As the capital sparkles for the festive season, London’s theatres are brimming with options – from glittering pantomimes to long-running West End favourites. Here are some highlights opening this November.
Family Favourites
Following a record-breaking Broadway run, Elf the Musical has arrived at the Aldwych Theatre for a joyful 10-week run (to 3 Jan). Based on the beloved film, it follows Buddy – a human raised as an elf – on his journey from the North Pole to New York City to find his birth father. Along the way, he causes mayhem, discovers the true meaning of family, and fights to save Christmas when Santa’s sleigh crashes in Central Park. Packed with catchy songs, inventive staging, and festive spirit, this heartwarming show leaves audiences smiling long after the curtain falls.
From one epic journey to another, Paddington the Musical opens at the Savoy Theatre on 1 November, bringing marmalade-flavoured mischief. With original music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher of McFly, it follows the small bear from Peru who turns up on a London family’s doorstep. His awkward charm sparks comic adventures, and when a villain threatens his new home, the family must unite to save the day.
Another beloved character returns in Pinocchio the Musical, a spellbinding new production that brings wooden wonders to the world-famous Globe Theatre. In a traditional town yearning for change, carver Geppetto creates a wooden puppet who dreams of more. Together, they embark on a wild adventure filled with strange creatures, big questions, and the search for belonging. Staged in a historic open-air theatre constructed from a thousand oak trees, it’s the perfect setting for a story about carving out your place in the world.
Gripping Drama
November brings star power and intense storytelling to the West End. At Wyndham’s Theatre, All My Sons returns in a striking new production from Ivo van Hove, starring Bryan Cranston, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Paapa Essiedu (from 13 Nov). Arthur Miller’s searing take on the American Dream – a self-made man, a wartime cover-up, and a reckoning that won’t stay buried – feels as urgent as ever.
Opening at Soho Place Theatre on 17 November, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold brings John le Carré’s Cold War thriller to the stage. Adapted by Ronan Bennett and directed by Lyndsey Turner, it follows British agent Alec Leamas on a final, dangerous mission in East Germany. As deception deepens and loyalties blur, he discovers that the enemy may lie closer than expected. Atmospheric staging and razor-sharp dialogue promise a taut, stylish portrayal of betrayal and the chilling realities of spycraft.
Shakespeare by Candlelight
A Midsummer Night’s Dream comes to life in the flickering glow of candlelight at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse (from 15 Nov). In this enchanting winter production, snow falls in summer, and illusion blurs with reality. Directed by Holly Race Roughan and Naeem Hayat, it explores the play’s darker undertones. Four young lovers flee a repressive city into a forest ruled by feuding fairies, where love, power, and madness collide. Watch Puck sow chaos, Oberon and Titania clash, and the dream threatens to spiral into a nightmare.
From Barre to Big Dreams
Ballet-themed productions also grace London stages this season. Ballet Shoes returns to the National Theatre (17 Nov–21 Feb), adapting Noel Streatfeild’s beloved novel. Following three adopted sisters pursuing acting, flying, and ballet, it celebrates family bonds, courage, and the pursuit of passion in a world that doesn’t always make space for women’s dreams. Directed by Katy Rudd, it’s a touching story of ambition and resilience.
