10 Must-See Theatre Shows in 2023

Theatre top picks in 2023

With the flowers beginning to blossom and with Summer on the horizon; the UK is jam-packed with things to do! Leicestershire-based bloggers Emmie from Theatre and Tonic and Mark from Beyond The Curtain look ahead to some of the excellent family-friendly theatre offerings for the coming months, which are all just a coach ride away.

The SpongeBob Musical

Popular Nickelodeon cartoon character, SpongeBob Squarepants, is taking to the stage in a brand-new production that is embarking on its first-ever UK tour! The show features all the beloved Spongebob characters and sees them face a volcanic eruption that threatens to destroy their home. Can SpongeBob and company save the day and their undersea world?  The tour stars Lewis Cornay as Spongebob with Irfan Damani as Patrick, Gareth Gates or Tom Read Wilson as Squidward, Chrissie Bhimi as Sandy and Davina de Campo as Sheldon J. Plankton. The tour begins in April at The Mayflower in Southampton and plays a summer season at London’s Southbank Centre from 26th July to 26th August. Ticket prices start from £19.50. 

Dragons and Mythical Beasts

Enter an interactive world of myths and legends for all of the family with Dragons and Mythical Beasts. Nominated for the 2022 Olivier Award for Best Family Entertainment, unveil a myriad of dark secrets! You will come face to face with some of the most magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts ever to walk the earth. Discover the colossal Stone Troll, the mysterious Indrik and Japanese Baku; the Tooth Fairy (not as sweet as you'd think), an adorable Unicorn and a majestic Griffin. Take your place among legendary heroes, just don't wake the Dragon…Tickets for Dragons and Mythical Beasts start from £13.50

Winnie The Pooh

Fans of smash-hit Disney productions like The Lion King and Frozen will love the opportunity to get their hands on this new show - direct from rave reviews on Broadway. The iconic residents of Hundred-Acre Wood come to life in a beautifully crafted musical stage adaptation. Winnie the Pooh will mesmerise audiences of all ages and can be seen at Riverside Studios in London until May before they head out on an adventure across the UK. Ticket prices start from £29.50. 

Unexpected Twist

Charles Dickens’ classic novel mashes with Michael Rosen’s Unexpected Twist to serve up a fresh lyrical retelling with a twist. The production fuses the modern-day experience of Shona mirroring her journey with the classic Victorian tale as she battles through similar experiences. The production is enthused with a soundtrack of beatbox music provided on stage by the cast which powerfully drives the story forwards. You can catch the production on its inaugural UK tour with stops including Coventry, Salford, Malvern, Blackpool, Oxford and Leicester. Tickets for Unexpected Twist start from £20.50. 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Be one of the lucky ones to grab a golden ticket to Wonka’s chocolate factory! Join Charlie Bucket as he goes on the journey of a lifetime as the musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved novel is currently touring the UK. The musical has played in the West End and on Broadway and enjoys a newly revitalised production which visits cities including Norwich, Cardiff, Plymouth, Manchester, Southampton, Birmingham and more. Tickets start from £10. 

Matilda

Talking of Roald Dahl and following the BAFTA-nominated movie which heads to Netflix this summer, the Royal Shakespeare Company musical continues its record-breaking run at London’s Cambridge Theatre where it has played since November 2010. At its core is Matilda and her powerful mind which conquers any obstacle put in her way, including the positively horrible Miss Trunchbull. Delighting audiences with its charming tale and music by Tim Minchin, it’s time to join the Revolting Children for an endless amount of fun. Tickets on selected dates start from £20. 

The Play That Goes Wrong

This one is perfect for older children! Mischief Theatre’s smash hit comedy The Play That Goes Wrong continues to delight audiences at London’s Duchess Theatre. Join The Cornley Drama Society as they stage a 1920s murder mystery and as the title suggests everything that can go wrong, does in the most hilarious comedy play. Mischief will also launch a UK tour of Peter Pan Goes Wrong in the autumn. Tickets for The Play That Goes Wrong start from £22. 

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Neil Gaiman’s spellbinding novel is enjoying a hit stage adaptation which opened at The National Theatre and is now on a nationwide tour. A thrilling adventure full of theatrical magic and a gripping story that will have you on the edge of your seats. Playing to rave 5 star reviews the tour is booking through until October with a cast including Keir Ogilvy, Charlie Brooks, Finty Williams, Trevor Fox and Millie Hikasa. Tickets start from £13.00

The Wizard of Oz

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to the London Palladium this summer for one of the world’s most beloved musicals. The production will star award-winning comedian and musical theatre star Jason Manford at The Cowardly Lion, Diversity star Ashley Banjo as The Tin Man in his West End musical debut and theatre legend Gary Wilmot as The Wizard and Professor Marvel. The Wizard of Oz heads to London on Friday 23 June. Tickets for The Wizard of Oz start from £13.00 

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

And of course there’s the world’s largest performance arts festival that once again takes over the Scottish capital in August. A mixed line up of comedy, musical, drama, dance, music and more; the festival caters for all audiences with thousands of performances across the month. This year the festival runs between the 4th and 28th August. You can keep up to date with the latest show announcements for this year’s Ed Fringe over on their website. 

Our coaches travel to hundreds of towns, cities and events across the UK every day, so if there’s a show you fancy on the list above, we can get you there. Book your coach tickets with us here. 

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