Where to See Stars on Stage in London in 2023
Nothing generates a buzz quite as much as a celebrity appearing in a play or musical. Some of our very best screen actors began their careers treading the boards, and their return to London theatre is an exciting opportunity to see them in their element, live on stage.
Below, we’ve put together our pick of the biggest stars in the West End this year. Book quickly if you spot an actor you’d love to see perform live because tickets will sell fast!
Below, we’ve put together our pick of the biggest stars in the West End this year. Book quickly if you spot an actor you’d love to see perform live because tickets will sell fast!
1. Paul Mescal in A Streetcar Named Desire
His career has sky-rocketed since hit BBC miniseries Normal People, and Paul Mescal continues to prove why he is one of the most exciting young actors out there. He has already earned an Olivier Award nomination for his performance as brutish Stanley in the Almeida Theatre's revival of the seminal Tennessee Williams drama, and it now transfers to the West End for a very limited - and almost sold out - season.
from £98.00
2. James Norton in A Little Life
James Norton's name has been on everyone's lips since the exhilarating final series of Happy Valley aired this year, and his latest project is just as daring. Taking on the lead role of troubled and enigmatic lawyer Jude, he heads up director Ivo van Hove's star-studded adaptation of unflinching Booker Prize winner A Little Life. This is another performance everyone will be talking about, so book early to avoid missing out.
from £86.30
3. Cheryl in 2:22 A Ghost Story
You can see pop superstar Cheryl in her first acting role in this hit supernatural thriller. Cheryl plays the troubled Jenny, who is convinced her new house is haunted despite her husband’s insistence she’s imagining things. Cheryl has reached the top of the charts with Girls Aloud and her solo career, succeeded as a judge on The X Factor, and critics have already praised her acting in this spooky show.
from £17.89
4. Sheridan Smith in Shirley Valentine
Best known for her TV work in The Royle Family and Gavin & Stacey, and transformative performances on stage including Funny Girl and Cilla, BAFTA Award winner Smith stars in a hotly-anticipated revival of Willy Russell’s famous play. Shirley is a housewife who cuts free from the apron strings of daily life and heads to Greece for sun and self-discovery - the perfect role for Smith, who oozes charm, spirit, and fun in all of her performances.
from £24.00
5. Michael Ball in Aspects of Love
Exclusive Prices![Aspects of Love London]()
![Aspects of Love London]()
Michael Ball is one of the biggest musical theatre stars whose name has transcended the stage. His ubiquity in documentaries, variety shows, and Christmas albums makes every Michael Ball musical a must-see event even if you have never attended a West End show before. In 2023, he makes an exciting return to the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that kick-started his career (and features chart hit “Love Changes Everything”) for a limited season.
Michael Ball will not perform on certain dates. Please check production page for more details.
Michael Ball will not perform on certain dates. Please check production page for more details.
from £20.00
6. Aimee Lou Wood in Cabaret
Exclusive Prices![Cabaret London]()
![Cabaret London]()
Sex Education breakout star Aimee Lou Wood is currently starring as Sally Bowles. She brings a BAFTA Award-winning affinity for comic timing and skilled dramatic acting - previously seen on stage in Uncle Vanya - to this dazzling, immersive show. Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club has seen an astonishing array of stars take to the stage as Sally and the Emcee, who welcome us into the world of 1930s Berlin.
Emily Benjamin will appear as Sally Bowles at certain performances.
Emily Benjamin will appear as Sally Bowles at certain performances.
from £35.70
7. Reece Shearsmith in The Unfriend
Although best known as the creator and star of quirky TV shows, Reece Shearmith is also a tremendous stage actor. In Steven Moffat’s dark comedy of manners about a couple who unwittingly invite a suspected murderer into their home, Shearsmith excels as husband Peter, in a performance that wouldn’t be out of place in Inside No. 9. Even better, the show is directed by his fellow League of Gentlemen member, Mark Gatiss.
from £23.80
8. Beverley Knight in Sylvia
With a host of MOBOs, two Olivier Awards and an MBE under her belt, Beverley Knight always delivers on stage. You can catch her at the Old Vic Theatre in the world premiere of hip-hop musical Sylvia, which is inspired by the feminist Pankhurst family. Knight plays formidable matriarch Emmeline Pankhurst, who was a leader of the Suffragette movement and mother of Sylvia.
