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Celebrities on the West End

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Published on: Nov 5, 2023
Last Updated on: Aug 3, 2024
By: Kathryn Willingham
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Les Miserables Musical in London's West End

Some of the fun of seeing live theater is seeing your favorite stars on stage – from Olivier Award-winning actors to Oscar and Emmy Award-winning movie and tv stars, the West End and London theatre district are full of some of the best talent in the world. In just the past few years Nicole Kidman, Eddie Redmayne, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Audra McDonald, James McAvoy, Brian Cranston, Maggie Smith, Mark Rylance, Tom Hiddleston, Amber Riley, David Tennant and more have all played to London audiences. Here’s who you can see on stage right now and who will be gracing the stage soon!

Celebrities in London Plays

Slave Play

Slave Play

Kit Harington stars in Slave Play at the Noel Coward Theatre on the West End.

Why You Know Kit: Kit Harington is known for his performance as Jon Snow in the tv show Game of Thrones as well as for his roles in the films Pompeii, Testament of Youth, and Eternals and the tv show Gunpowder. He has previously been seen on stage in Henry V, True West, Doctor Faustus, The Vote, The Children’s Monologues, Posh, and War Horse.

The Constituent at The Old Vic

The Constituent

James Corden stars in The Constituent at The Old Vic.

Why You Know James: James Corden hosted The Late Late Show with James Corden and is also known for his roles in television and film including Gavin and Stacey, Into the Woods, Ocean’s 8, and The Prom. He has previously been seen on stage in One Man, Two Guvnors and The History Boys

The Grapes of Wrath at the National Theatre

The Grapes of Wrath

Cherry Jones stars in The Grapes of Wrath at the National Theatre.

Why You Know Cherry: Cherry Jones is known for her performances in the TV shows The West Wing, 24, Transparent, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Succession as well as for the films Erin Brockovich, Signs, The Village, and The Eyes of Tammy Faye. She has previously been seen on stage in The Lifespan of a Fact, The Glass Menagerie, When We Were Young and Unafraid, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Faith Healer, Doubt, The Heiress, Our Country’s Good, A Moon’s Misbegotten, and Imaginary Friends.

Celebrities in London Musicals

Hello Dolly in London

Hello, Dolly!

Imelda Staunton stars in Hello, Dolly! at the London Palladium.

Why You Know Imelda: Imelda Staunton is known for her performance as Vera Drake in the film Vera Drake, Delores Umbridge in the Harry Potter films, and her roles in Nanny McPhee, Pride, Downton Abbey, Shakespeare in Love, Sense and Sensibility, and Much Ado About Nothing. She has previously been seen on stage in Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, Gypsy, A Chorus of Disapproval, The Corn is Green, The Wizard of Oz, Uncle Vanya, Guys and Dolls, and Good People.

Celebrities Coming Soon to London Stages

John Lithgow in Giant

Giant

John Lithgow will star as Roald Dahl in Giant at the Royal Court Theatre starting September 20, 2024.

Why You Know John: John Lithgow is known for his performance in the films The World According to Garp, Terms of Endearment, Killers of the Flower Moon, Interstellar, Footloose, and Twilight Zone: The Movie as well as in the tv shows Perry Mason, The Crown, Dexter, and 3rd Rock From the Sun. He has previously been seen on stage in Hillary and Clinton, A Delicate Balance, The Columnist, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Sweet Smell of Success, M. Butterfly, Requiem for a Heavyweight, and The Changing Room.

Waiting for Godot starring Lucian Msamati and Ben Whishaw

Waiting for Godot

Ben Whishaw will star as Vladamir in Waiting for Godot at Theatre Royal Haymarket starting in September 2024.

Why You Know Ben: Ben Whishaw is known for his performance as Q in the James Bond films Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die as well as for his roles in the films The Lobster, Suffragette, Mary Poppins Returns, and Paddington and for the tv shows This is Going to Hurt, Fargo, and A Very English Scandal. He has previously been seen on stage in Norma Jeane Baker of Troy, Julius Ceasar, Against, The Crucible, Bakkhai, Mojo, Peter and Alice, and The Pride.

Oedipus on the West End

Oedipus

Mark Strong and Lesley Manville will star in Oedipus at the Wyndham’s Theatre on the West End in a new adaptation by Robert Icke starting October 4, 2024.

Why You Know Mark: Mark Strong is known for his performance in the films Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Imitation Game, Zero Dark Thirty, Kingsman, and Cruella as well as for the tv shows Deep State and Low Winter Sun. He has previously been seen on stage in The Red Barn, A View from the Bridge, Uncle Vanya, and Speed-the-Plow.

Why You Know Lesley: Lesley Manville is known for her performance in the films Phantom Thread, Mr. Turner, Another Year, Vera Drake, and All or Nothing as well as for the tv shows The Crown, Citadel, Dangerous Liaisons, Harlots, and Mum. She has previously been seen on stage in The Visit, Long Day’s Journey into Night, Ghosts, and Six Degrees of Separation.

Dr. Strangelove on the West End

Dr. Strangelove

Steve Coogan will star in Dr. Strangelove at the Noel Coward Theatre on the West End starting in October 2024.

Why You Know Steve: Steve Coogan created and played the role of Alan Partridge. He is also known for his roles in the films The Trip, Night at the Museum, Tropic Thunder, Stan & Ollie, What Maisie Knew, and Philomena.

Oedipus at the Old Vic

Oedipus

Rami Malek and Indira Varma will star in Oedipus at the Old Vic in a new adaptation by Ella Hickson starting January 21, 2025.

Why You Know Rami: Rami Malek is known for his performance in the films Bohemian Rhapsody, No Time to Die, Oppenheimer, and the Night at the Museum trilogy as well as for the tv shows Mr. Robot and The Pacific.

Why You Know Indira: Indira Varma played Ellaria Sand in Game of Thrones, Zoe Luther in Luther, Niobe in Rome, and Tala Durith in Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. She has previously been seen on stage in Present Laughter, The Seagull, Man and Superman, Titus Andronicus, and Hysteria.

How to Get West End Theatre Tickets

Check out our article on West End Theatre Tickets for tips and tricks on how to save money on tickets as well as information on popular West End musicals and plays like Moulin Rouge, Mamma Mia, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera.

Kathryn Willingham

Head of Creative Development at Jean Doumanian Productions

Kathryn Willingham has worked in entertainment for over ten years, and recent credits include: Co-producer of SHRINK currently streaming on Peacock, Associate Producer of the independent film UNA, and Creative Executive on multiple theatrical productions including HANGMEN by Martin McDonagh on Broadway, NASSIM by Nassim Soleimanpour Off-broadway and Associate on productions EVERY BRILLIANT THING by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe and THE EFFECT by Lucy Prebble. She was Producer of Todd Almond’s musical travelogue “Wyoming and Parts of Kansas” and Production Coordinator for Karen O and KK Barrett's “Stop the Virgens.”

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Education: B.A. in English, Literature & Creative Writing from Rhodes College
Knowledge: Theatrical Production

Published

Nov 5, 2023

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