The inside scoop about what's on right now in the West End

One of my favorite parts of living in London is my new proximity to incredible theatre. Here’s the inside scoop about what's on right now in the West End:

Witness for the Prosecution at London County Hall

I have to start with Witness for the Prosecution, because I simply cannot recommend it enough. It's a play adapted by Agatha Christie from her 1925 short story “Traitor’s Hands.” The story follows the murder trial of a young Londoner who was charged with killing his newly acquainted friend. The absolutely amazing thing about seeing Witness for the Prosecution in London right now is that they are staging it in London County Hall’s historic former council chamber. Once the trial begins, the counsel chamber becomes a vast courtroom. A judge sits on the bench, with a clerk on either side. A stenographer sits below him, pretending to transcribe the proceedings. The defense counsel and prosecutor sit in the first seat of the first row on either side, right next to members of the audience. They stand when they address the judge, or climb up onto the stage to promenade as they make their arguments. At the end of the show, audience members that have paid extra to be placed in the jury box act as the jury.

My seat was up in the gallery. I enjoyed my top down view of the show, and feeling like an average spectator watching a real court proceeding. However, my seat became the front row when during the second act, an actor came through the side door, leaned over the railing, and screamed at the judge. If you are interested in sitting in that area, it was the B section of the gallery. 

I would recommend this show to ANYONE. I personally enjoyed the trial format as someone studying criminal justice policy. However, it isn’t just for the law nerds. Every scene contains multitudes of themes beyond the trial. Money, war, guilt, innocence, sacrifice, betrayal, and loyalty. It’s funny and exciting and disheartening and in true Agatha Christie fashion you don’t know exactly what’s going on until the very last moment. And simply spending a night at the theatre in the council chamber is worth it.

All things Shakespeare at the Globe Theatre

I see as much of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre as I can fit into my schedule. The shows are only on for two months or so, so I recommend checking their website every few weeks or subscribing to their emails for updates. They also host one-time improv shows and other performances beyond Shakespeare.

My tips for going to a show at The Globe:

• Remember it’s an outdoor theatre, so check the weather and dress warm! They perform in the rain so wear your rain jacket just in case.
• If you can stand through a two hour show, I recommend getting a ticket in “The Yard.” These are the standing tickets, and the cheapest option, usually around £7–15. If you get there when the doors open, which is usually thirty minutes before the start time, you can get a spot right up front, and even rest your elbows up on the stage. It is an incredible view. Just wear your most comfortable shoes.
• If you want a seat instead, I recommend also pre-booking a seat cushion with your ticket. The bare wooden seats are more uncomfortable than standing through the show. However, if you pay the extra £3 for a seat cushion they are just fine.
• If you are interested in a more relaxed environment, look for a “relaxed performance.” These productions may reduce sensory issues, such as turning down loud music or reducing surprising sound effects. Audience members are encouraged to move around and make noise. Quiet areas are available during the show if you want to take a break. I went to a relaxed performance simply because it fit my schedule and I really enjoyed it. The actors seemed to engage with the audience even more than usual because there was an understanding that the audience could openly engage back.
• The Globe also offers captioned, audio-described, and signed performances.
• I have seen shows at The Globe that are performed as they were in Shakespeare’s time, and shows that take artistic license to deviate from period accurate costumes or themes. I would recommend trying a bit of both. I haven’t seen a show at The Globe that I didn’t love.
• The Globe offers guided history tours of the theatre, including a LGBTQ+ Queer history tour (which is  one of my favorite things that I have ever had the opportunity to do in my life).

• The Swan restaurant attached to The Globe does an amazing full British afternoon tea that you can book a reservation for if you want to eat there before or after your show.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at The Palace Theatre

The Cursed Child is commonly mistaken for a musical. In reality, it’s about 45% play and 55% magic show. There are some dance breaks, but the thing that really sets this show apart is that the actors disappear into telephone booths and book cases, poly juice potion into different actors, and the entire set seems to turn into jello when the time turner spins them back in time. I still haven’t figured out how they pulled it all off.

It is also a five hour show, with an hour interval for dinner. You book Acts 1 and 2 as two separate tickets, so if you don’t think you can sit through all five hours in one day, you can book them for two separate days. You just might have to wait in suspense. Luckily, if you do decide to see both acts back to back, the Palace Theatre does have comfortable seats. 

Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre 

I saw Wicked at the Apollo Theatre this winter term as part of the LSE res life event. If you haven’t checked out the res life trips, check out the list for some shows you might enjoy. The tickets are discounted and you get to see the show with fellow LSE students. 

With the new movie and the insane press tour for it all over the internet, this is the perfect time to see Wicked. 

Our res life student ticket seats were in the stalls (the ground level seating) with an incredible view. It didn’t make me love musicals, but it had a fantastic cast, spectacular sets, and a deeper story than I was expecting. If you aren’t familiar with the story of the The Wizard of Oz, I recommend brushing up before you go. I thought that Wicked was a prequel, but it’s story actually takes place before, during, and after Dorothy’s. The show feels like two separate stories accidentally collided with each other. One of the social dynamics of university students, and one of mass media, scapegoating, propaganda, and prejudice. But I liked them both.

The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty’s Theatre

I also saw The Phantom of the Opera as part of an LSE res life event. I must admit, I didn’t know anything about the story before seeing the show, and I thought it’s plot was a bit creepy and outdated. The main female character doesn’t express much agency over her own fate, and there has recently been a call from the disabled, disfigured, and people with mental illnesses asking the media to stop portraying them as villains. 

However, I am not disappointed that I went to see it. It was exquisitely done. Theater that you don’t like, that makes you think, that leaves a bad taste in your mouth, is worthwhile. I can now understand the references to this story, and have an opinion about it. And I can appreciate how much love and talent went into an amazing production of a story that I’m not interested in engaging with again.

The Mousetrap at St. Martin’s Theatre

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap is London’s best kept secret. It’s the world’s longest-running play (it opened in 1952), is considered a quintessentially British whodunit and a part of the fabric of London’s West End, has a twist ending, and has been performed by many famous actors including Richard Attenborough, Hugh Bonneville, and Sir Patrick Stewart. 

I had actually seen The Mousetrap before, at the Hartford Stage in Connecticut, so I was excited to see the whole thing through again with the twist ending in mind. At the end of each show, they ask the audience to keep the ending of The Mousetrap a secret, and so far (72 years in) so good. 

However, the seats at St. Martin’s Theatre were the most uncomfortable I have ever had to sit in. If you have trouble sitting for long periods of time, it will not be easy in the grand circle balcony seating at St. Martin's Theatre. 

The Mousetrap is told through what the characters are hiding underneath everything they say. It’s not about what they say, but how they say it. When I saw it at the Hartford Stage, it was in a small theater. I could see small twitches, the furrowing of a brow, and the darting glances. But in this very large theater, the actors went big with their expressions. Everything was exaggerated, and it seemed to gave away the B plot. This story of subtleties was just simply not subtle. It’s twist ending wasn’t shocking, and not a change of pace. 

Do go see The Mousetrap if you haven’t seen it. I recommend seeing a local community theatre’s take on it.