modern reimaging by Zinnie Harris telling the story of a recent widow who disapprovingly re-marries below her class. The play explores themes of greed, rage and tragedy, while also exploring the depths of the patriarchy against female resistance.
Girl in The Machine: Young Vic, 16- 26 October
Directed by Annie Kershaw, a new production of Stef Smith’s play Girl in the Machine is coming to London for a limited run at the Young Vic Theatre. The play was originally staged during the Edinburgh international science festival in 2017, directed by Orla O’Loughlin. The new production will be starring BAFTA nominated Leah Harvey (Foundation, Small Island) and Sophie Melville (The Way, Iphigenia in Splott) in this love story that is being told against the backdrop of a fast-changing world. The play delves into issues surrounding social media and dangers of ever advancing technology within a modern world.
Look Back in Anger: Almeida Theatre, 20 September- 23 November
A new production of John Osbourne’s Look Back in Anger is coming to the Almeida Theatre as part of their “Angry and Young” season where young directors can adapt classic plays. This production will be directed by Atri Bannerjee, who said that it spoke directly to his own experience. In an interview he stated, “I thought about the attack, what it might mean to be an angry young man who feels disenfranchised, and how that can turn to violence.” This modern retelling of a 1950’s classic will star Billy Howle and Ellora Torchia.
Oedipus: Wyndham’s Theatre, 4 October- 4 January
After his revelatory Oresteia, visionary director Robert Icke (1984, The Doctor) reimagines another Ancient Greek tragedy, bringing the secrets of the past bursting into the present. The production will be running at the Wyndham Theatre for a limited run and will star multi award-winning Mark Strong and Lesley Manville. Make sure to grab your tickets while they’re still available.
The Fear of 13: Donmar Warehouse, 4 October- 30 November
US star Adrien Brody is making his UK stage debut as an innocent man who spent 22 years on death row in Lindsey Ferrentino’s adaptation of David Sington’s documentary film of the same name. The play is based on the true story of Nick Yarris who was put on death row in 1981 after being accused of murder and sexual assault. He was then released in 2004 after DNA evidence proved him to be innocent. The play is about how he finally petitioned the court to ask not for an appeal, but for his execution date. The show will be running at the Donmar Warehouse for its debut in London.
Quiet Songs: The Pit, Barbican Centre, 22 October- 2 November
Finn Beames & Company is a changing group of collaborators making music-led work for live performance. Quiet Songs is their first production, as the winner of the 2024 Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award. The semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story centres on a gay teenage boy and will feature Irish actress Ruth Negga in the lead role—marking her first performance in London in over ten years.
Barcelona: Duke of York Theatre, 21 October- 11 January
Barcelona is two-hander directed by Lynette Linton, which follows the story of an American tourist who ends up going home with a charming Spaniard. What starts as a light-hearted, one-night encounter soon spirals into something more perilous, as personal and political tensions collide with devastating consequences. With star actors including Lily Collins (Emily in Paris, To The Bone, Mank) and Álvaro Morte (Money Heist, Wheel of Time, Immaculate) tickets are sure to sell fast for the play’s 12 week run.
Words by Gemma McDonald
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