The Must-See Musicals in London’s West End Right Now

As a theatre lover I have relished living in London over the past two years and having the luxury of being able to see all the amazing shows on offer in the West End. I must have been to over 10, many come and go (think Simon Cowels X factor flop or Spice Girls the musical!) It’s hard but I have whittled down my favourites to 5 that are still showing at the moment. If you are stuck for what to do or what to see I would recommend any of the following for a good night out:

Once
This is a slow beautiful meander though the developing friendship of two troubled musicians in Northern Ireland. It is an incredibly endearing story and the music is captivating. By the end I was completely moved and would highly recommend this as a lovely evening out.
Tip: if you can afford it try and sit in the stalls rather than the Gods otherwise you are not always sure who is speaking or singing. Also arrive early, they were playing a warm up set before the show when we went.

Charlie and the chocolate factory
By contrast, this was like watching my childhood dreams come to life before my very eyes! The staging and elaborate scenery which changes every 10 minutes is astounding and completely magical. We were sat on the front row and it was fascinating being so close to the action! The staging was amazing and we saw everything from a child being shrunk to fit inside a TV to a flowing chocolate waterfall which I wouldn’t have minded jumping right into.
Tip: Try and grab some tickets mid-week, my friends were upgraded as there are lots of seats free at the moment or try and book the seats I had which were perfect: A21/A22.

Billy Elliot
This is a rip-roaring journey through the northeast in the 1980s. The children who play Billy and his best friend are fantastically talented and hilarious, holding the audience in the palms of their hands. It’s a challenging musical, particularly when a giant Margret Thatcher puppet takes over the stage, but a touching journey to watch and one the best productions I’ve ever seen.

The Royal opera House
If you want a truly British experience then you must go here. The building alone is stunning and it feels like a properly grand experience. Last week I saw sleeping beauty, which was a magical interpretation of the classical story. The full, live orchestra played the music beautifully and the lead ballerina was unbelievable!

If you just want to visit the venue then you can get a £10 standing ticket but I would really recommend the £24 seats in the upper amphitheater, which have a pretty clear view of the stage.

Wicked
This is a lovely fairy story, a re-telling of the classic wizard of Oz tale and is like two hours of Disney on stage. The music is good fun, the characters entertaining and the scenery over the top and fantastic, and this is one musical what will have you singing songs all the way home!

Have you been to any good West-End musicals? Which was your favourite?