Top New Shows Opening in London’s West End in May 2025
May 2025 is shaping up to be a thrilling month in London's West End, with a variety of exciting new shows to experience. From electrifying rock dramas to unforgettable musicals and gripping new plays, there’s something for every theatre lover. Get ready to secure your May theatre tickets and witness these highly anticipated productions making their debut this spring.
1. Stereophonic – Duke of York’s Theatre
Stereophonic delves deep into the music industry during the electric year of 1976, focusing on an up-and-coming rock band on the verge of superstardom. As the band records a new album, the pressures of success threaten to tear them apart—or propel them into a groundbreaking new phase. Written by David Adjmi and directed by Daniel Aukin, Stereophonic invites the audience to experience the raw, emotional process of creation, with a fly-on-the-wall intimacy. Featuring original music by Arcade Fire’s Will Butler, this play is a must-see for anyone interested in the high-stakes world of music and the agony of artistic creation.
2. The Fifth Step – @sohoplace
In The Fifth Step, the complexities of addiction and recovery take centre stage. James, a seasoned member of Alcoholics Anonymous, agrees to sponsor Luka, a newcomer struggling to stay sober. Over shared black coffee and intimate conversations, they form a fragile bond, but as they reach Step 5 of the recovery process, Luka must confront his darkest secrets—secrets that could derail their progress. But James has his own past, filled with dangerous truths that threaten the trust they’ve built. This provocative and subversively funny play from David Ireland, starring Jack Lowden and Martin Freeman, is an intense exploration of friendship, secrets, and the path to redemption. Directed by Finn den Hertog, The Fifth Step promises to be a compelling theatrical experience.
3. Shucked – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Shucked, a Tony Award-winning musical comedy, makes its UK debut in May at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. This laugh-out-loud show takes place in the fictional Cob County, where the town’s corn crops are dying, threatening the community’s way of life. Maizy and Beau are about to get married, but their plans are put on hold as they search for answers. Featuring a script by Robert Horn and songs by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, Shucked is a corn-fed, corn-bred musical full of humour, heart, and a touch of the absurd. With songs like “Woman of the World” and “Somebody Will,” this Broadway hit is sure to satisfy your musical cravings and leave you giggling long after the curtain falls.
4. Mrs Warren’s Profession – The Vaudeville Theatre
In George Bernard Shaw’s Mrs Warren’s Profession, Vivie Warren—a woman determined to carve out her career in a man’s world—must confront the shocking truth about her mother’s past. Estranged from her wealthy, morally ambiguous mother, Vivie is forced to reckon with the price of her mother’s success, earned through exploiting patriarchal systems. Starring Olivier Award-winning Imelda Staunton and her real-life daughter Bessie Carter, Mrs Warren’s Profession has been reimagined for the 21st century by director Dominic Cooke. This fiery, moral drama delves into the cost of female empowerment and the complex relationship between mother and daughter.
5. Jane Eyre – Sadler’s Wells
Jane Eyre by Northern Ballet brings Charlotte Brontë’s beloved novel to life through dance. As Jane accepts a position as governess at Thornfield Hall, she finds herself drawn to the brooding Mr. Rochester, whose secrets threaten their burgeoning love. With stunning choreography by Cathy Marston and live music that captures the essence of Brontë’s classic tale, this powerful ballet unfolds Jane’s journey from humble beginnings to dramatic heights. This production promises to be a visually stunning and emotionally resonant adaptation of the timeless story of love, secrets, and self-discovery.
