The London theatre scene in 2025 was decisively shaped by high-profile revivals, with major new productions from star directors making a more significant impact than fresh plays or musicals. While it was a particularly strong year for visionaries like Jamie Lloyd and Ivo van Hove, the emergence of exciting new talent like playwright Ava Pickett signalled a vibrant future for British writing. Based on a year of reviews, here is the curated selection of the finest shows to grace London's stages.
Jamie Lloyd's Dominant Double Act
Topping the list in a joint first place are two monumental productions from Jamie Lloyd, the most sought-after commercial theatre director working today. His distinctive style has become so influential it spawned parodies in unrelated shows this year. Despite critics who frequently dismiss his work, Lloyd answered them emphatically with two spectacular successes.
His take on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane was a triumph. Starring Tom Hiddleston as Benedick and Hayley Atwell as Beatrice, the play was reimagined as a surreal, pink confetti-drenched endless party. The production was hailed as simultaneously hilarious, melancholy, and visually stunning, thanks in large part to designer Soutra Gilmour. It stands as one of Lloyd's finest achievements.
He followed this with Evita at the London Palladium, a turbocharged version of his 2019 production. It featured a phenomenal lead performance from Hollywood's Rachel Zegler. However, the show became the most talked-about theatrical event globally due to one audacious scene. Each night, Zegler performed 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' not on the stage, but from a balcony to growing crowds on Argyll Street. This masterstroke of showmanship ensured the production reverberated far beyond the theatre walls. While Much Ado was perhaps the more complete piece, together they cemented Lloyd's unparalleled status. Both productions have now concluded their runs.
Powerful Drama and Standout New Writing
In third place was Ivo van Hove's exceptional revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons at Wyndham's Theatre. Led by a magnificent Bryan Cranston, it has been celebrated as the best London production of the play this century. The run continues until 7 March 2026.
The fourth spot was claimed by the haunting revival of Sarah Kane's 4.48 Psychosis at the Royal Court Theatre. The original cast and creative team reunited after 25 years for a production that felt like a profound act of communion with the late playwright.
The fifth position goes to the most hotly tipped new voice of the year: Ava Pickett. Her debut play, 1536 at the Almeida Theatre, was a superb drama about three women meeting in an Essex swamp during Anne Boleyn's downfall. Its critical success has secured a richly deserved West End transfer for 2026. Her modern Essex adaptation of Emma was also highly praised.
Notable Revivals and Family Fare
Alice Birch's long-awaited new play, Romans: A Novel (Almeida Theatre), took sixth place. It was a time-bending exploration of British masculinity, following Kyle Soller's character on a dark odyssey.
In seventh, The Yard Theatre bowed out from its current building with a dreamy, compassionate production of Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie, offering a fresh take on the iconic Amanda Wingfield.
Stephen Sondheim's complex musical Into the Woods received a sumptuous revival at the Bridge Theatre (eighth place). Director Jordan Fein assembled an Avengers-level cast of actor-singers to do justice to this first major London Sondheim since the composer's death. It runs until 18 April 2026.
David Adjmi's Fleetwood Mac-inspired drama Stereophonic (Gielgud Theatre) secured ninth place. While it made a bigger splash in the US, this gripping, three-hour-plus interrogation of creativity amidst personal chaos was a major achievement.
Rounding out the top ten is the heartwarming Paddington the Musical at the Savoy Theatre. While some felt it lacked show-stopping songs, it was otherwise a wonderful, no-expense-spared family show featuring the most adorable lead performance of the year. It is currently booking until 14 February 2027.
Looking ahead, 2026 promises more excitement, including the West End transfer of Ava Pickett's 1536 to the Ambassadors Theatre from 2 May to 1 August 2026.