Beverley Knight will not perform on certain dates. Please check production page for more details.
Beverley Knight will not perform on certain dates. Please check production page for more details.
from £41.70
9. Tom Hollander in Patriots
BAFTA Award winner Tom Hollander has lit up the screen with roles in The Night Manager, The White Lotus and Baptiste, and his skills as an actor are just as astonishing on stage. In Peter Morgan’s play, set during the fall of the Soviet Union, Hollander delivers a chameleon-like performance as Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky, who suffers a dramatic fall from grace.
from £23.80
10. Sophie Okonedo in Medea
save £14.50![Medea London]()
![Medea London]()
Okonedo is a prolific British actress famed for her versatility across stage and screen. Audiences may remember her breakout role in the Academy Award-nominated film Hotel Rwanda and guest roles in Inside No. 9 and Doctor Who. In her latest stage project, she delivers a tour-de-force performance in a gripping new version of Greek tragedy Medea, which is about a woman’s relentless pursuit of revenge.
from £35.00
Can you meet West End stars at the stage door?
Stagedooring is a very popular tradition for London theatregoers and many actors are more than happy to meet fans after the show. It is a great way to get an autograph or photo with your favourite actor, and let them know how much you enjoyed their performance.Some theatres may have restrictions on stage door meet and greets, and this is often communicated on their social channels or with a note pinned to the stage door. If you are unsure, ask the box office team and they will be happy to provide more information.
Actors are more likely to meet fans at the stage door after evening performances than matinees, because they will need to change, rest and eat between shows in the afternoon.
How do I meet actors at the stage door?
People usually stage door after they have attended a performance, and at very popular shows you may be asked to present your ticket to prove you attended that day. If you are planning to head to the stage door after a show:Come prepared. Bring a pen (ideally a felt tip), something you would like signed such as a theatre programme, and have your phone camera ready.
Be prepared to wait for a while. Actors will be getting changed backstage, and sometimes hosting guests after a performance.
Listen to and follow directions from the theatre staff. Their priority is to ensure the stage door is well-managed and safe for everyone involved.
Be respectful of the people around you and do not try to skip the line, interrupt conversations or push others out of the way. Everyone is excited to meet their favourite actor but if the stage door gets rowdy or out of hand, it may end early.
Be respectful of the actor’s time and always say thank you! Meeting fans at the stage door is not part of an actor’s job, but many enjoy being able to meet fans and thank them for attending the show.
Be polite if the actor is unable to meet and greet. Sometimes actors simply aren’t able to come to the stage door and this will be communicated to anyone waiting as soon as possible.
Can you send cards or gifts to actors at the theatre?
Theatres have different policies for accepting gifts from fans. You may also be able to hand over a small card or letter at the stage door. If you would like to give an actor a gift, email the box office to ask before your visit and see what is allowed. Food items are less likely to be allowed for safety reasons.What happens if an actor does not appear at a performance?
The appearance of any actor in a West End show is always subject to scheduling, illness, injury, holiday entitlement, or other unforeseen circumstances. When you book your tickets, you are doing so for the production rather than a specific actor, and therefore are not usually entitled to a refund or exchange unless the performance is cancelled.Most shows have very talented understudies who will deliver amazing performances. You may even be able to brag in a few years' time that you saw a hot new rising star before they became popular!
Some shows advertise holiday dates for leading actors ahead of time, so always check these before booking. We have listed any holiday dates, or other dates that celebrities are not performing, on the production page.
